2.1 Importance Of Previous Stations As One Progresses In The Journey

Whatever rules we learnt in the previous station we should hold onto it. The key is to put what we learn into practice, especially whilst Allah (SWT) gives us a chance.

One of the signs of being awake is that you are on the second station. If we don’t apply what we have learnt then it’s like we have only acquired numbers and not knowledge and wisdom. The soul can catch much more than what we think of it. The spiritual power we have in terms of its potential is very high. It starts with the world of dreams then extends to real life

2.2 Introduction To This Ayah

Kharj Abdullah Ansari in his book, Manazel al-sa’aleen, introduces us to this station through the Quran:

‘Whoever does not repent, they are the ones that are unfair/ tyrants’(49:11)

This makes us poisoned if we don’t repent. The structure of this ayah suggests that if we don’t want to be t yrants then we must repent.

Another Ayah states:

“All of you who believe, all must repent (fael al-Amr) to God”(66:8)

This applies to the Anbiya and Aimmah as well, to everyone, we can’t say that look I’m a sheikh or a righteous person because there are no exemptions. It is a command to all believers and we must practice it constantly. The repentance of the Anbiya is different from our versions.

The Prophet states:

“The sins are like clouds, it goes over the country of my soul but everyday as a result of this I say Astagfriallaho waatawbah illah seventy (70) times.”

The word tawbah means to do turn back, to go back and repent. To regret – like in a high way the sign says ‘wrong way – go back’. If we are conscious of our sins and bad deeds – the moment we want to go back to Allah (SWT) in returning to him towards the right path. This can come in one of three ways:

One has done something wrong and someone confronts him – and it is denied by the actor. The fact that he has denied then forgive him because it means that there is guilt there. Yes, admitted of fault but tries to deny it

Regrets wholeheartedly the sin and there is no buts, I am sorry full stop (no conditions, ifs or buts or justification) – this is the level that we should be yearning to reach

Imam Khomeini states: “It is not that easy to repent.”

Hadith states that:

“If you really understand the reality of tawbah it is easier not to commit a sin than to repent.”

To compensate this, one must identify the sayiat – need to know them and their realities so that the tawbah can be targeted, specific and effective.

“(As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow fire into their bellies and they shall enter burning fire.” (4:10)

The Holy Prophet said:

“Those who have devoured the possessions of the orphans unjustly will breathe blazing fire on the day of resurrection. Such people must fear the situation if they were to leave weak children behind them. How concerned would they be for them? So they must safeguard themselves with full awareness of Allah`s laws, otherwise they will surely burn in hell.”

When we look at the property of the orphans or others and take it in the wrong way I am looking at the fire – just as if you are looking at the burning charcoal. This is why we are ma’soomen. The first part of repentance is to learn the reality of the sins and its effect and true essence not only how it looks or how it feels on the presentation layer.

The key to repentance is to be as conscious of our sins as we could through muhasabeh and accountability of our actions. The concentration and emphasis should be on those things that one enjoys that is in fact bad. This is one method of self-purification.

We need to write as many sins, large or small we can think of. Allah (SWT) is All-Aware of everything so really who are we trying to kid.

The moment we are in tears out of fear and remorse then, we are reaching the status of tawbah. We need to do this to cleanse ourselves and break away from the shackles of temptation and a sinful and bad record of our actions in the past and present. We need to do this as part of our internal struggle against the self and the Nafs.

If we identify our weaknesses then we should allocate more resources to help us in terms of strengthening ourselves. This is a method of spiritually raising and building ourselves. Put the sins in writing so that we become conscious of this. It is a hidden mercy from Allah (SWT) that we remember our sins so that we are conscious of it and so that we can remember that we should offer our request for repentance.

2.3 Coming To Realize The Reality Of Our Sins

What ‘seems to be’ in the world may not always ‘be’ in reality. For example, consider one whom has eaten a plate of food from their knowledge they are say generally that:

I know where the food was bought, it is respectable, halal and clean. I cooked the food myself and all utensils are clean and good. The food was prepared hot, it smells good, seems good, and tastes good – so one concludes that it must be good right?

