A Cry for Help
By
Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez bin Baaz [1]
[Q]: I am a young man, nineteen years of age, and have
involved myself in a great deal of sin. Even to the extent that I do not pray most
of my Prayers in the mosque, and I have never completely fasted the month of
Ramadaan in my entire life. Besides these, I have committed other sins as well.
I have vowed to repent many times before, however, after doing so I lapse back
into these same sins. The youths of my area are just as bad, as are the friends
that I associate with. And Allaah knows that I have transgressed against myself
and that whenever I repent, I return back to the same sins. I hope that you may
direct me to a path that will bring me closer to my Lord and distance me from
these evil actions of mine.
[A]: Allaah - the Might and Majestic - says:
"Say
O My Slaves who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of
Allaah's mercy. Indeed Allaah forgives all sins, Truly He is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful." [Soorah
az-Zumar 39:53].
There is
a consensus from the Scholars that this noble aayah (verse) was revealed
for the taa'ibeen (those who repent). So whoever sincerely repents from
his sins, then Allaah will forgive him all his sins, as occurs in the saving of
Allaah - the Most Perfect - :
"O
you who Believe! Turn to Allaah in sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord may
remove from you your sins and admit you into Paradise beneath which rivers
flow." [Soorah at-Tahreem 66:8].
So in
this aayah (verse), Allaah has made the removal of sins and entry into
Paradise dependant upon sincere repentance.
And
sincere repentance is conditional upon: [i] abandoning the sin and keeping away
from it, [ii] having regret and remorse for committing the sin, [iii] truly
intending not to commit the sin again, [iv] remembering the greatness of Allaah
and hoping for His reward, whilst fearing His punishment. Another condition for
sincere repentance is that if due to transgression, the wealth or property of
someone has been stolen or usurped, then it must be returned or forgiveness
must be sought from the one whose wealth, blood or honour has been taken.
However, if the honour of a person has been violated and the situation is such
that it is not possible to seek that persons forgiveness, then plenty of du'aa
(supplication) should be made for his welfare and he should be spoken good of
in those places where he had previously been backbitten, since good deeds wipe
away bad ones. Allaah - the Most Perfect - said:
"Turn
you all in repentance to Allaah, O Believers, in order that you may be
successful." [Soorah an-Noor
24:31].
So in
this aayah (verse) Allaah the Mighty and Majestic - linked success with tawbah
(repentance) and points to the
fact that the repentant person will reach success and happiness, and if such a
person were to follow up this repentance with eemaan (faith) and doing
righteous actions, then Allaah would efface his evil actions and change them to
good actions, as Allaah the Most Perfect - said after mentioning the sins of
Shirk (directing worship that is due only for Allaah to other than Allaah),
taking a life without just cause and fornication and adultery-:
"And
whoever does this, will receive the punishment, The punishment will be doubled
for him on the Day of Judgement and he will live therein in disgrace. Except
for those who repent, have eemaan (faith) and do righteous actions. For
them Allaah will change their evil deeds into good ones, and Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Soorah al-Furqaan 25:68-70]
And from
the causes of tawbah (repentance) are humility and submissiveness to
Allaah - the Most Perfect - and asking Allaah for guidance and ability, and
that acceptance of one's repentance is considered as a Favour from Allaah, as
Allaah - the Most Perfect - said:
''Call
upon Me and I will respond to your supplication." [Soorah Ghaafir
40:60]
And He -
the Mighty and Majestic - said:
"And
when My servant asks you concerning Me, say to them that I am indeed near, And
I respond to the supplication of the one who supplicates to Me." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:186].
Also,
from the causes of tawbah is choosing good companionship and friendship
and following them in righteous conduct, whilst staying clear of bad
companionship. It is authentically related from Allaah's Messenger sallaallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam that he said:
"A
person is upon the way of life of his friend, so let one of you look to whom he
keeps as a friend." [2]
And the
Prophet sallaallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also said:
"The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of a seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows. As for the seller of musk, then either he will grant you some, or at the very least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows, then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him." [3]