The Most Excellent Manner of Seeking Forgiveness pdf

The Most Excellent Manner of Seeking Forgiveness

THE MOST EXCELLENT MANNER OF SEEKING FORGIVENESS

Book’s introduction

There are many texts to be found in the Book of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, and in the sunnah of His Messenger that encourage one to seek forgiveness: texts commanding it, showing its excellence, showing the excellence of its people and of those who are constant in it. In fact, there are so many of these texts that it would be very difficult to enumerate them. From them is the of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High:

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed greatly against themselves through sins! D o not despair of the Mercy of Allaah. Indeed Allaah forgives all sins to those who repent. Indeed He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” Soorah az-Zumar (39):54

Some of the Salaf have said that this aayah from the Book of Allaah, is the one that gives the most hope to the one who seeks forgiveness. Moreover, Allaah, the Most High, in encouragement of seeking forgiveness, and in making clear its excellence and its fruits both in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, refer to what Nooh said:

“He says: “I said to them, ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, indeed He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance and He will give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and rivers.” Soorah Nooh (71):10-12

This tremendous aayah promises numerous benefits and offers important lessons for those who seek forgiveness and for those who constantly ask forgiveness for their sins.

It is related that a man came to al-Hasan al-Basree, the noble Taabi’ee, and complained to him of poverty.

So he said to him, ‘Ask forgiveness of Allaah.’ Another man came to him complaining that he did not have any children.

So he said to him, ‘Ask forgiveness of Allaah.’ A third man came to him complaining of the barrenness of his garden.

So he said to him, ‘Ask forgiveness of Allaah.’ He then recited to them the saying of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High:

““I said to them, ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, indeed He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance and He will give you increase in wealth and children and bestow on you gardens and rivers.” Soorah Nooh (71):10-12

These then are some of the fruits of seeking forgiveness and some of its benefits in the worldly life. As for the Hereafter, then the benefits of seeking forgiveness are very great and tremendous.

With regard to the Sunnah, there are many texts from the Prophet encouraging the seeking of forgiveness and making clear its

excellence. From them is the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik that is reported by, amongst others, at-Tirmidhee in his Sunan. He said, “Allaah’s Messenger said: ‘Allaah, the Most High, said, ‘O son of Aadam! As long as you supplicate to Me, and hope in Me, I will forgive you what you have done and I do not care. O son of Aadam!

If your sins were to reach the lofty regions of the sky, then you asked Me for forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of Aadam! If you were to come to Me with enough sins to fill the earth, but you met Me not associating anything with Me – I would bring you the like of it of fogiveness.”