In reality how does one know the true reality of what this food will do to their physically body or what effect it will have to one’s mental balance? We simply don’t have time to do lengthy health checks – so we assume that things are good and proceed. Not much time is spent to assess whether things are really good or bad for us. I cannot see the reality of the impact of the food because of the limitations of the eye. But a food specialist might be able to say whether the food is good or not based on their experiments and tests.

If we had the knowledge that the same food we are going to eat is in fact poisonous then we would eat it would we? This is why our Prophets and Imams are sinless – because they can through Divine Will and Protection see the reality of things are they are not only how they appear to be.

The one that has no knowledge of the realty like a baby will go ahead and touch a snake because they only see things on a surface layer. This is the same case of the world of sin. Once we realize the full extend (scientific look) of the sin then we would naturally stay away from it. For example: when one exercises gossip then we don’t fully understand the reality of this gossiping.

The reality of this is gossiping is the flavour and seasoning of the food of the wild dogs in the hereafter. Or the Quran states: the reality of gossiping is like some wild dogs having a corpse and your friend is laying down and you are repeatedly biting into the flesh. If you can learn this and train this then you wouldn’t go into gossiping.

Prophet (S):

“When one is invited to drink wine – then they are really drinking the fire of hell (not like the fire of hell it is).”

So when on the day of judgement we are served with fire to drink we cannot run away because it is stuck to us because of what our hands possessed and earned.

Imam Musa Al-Kazim says:

“This world is like short nap, the hereafter is like the states of awaking.”

The relation is that we dream and in our dream we drink a class of drink. The meaning of this in this world is different to the meaning and reality of this in the hereafter. The reality of this drink is that we will be given knowledge. Even a sip of milk is that we will be very knowledgeable. We mind be wondering what relation is there between the two meanings. The Prophet (saww) gave the same interpretation said

Imam Musa Al-Kazim (‘a):

“The reality of things appears differently in there hereafter then how they appear in this world.”

If we don’t see the reality of the acts and sins in this world and repent then we will differently see the reality of this in the hereafter.

The reality of our actions is all the blessings or punishment we will be receiving in the hereafter, we only see the reactions of our deeds whether good or bad. As this world is insufficient to dish out the true reward or the true punishment. Whereas the hereafter is not bound by relativity but in fact it is the reality of absoluteness so the reward / punishment of an act is given on a real and true level. For example, in this world if one kills five people this world is not capable of delivering a true and just punishment because the most it can punish is to kill the murder…once, it cannot bring them back again and kill them again and again – 5 times. This is one of the limitations of this world which has been designed and bestowed as a mercy from Allah (SWT). The hereafter is the only that is capable of delivering the absolute reward/punishment.

Imam Al-Sadiq (‘a) was asked by one of his students that – why are you ma’soom?

He answered, “you are also infallible in terms of certain sins – you need to expand it. He offered the student a red hot charcoal. He said what you are offering me the hot charcoal and have the meat to yourself. He said – I can’t it is hot there is no way I can do it.”

2.4 Importance Of The Dead

Hadith says that:

“Go time to time to the cemetery if you are feeling miserable and feeling so low, that the calamities are striking us here and there”

Hadith states that:

“We should recite Surah Al-Qadr seven times when we are there in the cemetery.”

It is a very good remedy so that we never forget that we will be going there. At-Tabatabai said:

“Someone had paid him a visit and he tells him that you paid me a visit why you were in a rush. Don’t you know that we enjoy your company. Why are you in a rush, sit down and take a break.”

The reward for this is great because whilst in barzakh they have more powers and inshallah if they pray and do dua for us it is accepted and the effects and implications are grand when it is sent to us in this world.

2.5 Benefits Of Reading Ayat Al-Kursi

Ayat Al-Kursi is a real gem, we must read it before we go to bed: go to the toilet, brush your teeth, make Wudhu, and then read ayat al-kursi

This ayat al-kursi was given to our Prophet from the essence of the Kursi that exists in the absolute world, get acquainted with it and read it before you sleep.

