MAN IN THE QUR'AN
God loves those who are penitent
By Amanulla Vadakkangara

The most important thing to be noted in the Qur'anic approach is that it considers man as man with all possibilities of mistakes and sins. The widely approved notion of to err is human is approved and enough chances and sufficient guidance is given to get rid of such mistakes on sins. The doors of repentance is opened before the servants. But this should not be considered as a justification to commit sins or encouragement for deviating from the reality.

These are only reflections of the wisdom of the All­Knowing and All­Seeing Allah the Almighty in His creations. Though man is the best and the most dignified he can't be free from all mistakes since the declared enemy of man, Satan, tries to divert his attention by all possible ways and means. That is why we understand that among people only the prophets were protected from all sins and mistakes.

This was a special arrangement from Allah to His selected servant whom He has entrusted a special mission of prophethood. Except prophets there is no one in the world without any minor or major mistakes. Realising the human nature to make mistakes Allah has urged His Servants to take refuge in Him from all possible influences of Satan and if it at all they commit anything wrong repent and ask His forgiveness. Allah likes to forgive and He has attributed Himself as the most forgiving. In the Sura Al Noor Allah says: O ye believers, turn ye all together towards God that you may attain Bliss. ( verse 31).

In the Sura Al Baqara we see God loves those who are penitent and pure. (verse 220). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "A penitent man is dear to God. He who returns from sin is like one who has got no sins."

The Prophet (pbuh) has exhorted his followers: You fear your God wherever you are, follow a wrong deed with a good deed that may nullify it. Behave with people in a better way. Allah has made it clear that He will not reject the sincere appeal of repentance till his last breath.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Think that a man went to a vast field with a camel loaded with food and fuel. He slept thereafter leaning his head. When he awoke, he did not find his camel there. Then he began to search for it running to and fro and said after getting tired of hunger and sun: I will go to my former place to sleep, such a sleep that it may cause my death. Then he placed his head upon his hands and slept there to meet with death. When he awoke, he found his camel standing before him with food and water. His joy then knew no bounds. God becomes more pleased with the repentance of a believer than his joy.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: He was besides himself with joy and said in an ecstasy of joy I am your Lord and You are my servant.

Hazrat Hasan Basri said; When God accepted the penitence of Adam, the angels blessed him and Gabriel and Michael came to him and said: O Adam, God accepted your repentance and cooled your eyes. Adam said: O Gabriel, what will be my rank if after acceptance of this repentance some questions are asked? God then revealed to him: O Adam there will come sorrows and difficulties over your followers and repentance will be open to them. Whoever among them will repent, I will accept his repentance as I have accepted yours. Whoever seeks My forgiveness, I will not be miser in accepting his forgiveness as I am near and accept invocations. O Adam, when I shall resurrect the repentant men, they will smile and enjoy and their repentance will be accepted.

The Qur'anic concept of balance is highly relevant in this context. Measuring of merits and demerits and accepting if merits are more or rejecting if demerits are more is mere human common sense. Allah says: All actions are recorded with Allah and whoever finds his right side of the balance (good deeds) more weighing will be successful and would be sent to the Paradise which is prepared for the most pious people. Whosoever finds his left side (the wrong doings) more high will have to go to the Hell, which is the symbol of all terrible, horrible miseries and difficulties.

The Qur'an gives men the freedom to choose either of these ways enlightening him about the consequences of the both: "Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, will be in a Life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of good deeds), will be (found) light, will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will explain to thee what this is? (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely!" (Al Qariah: 6 - 11).

This shows that the Balance used here is of course figurative. The Good Deeds will be weighed and appraised. This appraisement will be of the nicest and justest kind: for it will take into account motives, temptations, provocations, surrounding conditions, antecedents, subsequent amends, and all possible connected circumstances. Against them, presumably, will be deeds of the opposite kind, appraised in the same way. If the good predominates, the judgment will be in the man's favour, and he will be ushered into a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. This will of course be on another plane.

In Sura Al Zilzal Allah says: "On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the Deeds that they (had done). Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it."

There are several verses denoting the same. This shows that Allah is the symbol of justice and mercy. He will never do injustice and will always be shown sympathy and mercy to his servants. That is why Prophet (pbuh) has taught us that when a person does a good thing Allah records it multiplied as He likes. If he continues with good doings He will mark it more and more good deeds, but when he commits a sin He will record it as a single sin and when he repents for it He will wash him of it and make him free from sins.

