Akhlaq of Islam

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TAUBAH

Allah Ta’ala says:

"O Believers! Make taubah unto Allah Ta'ala, a pure taubah." (Surah 66, verse 8)

Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said:

Taubah (repentance) is the regret and sadness which arise in the heart when remembering a sin. For the validity of the taubah, shunning the sin, firmly resolving to abstain from it in future and controlling the desires when it urges for the sin, are necessary.

The meaning of taubah is to return from the far side to the near side. It has a beginning and an end. The beginning of taubah is the spreading of the rays of Divine Light which makes one realise that the sin committed is a fatal poison which wreaks great spiritual disaster. This realization induces regret and fear, which result in a true and sincere yearning to compensate for the sin. This yearning is to such a degree that shunning of the sin is immediate. Further, a firm resolve and intention are made to totally abstain from the sin in future. Along with this intention a full effort is made to compensate for the past shortcoming. When the result is this fruit of taubah pertaining to the past, present and future, then perfection of taubah has been acquired. This then is the culmination of taubah.

It should be clear that taubah is Waajib (compulsory) upon every person because Allah Ta'ala addresses all Muslims in the aayat:

"O Believers! Make taubah unto Allah, a pure taubah."

Since the reality of taubah is to regard sin as a fatal poison and disaster for the life of the Hereafter, and to firmly resolve to shun sin, and this much is part of Imaan, therefore, it being waajib and necessary is apparent to every Mu’min. Hence, Allah Ta'ala says:

The meaning of this aayat is: Allah Ta'ala will forgive, have mercy upon and aid the person who after having sinned renders taubah according to the rule of the Shariat and reforms his acts for the future, i.e. he abstains from all evil, practices in conformity with the Shariat and remains firm on his taubah.

Taubah or repentance is to confess to Allah Ta'ala one’s sins and to regret such commission. Resolve firmly to discharge all huqooqul Ibaad (rights of others) and other duties which are obligatory, but which have not been rendered. This intention should be immediately made and thereafter the actual fulfilment of such rights and duties put into motion. Alternatively, the pardon of those whose rights were usurped should be obtained.

When a sin has been committed, immediately perform two raka’ts Salaat with the intention of Taubah. One then has to offer repentance with both the tongue and heart. The taubah should be made fervently and vigorously. If one is unable to shed tears, then one’s face should take on the appearance of a concerned and crying person while making taubah.

Remember and reflect about the warnings sounded in the Qur'aan and Hadith in regard to sins. The pang of regret which enters the heart as a result of such reflection is in actual fact taubah.