Times and Situations of begging Allah's Pardon (2/3)
DR. Faisal bin Mash’al bin Sa’ud
3- And, asking Allah for forgiveness is praiseworthy at the end of matters, such as assemblies. Abu Dawud reported that Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Towards the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) would say before leaving an assembly:
“O Allah! You are free from imperfection; and I begin with praising You. I testify that there is no true god except You, I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.''
A man once said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! You have spoken such words as you have never uttered before.'' He said, "It is an expiation of that which goes on in the assembly.''[1]
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said in “Al-Fath”: Its chain “Sanad” is good.
• And, whenever the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) went out of a lavatory, he would say:
“I seek Your forgiveness.”[2]
• And, it was mentioned before that the prayer should be ended by seeking forgiveness, it is the same whether it is before the concluding salutations or after it. As regards its being before the concluding salutations, we mentioned the tradition of Abu Bakr as a proof for it, as some scholars said that it should be recited after “Tashahhud”.
And as regards its being after the concluding salutations, we mentioned the tradition of Thauban as a proof for it.
• And during pilgrimage, Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 199)
Towards the end of his life, after “Surat An-Nasr” was revealed to him, the Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) used to say in his bowing and prostration:
“I honor Allah from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him. O Allah Our Lord! And all the praises are for You. O Allah! Forgive me.”[3]
• And the Prophet, (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) during his last illness just before his death, said:
“O Allah! Forgive me, bestow Your Mercy on me, and let me join with the companions.”[4]
And Allah has mentioned the story of Nuh (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him), and after He, I honor Him from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him, mentioned the destruction of Nuh's people by drowning, He mentioned that Nuh said:
“O My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. And to the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, and disbelievers, etc.) grant You no increase but destruction!" (Surah Nuh: 28)
• And seeking Allah's Forgiveness after committing a sin is praiseworthy. Nay, it is mandatory. Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Nisa': 110)
And Allah, the Exalted, said:
“And perform As-Salat (prayers), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (Surah Hud: 114)
And Abd Allah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A man kissed a woman and he came to the Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) and made a mention of that to him. It was (on this occasion) that this verse was revealed:
“And perform As-Salat (prayers), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (Surah Hud: 114)
That person said, "O Messenger of Allah! Does it concern me only?" He said, "It concerns the whole of my nation.””[5]
And this is Yunus (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him):
“And (remember) Dhan-Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): “none has the right to be worshipped but You, Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (Surah Al-Anbiya': 87)
(Continued)
[1] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 5/182.
[2] Narrated by Ahmad, 6/155, on the authority of Aishah.
[3] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4697- Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: After the revelation of (Surat) "When the Help of Allah comes (to you against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)'' (110:1), the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) used to recite in every prayer: " Far removed You are from every imperfection, our Lord, and all praise is for You, forgive me, O Allah!.” . Another narration is: the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) recited frequently in bowing and prostration: "Far removed You are from every imperfection, our Lord, and all praise is for You, forgive me, O Allah!" He elucidated that it has been commanded in the Noble Qur'an to recite: "So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives". (V.110:1) And he (the Messenger of Allah) acted upon it. Al-Bukhari, 4968, Muslim, 4/201.
[4] Narrated by Muslim, 2444. Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: While the Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) was reclining against me (during his last illness), I heard him saying: "O Allah! Forgive me, bestow Your Mercy on me and let me join with the companions.''. And “the companions” is explained by another narration Muslim reported after this narration denoting that it means: those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them), the martyrs, and the righteous.
[5] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4687, Muslim, 2763.