Ability To Repent 10.4mb/MP3
By Maulana AS Desai
Saturday, 13 Jumadiyul Ula 1438 – 11 February 2017
Ability to Repent
Very Important Advice for Hujjaj
Mufti A S Desai Afrikee hafizahullah
13th Jumadiyul Ula 1438 – 11th February 2017
Bismillahi Ta’ala…
Shaykh Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Ja’far al-Kattani Baghdadi (d. 322 AH ~ 942 CE) rahmatullahi alayh narrated:
‘As long as Allah Ta’ala does not create in a person the tawfeeq, the ability, enthusiasm and inclination to repent at such a time that Allah Ta’ala has decreed or decided to forgive this person; he will not gain the tawfeeq and ability to repent.’
Such a person will not ask Allah Ta’ala to forgive, until Allah Ta’ala has decided to Forgive him. So, when a person makes tawbah, he repents, with sincerity (ikhlaas); then this in itself is a sign of maqbooliyat (acceptance) that Allah Ta’ala has accepted his repentance. Hence, Allah Ta’ala now gives this person the tawfeeq to verbally ask forgiveness.
Obviously, this will not apply to the one who has no sincerity; but the one who has ikhlaas and who makes tawbah with ikhlaas, then this is a sign that Allah Ta’ala has decided now to Forgive him.
This principle is not only restricted to tawbah, it applies to all good deeds (amaal), for we cannot complete any good deeds merely on the basis of our own efforts; we cannot achieve our objective of ibaadah. What we are required to do is initiate the process. Although one has to have correct intention (niyyah), nevertheless this niyyah on its own is not sufficient for accomplishing good deeds. Along with niyyah, one has to begin the process of the amal (deed), however, you will not accomplish even this upon your own efforts either.
Make a start, an effort, then Allah Ta’ala will grant tawfeeq, the spiritual strength as well as the physical strength to complete the amal. We are required to begin the work; as we begin to crawl, Allah Ta’ala will draw us nearer unto Him and we will begin to walk…eventually gaining more strength to run and climb also. However, the condition is one needs to initiate the process – this is within our control – but to accomplish and complete it is not dependent on one’s own effort. This is the exclusive prerogative, decree and decision of Allah Ta’ala.
Therefore, for any good deed (amal), one must make the effort, make du’a for tawfeeq and strength to complete it. Do not abandon something nor delay nor put if off for tomorrow or sometime in the future; you find some people completely deceived by Shaytan; who claim they will repent and reform when they return from Hajj. This is a great Shaytanic deception; such people will not gain the tawfeeq for tawbah (repentance) even whilst they are there (in Haramain Sharifain) by the Kaaba Shareef.
There intentions are corrupt; Allah Ta’ala does not give them the tawfeeq, this is a sign of them being mardood (rejected) by Allah Ta’ala; when they say we will make tawbah and reform ourselves ‘after’ we have performed Hajj. This is nothing but a Shaytanic deception.
Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Kattani rahmatullahi alayh further narrates:
‘Whoever shuns and abandons hirs (greed) and adopts qana’at (contentment) with what Allah Ta’ala has given him; then Allah Ta’ala will grant such a person honour and respect.”
When one has sufficient items but is never satisfied, he is like a dog – and this characteristic is present in every human – therefore this trait needs to be subdued with struggle. By being satisfied with qana’at (contentment), Allah Ta’ala honours one. Nevertheless this will only become apparent when you go for assistance from somebody and this person refuses – you now become despondent – the qana’at has now disappeared; you may have been under the impression you had qana’at with the decree of Allah Ta’ala – but the fact you become discontented and frustrated when somebody refuses assistance – whom you believed and convinced was in a position and by the means to assist you – is proof your qana’at is either absent or defective.
If a person is contented with the decree of Allah Ta’ala; then he will understand such a refusal by anybody is also the Hukm (Command) and decree of Allah Ta’ala. Everything in this dunya and creation is a shadow; it is Allah Ta’ala who is the Driver and Actor. He is behind everything. Nothing happens without Allah Ta’ala’s Intervention and Command.
Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Kattani rahmatullahi alayh further narrates:
‘When dependency (muhtaji) upon Allah Ta’ala is accepted; then His Divine Favour (Inayat) also becomes manifested; because each is inter-dependent and complete only upon the other.’
Two attributes are mentioned here.
First, muhtaji (dependency) upon Allah Ta’ala.
Secondly, the Inayat, the munificence, generosity and bounties coming from Allah Ta’ala.
For this Inayat to become perfect; for the Doors of Allah Ta’ala’s Rahmat, Mercy and Bounties to open up unto you; the need is for your dependency to be complete.
Do not depend on others. This does not mean you have to abandon and renounce dunya completely; and never to ask from anyone – this is the work of very selective Awliya. As far as we are concerned, where there is a genuine need, it is permissible to ask. However, your focus must not be on the person. Accordingly, if that person refuses you, then there is no need to become annoyed; no need to become agitated and frustrated.
Your dependency must be totally upon Allah Ta’ala.
Therefore, when your dependency is totally upon Allah Ta’ala, perform two Raka’ats Salaat ul Haajah and ask Allah Ta’ala. If what you are asking is not good for your dunya and Akhirah, then Allah Ta’ala will not only withhold it; rather He will give you something better in this dunya and also in the Akhirah.
Now when your dependency is totally upon Allah Ta’ala, then Allah Ta’ala’s Inayat and Generosity upon you will become perfect. One is dependent upon the other. If your dependence is defective; you have not placed complete dependence on Allah Ta’ala; then you will also find the Generosity of Allah Ta’ala to be restricted and then you will feel your du’a is not being accepted.
Allah Ta’ala always accepts the du’a of a sincere person.
He never rejects the du’a of His sincere servant
However, the meaning of acceptance of du’a is not fulfilment in exactitude of what you are asking. Allah Ta’ala knows what is best for His servant – everybody wishes to become a billionaire – the scheme of this dunya cannot operate and function correctly if everyone is a billionaire. Therefore, Allah Ta’ala will withhold and give something else in exchange, which in His Wisdom is better for you in this dunya and the Akhirah.
“And our final statement is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”