The Blessing and Benefits of Istighfar.

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 25th December 2019 15:52

Bismillah.

Sometime ago I posted a thread on the blessings of Shukr( mainly as reminder for myself)..It was a compilation of posts and articles by various individuals on Shukr. May Allah reward them and all the members who contributed to it www.muftisays.com/forums/13-articles--stories--more/11306...

I thought I would post a thread on the blessings of Istighfar. Similarly as a reminder for myself and Insha'Allah others will find it to be of benefit as-well.

8 Benefits of Istighfar From the Quran

Raiiq Ridwan
03 May, 2018
It’s a very small phrase— Astaghfirullah— we learned it when we were young. And yet do we know its benefits?

In the life of a Muslim, all that matters is earning the pleasure of Allah. Among the things that stop us from earning the pleasure of Allah are sins. And that’s where istighfar comes in.

Istighfar is what removes our sins and helps us attain the goal of Paradise. But what other benefits does istighfar bring? Allah always gives more than we ask. We ask for forgiveness, and these are the eight things that Allah gives us!

1- Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (Quran 71:10)
We sin by the day and by the night, and Allah forgives by the day and the night. Allah’s forgiveness is vast. The Prophet said:

Allah extends His hand by the day so the sinner of the night can repent and He extends His hand by the night so the sinner of the day can repent. (Muslim)

He also said (peace be upon him):

The companion (Angel) on the left lifts his pen for six hours for the Muslim slave that errs or sins. If this slave repents and seeks Allah’s forgiveness for that error or sin, the Angel doesn’t record it. And if the slave doesn’t ask Allah for forgiveness, the Angel records it once. (Muslim)

So whenever we sin, let’s rush to His forgiveness.

2- He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. (Quran 71:11)
Rain is a sign of Allah’s mercy as has been mentioned in the Quran and in the Sunnah. It is a time when Allah answers dua.

Forgiveness is one of the causes for Allah to send rain down. It is symbolic as well for Allah to increase us in our provision and mercy.

Even the guidance of the Quran has been compared to the effect that rain has on the dead earth.

Perhaps istighfar is our door to opening our hearts to even more guidance and provision. Who doesn’t want more and more in this world and the next?

3- And give you increase in wealth and children. (Quran 71:12)
Isn’t wealth one of the big things that we are running after today? And isn’t wealth one of the main aims of our capitalist society? Allah is promising us that wealth comes with istighfar, as does children.

It is for us who are struggling financially, and also those who are struggling to conceive, that they do more and more istighfar. Istighfar will open the doors that have been closed till today.

Wealth and children come from Allah and it is in turning to Him that we will get them, not in turning away from Him.

4- … and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Quran 71:12)
Allah will not only give us what we want, He will give us more. Gardens and rivers are luxuries that very few of us can afford in life.

And yet for istighfar, Allah promises us that. He promises us that we will be given gardens and rivers. It could be in this world and in the hereafter or only in the hereafter (as gardens and rivers are the most common description of paradise). Isn’t this a cause worth struggling for? The paradise of Allah awaits those who make constant istighfar.

5- …ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. (Quran 11:52)
Again this verse mentions the sending of rain from the sky. But also adds that Allah will add strength. For those of us who want strength added to our lives- whether mental, psychological, physical or otherwise, this is the deed we need to do! We are struggling with doing a good deed- make istighfar, Allah will provide strength.

We are struggling with a sin, make istighfar, Allah will give strength. If we are struggling with heartbreak, let us make istighfar, He will provide strength to get over it.

6- Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. (Quran 11:3)
This verse promises again a good provision for a specified term for those who make istighfar. However, the specified term is important. It shows that life is not permanent and that the good provision will also come to an end one day.

And that naturally makes us fearful. That is where Allah gives His biggest promises to the people of astaghfirullah. He says He will grant us His good favor.

What else in life do we want other than to know that we have earned His favor? Every blessing is a curse if His favor is not upon us, and everything can be endured if His favor is the answer. And yet, He asks for so little. All He asks is that we seek His forgiveness.

7- And Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness. (Quran 8:33)
One of the scariest things in human life is disaster— when something horrible happens out of the blue and without us expecting it. There are very few things that terrify people more than something like that.

Islamically, they can be both tests and punishments. As Muslims, we don’t want to be punished by Allah. We don’t want to experience any of it. And istighfar is the promise from Allah that it’s not going to happen. He has our back as long as we seek His forgiveness.

8- My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (Quran 38:35)
This was the dua of Prophet Solomon. The beauty of the dua is that he starts it by seeking forgiveness from Allah. And He makes a request. That request was granted and will stand until the day of judgement.

The Prophet Solomon was given a kingdom that no one will ever be given after him. And he started his dua while making istighfar to Allah.

Scholars say that one of the ways of having our duas answered is by making istighfar first and then seeking from Allah.

Source: Understand Quran.

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 25th December 2019 16:56

Bismillah.

Just to give a personal experience. Several years ago I was prescribed statins ( medication to lower cholosterol) , by my Doctor.

Over the course of time I found my legs become weaker and weaker, I found my ability to walk any reasonable distance become less and less. Finally after taking this medication for about 5 years. The tests revealed that I was suffering from side-effects of the medication which was causing the weakness of muscles. Medical term for it is Myopathy.

Once I came off the medication. I thought the muscles in my legs would regain their strength and everything would be back to normal. A year or so later the muscle weakness in my legs remained. I would walk a hundred metres or so and then I would have to stop for my legs to recover. Then I would start walking again and same thing would happen. So if I was travelling any distance I would have to stop loads of times in order to complete my journey. I had given up on my legs recovering completely.

It so happened that I was listening to an Urdu lecture, by one of the Mashaykh. He mentioned that an individual came to him who was suffering from various problems in particular at the office he worked at with colleauges and management. This person lived within walking distance of the place he worked at. So the shaykh gave him an easy spiritual prescription. He told him whilst going to and from work to seek forgiveness and ask for guidance and removal of difficulties for the residents of all the households he came across on his route. The man returned some months later and stated all his problems had by the grace of Allah been resolved.