2.6 Practising Repentance

Regardless of whom one is, indeed one must practice tawbah to not be unfair to oneself in returning to Allah (SWT). We cannot do tawbah unless we recognise our previous sins – the reality and nature of these as the preliminary steps before practicing tawbah.

Also need feeling shame for our past actions, we need this to progress forward with repentance. For example, if you are doing a sin imagine a young person that is watching you how would you feel?, imagine then if you are being watched as you are doing the sin ? how would you feel? Imagine these people that your enemies how would you feel now? Think and believe that Allah (SWT) Knows everything, everything will be witnessing for our behalf on the Day of Judgement. We are on a stage and there are already a lot of cameras watching us. We need to feel conscious of this and feel shame and be conscious. The more we are fearful the more chance we have of repenting. We feel heaps shameful and embarrassed. All are seeing, Allah (SWT), Angels and others.

Quran: If you want to have no fear on the Day, then you need to fear Allah (SWT) in this dunya. If we do sin reluctantly then we will be punished on the Day.

Quran: If you want to have your destination in paradise then, then fear Allah (SWT)

Aren’t you ashamed that God is around if we are ashamed that a little boy is for example watching you as you are doing sin? Indeed Allah (SWT) is higher than all. If you have this fear then paradise if your ending inshallah.

We must be aware of the virtues of repentance – it is one of the biggest opportunities we can give ourselves in this life. It change a person from a bandit to one of the best people, it is one of the qualities and characteristics of tawbah. Allah (SWT) is Tawwab.

Means the Allah (SWT) is searching for anyone that wants to get back to him

Imam Al-Sadiq says:

“Have you ever been in the situation that you have been lost in the dark and you go into the darkness lost. All of a sudden you find everything and get back on track – how happy would you be. The happiness that Allah (SWT) has when one of his servants goes back to him he is Oft-Forgiven. That if we try to go back to him he forgives inshallah.”

He is the starter of doing the tawbah, he even gives us the opportunity to do repentance. Like a father kicking his son out of the house, he always sends a messenger to tell his son to come back. Allah (SWT) is the same, he sends indirect messengers and signals to us to come back – all we have to do is to say sorry and come back – sorry I made a mistake.

Gospel of Jesus (one of the closest gospels to Jesus’s gospel is the gospel of Barnaba), states:

“If I may ask you to forgive this shaytan (I know how many bad things he has done – but how many years has he been servants). You are Oft-Forgiving, why don’t you forgive him. Allah (SWT) says that its ok I forgive him but there is only one condition that must be met before hand and that is shaytan or anyone else says that ‘I made a mistake’. Jesus says this doesn’t sound difficult, he was happy at how much of a good deed he was doing to humanity and that he can go back and go to shaytan and is crying and said – ya Shaytan where are you? I have something for you, so that you can get forgiven. Shaytan said there is no chance, Prophet Jesus (‘a) said, yes I have something for you that will allow you to be forgiven. (he was so happy that the Shaytan will be forgiven and that humanity will not be lead astray anymore), he said that I have negotiated and inshallah you wil lbe ok – there is only one condition and you admit your mistake and please forgive me. Shaytan said – what do you mean I made a mistake. Allah (SWT) made a mitake, he deceived me! Look now I have a big army since Adam, what do you mean I made a mistake? Jesus (‘a) said curse be upon you – you don’t deserve repentance.” So even that it is Shaytan, forgiveness is there waiting for us.

Surah Anfal: Addressing the Prophet – when the believers come to you say Sallam of Allah (SWT) be upon you (it brings nothng less than healing and peace for you) Allah (SWT) has imposed the Mercy upon you. (I have been waiting for you, where have you been?)

 Except him who repents and believes and does a good deed; so these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (25:70)

It doesn’t say that I have erased your past, it says that I have changed all the bad to good deeds – how? In other words, the person that had committed adulterly will become the good deed – think about it. So in his record it is written as good. So in reality you can die sinless. Try to comprehend this. A cup of wine after it is boiled changed to vinegar automatically – the same contents changed from Najis to Tahir subhanallah – the essence was the same. This is the same as what Allah (SWT) is telling us in this Ayah of the Quran.

