- Back to Home »
- Article , Motivation , Murmurheart , Stories »
- The Best & Greatest Return
Posted by : Haris Muzakki
Jan 23, 2014
There are many great “returns”
that people experience in their lives. The returning of a missing child,
finding a very valuable lost item or a close family member returning
home after spending many years overseas are some instances of a great
return. These are moments of immense joy and happiness. The best &
greatest “Return,” however, is when a sinful servant who had abandoned
Allah Ta’ala and fallen into sin makes sincere taubah (which literally
means “to return”) and returns to his Creator. There can never be a
happier moment for such a person.
Retuning to Allah Ta’ala in sincere
repentance brings down the showers of the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala. Due to
his repentance, the one who was previously known in the court of Allah
Ta’ala as a faasiq (sinner) earns the title of Habibullah (the beloved
of Allah). His crying and sobbing while begging for forgiveness is more
beloved to Allah Ta’ala than the recitation of tasbeeh of those who are
busy glorifying Allah Ta’ala. Can there be a greater return?
YARDSTICK OF PIETY
The object of the auspicious month of
Ramadhan is to truly return to Allah Ta’ala by repenting from all sin
and adopting piety. The Qur’an-al-Kareem declares: “O you who believe,
fasting has been prescribed upon you, just as it was prescribed upon
those before you, so that you may acquire taqwa (piety)” (S2:183).
Taqwa, in simple terms, refers to giving
up every sin. The one who forsakes all sin is the greatest worshipper
and the most pious person, even though he may not be performing nafil
(optional) Haj and Umrah every year, giving thousands in charity or
standing the entire night in tahajjud salah. Indeed, these great acts of
worship should be performed as much as possible. However, the yardstick
of piety is taqwa – abstaining from sin. Taqwa cannot be acquired
without first making sincere taubah. It thus follows that the one who
does not make taubah has to a degree defeated the purpose of Ramadhan,
even though he may have performed many other good deeds in the blessed
month.
MENTAL NOTE
It is thus evident that in order to
acquire the object of Ramadhan, one must start with sincere taubah
(repentance). One should sit in solitude and list down, or make a mental
note, of all the laws of one’s beloved Master and Creator which are
being disobeyed. Think: Have I performed all my Salah, Zakah, Qurbani,
etc? Have I taken anyone’s property wrongfully? Did I lie, backbite,
slander? Do I have pride, harbour jealousy and do actions for name and
fame? What about the laws of hijab? Am I obeying my most beloved Rabb in
this regard or do I disobey Him? Am I involved in any illicit
relationship? Have I sinned with my eyes, ears, tongue and heart? Have I
fulfilled the rights of my neighbours and relatives? Do I take
intoxicants? Am I shaving or trimming my beard to less than a fist
length? … After having carefully taken note of all the sins in one’s
life, sincerely repent from ea ch one. Beg Allah Ta’ala’s forgiveness.
For one’s taubah to be accepted, the following pre-conditions apply:
* Give up the sin immediately.
* Regret having sinned. Feel the pain in your heart, just as you would be pained if you lost a million rands.
* Resolve never to commit the sin again.
* The unfulfilled rights of Allah Ta’ala (salah, zakah, etc.) and the rights of people (debts, etc.) must be discharged.
* Regret having sinned. Feel the pain in your heart, just as you would be pained if you lost a million rands.
* Resolve never to commit the sin again.
* The unfulfilled rights of Allah Ta’ala (salah, zakah, etc.) and the rights of people (debts, etc.) must be discharged.
NO TAUBAH
Often many people stop committing
various sins in Ramadhan. Gambling comes to a hault. The T.V. is
switched off. Intoxicants are given up. Lying, vulgar languages, zina
and a host of other evils are forsaken. Similarly, many actions that
were previously neglected are performed in Ramadhan. Salah is performed
regularly. The Masjid is full even for Fajr Salah. Many other good deeds
are performed. It is indeed a great gift from Allah Ta’ala that one
respects the month of Ramadhan by refraining from sins and engaging in
good deeds. However, the tragedy is that as soon as Ramadhan leaves, it
is as if Deen has left. The day after Eid the Masjid is crying out for
those who were regularly there for the entire month. The gambling dens
are once again frequented by those who were frequenting the Masjid.
Numerous other evils which were given up during Ramadhan are once again
perpetrated.
One of the fundamental reasons for this
speedy slide into a life of disobedience is that, while we respected
Ramadhan, we did not sincerely return to Allah Ta’ala and repent from
our sins. Thus this is our need of the moment To undertake the Best & Greatest Return.
Having repented sincerely, one should
also closely link oneself to a pious personality who one feels
comfortable with. Take his guidance in all aspects and one will be saved
from the many hazards, Insha Allah.
ENCOURAGE
Furthermore, actively encourage others to undertake the Best & Greatest Return. While your encouragement will Insha Allah benefit them, it will also greatly help you to remain steadfast.
May Allah Ta’ala grant s the ability to repent sincerely, forgive us and enable us to refrain from very sin in future. Ameen.
Title : The Best & Greatest Return
Create By Haris Muzakki
Give Feedback On This Article. Hopefully This Article