So upon hearing this lecture, I decided to customise this spiritual prescription for my own situation. I started going for walks daily for several hours at a time. During the course of my journey I would pray for forgiveness and guidance and removal of difficulties of the residents in all the households on every road I walked on. I would ask the same for fellow pedestrians walking on that road. I would ask for forgiveness for the passengers of the vehicles driving down that road. And even the birds tweeting in the trees.

I continued with this routine surely but slowly over the course of a few weeks. I found the strength returning to my legs. I found myself needing to take fewer rests whilst walking. And Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah by the end of the third month, my legs had fully recovered.

I am fully convinced it was this spiritual prescription that led to my recovery and Allah knows best.

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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 25th December 2019 19:35

Bismillah.

By Quran Academy | February 8th, 2018

3 Spiritual and Emotional Benefits of Seeking Istighfar

I like to think of Istighfar as a ‘get out of jail’ card for Muslims. None of us can boldly say that we have never sinned before, but the beautiful thing about being a Muslim is that Allah (ta’ala) has given us the opportunity to seek His forgiveness and have our sins erased, if He wills.

Istighfar (or seeking forgiveness), is a gift for us as Muslims. It is our way of returning to our Lord whenever we step out of the limits that He has set for us.

This is why it is highly encouraged that whenever you know that you have committed a sin, you should seek forgiveness. Even if you are not aware that you have sinned, it is good to make istighfar a daily part of our lives, so that we can seek forgiveness for sins unknown to us.

Istighfar has many benefits for us as Muslims, and these will in sha’a Allah motivate you to ask for forgiveness more often.

Wipes Our Slates Clean

Sins eat away at our good deeds, and the heavier they become on our scale of deeds, the higher a person’s chances of being punished in the hereafter.

Part of what reverses this balance in scale is sincere repentance to Allah (ta’ala). It is a recognition of our wrongdoing and a sincere promise to strive to stay away from the sin.

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘O son of adam, I forgive you as long as you pray to Me and hope for My forgiveness, whatever sins you have committed. O son of ‘Adam, I do not care if your sins reach the height of the heaven, then you ask for my forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of ‘Adam, if you come to Me with an earth load of sins, and meet Me associating nothing to Me, I would match it with an earthload of forgiveness.”‘(Tirmidhi)

When you seek forgiveness from Allah (ta’ala), you are wiping your scales clean of sins as much as possible. And remember that He has promised that as long as a servant continues to sincerely repent, He will forgive.

Many times, Shaytaan may try to convince us that our sins are so big that they can’t be forgiven. So, he’ll try to get you to sink further into sins.

Do not fall for this. Remember that all you have to do is sincerely make istighfar and if Allah wills, you’ll be free of the sin.

The Prophet (‎ﷺ) said: “Glad tidings to those who find a lot of seeking forgiveness in the record of their deeds.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Brings Us Closer to Allah (ta’ala)

The fear, shame and embarrassment that we feel whenever we commit a sin is a good thing. It is a sign that you are conscious of Allah (ta’ala) even though you have erred.

Many times, when these feelings accompany a sin, it can propel us to seek forgiveness. You feel so bad with whatever you have done that you turn your face towards Allah (ta’ala) and ask Him to forgive you.

The process of asking for forgiveness is what brings you closer to Allah (ta’ala). It helps you to recognize His Supremacy and you feel the need to seek His forgiveness.

Many times, people also get the urge to do good deeds after they may have done something bad. This helps to bring you closer to Allah (ta’ala).

Relieves Your Heart From Worry

A conscious heart is disturbed whenever it commits a sin. Maybe you backbit someone and the conversation has been weighing heavily on your mind.

With Istighfar, there is a chance that you will feel better. There is a chance that after asking for forgiveness, you feel less of a sinner and eager to worship Allah (ta’ala).

Some Istighfar Duas of the Prophet (‎ﷺ)

It was well known that the Messenger of Allah (‎ﷺ)used to seek Istighfar a lot. He sought forgiveness at least seventy times a day.

For the rest of us, this is a model behaviour and here are duas that we can make a part of our lives.

`Abdullah bin `Amr narrated from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq that he said:
“O Messenger of Allah, teach me a supplication that I may supplicate with in my Salat.” He (ﷺ) said: “Say: ‘O Allah, I have wronged myself much, and none forgives sins except You. So forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy upon me, indeed, You are the Forgiving, the Merciful (Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran wa lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā anta faghfirlī maghfiratan min `indika warḥamnī innaka antal-Ghafūrur-Raḥīm).’”

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني‏

“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” (Riyad us-Saliheen)

There are many more duas that we can make for forgiveness, even something as light on the tongue as saying “astaghfiruLlah” is a great way of seeking forgiveness.

The most important thing is that as Muslims, we understand that we may sin and that we have been granted the gift of Istighfar as a way to return to our Lord.

quranacademy.io/blog/benefits-of-seeking-istighfar/

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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 25th December 2019 21:01

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InshaAllah you have continued with such activities.

Sometimes, we are assisted by shaitan to stop us from carrying on with the good we do.

I recall a story from the time of Imam Abu Hanifa in which someone was told to recite the entire Quran so he could find what he was looking for. Very soon, that person remembered where the item was placed and hence he stopped reciting the Quran.

Imam Abu Hanifa told him that he should've continued to pray as it was shaitan who made him forget and then it was shaitan who reminded him. So the shaitan benefitted him by reminding him but took away from him the reward he would've gained in continuing the recitation.

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Actions are judged by intentions, so each man will have what he intended.
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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 25th December 2019 21:20

abu mohammed wrote:

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That is a good observation strange how I actually never thought about that.. once I recovered from my walking problems I started focusing on other forms of Zikr. Forgot the one that helped my recovery in the first place... Although I continued with Istighfar as part of my routine. It has not been in the manner that I drescribed above.

In due course have been afflicted with spinal problem that affects my mobility.

And waiting to see a Neuro-Spinal Specialist.

Anyways thanks for the above reminder truly something to ponder upon.

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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 26th December 2019 11:07

Bismillah.

The following is an article I came across on a now defunct urdu periodical. With several inspiring stories like the following.

