The Khasya (Apprehension and reverence of Allah)=
; and
Istighfar (seeking forgiveness and repentance) of Allah’s messenger
BS F=
oad,
M.D 2011
Allah’s messenger (PBUH) used to seek Allah̵= 7;s forgiveness and was fearful and apprehensive and reverent to Allah. We are ordered to follow the example of Allah’s messenger in his character a= nd behavior
His Khasya (Fear, apprehension and reverence of =
Allah)
What is Khash=
ya?
It is fear accompanied with understanding of what you fear and a sense of
responsibility. That is why the scholars and those who know Allah are more
fearful of Allah because they understand their duty towards Allah and who A=
llah
is:=
Those truly fear A=
llah,
among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Ex=
alted
in Might, Oft-Forgiving.
&n=
bsp; Fatir
35: 28
And:
"Who feared (Allah) Most Graci=
ous
unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):
&=
nbsp; Qa
f 50: 33
This means that these=
people
fear Allah because they know their responsibility and they approach their
accountability with a heart that turns to Allah. There is no escape from Al=
lah
except to Him:
(He turned in mercy
also) to the three who were left behind; (they felt guilty) to such a degree
that the earth seemed constrained to them, for all its spaciousness, and th=
eir
(very) Souls seemed straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no
fleeing from Allah (and no refuge) but to Himself. Then He turned to them, =
that
they might repent: for Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 118
And:
Those who join tog=
ether
those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined, hold their Lord in aw=
e,
and fear the terrible reckoning;
&n=
bsp; Ar-Ra’d
13: 21
Allah’s messenger (PBUH) said:
(Do what you are capable of and do what is right; and = know that none of you will be saved by his deeds alone) His companions asked: Not even you O messenger of Allah? He said: (Not even I unless Allah bestows His mercy and blessings on me)
Bokhari = & Muslim after Abou Horaira.
He also said:
(Why som= e people do not avail themselves of the Rukhsa (allowance) that I permit? By Allah amongst you I know Allah the best, and I fear Him the most)
Bokhari = & Muslim
Whenever Allah’s messenger (PBUH) saw clouds he =
became
concerned and apprehensive. When it rains he would feel better. Aesha asked=
him
why your color changes when you see the clouds? He said: (How can I be sure
that it is not a punishment from Allah. Other people were punished with the
winds; when they saw it they said:
Then, when they saw the (Penalty in=
the
shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they sa=
id,
"This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay, it is the (calamity) ye
were asking to be hastened! A wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty!
=
; Al-Ahqaf
46: 24
Ahmad, B= okhari & Muslim
The Prophet’s companions asked him:
O messenger of Allah (PBUH) you have become grey-haire= d. He said: (Hud has turned my hair grey). They asked: What in it has done that? = Is it the stories of the Prophets and the demise and destruction of previous nations? He said: (it is the verse:
Therefore stand firm (in the straight
path) as thou art commanded, thou and those who with thee turn (unto Allah);
and transgress not (from the path); for He seeth well all that ye do.
=
; Hud
11: 112
Narrated by Termedhi, Hakim, Baihaqi, Ibn Asakir, Taba= rani & Ahmad.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(If you = only knew what I know, you would cry a lot and laugh a little)
Bokhari & Muslim after Abou Horaira
Aba Dhurr related that Allah’s messenger (PBUH)
recited Surat Al-Insan:
Has there not been over Man a long =
period
of Time, when he was nothing, (not even) mentioned?
=
; Al-Insan
76: 1
Verily We
created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: so We gave h=
im
(the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.
=
; Al-Insan
76: 2
We showed him the Way: whether he
=
; Al-Insan
76: 3
For the Rejecters We have prepared
Chains, Yokes, and a Blazing Fire.
=
; Al-Insan
76: 4
As to the Right=
eous.
They shall drink of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Kafur,
=
; Al-Insan
76: 5
A Fountain where the Devotees of Al=
lah do
drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance.
