Merits and rewards of ‘Tawbah’ (Repentance to Allah) | IqraSense.com

islamic topics

Merits and rewards of ‘Tawbah’ (Repentance to Allah)

‘Tawbah’ refers to asking repentance from Allah for the sins that we commit. Making sincere repentance or Tawbah raises a Muslim’s stature with Allah because the process of making Tawbah involves the following three steps:

  1. Recognizing ones mistakes and sins,
  2. Feeling ashamed of violating Allah’s trust of complete submission to His commands, and
  3. Making a promise never to repeat such behavior.

According to many scholars, if one of these three is missing, then the repentance is not sincere. If the sin has to do with the rights of another person, then the fourth condition is added, which is to restore the rights of that person. For example, if violating of rights involves money or property, etc, it must be returned to him; if it had to do with slandering him etc, then his forgiveness must be asked, and so on.

islamic religion books

To get more valuable Islamic content on a regular basis, please subscribe to our newsletter here

We know both from Quran and Hadith that Allah gets very pleased when we leave all that is undesirable to Allah, and revert to the straight path. The prophet (s) said in a Hadith:

“Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2499; classed as hasan by al-Albaani.

This article reviews some of the merits and blessings of Tawbah.

‘Tawbah’ paves the way for success

By choosing to stay the course prohibited by Allah, we consciously forego Allah’s mercy and the associated benefits and rewards, His protection and help. However, the moment we sincerely repent, we can be assured of Allah’s help in our lives that in turn is a precursor to success in this life and the hereafter.  Allah tells us in the Quran:

image

“…And beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. “

Quran (Surah An-Noor, Verse 31)

Repentance, therefore, paves the way for Allah’s Grace in this life and the hereafter. Within this world, Allah promises us of wealth, children, and increased blessings. Consider the following verses from the Quran:

image

“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace. But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).”

Quran (Surah Hood, Verse 3)

Allah also tells us in the Quran that Prophet Hood told his people:

image

“And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimoon (criminals, evil doers, etc)”

Quran (Surah Hood, Verse 52)

Tawbah keeps us away from hardships and trials

We know that our sins can haunt us in this life and the hereafter. The more sins we commit, the more we could be deprived of Allah’s blessings and the more trials and challenges we could be put through. Repentance, therefore, can provide us a way out of our miseries and troubles of this life. Allah tells us in the Quran:

image

“See they not that they are put in trial once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).”

Quran (Surah At-Taubah, Verse 126)

Tawbah helps clear our conscience

We know that sins are always associated with an accompanying sense of guilt that gets lodged into our hearts. While we can always turn a blind eye to those guilty feelings, we know from experience that such guilt is responsible to slowly chip away at our happiness. Tawbah, on the other hand, by its very nature, removes that guilt and fills our hearts with happiness.

Tawbah pleases Allah

Let’s remind ourselves that turning to Allah in repentance greatly pleases Him because it is o­ne of the most beloved acts of worship to Him. By joining the rank of  those who repent, we also earn Allah’s love. Allah says in the Quran:

image

“…Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves”

Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 222)

In narrating one of the popular hadith, Ibn Masud stated that Allaah’s Messenger (sal allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

Allah is more pleased with the repentance of his slave than a man who encamps at a place where his life is jeopardized. But he has his riding animal carrying his food and water. He then rests his head and sleeps for a short while and wakes up to find his riding animal missing. He starts looking for it and suffers from severe heat and thirst or what Allah wished him to suffer from. He then says: ‘I will go back to my place.’ He returns and sleeps again. Then when he wakes up, he raises his head to find his riding animal standing besides him. So one can imagine the happiness that this brings to him. (The prophet continued by stating that) Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than the situation of happiness that this person experiences after he was saved from death.’

The scholars have also observed that those who make a sincere Taubah (repentance) also experience such happiness, and it has a profound influence o­n one and the person’s heart.