'i. Here is a doctor. Five doctors in the hospital conspired against him and got him dismissed from service. It is said that he invoked Sunnah Istighfar اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ . He was restored within a few days and the jealous met a very exemplary end.'

The Blessings of abundant Istighfar.

May Allah forgive us all! اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ

Salvation is a very great blessing. Just imagine, when the pronouncement of salvation for the Messenger of Allah was made in the Holy Quran, he was overjoyed. Only that Mu'min is successful who is absolved. If this salvation and forgiveness is demanded of Allah, it is called "Istighfar." Allah blesses that nation with the capacity and chance to repent whom He wants to save from punishment. The incident of Hazrat Younas' people is present in the Holy Quran. There occur some curtains and hurdles between man's supplication and the High Throne due to sins. Istighfar removes those curtains and hurdles.

Once Hazrat Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal was travelling across a far-off village of Iraq that the night fell. There was neither any intimacy nor a place to settle. He intended to spend the night in the Masjid. When he went there, the watchman refused to let him in. He tried to tell him but he was adamant to his stand. Hazrat Imaam said, "I may sleep here on the floor outside the Masjid." So he lay there but the watchman was adamant to his stand. He caught his feet and began to drag him away the Masjid when a baker caught sight of it. He requested Hazrat Imaam to spend the night at his house. He served and respected him well. Then he went out to knead flour. Imaam Sahib noted and heard him begging forgiveness going about and kneading flour. When in the morning, he was asked, he said that it was his daily routine. He said, "Did you ever find its apparent benefit? He said, "Yes, every of my supplication is granted. Only one supplication is till now not granted." He said, "Which one?" He said, "The supplication of visiting Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal." He said, "I am Ahmad bin Hambal. This supplication of yours has also been granted. I have been dragged to you."

The benefits of excellences and effects of Istighfar are very wonderful but the common people do not attend to it. This is also the curse of sins that despite reading so many uses of Istighfar, people do not opt for it. If I write down today the excellences and uses of Istighfar mentioned in the Holy Quran without explanation, the column will extend to eight pages. A few days ago, I happened to study the writing of an Arab femal scholar. Allah had blessed her with so many blessings and benefits of Istighfar. She writes, "O sister, burning in sorrows, miseries and worries, O sister wasting away yourself in weeping, O sister caught by trials, tribulations and troubles, why do you not use the medicine of Istighfar? It is balm of every injury and cure of every worry, every grief and every trouble." All these things are certainly true and the benefits of Istighfar are just a glimpse otherwise the man who beseeches to Allah again and again and repents of his sins, he will gain everything in the world.

A lady writes her own incident. She was a widow of thirty years with five children. She had neither a proper place to live nor any source of livelihood. She was a single widow with five children. It is not difficult to estimate her grief and worries. During those days of anxiety, she heard this tradition on the radio.

مَنْ لَزِمَ الْاِسْتِغْفَارَ جَعَلَ اﷲُ لَہُ مِنْ کُلَّ ھَمٍّ فَرْجًا وَّمِنْ کُلِّ ضِیْقٍ مَخْرَجًا وَّرَزَقَہ، مِنْ حَیْثُ لَا یَحْتَسِبْ.

The man who opts for Istighfar i.e. always begs forgiveness, Allah rids him of every worry, trouble and grief and gives him livelihood beyond imagination.

She was a Mu'min slave of Allah. She began to say, "Now all my problems are solved." She busied herself and her children with Istighfar daily. They begged forgiveness for thousands of times daily. Only six months had passed that they found papers of inheritance estate. So they constructed their own house with millions of rupees and every luxury. Subhaan Allah! Those who ask forgiveness of Allah are very dear to Him. He does not render them needy of others. That lady thanked Allah and continued Istighfar. She set her children to get religious education and memorizing the Holy Quran. I happened to visit a great saint who had very strict terms and conditions a few days ago. Some saints are very mild whereas some others are strict with regard to the limits of Shariah. The creature benefits from both types of saints. The things that have been called "Cure" in traditions, honey and Hijaamah are also included in them. Allah has placed cure in both. Same are the kinds of the saints of Allah. Someone treats with honey i.e. mildness whereas the other with Hijaamah i.e. strictness. He was a strict saint. He would not often accept pledging from those who would go to pledge an oath of allegiance with him. If he was light to someone, he would say, "Observe fasts for three days and recite Istighfar for one and quarter past one lac times." Allah be thanked, wonderful benefits of Istighfar were observed. Someone was blessed with visiting of the Messenger of Allah and others were given some other blessing instantly. Qazi Abu Ali At-Tanukhi has written a book "Kitab-ul-Farj Ba'd-ul-Shiddata" ’’کتاب الفرج بعد الشدّۃ‘‘ i.e. Amplitude And Comfort After Hard Times. It is a very brief but effective book. He writes his own incident, "The enemies captivated me and intended to kill me. I recited Hazrat Younas' supplication abundantly during. That supplication had Tauheed, praise and Istighfar that is لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ سُبْحَانَکَ اِنِّیْ کُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِیْن After regular recitation for nine days, I was released from that captivity."

An Arab young man writes his incident vowing with Allah that whatever he was writing was true, "I was a poor depressed person. I went to Saudi Arabia to earn a few coins but I was arrested there. I knew that even if the arrested person in Saudi Arabia is innocent, it takes approx two years to get released. I made Istighfar my routine for thousands of times daily. Then I was released after just eighty-four days. The next day, someone gifted me sixty thousand Rayal. Then the situation began to change regularly." These are absolutely true incidents. They are the gems of the sea which are hidden in Istighfar. Today, I had sorted out so many incidents for you but I shall not write them in detail. For example:

i. Here is a doctor. Five doctors in the hospital conspired against him and got him dismissed from service. It is said that he invoked Sunnah Istighfar اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ . He was restored within a few days and the jealous met a very heinous exemplary end.

ii. Here is a lucky but issueless couple. They got treatment from so many countries but useless. Then they heard the verse of the Holy Quran which tells, "Beg forgiveness, Allah will give you wealth and children." They stopped every treatment and started Istighfar. Now they have three sons and four daughters.