=
; Al-Insan
76: 6
Then he said: (I see what you do not see; and I hear w= hat you do not hear; the heavens have submitted and lowered itself, and it is r= ight for it to submit and become low: there is no place in it except there is an angel prostrating to Allah. If you know what I know, you would laugh only a little, and you would weep a lot) Hakim
We should fea=
r Allah
and not fear other people or fear being blamed
A person who believes and understands his responsibili=
ty
will fear Allah, and not fear other people. The harm they can inflict on us=
is
nothing compared to Allah’s punishment. The Qur’an states:
, behold! a section of them feared men as - or even more than - =
they
should have feared Allah &=
nbsp; An-Nesa’a
4: 77
And:
Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whom ye should more justly fea=
r,
if ye believe!
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 13
His istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness=
)
As human beings we fall short, and we make mistakes an=
d we
commit sins. We should turn to Allah seeking His forgiveness for our sins, =
for
no one can forgive the sins except Allah. He forgives us again and again as
long as our repentance is sincere.
O ye who believe! =
Turn
to Allah with sincere repentance: in the hope that your Lord will remove fr=
om
you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow; the Day t=
hat
Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe wi=
th
him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, whi=
le
they say, "Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgivenes=
s:
for Thou has power over all things."
&n=
bsp; At-Tahreem
66: 8
And:
If anyone does evi=
l or
wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find
Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
&n=
bsp; An-Nesa’a
4: 110
And:
Say: "O my Se=
rvants
who have transgressed against their souls! despair not of the Mercy of Alla=
h:
for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
&n=
bsp; Az-Zumar
39: 53
"Turn ye to y=
our
Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you:
after that ye shall not be helped.
&n=
bsp; Az-Zumar
39: 54
"And follow t=
he
Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty co=
mes
on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not! –
&n=
bsp; Az-Zumar
39: 55
We are ordered to seek Allah’s forgiveness:
Our Lord! forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, =
and
take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 193
Allah’s messenger (PBUH) said:
(Indeed I seek Allah’s forgiveness, and I turn t= o Him in repentance, every day seventy times) Bokhari & Termedhi & Tabarani.
In another narration:
(I seek Allah’s forgiveness, and I turn to Him in repentance every day one hundred times) Tabarani
He also said:
(O peopl= e turn to Allah in repentance, for I turn to Him in repentance every day one hundr= ed times) Ahmad & Muslim
Ibn Omar related that he heard Allah’s messenger (PBUH) say before he leaves the place where he was sitting:
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the One who there is no god but Him, the alive and = the One who supports everything, and I turn to Him in repentance one hundred ti= mes)
Nesa’ee.
In another narration Allah’s messenger (PBUH) us= ed to say when he was sitting:
(My Lord= forgive me, and accept my repentance, for You are the = One who turns to His servants and You are the most-merciful one hundred times).=
Abou Dawood, Termedhi, Ibn Majja & Nesa’ee
Aesha related that in the last year of the ProphetR= 17;s life he used to say:
(Glory to You and all praise is due to You;
I bear witness that there is no god but You; I seek Your forgiveness and I =
turn
to You). She asked him: O messenger of Allah why do you say these words so
frequently? He said: (My Lord has ordered me to do this and I do it. Then he
recited:
When comes the Help of Allah, and
Victory,
=
; An-Nasr
110: 1
And thou dost see the People enter
Allah's Religion in crowds,
=
; An-Nasr
110: 2
Celebrate the Praises of thy Lord, =
and
pray for His Forgiveness: for He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy).
=
; An-Nasr
110: 3
Certain conditions and certain times ma=
ke it
more likely that our repentance will be accepted and that forgiveness of our
sins will be granted
It is not enough to seek God’s forgiveness. We m=
ust
show that we understand our responsibility by turning to Allah in repentanc=
e, and
do good to atone for our sins:
"But, without
doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent,
believe, and do right, who, in fine, are ready to receive true guidance.&qu=
ot;
Ta Ha 20: 82
And
O ye who believe! =
Shall
I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?
&n=
bsp; As-Saff
61: 10
That ye believe in=
Allah
and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, =
with
your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if ye but knew! =
&n=
bsp; As-Saff
61: 11
He will forgive yo=
u your
sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful
mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme Achievement.
