ON THE VIRTUE OF REPENTANCE

There are many verses on the virtue of repentance. Some of them are as follows:

“Repent to Allâh, all of you together, O believers! So that you may prosper.” (Sûrah an-Nûr, 24: 31)

“Who invoke no other sovereign with Allâh and do not kill the soul which Allâh has forbidden except for a just cause. And they do not commit adultery. Whoever does that has fallen into sin The punishment will be doubled for him on the day of resurrection and he shall remain therein disgraced. Except he who repented and believed and did some good deeds – for it is for such that Allâh shall transform their bad deeds into good deeds. And Allâh is forgiving, merciful Whoever repents and does good deeds – he truly returns to Allâh.” (Sûrah al-Furqân, 25: 68-71)

There are numerous Ahâdîth in this regard as well.

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh stretches out His hand at night so that He may accept the repentance of the person who committed sin during the day. And He stretches out His hand in the day so that He may accept the repentance of the person who committed sin during the night. He will continue doing this till the sun rises from the west [i.e. just before the day of resurrection].”

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “There is a door in the west whose width is equal to a journey of 40 or 70 years. Allâh opened it for repentance on the day He created the heavens and the earth. He will not close it till the sun rises from it.”

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh placed a door for repentance in the west whose width is equal to a journey of 70 years. It will not be closed till the sun rises from it.” This is referred to in the following verse:

“The day when a sign of your Sustainer comes before them, believing will be of no avail to anyone.” (Sûrah al-An‘âm, 6: 158)

It is said that the previous narration and the one before it do not clearly state that this door will be raised, as expounded by al-Bayhaqî rahimahullâh.

A reply to this is that such statements are not said on the basis of one’s personal opinion. It will therefore be regarded as marfû‘ (a statement that is attributed to the Prophet without explicitly stating that he said so).

At-Tabarânî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Paradise has eight doors, seven of which are closed [at present] while one is open for repentance. It will remain open till the sun rises from that direction.”

Imâm Ibn Mâjah rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “If you sin to the extent that your sins reach the skies, and then you repent, Allâh will accept your repentance.”

Al-Hâkim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “From the good fortune of a person is that he has a long life and Allâh blesses him with repentance.”

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh, Imâm Ibn Mâjah rahimahullâh and al-Hâkim rahimahullâh narrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Every human is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”

Imâm al-Bukhârî rahimahullâh and Imâm Muslim rahimahullâhnarrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “A person committed a sin. He said: ‘O my Sustainer! I committed a sin, so forgive me.’ Allâh said to him: ‘My servant recognized that he has a Sustainer who forgives sins and who also punishes for sinning.’ So Allâh forgave him. After some time he committed another sin. He said: ‘O my Sustainer! I committed another sin, so forgive me.’ Allâh said to him: ‘My servant recognized that he has a Sustainer who forgives sins and who also punishes for sinning.’ So Allâh forgave him. After some time he committed another sin. He said: ‘O my Sustainer! I committed another sin, so forgive me.’ Allâh said to him: ‘My servant recognized that he has a Sustainer who forgives sins and who also punishes for sinning.’ Allâh then said to him: ‘I have forgiven My servant. He may now do as he wills.’”

Al-Mundhirî rahimahullâh said: “The words ‘He may now do as he wills’ mean that as long as he commits a sin, seeks forgiveness, repents from it and does not repeat it, then he may do as he wills if this is how he continues. This is because each time he commits a sin, his repentance and seeking forgiveness are atonements for his sin. It would therefore not harm him. These words do not mean that he can commit a sin, and seek verbal forgiveness without uprooting it from his life. And then he commits it again. This is the repentance of liars.”

Several compilers of Hadîth narrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “When a believer commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents, uproots that sin, and seeks forgiveness, then that black spot is polished off. But if he increases in his sinning, the black spots increase till his heart is sealed by them. This is the rust which is referred to in the Qur’ân:

“No such thing. Rather, that which they were earning has covered their hearts with rust.” (Sûrah al-Mutaffifîn, 83: 14)

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh accepts the repentance of a person as long as his soul does not reach his throat.”