iii. Here is a lady. Her husband abuses and beats her much and disgraces her. She adopted Istighfar. One day, her husband beat her well. After he left, she kept invoking Istighfar in grief and sorrow. She did not complain but begged forgiveness. All of a sudden, there was an explosion and a charm appeared at some place in the house. It came to be known that it was a dangerous magic spell. She threw that out of the house. When her husband came home in the evening, he began to ask forgiveness of her. Then he changed so much that life took a new turning.

iv. Here is a Muslim sister. She wants to marry a holy, pious, Mujaahid saint. She makes Istighfar her routine for 1500 times daily as اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ besides this abundance of small Istighfar اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ رَبِّیْ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ. Now, she is married to a pious scholar who is active in deen and a loving husband.

v. A woman got the disease of cancer. She recited Istighfar abundantly. After the next test, there was nothing of cancer.

vi. A woman was issueless even after thirty years of marriage. Someone told her about Istighfar and she got busy in it. Allah blessed her with children.

There are so many incidents. The object of writing them is to get persuasion to action. There is no exaggeration in these stories because Allah Himself promises numerous blessings at Istighfar. Allah does not go back on His words. Study Allah's words in Surah Hood verse No.3:

"And you must seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance, and He will provide you with good things to enjoy for a given time and bestow His extra favour on everyone who has extra good deeds (in his account)." (Hood:3)

The actual reward and blessings are in the Hereafter but there is promise of giving peace, calm, comfort and numerous kinds of blessings in the world also.

At another place, Allah says: So I said, "Pray to your Lord for your forgiveness. Indeed He is very-Forgiving, and He will cause the heavens to rain upon you in abundance and will help you with riches and sons and will cause gardens to grow for you and cause rivers to flow for you." (Nuh: 10-12)

If you meditate over these two verses only, you will come to know that Istighfar is key to every blessing and comfort. That's why; the Holy Quran orders for Istighfar again and again. Our Holy Prophet despite being innocent recited Istighfar again and again. Sahaabha would hear him reciting Istighfar for one hundred times in one sitting only. He advised his Ummah also to do so. If we take Sunnah supplications, there is Istighfar in most of them. I was observing ablution a short while ago. There was also Istighfar in the Sunnah supplication of ablution. Then I started to the Masjid. The supplication recited on the way to Masjid also contains Istighfar. After prayer, I recalled the Sunnah activity and this is Istighfar for three times. Our kind compassionate Holy Prophet taught us Istighfar in abundance. You can estimate from it how many uses are there in Istighfar. According to a narration, Hazrat Luqmaan said to his son:

"O my son, make your tongue habitual of ’’اَللَّھُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ‘‘ because there are timings with Allah when He does not reject anyone's supplication." Note, how necessary thing Istighfar is that it has been ordered to beg again and again. Qataadah says, "The Holy Quran diagnoses disease as well as its cure. Your disease is sins. Your medicine is Istighfar." Abul-Manhall says, "There will be no companion dearer than Istighfar in the grave. Allama Ibn Tammiyah was asked, "Should we observe rosary or Istighfar in abundance?" He said, "If clothes are clean, scent is good, but if dirty, soap is good. We often remain dirty." It means Hymn is like scent and Istighfar is like soap. Actually, Istighfar is a heavy rain of purity which purifies man from inner and outer side. The biggest purity is that Recording Book is purified. This book is given in the right or left hand. How much is Recording Book filthied by watching a movie? How much is Recording Book darkened by telling lies? The babblers speak nonstop. There is negligence in duty, evil-eye, unlawful living and dishonesty. How many sins have surrounded the Ummah? If listed, it will become a book. How much repentance and Istighfar in comparison with it? Sins are actually like the fat that when clots the veins of the heart there is heart-attack. Sins are like the web that prevails upon the eye and the eyes are sour. Sins are like the garbage that when it clots the water pipe, it is like a poison that when enters blood or vein it causes cancer. Istighfar is treatment of them all. Our sins have blocked those invisible pipes and lines from where mercy, peace, might and lawful living descend. Passing through them, our supplications reach the High Throne. We can avoid every grief, pain, misery deprivation, disease, shock and every trouble by asking forgiveness. The actual reward is that of the Hereafter about which Hazrat Ayesha says: طوبیٰ لمن وُجد فی صحیفتہ استغفارا کثیرا

Glad tidings i.e. Allah's good pleasure and Paradise is for the one in whose Recording Book is Istighfar in abundance. Allah be thanked, our organization has been blessed with Istighfar in abundance owing to the blessings of Kalimah Tayyibah, prayer and Jihaad. Never be negligent in reciting Kalimah Tayyibah in abundance. It should be at least for 100 times daily. Make arrangements for it for Allah's sake. Never give up recitation and Durood Sharif. I am indicating to the important points that were issued during ten days compaign of Istighfar. You will find those in today's paper.

Let us break up the sitting at the words of Hazrat Ali. العجب ممن یھلک و معہ النجاۃ قیل وماھی قال: ’’الاستغفار‘‘

Woe is to one who is ruined when he has the prescription of Istighfar with him. Asked, "What is that prescription?" The answer came, "Istighfar."

اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ. رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْلَنَا ذُنُوْبَنَا وَاِسْرَافَنَا فِیْٓ اَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ اَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَی الْقَوْمِ الْکٰفِرِیْنَ. رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ اَنْفُسَنَا وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْلَنَا وتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَکُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ. سُبْحَانَکَ اللّٰھُمَّ رَبَّنَاوَبِحَمْدِکَ اَللّٰھُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ وَارْحَمْنِیْ.

لا الہ الا اﷲ، لا الہ الا اﷲ، لا الہ الا اﷲ محمد رسول اﷲ

اللھم صل علیٰ سیدنا محمد والہ وصحبہ وبارک وسلم تسلیما کثیرا کثیر

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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 26th December 2019 17:38

Abdur Rahman ibn Awf wrote:

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Was the article written by Maulana Masood Azhar HA?

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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 26th December 2019 18:30

bint e aisha wrote:

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Possibly its been a few years since I read it I had posted the above in a different thread and just transferred it here ...The Periodical was a translation posted online as a compilation of beneficial spiritual advices in English. Taken from various sources. Some articles the authors preferred to remain anonymous for the sake of Ikhlas/ Sincerity.