Tawbah is a life transformational process

Tawbah, by its very nature requires one not just to abandon the old ways of sinful behavior but instead requires us to replace those with righteous deeds. Turning to Allah in repentance, therefore, is a truly transformational process. Allah says in the Quran:

image

“Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.”

Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 160)

Tawbah makes our Duas more ‘worthy’ of a response

We know from many of the prophet’s Hadith that Allah is more responsive to the Duas and calls of those who are oppressed, travelers, the ones who ask Allah in a state of prostration, the ones who are fasting, and so on. This is because such states bring out humility and humbleness in a person’s heart and Allah thus responds more to people in such states. Many scholars have thus noted that as repentance and Tawbah also bring forth humility and humbleness in a person’s heart, our Duas are more likely to be heard in such a state.

Sincere Tawbah (repentance) leads to forgiveness of ones sins

Both Quran and Hadith are clear that those who repent sincerely to Allah, acknowledging their sins, and commit not to return again to those sins will have their sins forgiven. The Prophet (s) said: “If the servant acknowledges his sin and repents, then Allah accepts his repentance.” (Reported by Muslim, End; Trans. vol. 4, no. 6673)

Parting remarks

Finally, let’s remember that Allah has reminded us repeatedly in the Quran about repentance and that His doors for accepting repentance are always open. All that’s needed from us is to let go of our stubbornness and use the opportunity to turn to Him in repentance. Allah says in the Quran repeatedly:

image

“Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.”

Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 37)

He also tells us in the Quran:

image

Say: “O Ibadee (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Quran (Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 53)

The question we ought to ask ourselves is that if we know we are engaged in certain sinful behavior, why wouldn’t we then stop and ask Allah’s forgiveness? As Allah says in the Quran:

image

Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Quran (Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 74)

— End

support islamic newsletter

27 comments… add one
  • Muhd Link Reply

    Jazakallah, am indeed more informed on repentance & forgiveness. God bless iqrasene.

  • abdul Link Reply

    JAZAKALLAH,i am very much interested to know about Tawbah, this article gives me very clear and how to purify our sins by Tawbah. .Almighty bless U..

  • tahira Link Reply

    jazakallah, this is indeed very true. Most of us who are in destruction are because we do not constantly repent. why when allah clearly says repent, and you will recieve mercy, do we not repent?

    • Sis Link Reply

      Mash Allah, it’s true, Shaytan tries to distract us from repenting, but we are to blame, we must understand life is short and repentance and taqwa are the keys to be successful in dunya wa akhirah.

  • Arif Chishti Link Reply

    Jazak-ullah khair. Very very informative Duaeen for repentance & forgiveness from Al-Mighty Allah Taala. No doubt Iqrasense always provide true ,fair & detailed Islamic Values information all the time. However all muslims should act upon accordingly for DUNYA & AKHIRAT.
    With Regards,
    arif chishti

  • Mutana faruk Link Reply

    All thanks, praises, glorifications, adorations, worshippings and beliefs are for Almighty Allah, Him and only Him alone. May His blessings and mercy continue to shower upon the noblest soul of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). My words are countless and inadequate to thank the brains who are behind this marvellous and wonderful work. May Almighty Allah reward you in magnitude and infinity. I also use this medium to urge all the muslims to unite and work together like block of erection. May Almighty Allah endow us with beneficial knowledge and accompany it with His wisdom, because knowledge without wisdom is more disastrous than devil. Ma Salam.

  • As salamualikum ,
    I am extremely happy and thankful to the complete team of iqrasense for this mission of enlightment of our souls. Thanks for providing us all the easy way to know our islam and also its helping us to spread the message to others more confidently. May ALLAH bless us all and give prosperity in this mission.

  • akbar husain Link Reply

    I always find your articles very consoling and replete with knowledge and wisdom. I pray iqrasense may continue such noble mission to reform and inform the human beings through this electronic media.

