When I see someone repenting, see their return to Allah, see their efforts to walk on the straight path, my heart is filled with joy. Alhamdulillah, the number of repentant men and women is increasing day by day.
Despite the happiness for these virtuous ones, there are also some people whose acts and deeds make me unhappy. After repenting, they do things that show there is a defect in their repentance. It seems that they did not understand what repentance is. The world of repentance is very new to them. Therefore, I have written down some pieces of advice for the repentant, which, inshallah, will benefit them on the path of repentance and enlighten their path.
1. First, give thanks to Allah Ta’ala. He has given you tawfiq of repentance. Allah did not take your life while you are engaged in haram deeds.
2. Think you were dead. Allah has given you a life through the light of guidance. Allah says:
اَوَ مَنْ کَانَ مَيْتًا فَاَحْيَيْنٰهُ وَ جَعَلْنَا لَهٗ نُوْرًا يَّمْشِيْ بِهٖ فِي النَّاسِ کَمَنْ مَّثَلُهٗ فِي الظُّلُمٰتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا
Tell me, can a person who was dead, then I gave him life and provided for him a light, by which he walks among men, be like that person, whose condition is that he is surrounded by darkness, from which he will never get out? – Surah An’am (6): 122
3. Allah is very pleased with the repentance of the servant. As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
للهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، مِنْ رَجُلٍ فِي أَرْضٍ دَوِّيَّةٍ مَهْلِكَةٍ، مَعَهُ رَاحِلَتُهُ، عَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ، فَنَامَ فَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَتْ، فَطَلَبَهَا حَتَّى أَدْرَكَهُ الْعَطَشُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَكَانِيَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ فِيهِ، فَأَنَامُ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ، فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ عَلَى سَاعِدِهِ لِيَمُوتَ، فَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَعِنْدَهُ رَاحِلَتُهُ وَعَلَيْهَا زَادُهُ وَطَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ، فَاللهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ الْعَبْدِ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ هَذَا بِرَاحِلَتِهِ وَزَادِهِ.
Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a believing servant than a person who is crossing a valley of death alone. His camel is with him. There is food and water on the camel. He falls asleep. When he wakes up, he sees his camel has gone. He goes out in search of his camel. At one point, he gets thirsty. He said to himself, I should go back to where I was. I shall sleep till death comes. He lies down to die. When he woke up, he got the camel standing before him. His food and water are on the camel. As much as this person is happy to get back his camel, water and food, Allah is happier with the servant’s repentance. – Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2744
4. You know, Allah replaces the sins of the sincere repentant with virtues. Allah says:
اِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَاٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَاُولٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللهُ سَيِّاٰتِهِمْ حَسَنٰتٍ.
If one repents, believes and does good deeds, Allah will replace the sins of such people with virtues. – Surah Furqan (25): 70
5. You know, Allah loves the sincere repentant. Allah says:
اِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ.
Allah loves those who repent. – Surah Baqarah (2): 222
6. Be sincere in repentance. Remember what the Prophet said to a Companion:
إِنْ تَصْدُقِ اللهَ يَصْدُقْكَ.
If you are honest with Allah, Allah will reward you for honesty. -Sunan Nasa’i, Hadith 1953
7. Stay away from bad friends. Do not associate with them. Delete their contact numbers from mobile phones. Remove anything that reminds you of them because they are like deadly poison. Being flexible in associating with them will sometimes lead you to their path.
8. Pray to Allah for steadfastness in religion. Pay close attention to this dua of the Prophet –
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ.
O Changer of hearts, make my heart firm on your religion. -Jamee Tirmidhi, Hadith 3522
9. Do not make the fear of Allah stronger in you. Remember, Allah is Oft-Forgiving. Allah says:
اِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ.
Surely your Lord is Oft-Forgiving. – Surah Nazam (53): 32
وَ اِنِّيْ لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَنْ تَابَ.
I am Most Forgiving to the one who repents. – Surah Taha (20): 82
10. Delete all memories of past sins. For example, delete images, haram apps and haram video clips from mobile phones. It proves that you are sincere in your repentance.
11. In the beginning, it seems difficult to abstain from sins. But do jihad against nafs, be patient. Remember the saying of Allah Ta’ala
وَ مَنْ يَّتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ مَخْرَجًا.
Whoever fears Allah, Allah will make a way for him out of trouble. – Surah Talaq (65): 2
12. While associating with religious people, remember that not every religious youth is innocent. Among them some are good, some are better, some are the best; similarly, among them some are weak and some are bad mannered. So don’t worry. Don’t be surprised. The matter is the religion, the way of life, not the person.
13. Change your behavior with family and society at the beginning of your repentance. Because the result of steadfastness in religion is that you are developing day by day.
