Repentance (Tawbah)

Tawba (Arabic: توبة‎ alternatively spelled: tevbe or tawbah, Turkish: tövbe) is the Islamic concept of repenting to God due to performing any sins and misdeeds. It is a direct matter between a person and God, so there is no intercession. There is no original sin in Islam.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 settimana fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Repenting openly is not a condition for the acceptance of repentance for sins committed openly.

May you always be successful 

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 mese fa

General Salatul Tawbah is just two Rak'ats like Morning Prayers, which can be performed any time during the day or night.

'There is a special Salatul Tawbah during the month of Thul Qa'dah which contains two then another two Rak'ats. It is performed on Sunday after performing Ghusl. Every Rak'ah has one Sura Al-Hamd then three times Sura Tawheed, then one time Sura Falaq and one time Sura An-Naas. After the prayer to recite seventy time ASTAGHFIRULLAH, then say one time LA HAWLA WALA QOWWATA ILLAHVBILLAH AL-ALIYYIL ADHEEM.

Wassalam.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 3 mesi fa

Bismihi ta'ala

It is wrong for your wife to pry into your past sins, and if it has nothing to do with your current life or has no involvement with your marriage, it is haram for you to disclose it to others. We are not allowed to expose our previous sins to others, or confess to anyone about the past, especially if we have repented. 

She should refrain from asking you about it, and you do not need to lie. You just refuse to give any information about it. 

With prayers for your success

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 5 mesi fa

It seems that when Allah created Adam, and gave him the human nature, Allah understood what Adam would do and that eventually Adam would come to this world, and that this was part of the plan of the creation of the human being, as well as something for us to learn from about our own nature.

Otherwise, if this process had not continued, and human beings were still living in the garden, we would not be dealing with the complexities of this world that enable it to fulfil its spiritual function for us - for instance, refining the soul, learning about things and their opposites (such as mercy and lack of mercy, knowledge and ignorance), developing the soul, testing the soul, and overall experiencing the world of matter and the material world. We would just be like children in the womb who are provided for and are secure but who are not growing beyond their confines.

Perhaps, one can also learn from this that our actions change us. Even if Adam's repentance was accepted, he was still a different person after what he did and therefore had a different life path.

Also, Allah says in the Qur'an that Allah loves those people who repent/turn back to Him (2:222). It is narrated that the Prophet (S) said: “Had you not committed sins and sought the forgiveness of Allah, He would have created others who commit sins and then seek His forgiveness so that He will forgive them. A believer commits sins frequently, but repents to Allah very frequently."

So it seems that the human being was created in such a manner that it is expected that we will need to continually turn back to Allah, even though of course we should not be making mistakes intentionally.

As for the overall purpose of life in this world, this of course is a question that people have debated since the beginning of time. From the Qur'an and hadith, one can understand that the purpose of being in this world includes cognizance and worship of Allah, learning about greater realities, growth, and testing the soul.

One can also consider that there is an overall purpose of existence of humanity in general, and each of us may also have our own individual purposes; for instance, I am sure that my purpose in life is not to become an Olympic runner (at least, I have not yet shown any talent in this area), but perhaps my personal purpose is something else.

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 5 mesi fa

Allah's Knowledge is unlimited, as well as His Wisdom and Mercy. Allah The Glorious Knows why he send Adam from Paradise to this world and we are here now. Allah Has promised pious human being to return to the Paradise, but evil people will be away from the Paradise.

We have to be realistic as we have very limited knowledge, and refrain from suggesting on Allah (SWT) what He should do.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 9 mesi fa

Allah is The Most Merciful Who showers His Mercy on us all the times. He wants us to avoid sinful acts and never insist on wrong, so that He forgives our sins when we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness. Sinners who insist on doing wrong and never care to repent, will face the results of their own deeds. Allah's Mercy does not allow punishment for sins we have repented, nor repeating a punishment which has already been given.

The Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah, is above our imagination. His Mercy and Forgiveness will be on The Day of Judgement for almost every one except the enemies of Allah, the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt. Enemies of Allah will be facing the results of their crimes in their graves and in the Day of Judgement as well, but sinners who are not enemies of Allah will not suffer twice. Grave for some believers is a place of purification so they suffer in the grave to go pure in The Day of Judgement.
We need to have more hope in Allah's Mercy and keep ourselves away from sins and seek forgiveness.

Wassalam.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 11 mesi fa

Bismihi ta'ala

Repenting from a sin is very important, and that's very good that you have sincerely repented from it, but it does not mean you are able to deny having committed it if confronted about it. Taking a false oath is a major sin, and worse than that is swearing a false oath on the holy Quran. 

As for saving your honour, you need to weigh out what the situation is, and what kind of consequences there will be for revealing this sin, or whether there will be detremental damage to you, or harm. 

It might be advisable that you somehow change the scenario, or do tawriyah, to avoid severe backlash, if that is what the situation will be.

With prayers for your success. 

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 anno fa

Hijab is not a precondition for the acceptance of du'a. However, anything we do with a sincere intention for the sake of Allah should, God willing, bring us closer to Allah.

However it does not guarantee acceptance of a specific du'a, especially since some things are kept from us because it is in our best interest, there is some wisdom behind it, or we are meant to follow a different path in life.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 anno fa

Allah is The Most Merciful, The Forgiver. Those who repent their sins and sincerely seek forgiveness with giving back the rights of others and firm decision not to commit the sin again have been promised by Allah in Quran: Say, O My servants who have transgressed  against themselves (by sinning), Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, Verily, Allah forgives all sins, Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Sura 39, Verse 53).

The Hadeeth says: The repenting believer from his sin is like a person with out sin. التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له.

Repenting and sincerely seeking forgiveness and fulfilling the missed rights have definite effect in our life and spirituality.

Wassalam.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 anno fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Just keep trying and don't lose hope in the day in which you will overcome these relapses. Some sins are sticky. They may be habitual or you may not have truly realised the damage that they are causing. If you keep trying you will succeed eventually. Learn to disparage your sins, to see them as stemming from ignorance and understand that their pleasure stops you from having a healthy soul and fulfilling your potential as a human. Sins are like poison that take time to get rid of, and every new sin is a new dose and more time lost.

May you always be successful

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 anno fa

The most important conditions of Tawbah (repentance) are:

1. To really repent the sinful act and,feel sad and sorry about it.

2. To firmly decide not to do it again,

3. Immediately returning the rights of others if the sin involved rights of others. No Tawbah can be granted with out these conditions which are obligatory and compulsory.
It is very important to seek the Waseela of the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) in getting our supplication and Tawbah accepted by Allah, as we read in Quran Sura 4, Verse 64 (Had they when they did wrong, come to you, and begged Allah for forgiveness, and the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness, they should have found Allah accepting their repentance and Merciful). No doubt, when the Prophet is no more among Muslims,BT heir real successors Ahlul Bayt are in his place.
Giving Zakat and Khums is obligatory on those who have. Giving charity is always good and helps in purifying ourselves from sinful acts.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 anno fa

Yes but that is the recommended acts before any supplication to praise Allah (SWT) then salute Muhammad and his Progeny, the pray for our Imam Al-Mahdi (AS), then for your parents and believers, then to pray for yourself.

But the most important condition of Tawbah is to:

1. To really repent the sinful act and,

2. To firmly decide not to do it again,

3. Immediately returning the rights of others if the sin involved rights of others. No Tawbah can be granted with out these conditions which are obligatory and compulsory.
It is very important to seek the Waseela of the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) in getting our supplication and Tawbah accepted by Allah, as we read in Quran Sura 4, Verse 64 (Had they when they did wrong, come to you, and begged Allah for forgiveness, and the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness, they should have found Allah accepting their repentance and Merciful). No doubt, when the Prophet is no more among Muslims,BT heir real successors Ahlul Bayt are in his place.
 

Wassalam.