    REGARDS,

    Akbar hussain

  • angsana Link Reply

    Allah Karim, Indeed it is a very meaningful master piece of advice about Taubah, the purest and humble taubah will bring us tranquility,calm and happiness. May Allah blessed you all Iqra sense.., maasalam….angsana

  • Abdu salam Link Reply

    Alhamdu lillah, this has answered all my questions regarding repentence. Shukuran. God bless us all.

  • Sharaaz Link Reply

    Jazak Allah for reminder.

    Astagfirullah – May Allah swt help us in life and forgive us when we truely repent and strive in the way of Islam.

    peace and blessings rain upon muhammad saw , his family companion, friends and ummah.

    Ameen.

  • Kareem KM Link Reply

    Assalamu Alaikum WRWB…

    O Allah forgive us we ask your forgiveness by Tazbee-E-Astaghfirullah and Syedul Astaghfaar…Ameeen…

    Jazak Allah to iqrasense and team…

    Same in this way I request to post about the difference between Dowry and Maher in Islam….

    ALLAH HAFEZ.

  • kanize Link Reply

    Assalamu Alaikum

    thank you so much for being an eye-opener and guide.

  • M. A. Sekendar Link Reply

    Good piece of writeup. May Allah allow us to seek Tawbah all the time and May He approve our Tawbah.

  • Fatiha Link Reply

    This article was very beneficial to my assignment. Jazakumu llahu ahira

  • Anlsa Abdulrazaq Link Reply

    Good article,may Allah give us the wisdom to seek for tawbah every times of our life Ameen .may Allah shower you with his blessings Ameen

  • Durrah Link Reply

    What if one realizes it’s sin, knows that it is wrong and has promised to never repeat it again but finds it hard to feel guilty of it much less feel ashamed. It hinders me from feeling something, from feeling true sincerity in my repentance. I do realize the importance of tawbah, without his forgiveness, life feels empty, meaningless yet suffocating and constricted. Though I have always tried, I have never succeeded.

  • AHMADA Abas Ibun Sulaiman Link Reply

    Barakallaahufiikum wajazakallahu khairan fidduniya wal A’khirah

    please continue teaching the Ummah so that people can revamp their relationship with the Almighty Allah. And furthermore, may be Allah shall once again bring back His mercy and blessings on this planet earth just as the old days of our Grandies and companions.

  • I found this article very useful to my emotional and spiritual needs. I appreciate most sincerely to get and read it. May Almighty ALLAH bless and reward you. Jazakallahu Khairan my brother in Islam.

  • All your articles are very helpful for the qhaire umma who are constantly been distracted by shaitan to enable them to put on the right track (siratul mustaqeem). Thank you for your efforts to guide the erring muslims.

  • ALVEERA KHAN Link Reply

    ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAH WABARAKATUUHU
    ALHAMDULILLAH!’
    YA ALLAH SUBHANU WATA AALA send abundant peace and blessings on RASUL ULLAH SALLALAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM, on all messengers and muslim believers; through mercy and grace accept all your good deeds dua wishes, repentance , fulfill all your needs, accept you all among sincere pious believers here and hereafter, help us to lead life that is most Pleasing, forgive our mistakes, and keep us under protection from doing any mistakes further ,aameen.
    JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIRAN KASEER
    Shytaan doesn’t like that a believer would repent or give thanks to ALLAH SUBHANU WATA AALA,, since because of these two qualities, a person gets blessings from the Almighty.
    ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAH WABARAKATUHU

  • Muttaka idris usain Link Reply

    Jazzakallah khairan may God bless.

  • Dr Shakiru Kazeem Link Reply

    May Allah reward you in this world and hereafter for the various islamic messages. It is very practical and informative enough to ensure that we follow the words of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu Alayim wa salam).

    Please reconsider posting messages only on Facebook some of us are not on such social media.
    Also, please give us the options of downloading such messages for constant reading and reminder.

Leave a Comment