&n=
bsp; As-Saff
61: 12
Forgiveness
is also more likely at certain times:
1-After
prayers
2-During
fasting
3-In
the last third of the night
(Namely),
those who say; "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us,
then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire;" –
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 16
Those who show pat=
ience,
firmness and self-control; who are true (in word and deed); who worship
devoutly; who spend (in the way of Allah); and who pray for forgiveness in =
the
early hours of the morning.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 17
Prophet Muhammad as our example in Kha=
shya
(showing fear and reverence to Allah and Istighfar (seeking Allah’s
forgiveness)
=
&nb=
sp; BS
Foad, M.D 2011
We
are ordered to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his charact=
er
and behavior
Khashya
means fearing Allah because we understand our responsibility and accountabi=
lity
to Him, and that we revere Allah. Therefore those who =
know
are more reverent than others:
“Among
Allah’s servants those who fear him the most are those who have
knowledge” Fatir 35: 28
“Who
feared Allah Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart devoted to AllahR=
21;
Qa F 50: 33
Allah’s
messenger (PBUH) said:
(Do what you are capable of, and do what is rig=
ht;
and know that none of you will be saved by his deeds
a=
lone)
His companions asked: Not even you O messenger of Allah? He said: (Not even=
I
unless Allah
b=
estows
His mercy and blessings on me) Bokhari & Muslim after Abou Horaira.
(Why some people do not avail themselves of the
allowance that I permit? By Allah amongst you I know
A=
llah
the best and I fear Him the most) Bokhari & Muslim
The Prophet’s companions asked him: What =
made
you grey-haired? He said: (Hud and its sisters has turned my hair grey). Th=
ey
asked: What in Hud made that change? Is it the stories of the Prophets and =
the
demise of previous nations? He said: (It is this verse: “Therefore stand up firm in the straight path as you are
commanded, you and those with you who turn to Allah, and transgress not, fo=
r He
sees well all that you do” Hud 11: 112) narrated by Termedhi, Hak=
im,
Baihaqi, Tabarani & Ahmad
(If you only knew what I know, you would weep a=
lot
and laugh a little) Bokhari & Muslim
The Prophet (PBUH) recited the verses in Surat
Al-Insan: “Indeed We created =
man
from a drop of mingles sperm in order to try him, and We gave him the gifts=
of
hearing and sight. We showed him the way: whether to be grateful or ungrate=
ful
(rests his will). We have prepared for the unbelievers chains, yokes and a
blazing fire. As to the righteous they shall drink of a cup mixed with Kafu=
r. A
fountain where the devotees of Allah do drink” Al-Insan 76: 1-6. =
Then
he said: (I see what you do not see; and I hear what you do not hear; the
heavens have submitted, and it is right for it to submit: there is no place=
in
it except there is an angel prostrating to Allah. If you know what I know y=
ou
would laugh little, and you would weep a lot) Hakim
We should fear Allah, and not fear others or fear being blamed for what we do<= o:p>
“Behold!
A section of them feared men as or even more than they should have feared
Allah”
An-Nesa’a 4: 77
“Do
you fear them? No, it is Allah Whom you should more justly fear, if you
believe” At-Tawba 9: 13
Istighfar
(seeking Allah’s forgiveness)
“If
anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah’s
forgiveness, he will find Allah
Often-Forgiving,
Most-Merciful” An-Nesa’a 4: 110
“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 Often-Forgiving,
Most-Merciful” Az-Zumar 39: 53
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Indeed I seek Allah’s forgiveness and I =
turn
to Him in repentance every day seventy times) Bokhari
(O people turn to Allah in repentance, for I tu=
rn
to Him in repentance every day one hundred times)
A=
hmad
& Muslim
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no god=
but
Him, the Alive, The one who supports everything; and I turn to Him in
repentance one hundred times) Nesa’ee
(Glory to You and all praise is due to You. I b=
ear
witness that there is no god but You; I seek Your forgiveness and I turn to
You).
We
should do good to atone for our sins
“Without
a doubt I am He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe,
and do right and are ready to receive guidance” Ta Ha 20: 82
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: (Be conscious of
Allah at all times; follow a bad deed with a good deed, it will wipe it out;
and interact with people with noble character) Abou Dawood
Our
Istghfar is accepted during Sahar (last third of the night)
“Those who say: “Our Lord we have indeed believed; forgive us our sins, and = save us from the agony of the fire. Those who show patience and self-control, an= d who are true (in word and deed), and who worship with devotion, and who spend (= in the way of Allah), and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning” Al-Imran 3: 16= & 17