Hasten to ask for forgiveness

When Allah appointed Hazrat Adam (as) as Khalifa and made his abode the Garden, He gave him one instruction which was to enjoy everything that was there except a particular tree.  Unfortunately for Adam (as) Satan had access to the Garden and he wanted to diminish Adam’s status.  So the first thing he did was to create some sort of mischief by tempting and enticing Adam and Eve ever so often to eat from the tree and thereafter when they forgot the command they suffered the consequences.

Keep in mind at all times what Allah says in Surah Yaseen;

   “Did I not enjoin on you, O ye Children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he is to you an avowed enemy?”  (36:60)

Allah can do anything.  If He wanted He didn’t have to create Satan, or allowed the situation in the Garden to take place; or simply put Adam (as) on earth after his creation.  This is not impossible for Him, as He is All Powerful.  But there is wisdom in everything Allah does.

Two things occurred when Adam (as) ate from the ‘unapproachable tree’.  Firstly, he disobeyed a command from Allah; and he also brought hardship and difficulty upon himself.  Look at his life in the Garden and his life on earth.  In the Garden he didn’t have to do anything except follow one command.  On earth he had to work and toil for his livelihood and sustenance, etc.

Allah speaks about the dhalimeen – the transgressors’ in many places in the Qur’an.  A few of them are;

  • ‘Allah loveth not the transgressors’.  (3:57)

  • ‘Allah guides not the transgressors’.  (3:86)

  • ‘Thou wilt be among the companions of the fire, and that is the reward of the transgressors.’  (5:29)

  • ‘and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.’  (49:11)

  • ‘The transgressors will have no Protector or helper’.  (42:8)

We see from these ayats (verses) the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the transgressors.  And the reason for making mention of all of this is for one very important principle.

We know Satan is our enemy and that we must, at all times follow the commandments of Allah.  But sometimes we succumb to our weaknesses, knowingly or unknowingly.  We are human beings and are sometimes prone to errors and shortfalls.  So we will falter at some point in time; but when we do; we should repent to Allah immediately.

Sometimes we may think that we are doing good through our ignorance; but in reality we may be transgressing against the don’ts that Allah has commanded.  So at all times we must repent and beg for forgiveness for the wrong that we commit knowingly and unknowingly.  Only Allah is All Knowing.  We can’t say for certain that every single thing we did in a day was purely good.  Only Allah knows.

This is possibly why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said: “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.”  (Bukhari)

And this blessed personality was completely sinless and yet he repented so many times for one day.  What about us?

Repent and beg Allah as much as you can before it’s too late.  Just as the stick of a match grain is useless after the flame has been out so too is our bodies when the soul departs.  So while we have our total personality intact use it to get closer and amongst the favourable ones of Allah.  Prepare yourself to meet Him.

May Allah save us from being counted amongst the transgressors and may He give us the ability to repent to Him as much as possible so that we would be amongst the fortunate ones on that Day.

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