At-Tabarânî rahimahullâh and al-Bayhaqî rahimahullâh narrate from Mu‘âdh who said: “The Messenger of Allâh took me by my hand and walked with me for about a mile. He then said: ‘O Mu‘âdh! I advise you to constantly fear Allâh , to speak the truth, to fulfil promises, to fulfil trusts, to abstain from breaching trusts, to show mercy to the orphan, to protect the rights of the neighbour, to suppress anger, to be soft in speech, to freely extend the salâm (the Islamic greeting of prayer), to remain attached to the imâm, to gain a deep understanding of the Qur’ân, to love the hereafter, to fear the reckoning, to curtail hopes, and to do good deeds. I prohibit you from being abusive to a Muslim, from affirming a liar, from belying an honest person, from disobeying the just imâm, and from causing corruption in the land. O Mu‘âdh! Remember Allâh at every tree and rock [i.e. wherever you may be], and follow every sin with repentance: if the sin was committed in private, the repentance should be in private, if the sin was committed in public, the repentance should be in public.”

Al-Asfahânî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “When a person repents from his sins, Allâh causes his scribes [the angels who record his deeds] to forget his sins, and He also causes his limbs and places on earth [where those sins were committed] to forget his sins. This is so that when he meets Allâh on the day of resurrection, he will have no witness from Allâh as regards any sin.”

Al-Asfahânî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “The person who is remorseful awaits the mercy of Allâh while the person who is proud [of his sins] awaits the wrath of Allâh . O servants of Allâh! You should know that every person will have his deeds before him. He will not leave this world till he sees his good deeds and evil deeds. Deeds are judged by the final deeds that were done. The night and day are like animals that one rides. So ride them with good towards the hereafter. Beware of procrastination because death comes suddenly. None of you should be deluded by the forbearance of Allâh because the Hell-fire is closer to you than your sandal straps.” The Messenger of Allâh then recited these verses:

“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good shall see it. Whoever does an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.” (Sûrah az-Zilzâl, 99: 7-8)

At-Tabarânî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “The person who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin.” Al-Bayhaqî rahimahullâh narrated this Hadîth from a different chain with the following addition: “The person who seeks forgiveness from a sin while continuing to commit it is like one who is mocking his Sustainer.”

Ibn Hibbân rahimahullâh and al-Hâkim rahimahullâh narrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Remorse is repentance.” In other words, the major pillar of repentance is to show remorse, just as the major pillar of the pilgrimage is the stay at ‘Arafah.” It is essential that remorse be with regard to the fact that a person committed an act of disobedience, that he committed a repugnant act, and that he fears its consequences when he goes against it. For example, shedding blood or destroying wealth in disobedience, or other similar acts.

Al-Hâkim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “When Allâh sees remorse in a servant over a sin which he committed, He most certainly forgives him even before he seeks His forgiveness.”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh and others narrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “I take an oath by that Being in whose control is my life, if you do not sin and consequently seek forgiveness, Allâh will take you away and bring another nation who sins and seeks forgiveness from Allâh and He will then forgive it.”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “There is no one who likes praise more than Allâh . It is for this reason that He praised Himself. There is no one who has more self-honour than Allâh . It is for this reason that He prohibited immoral acts. There is no one who likes to excuse more than Allâh . It is for this reason that He revealed Books and sent Messengers.”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh narrates that a woman from the Juhaynah tribe came to the Messenger of Allâh after she had fallen pregnant from committing adultery. She said to him: “O Messenger of Allâh! I have committed an act that deserves thehadd (the Islamic penal code), so mete it out against me.” The Messenger of Allâh summoned her guardian and said to him: “Treat her well, and when she gives birth, bring her to me.” The guardian did this and eventually brought her to the Messenger of Allâh . He ordered that her clothes be fastened to her. He then ordered that she be stoned [till she dies]. He then offered the prayer [janâzah salâh] over her. ‘Umar said: “O Messenger of Allâh! You are offering prayer over her when she has committed adultery?!” The Messenger of Allâh said: “She repented in such a way that if her repentance were to be distributed among 70 people of Madînah it would suffice them. Have you found anything superior to the fact that she came and offered herself solely for the sake of Allâh ?”

