#006 Will Allah Forgive Me

Today’s article deals with a very important subject. Repentance (Tawba) and answering the questions many of constantly ask ourselves, “Will Allah Forgive Me?” 

In fact, this was inspired by a question I was asked. 

The questioner asked, “Does Allah miss a slave If they were once very pious, but they stopped praying? 

That’s such an important question because within it, we have so many beneficial lessons.

Does Allah Love His Servants, Even The Sinners?

What do we do when we have turned away from the obedience of Allah,when we’ve fallen into sin, or where maybe we’re continuously in sin? 

What do we do when this happens to us?

Is there a way to rectify this situation without further exacerbating it or dragging it out?

What’s the quickest way to solve this problem?

To answer this I want to reference a couple of verses that Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran. 

But first, I want to make a point about Tawba, Repentance or Istighfaar.

Repenting to Allah, turning back to Allah is actually a foundational state of a believer.

Every one of us regardless of who it is, we are always in need of turning back to Allah (swt).

The Prophet (saw); the best of humanity didn’t commit sin. Allah protected him from that. But even though he had Allah’s protection, he (saw) knew how beloved this act is.

He knew this was the key to happiness. It’s narrated in some narrations that he would ask for forgiveness from Allah more than 70 times a day.

In other generations, it’s said more than 100 times a day. 

So what about us? We are constantly falling into these acts of disobedience, these things that Allah is not happy with.

How often do you ask yourself the question?I asked myself this very same question.

Do I sincerely repent to Allah, maybe 15,20 times a day? 

Do I repent to Allah 10 times a day? How about 5 times a day? 

Ask yourself. Are you repenting to Allah? Are you asking Allah for forgiveness, even five times a day? 

The Tawba Habit

The Messenger of Allah (saw), the best of humanity, practised such frequent repentance. 

So if that’s the case, then it’s absolutely imperative for us to nurture this habit. 

It should be habitual that we turn to Allah (swt) and ask for forgiveness. 

Now, let’s dive into the Quran verses that answer the topic. 

The questioner asked, Does Allah miss the slave that was once pious? 

Obviously, there are different reasons why we become weak, the main one being sin.

Who doesn’t fluctuate in their Eman (Faith)? Who isn’t strong at one point in their life and becomes weak at another?

We all fall into that situation of weakness. We go through ups and downs in our level of Eman, in our strength of faith. 

In Surah Al Baqarah verse 222, Allah (swt) tells us categorically 

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ 

In this verse, Allah (swt) is talking about marital relationships. However, the message here can be applied to broader aspects of life and relationships.

Let’s be honest, so many people today fall into the sin of Zina (adultery and fornication).

Or maybe it’s not even Zina. Maybe it’s within the marriage itself (and refuge is sought with Allah).

The thing is, we fall into a state of sin. 

Now in this verse where Allah (swt) says, ‘Indeed, Allah loves the one who repents. Allah loves the one that purifies themselves.’

From a technical perspective, if you think about this verse when you are making Tawba, asking Allah for forgiveness, you are actually purifying yourself too.

It’s a spiritual purification where you’re ridding yourself of the sin that you’ve committed, by making Tawba, by making Istighfaar. 

A physical act of spiritual purification is Wudu; the ablution before the Salah.

Cleansing yourself is a spiritual cleanse although we do it physically. The Prophet (saw) informed us that Allah wipes away the sins when you make ablution (Wudu). 

So in this verse specifically, Allah (swt) is talking about the relationship between the husband and the wife. 

Here, the one who falls into error does so maybe when the wife is on her time of the month, because of that strong desire for intimacy.

Allah (swt) says 

 فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ

If she purifies herself, meaning cleanses herself,  then approach her. This verse talks about sexual relationships. 

But in this verse, Allah (swt) informs us that even under the banner of marriage, people still transgress the bounds, because we’re human. 

The Limitless Mercy of Allah

Allah knows that we’re human. 

May Allah protect us from our weaknesses caused by our desires, but Allah knows that we can fall into this. 

And what Allah says is that He loves you and He tells you how. Allah says

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ

“Allah loves the one who makes Tawba”

وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ 

“Allah loves the one who purifies themselves”

You and I, should be really focused on purifying ourselves by making the spiritual Tawba, physically repenting, and asking for forgiveness. 

Escaping the Very Real Slippery Slope

In today’s society, so many Muslims are falling into a state of Zina. It begins with Zina of the eyes, where they are unmarried and they’re looking at each other with desire. 

And before long, the Shaytaan waters those desires. He makes you think about it, and think about it, and that desire becomes stronger and stronger. 

When the desire becomes stronger, eventually people fall into a state of Zina or a state of sin. 

I’m picking Zina specifically because this is something prevalent in our times and society.