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#9 [Permalink] Posted on 26th December 2019 19:28

Bismillah.

I have extracted and translated the following from an Urdu clip.

A Cure For Illness.

اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲَ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَالْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْہ .

"This is a powerful Istighfar memorise and recite it perpetually. Through its recitation major illnesses are removed, major difficulties and sorrows are driven away.

I had a heart problem a severe blockage in the arteries and was due to have an operation. I was extremely worried and prayed to Allah to guide me and show me what to recite. It occured to me by the Grace of Allah that I should recite this Zikr for it is a combination of Istighfar , Laillaha Illah and Tawbah (all three are contained with-in it) When the surgeon performed tests before the operation. He was perplexed he said where is the blockage? The blockage has disappeared.

Alhamdulillah.

This developed a firm faith and conviction within me concerning this Dua ( of Istighfar.)

Once there was an Officer who is now retired. Someone had wronged him I told him to recite this zikr abundantly and his problem was miraculously resolved.

Recite it abundantly and see how Allah showers you with his Rahmah...."

Maulana Iqbal Salfi.

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#10 [Permalink] Posted on 26th December 2019 23:17

I once mentioned that I use HasbunAllah as a prescription for myself, but Astagfirullah works wonders for me too.

So many times, I just tell people to recite that and eventually they see the closed doors open up so wide, they can't start to begin how it happened.

I walk from the train station to my office everyday, that's about 2000 steps. On the way there, I recite Astagfirullah all the way.

It puts a smile on my face and brings wonders to my life. I see doors open that I thought were never going to open or were very narrow to walk through safely. SubhanAllah, a real miracle worker in such simple words

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Actions are judged by intentions, so each man will have what he intended.
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#11 [Permalink] Posted on 27th December 2019 12:07

Purify the Heart till it shines!

Yesterday I talked about the purity of heart and so I kept thinking on the ways to achieve it. I was reminded of many tips but the one I have found the most effective from personal experience is to seek forgiveness of Allah…

Now this is something that most of us already know and practise but at times I have noticed that the things we do without feeling their true worth; become mechanical and so we remain deprived from their actual benefit…

Because if we do things just for the sake of fulfilling a routine then the heart is not involved and if the heart is indifferent and not being affected by our good deeds then the purpose is not achieved… the heart remains unchanged and so our thoughts and dealings with people also remain unchanged and unimproved…

So what exactly is the benefit of “Istighfaar“(seeking forgiveness)?

Let me tell you a story…

Some twenty years ago when I was trying to become a “Muslim-by-choice” and had started praying five times… but had no knowledge of Quran or Hadith… I was having a really tough time and I became so miserable due to some issues that despite the fact that I am not the sort of person to share my sorrows with my parents, I actually called my father and thought I will ask his advice in some indirect way… (because I have always believed that the worst sin would be to make my parents miserable because of my problems…)

Anyway I told him that there is someone I know who is so depressed with her problems and although she prays regularly still she is not at peace… what should she do?

He told me that she should do istighfar… ask Allah for forgiveness…

I was so upset by this reply that instead of offering any sympathy he is implying that she is the one in the wrong so she should ask for forgiveness??

But somehow I just started following his advice because I believed that there must be some benefit in it even if I couldn’t understand… and guess what?

My life changed because of that… and why?

Because my heart changed… my priorities changed… my way of thinking… my desires… ambitions… everything changed!!

So you see it is not just my story but all of those who have consciously done Istighfar must have experienced this change that accompanies this simple yet profound act.

Because you see nothing can change our past… except Istighfar!

Whatever mistakes we have committed in our lives becomes a burden on the heart and so we feel hopeless and miserable. It is only true and conscious Istighfar… sincerely feeling guilty and begging Allah to forgive you… that can remove this burden of sins…

The heart becomes clean and fresh… and shines with hope and energy… so the quality of all your deeds will improve!

Tauba cleanses a person so much as if he had not done any sin at all… so if you ever feel burdened and miserable just pray two nafl and cry before Allah to forgive you…

It is a good thing to sit in solitude and remember your sins which only Allah knows about and ask Him to erase them from your record… feel guilt and remove it through istighfar.

This is also beneficial in removing all kinds of fears and sorrows.

Another benefit is that when you become focused on your own mistakes and get busy in the cleaning process of your heart and soul then you will stop noticing other people’s shortcomings and your relationships will improve dramatically… giving you more reasons to lead a pleasant and satisfied life… in sha Allah.

The deeper your sincerity the more sins Allah will remove… so much that sometimes a sincere repentance can transform these sins into good deeds… imagine that.

That’s why our Prophet (s.a.w.)

has said:

Glad tidings for the one who will find in his book of deeds an abundance of Istighfar…

theseekerspath.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/purify-the-heart-...

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#12 [Permalink] Posted on 27th December 2019 17:14

Experience of a new muslimah.

Istighfar.. a realization.

Bismillah wal Hamdulillah.

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. May peace and blessings of Allah be on our Prophet (saw)

and his family and friends.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa barakhatu.

May peace, and Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you all.

" Verily only in the Remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest" {Qur'an 13:28)

When I was in Saudi Arabia, as a new Muslim. It almost always surprised me that my wishes and desires always came true. Yes , even up to the point that it comes true right from the moment that I was still thinking of it. I called them miracles. And was one of the obvious sign that I made the right choice in choosing Islam as my religion. or Having "been chosen" as a Muslim. Al Hamdulillah.

Then I assumed It was because I was in Saudi Arabia and I was near Makkah or Masjid Al haram. I was sure though that it was just because it was Allah subhana wa taala I was asking it from.

But to my dismay, months passed... I noticed that it does not happen anymore. At least not as often as usual. I was kept safe by Allah's grace till I went home to Philippines Al hamdulillah. But It left me wondering .... what happened? Why there isn't that much "miracles" with me anymore? What was I doing wrong? Did I disappoint the Lord of the Worlds in any way?

Until somebody relates to me a story.

The story of Imaam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal & the baker.