Next step is that you make an effort and you will see how I will make your future so prosperous – Surah Hud Prophet Hud:

Repent and from now onwards your life will be changed, all the misery that you had in the past will be gone. Allah (SWT) will continuously pour his blessings on you

Urafa advise us that our diseases are because of the sins we cause for ourselves because of our own sins. Urafa advise us that we should continually request repentance from Allah (SWT).

“Say: ‘O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (39:53)

Imam Ali (‘a) said: “This ayah is the most decorative and covering in the Quran for tawbah. One that reads will not have any more excuse to leave the issue of tawbah confused.”

Background: the verse was revealed to Wahshi, the murder of Hamza (the Uncle of Prophet (S)).

After the morning prayer, Prophet (S) and close companions we sitting in the masjid, a young man came in, and said im miserable, he was in tears and was weeping, I have committed a sin. Have you lost you faith in Allah (SWT)? No I haven’t, have you killed someone he said no. He said I have committed a sin. Who is higher – he said Allah (SWT) is of course higher – I have committed a sin I don’t know whether Allah (SWT) will ever forgive me. This is not an ordinary sin – he asked to see Prophet in private – he confessed that for the last seven years he used to go to the cemetery and used to dig the grave and take the kafan off the girl and sell it to people – I used to (this is a big haram in Islam) make money for this. Yesterday I remembered that a girl last night died and I took her shroud off and committed fornication with the girl (see the temptation of our desire and invitation by Shaytan – knowing the reality of the sins himself he is after us to attack the big things and commit sins on a large level)/. The moment he confessed this the Prophet (S) whom can see the reality of the sins, it struck him so much that he said – get out of here, the man just left the mosque – and he said even the Prophet of Mercy (S) kicked me out. He left the city so embarrassed of what he has done – this is repentance. He just disappeared. The man desperately was weeping and was asking for repentance. And I want a sign of your acceptance and I am not leaving unitl you forgive me, let it be known to the Prophet. The Prophet went to ask for this guy as he has been forgiven so call him back. Regardless of what you have done – then make an effort to repent. He is waiting for us to perform forgiven. And after you constantly repent Allah (SWT) loves us for doing this. But how to perform repentance?

Imam Al-Sadiq (‘a) narrates a story:

“Born and bred in Baghdad, Beshrafi Marwi – he was about 50 years (time of Imam Al-Kazim), was indulged in sinful lifestyle. He had a party at his house, he had music and everything at his house. Imam asked the servants who is the owner of this house – is the house free or a slave? The servant said that of course he is free. Imam said, no wonder that he is having a party at his house. If he saw himself as a servant he wouldn’t be doing this. The owner of the house asked who has talking to you – he asked about the Imam (although he didn’t know him). However, him merely asking gave him the hint that it could be no other than Imam Musa Al-Kazim (‘a). On his bear feet he ran behind the Imam and stopped him and said I swear to God I am not free – tomorrow comes not matter how wealthy I am, tomorrow comes and I have to seek refuge in God. It is because of my stupidity that I did the music. His name changed to Beshri Hafi (bear foot). He used to walk bear footed and said that everywhere is Allah’s table cloth. The imam (‘a) taught him how to do repentance. He became of the high ranks in the history of the Urafa (beshrafi) and a Zaheed.”

2.7 How Does A Salik Repent

The question is how do we do repentance and tawbah. Urafa say that we need to consider two points:

We need to think of the reasons and causes of the sins that we have committed. Why did I do whatever I did? Why did it happen try to get to the root of the cause and source of the sin? There must be a reason why – some motivations and justifications. Once they are identified then we can try to uproot them. Once we do this then at least we are conscious of the source of the sins before doing repentance.

The second is the external, I must change my lifestyle in terms of friends, places I go, what I say and do etc.

