Most people are aware of the conditions people must fulfill before their repentance is accepted, namely giving up the sin, regretting the sin, and determining never to commit it again.
However, in this article we will highlight some practical steps people should follow in order to help achieve sincere repentance.
1: Trying to count all the sins that you have committed since adulthood until the present time.
This is an introduction to repenting for all these sins, because when the soul considers all its sins, it will be humble and tend to repent as soon as possible. Here is a list of the categories of sins to help you remember your past sins:
- Sins of the body, such as the tongue (backbiting, tale-bearing, lying, and ridiculing others); the eyes (looking at what is prohibited), ears, hands, feet and private parts.
- Sins of the heart, such as arrogance, envy, aggression, self-conceit, and so on.
- Negligence in performing your duties towards one’s parents, relatives and negligence regarding the other duties such as enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, as well as Da'wah (calling to Islam).
- Negligence in the acts of worship like delaying the prayer after its due time.
2: Try to count all the blessings of Allaah The Almighty upon you.
You should keep counting these blessings until you realize how negligent you are towards the rights of Allaah The Almighty and until you despair of counting. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allaah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, humankind is most unjust and ungrateful.} [Quran 14:34]
Then, you should make a comparison between the blessings that Allaah The Almighty sends down to you, and your misdeeds that are being sent to Him in return. In this case, you will not be able to resist your tears, your heart will be soft and you will say: “I acknowledge the favors that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon.” [Al-Bukhaari]
When you shed tears and feel remorse, you should then move to the third step.
3: Repentance Prayer
After deserting the sin, you should immediately implement the advice of the Prophet,(Peace be upon him) who said: “Whenever one commits a sin, and then performs ablution perfectly, and prays two Rak’ahs (units of prayer) after which he seeks the forgiveness of Allaah He will forgive him.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
Then, you should determine that you would never return to sins. In this way, you will live the best day of your life since your birth.
4: Keep away from bad friends and evil companions.
Sever your relationship with them, because they will prevent you from returning to your Lord. If you succeed in getting rid of them, then this is a great sign that Allaah The Almighty has accepted your repentance.
5: You should have a daily program of acts of worship to perform.
This program aims at helping you make up for what you missed and compensate your negligence towards the rights of Allaah The Almighty. This program should include reading parts of the Quran, Dhikr (words of remembrance) reported from the Prophet, night prayer and fasting. However, the most important thing is that this program should be gradual and realistic.
6: You should attend a religious lecture in a masjid once a week on a regular basis.
This step aims at strengthening your relationship with your Lord and the righteous people who are your companions on the road to faith. Accompany those righteous people and never keep away from them.
Futher Reading
THERE IS NO “TEENAGER” PHASE IN ISLAM
THE ROLE OF TELEVISION IN THE DESTRUCTION OF CHILDREN AND SOCIETY PART 1
ROLE OF THE TELEVISION IN THE CORRUPTING OF SOCIETY PART 2
AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT ANGRY WITH ME THEN I DO NOT CARE
AN EXAMPLE OF A MOTHER’S PATIENCE
HOW NAJMA TAUGHT US HOW TO LIVE
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1. We can never count Allaah’s Blessings: Be ever grateful to Allaah Ta’ala for everything that you possess including your wealth, health, status, intellectual abilities and life.
Allaah says: “Is, then, He Who creates comparable to any that cannot create? Will you not, then, take heed? For should you try to count Allaah’s blessings, you could never compute them…” (An-Nahl 16:17-19).
2. Shaytan’s primary mission is to make human beings ungrateful: From the very beginning of the human being’s creation, the issue of gratefulness and thankfulness to Allaah Ta’ala has been debated. After refusing to bow to Adam, Satan said:
“Then I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from the right-hand side and from the left-hand side, and You (Allaah) shall not find most of them thankful” (Al-Araf 7:17).
3. The opposite of Shukr (gratitude) is Kufr (disbelief): In many places in the Quran, Allaah compares the terms Shukr and Kufr. “Then remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not reject Me” (Al-Baqarah, [002]:152).