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh, Ibn Hibbân rahimahullâh and al-Hâkim rahimahullâh narrate from Ibn ‘Umar who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allâh narrating a Hadîth not once, twice or seven times, but more than that. I heard the Messenger of Allâh saying: ‘Al-Kifl who was from the Banî Isrâ’îl did not abstain from any sin. Once, a woman came to him and he gave her 60 dînârs on condition that he could have intercourse with her. When he was about to commit the act, she began trembling and crying. He asked her: ‘Why are you crying? Have I compelled you?’ She replied: ‘No. Rather it is because this is an act which I never did before. The only reason that I am doing it is because I am in need [of monetary assistance].’ He said: ‘You are doing this for this reason, and you have never done it before?!! You may go and keep the money. By Allâh, I will never disobey Allâh after this.’ He passed away that very night. The next morning, the following was written on the top of his door: ‘Allâh has certainly forgiven al-Kifl.’”

Ibn Masûd narrates: “There were two villages: the residents of one were righteous while the residents of the other were sinners. A man from the village that had sinners left it with the intention of going to the village of righteous people. On the way, death came to him. The angels and Satan disputed with regard to him. Satan said: ‘By Allâh, he never ever disobeyed me.’ The angels said: ‘He left [that sinful village] with the intention of repentance.’ Allâh resolved their dispute by saying: ‘Look and see to which of the two villages he is closer.’ They found that he was closer to the village of righteous people by a hand-span. He was therefore forgiven.” Ma‘mar rahimahullâh said: “I heard someone saying that Allâh brought the village of righteous people closer to him [so that he will be forgiven].”

Imâm al-Bukhârî rahimahullâh and Imâm Muslim rahimahullâhnarrate that the Messenger of Allâh said: “There was a man from one of the nations before you who had killed 99 people. He inquired about the most learned person. Someone informed him of a monk. So he went to him and said that he killed 99 people and whether there was any way of repentance for him. The monk replied: ‘No.’ So he killed the monk as well and thereby killed 100 people. He again inquired about the most learned person. Someone informed him of an ‘âlim (a learned scholar). He went to him and said that he killed 100 people and whether there was any way of repentance for him. The scholar replied: ‘Yes. There is no one who can come between you and repentance. Go to such and such place for there are people there who are engaged in the worship of Allâh . Join them in worshipping Allâh and do not return to your hometown for it is an evil place.’ So he departed. When he reached half way, death came to him. The angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed with regard to him. The angels of mercy said: ‘He came repenting, turning to Allâh with all his heart.’ The angels of punishment said: ‘But he never ever did any good.’ An angel in the form of a human came to them. They appointed him as an arbiter between them. He said: ‘Measure the distance between the two places. To whichever of the two he is closer, he will be considered to be from them.’ They measured and found him to be closer to the village to which he was heading. The angels of mercy thus took his soul away.”

Another narration states: “He was closer to the righteous village by one hand-span. He was thus included among its people.”

Another narration states: “Allâh ordered the evil village saying: ‘You go further away.’ And to the righteous village saying: ‘You come closer.’ Then he said: ‘Measure the distance between the two. They found him closer to the righteous village by one hand-span. He was thus forgiven.”

At-Tabarânî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “A man committed excesses against his own self. He met a man and said: ‘A person killed 99 people. He killed all of them unjustly. Do you see any repentance for me?’ He replied: ‘No.’ So he killed him as well. He then went to another man and said: ‘A person killed 100 people. He killed all of them unjustly. Do you see any repentance for me?’ He replied: ‘If I were to tell you that Allâh does not relent to the one who repents, I will be lying to you. There are some people who are engaged in the worship of Allâh . Go to them and join them in the worship of Allâh .’ So he headed towards them but passed away while he was still going. The angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed with each other. Allâh sent an angel to them who said: ‘Measure the distance between the two places. Whichever of them he is closer to, he will be considered to be from among them. They found him to be closer to the repenters equal to the length of a finger nail. So he was forgiven.”

Another narration states: “He went to another man and said: ‘I killed 100 people. Do you see any repentance for me.’ The man replied: ‘You have exceeded the bounds. I do not know. However, there are two villages. One is called Nusrah and the other is called Kufrah. The residents of Nusrah engage themselves in the deeds of the inhabitants of Paradise. No one else can live there. As for the residents of Kufrah, they are engaged in the deeds of the inmates of the Hell-fire. No one else can live there. Go to Nusrah. If you remain there and do the deeds that they do, then there is no doubt in your repentance.’ So he departed, heading towards it. When he was about half way between these two villages, death overtook him. The angels asked their Sustainer about him. Allâh said: ‘Look at which of the two villages he is closer. Then record him among the residents of the one to which he is closer. They found him to be closer to Nusrah equal to the length of a finger-nail. He was thus recorded among its residents.”