It’s the norm nowadays.

Marriage is becoming a thing of the past. Of course, within Islam, that’s not the case for the Muslims. 

Marriage is the foundation of the family unit. In fact, marriage is the foundation of society. 

Don’t Let Shame Stop You From Saving Yourself

In addressing such a serious issue, Allah (swt) tells us that even when you make those mistakes, Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and turn back to him in Tawba.

They are turning back in repentance. They’re feeling the pain of having disobeyed Allah, they’re feeling the pain and the shame, because that’s what happens.

When we fall into sin, we feel the shame of falling into that sin and we don’t want to stand before Allah. I’m using an extreme example here.

It may not be an issue of Zina. It could just be an issue of sin. 

Many of us commit sins, we continue sinning, and we belittle them. We make them so small that it’s no big deal. 

Those sins, as The Prophet (saw) taught us, are like a dark, black spot that appears on the heart, and it continues to appear until the heart becomes darkened and hardened. 

The darker the heart becomes, the more it deflects the light of guidance. The guidance will not enter it. And if the guidance does not enter your heart, you won’t act upon it. 

When we stop acting upon the guidance of Allah, on the Quran and the Sunnah, even if you know it, and you stop acting upon it, it’s usually because of those sins. 

We commit sin like backbiting, we’re talking about others, taking other people’s rights, and dealing in the disobedience of Allah in whatever form it comes in. 

When that happens, we become more distant and we become shy to stand before Allah in prayer because we know the sins that we’re committing. 

Now because we’re not stopping, how can you stand in Salah before Allah, and you know that you’ve just committed sins? 

The thing is, Allah is telling you that he loves those who make Tawba and Allah is showing you a way out. It’s not just that Allah loves you to make Tawba, 

In Surah Zumr Allah (swt) says, the one who’s feeling despair, who feels like Allah will not be merciful to us. 

Why? Because of the sins that we’ve committed, we know what we’ve done.

As a result of that, we start to feel desperate. We start to feel like we’re so far away from the Creator.

You believe in Allah, you believe in the Creator, you believe in the One who sustains your life because your life is full of blessings. 

You believe and as a result of that, we feel that despair, and the barrier between us and Allah is our sins. 

But look what Allah (swt) says,

 قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ   ‎

“When Allah says, Oh my servants, Allah is attaching you to Himself.”

Look at this. This is Sharaf. This is Takreem; this is honour. Allah honours you by calling you his servant. 

Allah says you are his servant. 

When we want to show our love and appreciation to our children, for example, we say Oh my son, my daughter, like my beloved right? 

When you attach them to yourself, it gives them that feeling of belonging. 

So Allah(swt) says here: Oh my servant who has wronged themselves, they transgressed against themselves, you didn’t transgress against Allah, you couldn’t take anything from Allah. 

Allah says you’ve wronged yourself. And then what does Allah say? Allah says, 

 لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ

Don’t fall into this despair. Don’t fall into this feeling that the mercy of Allah won’t come to you. Because Allah will. 

Allah then says immediately after,

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

“Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.”

Can you imagine that? You haven’t prayed but Allah will forgive you for that sin. Turn back to Allah and repent, Allah will forgive it. 

You haven’t given your Zakaah for years. Give your Zakaah, turn back to Allah(swt)in repentance, and Allah will forgive you.

You haven’t prayed. This is the purpose of your existence but you haven’t prayed and Allah(swt) says, Turn back to Allah, Allah will forgive all sins.

The greatest sin is to commit Shirk; to associate partners with Allah to worship other than Allah. Allah says that even Shirk, Allah will forgive you if you turn back in repentance, if you abandon it. 

This is such an important question because Allah is telling us that He loves us even more so because we turn back and ask for forgiveness, when you turn back and ask for forgiveness then Allah(swt) recognises that you are his slave. 

Turning Back is the Best Option 

Allah says: Don’t despair from the mercy of Allah because the Mercy of Allah is infinite.

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا

“Indeed Allah will forgive all sins.”

إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 

“Indeed, He is the Perpetual Forgiver; He never stops forgiving.”

Allah (swt) never stops forgiving. So if you have fallen into this situation where you haven’t prayed for a while, then my suggestion to you is to turn back to Allah (swt) and repent.

Make Istighfaar; repent to Allah.

If you’re reading this right now and you’re thinking, I haven’t prayed for years. I don’t pray. Or maybe I pray occasionally. 

If you’re reading this, it’s because you are looking for a way back to Allah. 

You’re listening to Islamic talks or watching Islamic videos, because you’re looking for a way back to Allah, and Allah (swt)  loves the one that turns back to him.

Immediately in the verse following this, Allah (swt) says: 

وَأَنِيبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ 

“And return to your Lord.”