Imaan (belief) implies Shukr or gratefulness as opposed to Kufr or ungratefulness. A kafir or disbeliever is ungrateful to the Being Who has given him everything, whereas a Believer is one who is ever thankful for all that Allaah Ta’ala has given him.
4. We thank Allaah for our own benefit: If you are ungrateful, Allaah Ta’ala is unaffected. If you become grateful, then you have taken the first step towards becoming a true Believer. It is for this reason that the Prophet exhorted us to “Love Allaah as we benefit from His grace” (Tirmidhi).
Allaah reminds us: “And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for the benefit of his own self” (Luqmaan, [031]: 012). “For surely if it was not for the grace of God on you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers (Al-Baqarah 2:64).
5. True worship means sincere thankfulness to Allaah: Allaah Ta’ala explained in the Quran that the only people who truly worship Him are those who give gratitude to Him, so those who are not among the people of gratitude are not among the people of ‘Ibaadah (worship and obedience). “… and be grateful to Allaah, if it is Him you worship” (Al-Baqarah, [002]:172).
6. Shukr leads to Allaah’s pleasure: Allaah has told us that His pleasure may be attained through gratitude. “…If you are grateful, He is pleased with you...” (Az-Zumar, [039]: 007).
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allaah is pleased with His servant if, when he eats something, he thanks Allaah for it, and when he drinks something, he thanks Allaah for it” (Muslim).
7. Gratitude is a purpose of our creation: “It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affection: that you may give thanks (to Allaah)” (An-Nahl, [016]: 78).
8. Shukr is a quality of success in this life and in the Hereafter: Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated that the Prophet said: “There are four qualities, whoever is given them has truly been given the best in this world and the next. They are: a grateful heart (that is thankful to Allaah), a remembering tongue (that mentions Allaah often), an enduring body (to persevere through the trials), and a faithful wife.”
9. Being grateful and patient in times of difficulty: Everything that happens to us – even events that we may consider to be personal afflictions or natural disasters-are from Allaah. Therefore, in times of calamity and distress, there will be some good for us, provided we respond appropriately.
The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said: “How wonderful is the case of a Believer! There is good for him in whatever happens to him -and none, apart from him, enjoys this blessing. If he receives some bounty, he is grateful to Allaah and this bounty brings good to him. And if some adversity befalls him, he is patient, and this affliction, too, brings good to him.” (Saheeh Muslim)
10. Allaah’s Mercy is for all, but most people will remain ungrateful: He shows and gives mercy to all, even those who continue to be ungrateful and rebellious towards Him: “Indeed God is the possessor of bounty for all people but most people do not give thanks.” (Al-Baqarah, [002]: 243).
11. Most people subconsciously thank God: Reflect upon your own life and you will find innumerable occasions when Allaah’s `hand’ has been holding you and helping you. So often, believers and even atheists subconsciously use the expression ‘Thank God’, without realising the full implications of our words.
12. Shukr leads to abundance in Allaah’s favors: If you appreciate Allaah’s favors, He has promised increased Rahmah or Mercy for you. Allaah’s reward for your gratitude is unlimited and unconditional. “If you are grateful, I will surely give you more and more.” (Ibraaheem, [014]: 007)
13. Three ways to express Shukr: The classical Muslim scholars have indicated Shukr can be shown in three ways:
– Shukr of the heart (Qalb), which is achieved by harboring and intending good for all of Allaah Ta’ala’s creation.
– Shukr of the tongue (Lisaan), which involves celebrating the praises of Allaah Ta’ala, such as utterance of “Alhamdulillah”, and expressing gratefulness to Allaah Ta’ala with our tongue.
– Shukr of the limbs (Jawaarih), which is fulfilled by using our external senses to do good. Every time Allaah Ta’ala gives us a blessing, we must use it in a way that benefits humanity and that pleases Allaah Ta’ala.
Further Reading
THE INTENSE LOVE OF RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) FOR HIS UMMAH
UNDERSTANDING SECULAR EDUCATION
ENJOYING MOTHERHOOD WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG
THE UGLY SIDE OF ‘THE ‘BEAUTIFUL’ GAME’
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