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Secrets of Seeking Forgiveness


What follows are extracts selected from a talk given by Sayyid al-abb `Umar bin a6 (may Allh preserve him and benet us by him) on the topic of seeking forgiveness from Allah in the month of Rajab and some of the secrets therein. There are some addiFons for extra clarity. The talk was delivered during the Mawlid in Dar al- Muaf on Thursday 3rd Rajab 1433/ 24th May 2012.

Rajab is a Lme of forgiveness. It has been narrated in the PropheLc hadith: Seek much forgiveness from Allh in Rajab because in every hour (of the month) Allah frees people from the Fire.1 Those who have been freed from the re hate the deeds of the people of the Fire and the aMributes of the people of the Fire and only nd tranquillity performing the deeds of the people of Paradise. If they slip up, they immediately return to Allh: Those that when they commit an act of indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allh and seek forgiveness for their sins and who can forgive sins except Allh? and they do not knowingly persist in (the wrong) they have done.2 Look in yourself for the signs that you have been freed from the Fire. People who allow themselves to look at things which are forbidden, on their screens or elsewhere, will not nd these signs. If you have not refrained from falling into the deeds of the people of the Fire then you have not yet been freed from the Fire. The people of Paradise, those who are preparing their eyes to look at those who have been drawn near to Allh, obey Allhs order: Say to the believing men that they must lower their gaze and guard their modesty. That will be purer for them. Allh is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they must lower their gaze and guard their modesty.3 There should be nothing in your house in Rajab which displeases Allh. Rajab is one of the

Narrated by al-Daylam l `Imrn, 3:135 Al-Nr, 24:30-31

sacred months, about which Allh says: Do not wrong yourselves therein.4 You should not be in the same state in Rajab as you were before it. One of the signs that you have been freed from the Fire is your hatred of sins and acts of disobedience. Look how Allh describes the rst generaLon, and these are the aMributes of every truthful person that comes a<er them: Allh has made faith beloved to you and has made it beauFful in your hearts and He has made hateful to you disbelief, corrupFon and disobedience. These are those who are rightly-guided. These people are safe from the Devil, from their lower selves, from their caprice, from aMachment to the material world. How did they achieve this? It was a bounty and blessing from Allh.5 One of the greatest signs that you have been freed from the Fire is that you take pleasure in seeking forgiveness from Allh in the last porLon of the night, and at other Lmes of the day. You raise your hands to him saying: My Lord, forgive me and turn to me, truly You are the O<-Returning, the Most Merciful! Follow the example of the Beloved (may Allh bless him and grant him peace); follow him in seeking forgiveness. Make sure you do so with a heart that is present, for perhaps Allh will open you a door to connect you with the Beloved. If you received even a porLon of one of his prayers for forgiveness you would bathe in the light of that prayer for eternity. He sought forgiveness and he knew the One from Whom he was seeking forgiveness. How great is your knowledge of Allh in relaLon to his? Keep seeking forgiveness a<er `Ish and a<er Fajr and throughout the days and nights, then perhaps before the end of Rajab, Allh will have opened the door to you and your heart will be lled with light. You must take from Rajab the secret of connecLon to Allh. You must realise the secret of seeking forgiveness. Follow the example of Muammad, for he is the greatest of those that seek forgiveness. Allah ennobled you by extending the light of his prayers for forgiveness to you: So know that there is no god but Allh and seek forgiveness for your sins6 and for the believers male and female.7 Allh is saying to him: Allow them to enter through your door. When they come via you, the door is open to them. If only when they wronged themselves, they came to you and sought Allahs forgiveness and
4

Al-Tawbah, 9:36 Al-ujurt, 49:7-8

This is a literal translaLon but should not be understood literally, as the Messenger of Allah is free of any sins
7

Muammad, 47:19

the Messenger sought forgiveness for them.. Is it not enough that they sought Allhs forgiveness? This is good but far greater than that is that the Messenger himself sought forgiveness for them. Then they will nd Allh, and whoever has found Allh has not missed out on anything. They will not just nd Allh, but furthermore He will manifest His beauty and bounty to them: they would have found Allah O7-Returning, Most Merciful.8 Whoever nds Allh O<-Returning and Most Merciful will live in a state of bliss, constantly experiencing Allhs mercy unLl the days of everlasLng bliss in the next life. O Allh, You are the One that said to Your Beloved: When you complete (your immediate task) stand up (to perform another) and to your Lord turn all your aGenFon.9 We ask You by the secret of his worship and his seeking You and asking You, to make us amongst the elite of this Ummah and amongst those who receive the greatest porLon of his intercession and amongst those who are closest to him.

Al-Nis, 4:64 Al-Inshir, 94:7-8

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