Allah (swt) is saying that we need to constantly return back to him and submit.

That’s what Allah tells us. If you’re constantly falling into sin, what does Allah say? 

 قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ 

“Oh my slave, who is constantly wronging themselves, don’t despair, Allah will forgive all sins.”

And then Allah (swt) says,

وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ

“Turn back to Allah constantly. Because that’s the state of our affairs.”

We are constantly falling into a situation where we are not doing the things that we should be doing.

And when that happens, what does Allah say? 

The door of mercy is open,  turn back to Allah. Allah forgives all sins. Don’t waste a second.

The Shaytaan will come to you and make you feel as though there’s no saving you, that you’ve done too much wrong. 

But Allah (swt) is telling you that the Door of Mercy is always open. 

Allah is the Most Merciful, He’s the Perpetual Forgiver. He never stops forgiving. 

So if you are consistently turning back, returning to your Lord, then Allah (swt) will fix your affairs.

Return to your Lord

If you’re not praying, here’s my advice. Take immediate action. Stop reading right now! 

Don’t waste another second. Make Wudu (ablution) and if it’s time for Salah, pray your Salah.

Don’t think about it because the Shaytaan will come to you and make you feel as though it’s not worth it. 

He will put doubt in you whispering that you’ve spent all your life not doing it. Why go back now?

But Allah (swt) is waiting for you. Allah is waiting for you to return to Him. Allah says: 

لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ 

“Don’t despair of my Mercy.”

Allah (swt) is telling you directly and Allah says to you: 

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ 

“Indeed He loves those people who turn back in repentance.”

Time for Action 

You don’t need to read to the end of this. 

You just need to make Wudu; stand in Salah and pray 2 Raka’at. 

Do a voluntary prayer. Pray 2 Raka’at; make Istighfaar and when you are in Sujud ask Allah (swt) to forgive you. 

If you are in a state of remorse and you’re really regretting how you’ve been living, you need to be turning to Allah. 

Make Istighfaar at that time. Repent to Allah at that time. How do you repent? 

Pray 2 Raka’at Nafl;  supererogatory, voluntary prayers, and just make Istighfaar.

Go to Sujud and ask Allah for forgiveness. Ask Allah to show you the way. Ask Allah to help you against your own weaknesses. Because that’s what it’s about. 

There’s a hadith narrated by Abu Bakr, Siddiq (ra), one of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (saw)

‘There is not a servant who has committed a sin, and he makes Wudu and he prays Raka’atain (2 Raka’at) prayer, he makes Sujud twice. And then he asks for the forgiveness of Allah. 

If a servant of Allah does this, then there is none that does this, that will not get the forgiveness from Allah. Allah will forgive them.’ 

This is so important because that’s all you have to do. It’s not complicated.

Simply stop what you’re doing. Go make Wudu. Pray two Raka’at and ask Allah for forgiveness. Ask Allah to help you. 

And then raise the barriers between you and your sins.

Put barriers between you and your sin. Whatever you’re weak in, whatever your problem is, put a barrier between you and that sin.

You know your weaknesses. You know if it’s a connection with someone that you shouldn’t be connected to. Change your phone number. 

Sounds a little extreme but what’s more extreme? 

Is it more extreme that you stay away from Salah because of the sins that you’re committing and ultimately end up in Jahannam? 

Or is it better that you just change your number? 

I’m giving you an example but you can do absolutely anything to put a barrier between you and your sin. 

If you do that then Allah (swt) will see that you are actively working towards taking the right steps.

If you are actively taking the right steps and you’re making Istighfaar; and you’re repenting, Allah(swt) says in Surah Nuh , verses 10 – 12,

 فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًا ‎

يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا

وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا 

Allah says, repent to Allah. If you repent to Allah, then Allah will bless you with an abundance and the abundance comes in the form of wealth, in the form of children, all the things that you and I want.

Relationships, Janaat, paradise in the Dunya before you get to the Akhira, Allah will give it to you. 

But you have to take the steps. Stop what you’re doing. Make Tawba; ask Allah for forgiveness; be hopeful that Allah will forgive you.

Don’t make Tawba and think, oh, Allah will never forgive me. My sins are too big. 

Your Sins Cannot Be Too Big For The Mercy of Allah

The mercy of Allah is so big, so unlimited, that it can encompass anything and that’s why Allah(swt) says in that verse, that if you turn to Allah then Allah will forgive you. 

Allah loves to forgive and His mercy will encompass all sins,

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا

Allah forgives all sins. Repentance is a powerful tool that can bring you closer to Allah and transform your life.

Allah’s love for His creation is unconditional. No sin is too great for His mercy to encompass. 

So, take action now and turn to Allah.