14. Start strongly. Raise your courage in good deeds.
15. Be careful in following sunnah of everyday life. This practice will increase your faith and determination. You will get Allah’s love and sweetness of faith.
16. Read the stories of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and the Companions and the religious people. This study will keep you firm on religion. Allah Ta’ala says-
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ اَنْۢبَآءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهٖ فُؤَادَكَ.
(O Prophet!) I narrate to you the events of the past prophets, by which I strengthen your heart. – Surah Hud (11): 120
17. After repentance, some of your relatives or classmates or friends in the neighborhood will make fun of you. Don’t mislead them. It is a matter of pride and honor for you to be steadfast in the path of the Prophet and the Companions.
18. Sometimes visit hospitals, morgues and cemeteries. It will keep your mind kind and soft.
19. Online lectures, islamic articles, fatwa web sites can be useful for you. Try to visit the websites of Ahle Ilam and eminent Ahle Haq Daee. (This is for those who are used to the internet. Otherwise, it is better to avoid it. In that case, study the books and attend the majlis-mahfil of the scholars more and more. -Translator)
20. Be careful in personal worship. For example, Nafl fasting, Qiyamul Lail, occasional Umrah. These acts of worship have a great effect on staying steadfast in religion.
21. Leisure time should be spent memorizing the Quran, attending Tarbiyati Majlis and acquiring ilm (Islamic knowledge).
22. Make a routine. To be happy in future life, set several goals and try to achieve them. For example: starting Hifzul Quran, getting married within a year, attending the weekly lectures and majlis of the Haqqani Ulama.
23. Consult a shaykh or a talibul ilm (student of knowledge) in all your matters. Don’t take any decision without consulting.
24. Attend any majlis of dhikr that suits you.
25. Beware of Satan’s entrances. Allah says:
وَ لَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيْطٰنِ.
Do not follow the footsteps of Satan. – Surah Baqarah (2): 208
26. Don’t be too quick to protest injustice, whether the injustice is in your home, workplace or your city. Show wisdom in your conduct. Allah says:
وَمَنْ يُّؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ اُوْتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيْرًا.
To whom wisdom is bestowed, he is granted abundant good. – Surah Baqarah (2): 269
27. Use the past life as a lesson for the new life. For example: accompanying bad friends was a cause of your destruction. So avoid the company of bad people carefully in future.
28. Great sins of the past are not obstacles to becoming a great man after guidance. Think about Umar R., How was he before guidance and how would he become after guidance; how was Hamza R. before guidance, how would he become after guidance. Allah will see your condition after repentance, not the condition before repentance.
29. The meaning of guidance should be understood correctly. Know, you can do any mubah acts in a moderate way. But everything should be done in the light of Shariah.
30. Stay away from places of Fitnah. Fitnah is of two types:
A. (shahwat) Sexual immorality.
b. (shubuhat) Doubtful matters.
Don’t be careless about the beginning of this Fitnah, because the beginning will finally lead to the end.
31. Take a faith journey. For example: perform Umrah with the people of Allah.
32. Read the stories of repentant men and women. You may get some examples and things to follow in their repentance.
33. Invite people to the way of Allah after you have practiced the principles of da’wah, qualities of Da’i and related matters.
34. Acquire knowledge in the right way. If you go to a wise scholar, he will tell you the proper means of acquiring knowledge.
35. Know the commandments related to repentance. Haram wealth may have been earned before repentance. In this case, the property must be returned to the owner. If the owner is not found, it should be given in charity. There may also be other issues that need to be addressed. Knowledge will help you in these matters.
36. Beware of exaggeration and over-boldness in any case. Do good deeds regularly little by little as much as you can. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللهِ تَعَالَى أَدْوَمُهَا, وَإِنْ قَلَّ.
The most beloved deed to Allah Ta’ala is that which is done regularly, although it is small in quantity. – Sahih Muslim, Hadith 783
Remember, excess leads to deterioration.
37. Recite the Quran more and more to fill your heart with the love of Allah.
38. Get married soon if possible. By doing this it will be easy to save oneself from sin, because the most dangerous obstacle in the path of steadfastness is shahawat. The greatest sin is the pursuit of lust, which leads to other sins.
39. Maintain balance in dealing with new situations. Give everyone their rights.
40. Take fatwas from the scholars. Be careful to take fatawas from those youths who have repented for a few months ago. Some of them are still in ignorance. There are many people who have repented. They ask those youth whose ilm has not yet been established. As a result, both groups went astray and destroyed.
Last word
Finally, remember that committing a sin secretly is a cause of the fall, in the same way, the prayer performed secretly is the cause of firmness and steadfastness.
We pray to Allah to keep you steadfast on your religion and make you a person to be followed in your society.
By Shaykh Sultan Ibn Abdullah Al-Umari
Translation: Enam Hasan Juanid
