RAMADAN GIST – DAY 17: A fresh start before the end

“I will try to refrain from doing this and that, I will not let myself do that and I will behave myself next time, in sha Allah” – Have we not made this vow before to ourselves and to our Lord? And have we not find ourselves breaking the vow just after we make it or sometimes when we get used to the new life and we then eventually break it?

Dealing with the aftermath of breaking the self-made vows can be much more hurting than when we break other promises we make to or with others, the reason being that we lose trust of ourselves, we doubt ourselves and we ultimately stop doing so many other good things that we have being doing because of our self doubt.

The prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said “All humans err and the best of them are those who repent continuously”, Allah knows us the most and He promised us to be the best of mankind with the very thing that depresses us. You commit  a sin and then you repent from it, then that can get you a huge reward from your Lord.

Even though, we have been praised by sinning and then seeking forgiveness, we still need criteria for us to get the forgiveness granted and here is some of things you need to consider when seeking forgiveness from your Lord

1. Regret the sin

Don’t feel good about the sin you committed rather feel deeply sorry that you have done that, regretting is symbol of sincerity and it has been narrated that the prophet said “ Regret is repentance”.

2. Ask for forgiveness

When you sincerely regret doing that sin, then ask for forgiveness and don’t delay your asking of the forgiveness,  for your Lord is witnessing you and want you to come back from the sin you have committed and Allah is there to accept from you so don’t hold back and run back to your Lord.

We will stop with that two etiquettes of repentance today and we will carry on with some of the authentic ways of repenting in tomorrow’s article, in sha Allah.

Until then, ask Allah for forgiveness for you and for the entire Muslim ummah, and may what you ask for be granted, Ameen.

Wa salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.