The Prophet (pbuh) has taught several ways to get our sins forgiven. The most important among them is increase invocations to him and pray sincerely and hopefully. Especially after compulsory prayers and in the night. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) has said "Our Rabb descends to the lowest heaven every night during the last third of the night and says:' Is there anyone in need to be given what he needs? Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness so that I may forgive him.'"

We should understand that though we can raise our hands and pray to Allah on any occasion this is a very special occasion where our dua is guaranteed to be answered. Likewise the period of time proceeding from Fajr can also be well exploited for requesting forgiveness of Allah. Apart from this it is reported that there is a certain time on Friday, where our invocations are answered. We can say any dua to Allah. The words or languages are not important. But it is highly recommended to pray duas reported from the Prophet (pbuh). Some of the prayers are given below.

'I seek forgiveness of Allah', 'My Sustainer! Forgive me and have mercy upon me, for You are the best of those who show mercy', My Sustainer! Forgive me, 'I seek forgiveness from Allah. There is no good but He, the Living, the One, Who sustains and Protects all that exists, and I turn to Him repentant'.

The Prophet said, "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: O Allah! You are my Lord. None has the right to be worshipped but you. You created me and I am your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.

The Prophet added, "If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise."

'O Allah! we seek help from You, we seek Your forgiveness, we seek Your guidance.

We turn in repentance to You. We placeour trust in You. We laud Your name. We give thanks to you for the prosperity You have bestowed. We do not turn from you in disbelief. We renounce and turn away from whomever disobeys you and rebels against Your commandments.'

'O Allah! We worship You. To You we pray and to you we Prostrate. To you we hasten, to work for you and to serve you. We beg for Your mercy and fear Your punishment. On whom your punishment falls is surely an unbeliever. Your punishment will overtake and strike the unbeliever.'

'O Allah! Lead me to the true faith with those You have guided. Pardon me with those You have pardoned. Protect me with those You have protected. Bless me with what You have given. Keep me safe from the evil You have ordained, for You decree and none decrees upon You. No­one who is in Your care is brought down and no­one is rewarded to whom You show enmity.'

'O Rabb! You are most praised, most sublime.'

Believers are instructed to seek all permitted ways to ask Allah's help and assistance. Allah conveys the good news in the Revelation: "And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out" (LXV:2). "And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his Trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him" (LXV:3).

The promise of sustenance is definite; only we have to serve Him. It is then impossible that He having created us, by His will and intention would deprive us of His favours; granted us life and would not help us; demand His right to be worshipped and served and would not provide us with our right to sustenance. He is Most Gracious, who can be at loss after serving HIM?

Another mode of beseeching aid of Allah is to exercise patience during misfortunes and adversities. Whether one is a dervish or a king, pauper or an affluent, all are involved in some misfortune or the other, "Verily We have created man into toil and struggle" (XC:4). Since Allah tests us in misfortune, He involves in calamity. He makes us cry and laugh. "That it is He who granteth Laughter and Tears". (LIII: 43).

"That it is He who granteth Death and Life": (LIII:44).

"That it is He who giveth wealth a satisfaction" (LIII:48). That is why Allah has shown us the way to safeguard ourselves from misfortunes and that way is Patience.

Allah ordains "O ye who believe persevere in patience and constancy, vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other; and fear Allah, that ye may prosper". (III:200). Patience only and patience by the command of Allah. "Therefore be patient with constancy to the command of thy Lord" (LXXVI:24). "An do thou be patient, for thy patience is but from Allah" (XVI:127) By being patient afflictions can be endured easily. Clouds of grief get scattered and burden of grief gets lightened.

If one has love of Allah and considers misfortunes to be by His Command, such misfortunes become bearable easily.

If one is certain that Allah is Forgiving and Loving. If one has the conviction that he is the Beneficent and the Merciful and of infinite Bounty then one will consider his misfortunes and calamities as hidden compassions.

After being saturated in Faith and love of Allah, illness, distress and starvation would be borne cheerfully and graciously the Prophet (pbuh) has said: Paradise is surrounded by things which are unpleasant to passions and Hell is surrounded by passions and pleasures. (Muslim)

Passions get subdued due to misfortunes and afflictions. Man gets tamed and turns towards Allah and forms afflictions with Him and dissociates himself from others. There is no other agency than grief which could mould the character of man. It is grief which subdues passions and purifies the soul. If the disease of heart and should could be cured by grief and we develop endurance and constancy, thousands of pleasures could be sacrificed on such grief.

To be continued ­ Insha' Allah