Imam Ali (‘a) in Nahgul Balagha1 says:

“Someone said astaghfirallah (just to show off), Imam told him do you know what that means? – it is for the spiritually high rank people. Imam teaches us the conditions of repentance. Repentance of God has six (6) pillars. You need to build them…”

2.7.1 First Condition For Repentance

You must really regret the past, comes in three layers:

I have done something silly in the past and I was busted – a big embarrassment socially. Because one is so concerned about his reputation they repent – but the focus is wrong. In fact, they are not repenting in God but that they just want the reputation back. This is not a good thing to do.

I regret what I have done, but know I am conscious of the hell fire – the true punishment. Knowing this and to avoid this I make repentance to stay away from hell fire

The best type of repentance that Imam Ali (‘a) is talking about – I reach a conclusion that what I did in the past is so hated. The moment I remember this it conjures up negative thoughts in my head. I believe that I have transgressed Gods will. And this is nothing but embarrassment to me – even though no one knows about this. It is between me and Allah (SWT). I can’t afford doing this in front of a young person so how can I do it in front of Allah (SWT) seeing that he is the All-Aware

2.7.2 Second Condition For Repentance

Know that we are disgust – you intend that it happened but inshallah it will not happen again. One should firmly be repeated that we should not repeat it again Quran Surah Ta-Him –

Repent to God but if you want to repent then do so (nasooh) repent in sincerity.

Prophet (S) introduced:

Tawbah Nasooh is there only where the person repents has no intention to return to the sin again so much so that like when the milk comes from the bosom of the mother it doesn’t go back again.

2.7.3 Third Condition For Repentance

(One of the most difficult ones) – if you really want to repent then you must publicly tell people that you have wronged if you have back bitted or spoken ill to others. Imam (‘a) says:

For each one whatever you have taken away from them, money wise, fame wise then you must return it to them. The Prophet (S):

Once spoke to business men: do you know who is the bankrupt? They said obviously the one who has no money. The real bankrupt is the one on the Day is the one who is brought up to Judgement and the enemies are around him (his children, spouse, parents, etc.) and each one has said that you have been unfair to me. And the bankrupt person has nothing to give him. He turns to Allah (SWT) and says help me. The Angels will come to him and say you don’t have anything. They will come to that bankrupt person and say do you have any provisions that you have gathered in the worldly life – like prayers and other things? Do you have any fasting in lue of what you have taken from the others? They may be left with nothing in the end.

Dua Abu Hamazah: “On the day of judgement I don’t want to be bankrupt It is much easier to settle accounts here then later.”

2.7.4 Fourth Condition For Repentance

There is something between you and God. Try to make it up the things that you haven`t done. Your worshipping is like your transport on the spiritual journey towards Allah (SWT). If the transport is missing a few parts then it won’t take us there nicely.

2.7.5 Fifth Condition For Repentance You Always Are Living A Life Of Grievance.

The fact that we cannot forget our sins is good and healthy because it keeps us conscious of the bad things that we have done. At night the person is crying and repenting and in the day time they are fasting

2.7.6 Sixth Condition For Repentance

You have to give a taste of hardship of worshipping and doing rituals. Just as we have been given the good taste of the sin. Urafa say:

We need a correlation between sin and tawbah for example, know that we are conscious of the sins for eg one makes a trip to an island to do sin (pays to indulge in sin) in repentance they should pay to go to hajj

2.8 Who Is A True Repenter?

Prophet (saww): “Do you know who is the true repenter? If I have repenting but my worshipping has not increased then I have not done my repented. (if their clothes have changed – clothes is symbolised of lifestyle and covering and appearance to reflect the inner self). If one has repented and has not changed his bad friends then he hasn’t done his repentance. If one has repented and has not changed the majlis and sessions that they do with the same type of people then they haven’t done their repentance. If one repents and doesn’t change their bed (sexual sin) hasn’t repented. If one repents and is still mean and sting hasn’t repented.”

In general, if one repents then they must change. One of the changes after they have performed repentance.

2.9 Final Procedures

Prophet (S) said: Now that you have done everything (lapsed and everything) then you can say I seek forgiveness. Prophet said the way you have to do it is as follows: (must be done immediately)

• 1. Nahjul Balagha saying 417