The month of repentance, forgiveness and release from Hellfire, the month of goodness, blessings, munificence and kindness, Ramadan is here.
The Messenger of Allah said: “When it is the first night of Ramadan, all the devils and rebellious Jinns are tied in fetters, and all the gates of Hellfire are closed without exception, and all the gates of Paradise are opened without exception; and a caller calls out: ‘O seeker of goodness, approach! O seeker of evil, desist (from evil)!’ Allah The Almighty releases some people from Hellfire every night.” [At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah with a good chain of narrators]
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said,
“Once, the Prophet ascended the pulpit and said: “Aameen! Aameen! Aameen!” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah! You have ascended the pulpit and said ‘Aameen’ thrice (what is the matter)?” The Prophet said: “Jibreel (Gabriel) came to me and said, “May he be far from the Mercy of Allah, the one who witnesses Ramadan and it is not forgiven for him thereupon he enters Hellfire! say Aameen!” I said: “Aameen!”…to the end of the Hadeeth. [Ahmad, Saheeh]
Ramadan has come, so approach your Lord Whom you have disobeyed, imploring, submissive, regretful and weeping.
If you are not forgiven, if your eyes do not shed tears, and if your heart is not humbled before your Lord in this month (of Ramadan), then, when would this take place?
Will your eyes not shed tears out of fear of your Lord even once? Do you not feel that your heart is close to your Lord in this month? Do you not think this is a good opportunity for you to come closer, be more submissive, turn (to Allah The Almighty in repentance), and humble yourself (to Him), perchance it would be a true beginning to return to Allah The Almighty; a chance to forge a deeper connection with Him? {And those who are guided – He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.} [Quran 47:17]
Allah The Almighty admonishes us, Saying (what means): {O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous?} [Quran 82:6]
Yes, what has deceived you about your Lord The Almighty so that you dare to disobey Him and exceed His limits? Is it because you overlook His favors? Is it because you forget His watchfulness and magnificence?
Do not look at the triviality of sin, look at the magnificence of Him Whom you disobey.
Do not make Allah The Almighty the most insignificant of all those who look at you!
Let me present to you the following glad tidings from your Lord The Almighty and His Messenger .
Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
- {Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”} [Quran 39:53]
- {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 25:68-70]
How excellent is this favor, and how great is this profit, that Allah The Almighty replaces all your misdeeds with good deeds! Who can be negligent regarding this profit, but an ignorant person or someone who squanders this favor?
If you would like this great profit, {For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good.} then, read the statements of your beloved by way of exhortation to repentance:
- “Verily, Allah rejoices in the repentance of His servant more than…” to the end of the Hadeeth. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
- “Allah The Almighty says: ‘O son of Aadam! As long as you supplicate Me, and have hope in Me, I will forgive for you whatever (sins and misdeeds) you have committed, and I will not care (how many your sins might be). O son of Aadam! Even if your sins are as many as to reach the clouds, and then you seek My forgiveness, I will forgive for you, and I will not care (how any your sins might be).’“
- “Allah The Almighty Says: ‘O My servants! No doubt, you commit mistakes by day and night, and I forgive all sins. So, seek My forgiveness, perchance I would forgive you.‘”
- “Verily, Allah stretches out His Hand at night in order to give an opportunity to the doers of misdeeds during the day to repent; and He stretches out His Hand by day in order to give an opportunity to the doers of misdeeds at night to repent (and He will continue to do so) until the sun rises from its setting place.“
Once the Messenger of Allah saw a woman looking for her infant son among the captives, and when she found him, she embraced him, and gave him her breast. On that he said: “Can you imagine this (woman) throwing her baby into the fire?” They answered in the negative, thereupon he said: “No doubt, Allah is more Merciful toward His servant than this (woman) toward her baby.”
How can we delay and postpone our repentance after all these favors?
Let me ask you a question: What prevents you from repentance and following the way of rectitude? Perhaps your reply would be, ‘It is family, society and friends. I fear I may repent and then return to my sinful ways once again. My sins are numerous, how can I ever be forgiven? I feel afraid for my family and property.’
In reply, let me say, ‘Do you think you will say the same in the presence of your Lord when you meet Him? Of course not! These are but illusive obstacles and hurdles which can be destroyed only by the one who fears his Lord.’
A renowned Arab poet Al-Mutanabbi said in one of his poems, ‘If the souls are great, the bodies suffer to meet their supreme goals.’
So, be a person of honor with your religion, and have true determination to do good persistently, and rely on Him The Almighty, and remember your Lord’s mercy and extensive forgiveness.
If the angel of death comes to you at this moment, would you accept to meet your Lord in the very state you are in?
Do not flee from bringing yourself to account. Unless you bring it to account today, then tomorrow in your grave, you will show regret when it will be of no benefit to you.
New birth
Repentance is not specific to the month of Ramadan only, but is common to other months as well. Perhaps you will experience a new birth in this month of goodness and blessings. Man is born twice: on the day he comes out of the darkness of his mother’s womb into the light of this world, and on the day he comes out of the darkness of disobedience into the light of obedience. So, be determined to make a fresh start this Ramadan.
Stay in the company of righteous people who will benefit you by the permission of Allah The Almighty, even after your death, by their supplication for you. Be patient with them until you meet your Lord, where it will be said to you and them (what means): {‘Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.’} [Quran 13:24]
A story and an incident
A person we know used to keep good company, but before long he left them and started becoming negligent of his religious obligations. One day, he set out on a picnic, and on the way, his car turned over. He was taken to intensive care and died there.
We received the sad news of his death, and performed the funeral prayer over his dead body, which was then carried and interred into the grave with bricks and dust over it – never to return. Then, a righteous man – and I do not praise anyone before Allah The Almighty – sat by the side of his grave, lowering his head and supplicating for him, and I think he was his dearest friend. At that moment, I came to know who would benefit one from among his friends after his death.
Beware lest you would be one of those in connection with whom Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, “Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter.”} [Quran 25:27-29]
Before the door is closed
Before the door is closed, determine now, without delay, the way to follow in the world and the Hereafter.
The heart receives great happiness and joy when one returns to his Lord regretful, and joins the procession of the righteous. It is the happiness tasted only by the one who tries it.
If you decide to repent, turn to your Lord and humble yourself to Him, know then that your repentance must meet the following conditions:
1- To show regret for what has passed.
2- To give up the sin.
3- To decide not to return to it. If you return to it, then, repent once again to Allah The Almighty, but be true to your determination.
4- To repent before the last throes of death and before the sun rises from its setting place.