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him, was once traveling and needed to stay somewhere overnight. When he went to the mosque, the guard (not recognizing Imam Ahmed) denied him entrance. Imam Ahmed insisted on his right, yet he was refused. Frustrated, Imam Ahmed resolved to spend the night on the mosque's front porch/yard. The guard became furious and dragged him away, despite his old age and frailty.

A baker, whose shop was nearby, watched this scene and took pity on Ibn Hanbal and offered the great scholar food and a place to sleep. He watched as the baker mixed and kneaded the dough, tended the fire, and pulled hot loves from the oven, all the while uttering remembrances of Allah and istighfar (asking for Allah's forgiveness). Finally, Ibn Hanbal asked the pious baker what inspired him so. The baker responded it had become like second nature saying he did as he did in thanks to Allah who had answered all his prayers. All save one.

When Ibn Hanbal asked what that unanswered prayer was, the baker responded: "To see the famed Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal." At this, tears came to Ibn Hanbal's eyes and he told the baker, "I am Ahmed ibn Hanbal!". He then went on to add, "By Allah! I was thrown from the mosque to meet you."

Source: Al Jumuah, Vol 22, Issue 12, Page 33

It got me reflecting... and looked back on the time that I was still a new revert. I know that I was always doing Istighfar, and Dhikr right from the moment i have learned how to. I remember that Allah was always in my thoughts in every twist and turn in my life back then.

I looked at my life at the moment... I realized... (Astaghfirullah) i stopped doing dhikr (remembrance of Allah), It was just enough that I try to pray 5 times a day! Sometimes I even forget to. This story was a wake up call. May Allah be pleased with the person who shared this story to me.

I went on to find out if there is any verse in the noble Qur'an that says your wishes will be granted just by asking forgiveness for your sins. And loh! I was not disappointed.

And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) [Hood 11:52]

Remember Prophet Noah (AS)? This is what he used to say to the people:

10. "Saying, 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving;
11. "'He will send rain to you in abundance;
12. "'Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water).
13. "'What is the matter with you, that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah,-
14. "'Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages?
15. "'See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another,
16. "'And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp?
17. "'And Allah has produced you from the earth growing (gradually),
18. "'And in the End He will return you into the (earth), and raise you forth (again at the Resurrection)?
19. "'And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out),
20. "'That ye may go about therein, in spacious roads.'" [Surah Nooh]

And the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise) [al'Ahzaab 33:35]

In some hadeeths it is mentioned:

One of the narrators of a Hadith was asked about the manner in which forgiveness is to be sought, to which he answered: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to say: ‘Astaghfirullah! Astaghfirullah! (I beseech Allah for forgiveness, I beseech Allah for forgiveness)’.” [Sahih Muslim].

Yahya related to me from Malik that Ziyad ibn Abi Ziyad said that Abu’d-Darda had said,:
“Shall I not tell you the best of your deeds, and those that give you the highest rank, and those that are the purest with your King, and are better for you than giving gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks?”
They said, “Of course.”
He said, “Remembrance (dhikr) of Allaah ta ala.”
(Malik Muwatta Book #15, Hadith #15.7.24)

To cut the story short... I decided to put this to test... (well technically i already knew what would the result be) but I did as I was advised. I didn't just do Istighfar but resumed doing dhikr as well. Now ask me If there was any changes In my life recently because of Istighfar. Subhanallah what I have been asking for the whole year came to me in just a week. Now that i have learned and proven that Allah is sufficient for me... I have really became positive about my future. Finally i will leave you with a message from Allah,The Creator of everything, whom nothing is impossible... A message to all of us:

“So make remembrance of Me, and I will make remembrance of you. And show thanks to Me, and do not be ungrateful.” [Qur’an 2:152]

P.S.

I am but a servant of Allah, (Al Hamdulillah.) I seek to please Him, and gain His rewards, I seek to gain His approval, forgiveness and mercy. (In sha Allah) May Allah bless us all. Ameen. - imaan

Posted 11th August 2013 by She who must not be named

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#13 [Permalink] Posted on 28th December 2019 22:23

Reflections- The Power Of Istighfar.

by Rayhaanah Omar

It was over a cup of mint tea in Salalah, Oman, that Rayhaanah Omar met *sister Jameela, an American-born Muslimah who spoke passionately about her personal experience with Istighfaar and how these powerful words literally changed her life.

“I was brought up in an Islamically inclined home. My grandparents had reverted to Islam years back, and since then alHamdulillah, Islam has been firmly rooted in our hearts and lives,” Jameela says, by way of introduction.
“Ever since I was a young girl, I had learnt that the prayer for seeking forgiveness was: ‘Astaghfirullah’, which means: ‘I seek the forgiveness of Allah.’ I can still picture my late grandmother moving her large glass beads and reciting this phrase over and over again, whilst my brother and I played in the sandbox or on our bicycles…”

“As I grew older, I always felt reassured that I was progressing well…I was even proud of myself because I used to say ‘Astaghfirullah’ every day almost one hundred times. I felt reassured that as a Muslim woman in the West I was trying my best to follow the steps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw)

whose spiritual routine it was to recite these words often.

“So what happened for this to change?” I asked, eager to understand more about Jameela’s serene disposition.

Wistfully, she resumes: “It was 2009 and we were based in Abu Dhabi whilst my husband completed a research project for his firm. In Ramadhan of that year, I met *Ustadha Khulood, a dynamic da’wah worker from Chad.”

“So what special advise or formula did Ustadha Khulood share with you?” I coaxed.

“Meeting Ustadha gave me an entirely new perspective on this phrase,” Jameela continues.
“She used to say that Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had no sins – unlike us who, unfortunately, commit multiple transgressions every day and night.

“Your homework for this month,” she announced during a post-Ishraaq halaqa (study / learning circle), “will be to say ‘Astaghfirullah’ seventy thousand times.”

