Precious Remembrance [11232012] - AlHuda Sisters

Allah is Al-Ghafoor (He who forgives), and He is Al-Ghaffaar (TheOft-Forgiving), and He is Al-'Afuww (He who pardons). These, from the perfect names of Allah, demand that we constantly seek forgiveness, that we frequently repent and that we turn in repentance to Allah, the Most High. He, the Most High, said in the Noble Qur'an: “Allah does not forgive that anything is associated in worship with Him, but He forgives whatever is lesser than shirk to whomever He pleases.” (An-Nisaa’, 4:48) Conditions for attaining forgiveness of sins (basedon a verse from Surah Taha) 13 : “Indeed I am forgiving to the one who repents, truly believes, does righteous and correct deeds, and then remains constant upon right guidance” (Taha, 20:82) So, "Indeed I am forgiving..." and who is he who receives forgiveness from Allah, the Majestic and Most High? It is the one who fulfills Allah's conditions: Al-Istighfaar1. Firstly, he must repent. As Allah has said: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed greatly against themselves through sins! Do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah forgives all sins to those who repent. Indeed He is the Oft-­‐Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Az-Zumar, 39:54)"Do not despair" here means, ‘Repent to Allah,' because He is, indeed, the Oft-­‐Forgiving, the Most Merciful. 2. Secondly, he "truly believes." He truly believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers. He believes in the fundamentals of Eman. 3. He "does righteous and correct deeds." After repenting, he devotes himself to worship, to prayer, to remembrance of Allah, to fearing Him and to being mindful of Him. By devoting himself to these deeds of the heart and limbs, he turns to Allah. 4. Fourthly, "he remains constant upon right guidance." He remains firm and steadfast on the right path. 13 http://abdurrahman.org/zikr/mostexcellent.html- 29 -