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௚ /0 I I / /'I • / / /'I • / Jf/ 1 l ୑ ഡ ..!..u y. ୕ v .? iX ୐ 5.rଲ!>..i:z.- .. v !..J#JJ !..JW Y.'J ഢ - / ,;, ,,. ,,,. ,,,. ... ... ( , ""'- ... ,,.. ,,... ,,,. I ".. . Ll ' t/.N11 /. t /. llj 0• / / Jli cii '}I O !..UI ' .P / '} «lj I 0 . . lj ૪..L :;_u Ʊ /_,,. rष iX # if) " . y ണ Ƶ '..,?'- P श : ( ,; ... ,,,., ,,.. ,,,. ,,,. ,,. ... ... 1-:. . ൣ· ' " / 1·111 /. 1-:.1t; ·. -- w1 1:..r ·. " · - · ' oi 1·· Q· - ·. Rw Ʊ บy Y') y iX # if) , '!'"" iX -* व u. / / y.. iX QI 1"...f •. " ୖ' 0 ' 0f '1•; RW , '!'"" iX -* ƿ u. "The best statement of forgiveness is for one to say: 'O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You. You created me and I am Your slave. I am following your covenant and promise to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evil that I have done. I profess to You your bounties upon me. And I confess to You my sins. Forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.' Whoever says this with certainty concerning it during the daytime and dies that day before evening is one of the inhabitants of Paradise. And whoever says this with certainty concerning it during the nighttime and dies before morning, he is among the people of Paradise." (Recorded by al-Bukhari.) Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi • The one who seeks forgiveness from Allah realizes that he is turning to and seeking shelter from the one who is forgiving, merciful, self-sufficient, generous and all-knowing. When he confesses his sins to his Lordand only to his Lordand sincerely repents, his heart should become tranquil and his soul should come to a rest. His worry and concern should leave him as he hopes for the glad tidings of the mercy of Allah. He becomes now one hoping for the best and has no reason to despair. 1 • It is part of the great mercy of Allah that someone may ask for something of this world yet Allah does not give it to him and, instead, He gives him something better than that. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, -. .,. Ș J ș 0f D1J' o' ->-'11 . .J j tA' ->-E 0f D\'J ஐ-Ț஑ j -,ƽ:ƾ 0f D1 0yJ u,,, _F-r--o. F- ,... J,,. '-iJ"' J,.- .. &. ..T Ƕ $. Ɂ ,,,, ,,, ,,, ,... /0 ,,. ( ,,, .... Ɂ J ... ....o J pi ill Jt.t '_;fJ lbl l}Lt a c_;JI , , "No Muslim supplicates a supplication that does not contain any sin or cutting off of relations except that Allah grants him one of three things: Either Allah will immediately respond to his supplication, He will store for him something in the Hereafter or He will tum away from him an equivalent amount of evil." They said, "What if we request a lot?" He replied, "Then Allah shall give even more."2 • Al-Nawawi states that there are different kinds of "seeking forgiveness". One type is where the person asks Allah to forgive and remove any negative effect of his sins. This is the seeking forgiveness of sinners. Others seek forgiveness due to some shortcoming in their manner of thanking Allah. This is the seeking forgiveness done by the righteous and pious. Finally, there are those who seek forgiveness as a means of giving thanks to Allah. This is the type of seeking of forgiveness that was performed by the Prophet (peace be upon him).3 • Another hadith states, 1 Al-Bugha and Mistu, p. 364. 2 Recorded by Ahmad. According to al-Hilaali, it is sahih due to its supporting evidences. See al­ Hilaali, Eeqaadh, p. 557. 3 Al-Nawawi, Sharh al-Arbaeen (Ridha), p. 94. The way al-Nawawi stated it may be considered a bit exaggerated. Even the pious and righteous commit sins. What he should have said is that the pious do not commit that many sins but ask forgiveness of Allah more often due to their sins and due to their recognizing that they do not thank Allah in the complete manner that He is deserving. Hadith #42: "O son of Adam, as long as you call on Me . . . " ,,,. ,,..,,,. ,,,. J,,. ,.. "'""' Ȑ / · · t; ·' -୔;· / • . / ऴ\.! ,\t:...; • . / Ȑ ୏t; . ' :G' • . / pঢif -/ i..?: - if . -/· y - if "Our Lord, blessed and most high, descends during each night to the lowest heaven when only one-third of the last part of the night is left.