Jameela smiles as she recalls: “I clearly remember looking at Ustadha and asking: “No offence teacher, but are you serious about this homework?”
She confidently replied, “Yes, of course “. I started laughing nervously, thinking to myself: ‘Hmmm…I never could imagine anyone who would be able to accomplish this. Gosh! Is it even possible? I commiserated with my fellow classmates that we were all probably going to spend most of our waking hours in saying this phrase – this du’a – alone. As I hailed a taxi, I began doubting myself, questioning: ‘Can I do this? Will I complete the homework successfully?’

“Now, I was well aware of the importance of this phrase: I had witnessed, as a young adult, the patience, contentment and satisfaction it had brought into my grandmother’s remaining time on earth.

So I decided to ask Allah Ta’ala to help me. I started saying ‘Astaghfirullah’ more often. For example: when I was doing the dishes, helping my children with homework, walking, waiting for a friend or sitting in the taxi on my way home. Also, I started reading more on the subject and learnt of how Omar ibn Al- Khattaab (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) used to make du’a by starting with ‘Astaghfirullah’.

In my personal case, after achieving my goal of saying ‘Astaghfirullah’ seventy thousand times, my life changed one hundred percent, alHamdulillah!

“How? How did your life change?” I asked.

In all honestly, this is how Istighfaar changed my life: I used to be sick and I became healthier; I used to have a lot of misunderstandings with my family and friends, but afterwards, I started noticing that I had become more tender-hearted and accommodating – slowly, I noticed that my inter-personal problems were being resolved.

Career wise, my professional standing was not to my satisfaction, but I literally found doors of opportunity and possibilities opening up for me,” Jameela enthuses.

“The bottom line is that my whole life was complicated and I was unhappy. Now, alHamdulillah, I find myself to be more contented, energetic, happier – most importantly, I can truly admit to having found peace with myself and with others.”

“And what would your advice to Muslim women be?” I enquire.

“Dear sisters, never ever neglect the importance of this phrase, this remembrance and du’a and continue saying it as much as you can. In shaa Allah, you will see and feel and witness the peace, satisfaction and contentment from frequently reciting ‘Astaghfirullah’.”

Just then, an 8 year old runs towards us, waving, with a lollipop in hand. “Meet Aayesha, my eldest daughter”, Jameela introduces us.
“Ma shaa Allah, you have a beautiful name,” I remark.
Oh yes, I know, it’s also very special. I’m named after my grandmother. Would you like to know the story about her glass beads?” enthuses the little girl. “It’s all about the special word she’d say….”
May the legacy of His Remembrance live on, in their hearts and ours too.

A chapter from the life of Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi ‘alayh):

During his old age, while Imam Ahmed was travelling he stopped by a town. After the salaah, he wanted to stay for the night in the masjid yard because he didn’t know anyone in the town. Owing to his humility, he hadn’t introduced himself to anyone, thinking that if he did, he would be welcomed by many people.

Failing to recognize Ahmed bin Hanbal, the caretaker of the musjid refused to let him stay in the musjid. As Imam Ahmed was quite old, the caretaker had to drag him out of the musjid. On seeing this, a baker from a nearby place felt pity for this man (Imam Ahmed) and offered to be the host to him for the night. During his stay with the baker, Imam Ahmed observed that the baker would constantly recite Istighfaar.

Imam Ahmed asked the baker if the constant practice of saying Istighfaar had any effect on him. The baker responded by telling Imam Ahmed that Allah Ta’ala had accepted all of his du’as, except one.

When he asked him what du’a it was that hadn’t been accepted, the baker replied that he had been asking Allah to provide him the privilege to meet the famous scholar Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal.

On this, Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal said that Allah had not only listened to his du’a but had dragged him onto his (the baker’s) doorsteps.
Allahu Akbar!

British-born Rayhaanah Omar is an award winning radio journalist, qualified life mentor, and motivational speaker who is passionate abouthelping Muslim women develop their emotional and spiritual wellbeing. She currently resides in Malaysia.

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#14 [Permalink] Posted on 29th December 2019 00:04

Unlock your Heart ~ Moulana Naeem Motala Saheb DB

Veiled Gems | Towards Reformation of the Soul

بِسْــــــــــــــــــمِ اَللّهُِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Audio Version.

veiledgems.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/unlock4.mp3

We need to make the Zikr of Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala constantly and develop in our hearts this Ta’aluq (connection) with Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala. The connection with Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala becomes weak very easily when we don’t remember Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala …

Allah says “Faz-kuruni az-kurkum” “You remember Me ~ I am remembering you ~ I will always remember you”

But, when we don’t make Zikr of Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala, then we are cutting of this connection we have with Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala, and that is going to be detrimental for ourselves …

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in a hadith has mentioned a du’aa ~

“O Allah! … Open the locks of our hearts through Your Remembrance”

The hearts that we have, the spiritual hearts, have locks and to open these locks, one needs to make the Zikr of Allah Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala. The moment a person makes the Zikr of Allah whether he says, SubhaanAllah سبحان الله … Alhumdulilah الحمد لله … La ilaha illallah لا إله إلا الله … Allah-hu-Akbar الله أكبر … then these locks now become open …

For any key that we have, the key has teeth and when this key is put into any lock, the teeth of this key has to match that of the lock, then and only then, the lock of the door will open. The Zikr that we are making is the ‘Key to open the locks of our Heart‘. The teeth of this key (of this Zikr) are Khushoo (concentration) and Khuzoo (humility). To make Zikr of Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala with dedication, concentration, devotion, your mind has to be focused on Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala …

How often we make Istighfar, Astaghfirullah … Astaghfirullah … Astaghfirullah أأستغفر الله‎ with no feeling, no dedication, no devotion whatsoever. We are not even pondering over what we are saying! We are making Istighfar and we are seeking the pardon of Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala, the forgiveness of Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala … Rabia Basri RA used to say, ‘The manner in which we make Istighfar, we require to make lots of Istighfar for that type of Istighfar that we make’. In other words, we are not making Istighfar properly. When we make Istighfar we are asking Allah to conceal our sins. We are asking Allah to forgive us …

And then, a person should ponder over the sins he is committing or has committed. And as he is making this Istighfar, he must ponder and reflect over the Ghunnah (sins) he has made and he should feel this Nadaamat (remorse) in his heart. He should feel this regret and remorse in his heart. He should feel ashamed of having committed that sin. And now he is making a promise to Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala that he is not going to resort to that sin and he is seeking Allah, or Allah’s forgiveness. He wants to wash away from his heart that sin …

When we say ‘SubhaanAllah’ we must really feel and believe and understand and ponder and reflect over the meanings of SubhaanAllah!

