We all make mistakes in our lives…. It’s only natural!!!
At some point or another, we do commit a sin or two, maybe even ten…
Knowingly or Unknowingly!!!
We are only human and without thought we tend to tread of the path for a while.
What do we do when we realise we were wrong?
How do we ensure that our repentance is sincere, consistent and successful?
THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS WOULD BE TOO:
-
Stop our wrongful deeds/actions.
-
Show remorse deeply and truly for the sin committed. In this instant regret is a good thing.
-
Return to Allah ta’allah for forgiveness.
-
Make a strong intention never to repeat those actions.
-
Lastly:
If the sin involved infringing on the rights of other people, then we must return the infringed rights back to the individual to whom they belong.
Many people may find that their repentance begins strong, but then slowly gets weaker as it reached that peak of pure powerful tear filled dua and they fall back into committing the sin only a short while later. To ensure that we stay true to our repentance and keep our promises to Allah ta’allah, our Ibadah has to be consistent…
Believe that Allah ta’allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful
I have heard so many say “there’s no point in stopping my sin because I’ve wronged so much I don’t deserve Allah ta’Allah’s forgiveness, He will never forgive me.” If you are one of those people then STOP RIGHT THERE!!!
How can you think that way, when Allah ta’Allah says in the Holy Qur’an over and over again that He is All-Forgiving and Most Compassionate? How can you lose faith in Allah ta’Allah’s mercy? He created you and He knows your weaknesses and your faults. Everyone in the world makes mistakes, what makes you the best, is turning to Allah ta’Allah and begging most sincerely for His forgiveness..
We must never think that Allah ta’Allah will not ever forgive us. Repent with sincerity and remember that Allah ta’Allah loves His most obedient servants…
Allah ta’Allah will accept your plea for his forgiveness and mercy…
Pinpoint the Source of Your Sin
There are many types of sins. No matter how big or small a sin is, once we decide to give it up and want to successfully repent to Allah ta’Allah it is of utmost importance for us to locate the main source of this sin and keep away from it to the best of our ability. The source may be a friend, a certain place that you go to get away from it all, at your computer alone or watching tv alone. If the sin is related to the computer or the TV or other such appliances, we should not eliminate them completely from our lives. Instead we should try to find a way that helps us use these resources for good rather than evil. It is always good to try and have people around you when using these resources so that you feel stronger and surround yourself with people who remind you to stay on the right path, for it is always easy to go astray when alone and vulnerable.
If you find that the source of the sin is a friend, then you should cut ties with this friend. It will not always be an easy task, but rather of vital importance that it must be done, and do it for the sole pkeasure of Allah ta’allah and He will reward you immensely for it In sha Allah. Ameen.
If the sin is more like missing prayers or not fasting in Ramadan, we may try to pinpoint the reason we commit the sin. It may be, that your mind is occupied with other things which are distracting you from the fundamental worship of Allah ta’Allah, In this case we should try to eliminate these distractions from our lives or try to organise our time to sustain balanced lives which include our ibadah into our lives daily. Using the daily taskinator to plan and organise your day, can really help you stay on track with keeping your Ibadah in check.
Rally Your Support Team
The people around you have a huge impact on the way you behave. At a time when you want to repent to Allah ta’allah and you sincerely feel bad about the sins that you have committed, you don’t want to be alone. You may find that your family can be a HUGE support for you at times like this. They can remind you of what you are trying to do. They will listen to you and support you through all your struggles to give up your sin.
Friends are also really important. I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose your friends wisely. Peer pressure is real. Even if you think that you are strong and you will not fall again, your friends can pressure you into returning to what you used to do.
Your friends should be those who support you in whatever you do and better yet, they join you and work with you towards the goal of becoming a better person. They encourage you to attend lectures and workshops, and join you in volunteering for good causes.
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. [Qur’an: Chapter 9, Verse 71]
Most importantly, at times when you are feeling weak and fear that you may go back to sinning, your friends should be there to help you get back up, steadfast and stay strong.
Allah’s Messenger Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasalaam said, “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” [Bukhari]
You could find good company by becoming a regular at your local mosque and socialising with the people you meet there. You can also attend public lectures to find like-minded friends. You are guaranteed to find practicing Muslims who are willing to be part of your support system. Even in your own home, be open with your family – mother, father, siblings or spouse – about the changes you want to make in your life and ask for their help!
Stay Connected
The last and final point stresses on how important it is for you to stay connected with Islam and the Muslim Ummah. It is very uplifting for the soul when you are surrounded by Muslims seeking knowledge together and worshipping together. Make an effort to visit the mosque regularly and attend Islamic lectures and workshops. Keeping yourself busy with useful Islamic events and surrounded with the Islamic community takes your mind off the worldly things, which may trigger your urge to commit the sin once more.
Staying connected also helps your connection to Allah ta’allah. Reading the Qur’an regularly and performing your Salaah on time, including the sunnah prayers, keeps the connection lines between Allah ta’Allah and yourself strong.
Once you feel that Islam encompasses all parts of your life and that you are truly close to Allah ta’allah, it will be hard for shaytan to drag you back to your old sins. However, always remember to continuously keep asking Allah ta’alah for guidance and protection. Keep asking for His forgiveness as He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
No matter what sins you have committed, there is always a way to repent and start afresh. Always have faith in Allah ta’alah, fear His wrath and love Him for His mercy. Surround yourself with as much support and motivation as you possibly can and keep your intentions clear but most importantly clean and pure. May Allah ta’alah support us all on our journey through the right path, keep us steadfast in our beautiful Deen, keep us as his beautiful ummah close, but most importantly guide us to a pure transparent Nafs AMEEN.. Ya Rabbul Alameen….
