True repentance is not merely a feeling, or proclamation of words without sincerity of purpose, but a honest effort on one's part to feel the guilt....
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Article # 2
During this Ay’yamul Ta’abudaat a concerted effort is being made by mumineen throughout the world, to inculcate the noble virtue....
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Article # 3
As stated in my first ‘write up’ during Ay’aamul Ta’abudaat that I would try to read and share my views with netizens on the subject of.....
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Article # 4
In the previous ‘write up’ I had made a reference that -the first and foremost is recognition of one’s sin as sin, which largely depends upon.....
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Article # 5
Life is a journey, and all religions of the world ascribe to this view. This world (hayula’h) is viewed as a turbulent ocean, froth with many......
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Article # 3
As stated in my first ‘write up’ during Ay’aamul Ta’abudaat that I would try to read and share my views with netizens on the subject of istigfar. I came across a very concise and in-depth article on repentance on the Net, and here I am sharing whatever little I have learnt, which will help mumineen, who are serious in inculcating the noble virtue in their daily lives.
Ay’aamul Ta’abudaat is the most blessed miqaat, to undertake the spiritually cleansing good deed.
Istigfar requires five elements
01. The first and foremost is recognition of one’s sin as sin, which largely depends upon one’s intelligence and moral consciousness. Moral consciousness is formed by adhering to the tenets of deen, imbibing values cherished by our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS)etc: For an intelligent and devout mumineen, a small transgression is a sin, to those who are seeped in materialism, a sinful act in fact, may not be viewed as such. This is a subject, which requires in-depth analysis. In short, recognition of sin as sin- is the first step.
02. Remorse – it is feeling that one should have if he wants to repent. A feeling of regret, despair and anguish, for having failed to maintain one’s moral standard. An intense feeling of being alienated from Allah and His Wali and one’s own spiritual roots, a feeling of having cheated his own self.
03. Desisting from sin – now this is neither a moral or intellectual analysis nor feeling, it is ACTION (‘Just Do it’ is not the only prerogative of NIKE – it should also be a resolve of every mumineen during these A’yamul Ta’budaat) How one has to achieve – by changing of the course, by desisting from the pattern of sinful action, to which one has become addicted, a concerted effort has to be made, by consciously suppressing the thoughts and fantasies about the sinful activity. Once that is achieved, to make a firm commitment never to commit the sinful act.
04. Restitution – which means making good or giving compensation from an injury or hurt inflicted by word or action. It is act of making good, as best as one can, for the damage done. If one has stolen, one must return the object or pay compensation. If one has damaged one’s reputation, one must attempt to correct the injury inflicted.
05. Confession requires uttering of specific wrong done personally to the wronged person. The riwayat of Allah commanding Dawood Nabi to go to the kabr of the wronged person, confess the wrong done, is an important lesson. In other cases pleading to Allah with true fervor to forgive for the sins committed, and going in Hazarat A’liyah in person if possible, or communicating thru Aamil Saheb or raza na saheb, seeking forgiveness for the acts of transgression.
Sinfulness is a very deep rooted malady of human existence, and dealing with it calls upon all our spiritual, intellectual, and moral resources – desisting from sin, is the bedrock of true istigfar.
More than ten days have already passed, so if something worthwhile is to be achieved, get started now my friends.
May Allah grant our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) sehato-aafiyat-ta-kiyamat.Ameen.
Abde Syedna (TUS)
Asgar Fakhrudin.
Ref: Article – Repentance and Forgiveness - David R. Bumenthal