Allah Subhanahu-Wa-Ta’ala is Paak. Allah has no blemish whatsoever! No defects whatsoever! Allah is absolutely Pure! Allah has no shortcomings! Allah has no deficiencies! Allah is Perfect!

الله أكبر
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#15 [Permalink] Posted on 29th December 2019 15:07

The Beauty of Istighfar
by Fajr-Literary

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

When reading through the books, in particular the biographies and statements of our pious predecessors, one beautiful thing that always amazes me is how important Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) was to our Salaf and how deeply engaged they were in this particular act. Now, these were a people who lived and breathed Islam, whose hearts overflowed with Iman, yaqin (certainty), humbleness, and all good, and they were of tremendous worth in the Sight of Allah. They were the scholars, the righteous and pious, the sincere worshippers of Allah `azza wa jall. They were our best generations whose sins were few and good deeds were many… and yet you’ll find that they never stopped seeking forgiveness. In fact, they’d spend some of their nights weeping and some of their days in sadness; always seeking forgiveness.

Incredibly, in our current times, we’ve come to almost abandon this virtue of constant istighfar and only seem to associate it with the major sins and when we fall into grave matters! But in reality, we shouldn’t seek forgiveness only when we fall into some wrong; rather it should be something that’s continuously present in our daily life regardless of whether we perceive a sin on our part or not. And this is what kept the righteous people engaged in this virtuous act; they knew the nature of the soul and the nature of the human being. Sometimes we fall into sin, sometimes we fall short in our duties, sometimes we forget and make mistakes, sometimes we lose sight of the ultimate purpose of our existence, sometimes we lose track of our sincerity and intentions, sometimes we suffer a spiritual loss without realising it, and sometimes our Deen spirals downwards and we do not even acknowledge it. We slowly begin to lose out on the Akhirah (Hereafter), but we remain in complete obliviousness.

Seeking forgiveness and repentance is hence crucial for the human who has these short-comings. By nature and by definition we are a creation prone to forgetfulness; and naturally we forget our sins and forget our shortcomings. For many of us, we do not even acknowledge when we fall into the wrong and this is perhaps the scariest thing.

The effects of sin are many, but I just want to focus on a few:

1. One effect of sin is that a person will find themselves prevented from knowledge. I guess we’re all aware of the famous poem by Imam al-Shafi’i wherein he said,

“I complained to Waki’ regarding my poor memory
So he guided me to abandon all sins
And he said to me ‘The Knowledge of Allah is a Light
And the Light of Allah is not given to a sinner.’”

Point being is that Allah is Tayyib (good) and He accepts only that which is tayyib (good). Sins on the other hand are a form of oppression (as the sinner only oppresses themselves) and this represents darkness as deduced from the hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) when he said, الظلم ظلمات يوم القيامة “Oppression is darkness on the Day of Judgement.” [Agreed upon] The knowledge which Allah `azza wa jall has revealed and taught to His Messenger (of Qur’an and Islamic ‘ilm) is enshrouded in light and is in fact light itself – so it’s not proper for this light to remain in the dark caverns of a sinner’s heart. Darkness and light cannot co-exist. So persisting in wrong will forever keep you in darkness and prevent knowledge from reaching you and saving you. However, there is a way out… When you allow knowledge to benefit you and you act upon it as much as possible (beginning with abandoning sins and breaking its chains), darkness will instantly begin to fade away.

2. Another effect of sin is that a person will find themselves prevented from their rizq (provisions) or restricted in their livelihood. Do you ever find yourself in financial constraints without knowing why? Do you find that there is no barakah (blessing) in your money; the pay check arrives and within a few days or weeks you’re down to restricted means again? Maybe you keep seeking avenues to make a living but find every door closes on you and frustration just keeps building up? Perhaps this is a time to sit with your soul and seek forgiveness.

When the slave of Allah is continuous in Istighfar and Allah knows that they are always aware of their doings and they are cautious not to fall into sin, He will provide for them at every instance: “… And whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide him from whence he did not expect.” [al-Talaq:] He will bring them job opportunities without them even seeking or searching for it. The blessings of wealth, health and good means is brought to them and the Dunya itself brought to their feet. This is because the more God-conscious a person is, the higher their level of Taqwa. This means they are constantly thinking of their relationship with Allah and their focus is on the Hereafter, so Allah takes care of their Dunya and fills their life with provisions to help them maintain their focus on the Hereafter and His Remembrance. How Kind He is, subhanahu wa ta’ala.

“… Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send rain to you in abundance and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” [Nuh: 10-12]

So the smart one realises that just as sins prevent provisions in life, seeking forgiveness will expand the provisions in their life, so they do not abandon it.

3. Another effect of sin is that one’s supplications are prevented from being answered. In Sahih Muslim, there is a hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) where he mentioned the case of a man who: “… having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and spreads out his hands to the sky saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” (crying out in du’a) – while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished from the unlawful, so how can he be answered?”

This ties in with what’s called ‘akl al-haram’ in Arabic, i.e. consuming from the unlawful. One of the greatest dangers we face in the West is the consumption of Riba’ (interest), the effects of which are deadly and tremendous. If things are not working out in your life, if despite your good job and family, there always seem to be problems and discontentment in life, then seek forgiveness; perhaps major sins such as this have come between you and Allah so you no longer find peace and happiness in your provision.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) taught us well when he encouraged us with one particular supplication in this grand month. He taught us to engage in saying:

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني
“O Allah, You are the Pardon and You love to Pardon, so pardon me.”
[Transliteration: ‘Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuHibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni]

Hence seeking forgiveness is not just for the sinner, but it is a habit of the righteous and pious. Allah opens doors and bestows many blessings upon a person by virtue of their istighfar and remembrance.

Let’s make it our daily habit insha’Allah!

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Abdur Rahman ibn Awf

The Blessing and Benefits of Istighfar.

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