Ramadhan Reflection -- Allah Loves to Forgive, So Ask for Forgiveness

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

One of the distinguishing features of Ramadhan is forgiveness. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) explained in one Hadith that Ramadhan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the Hellfire.

Allah's blessings and mercy are so abundant in this month that anybody who truly repents in it, becomes as free of sins at the end of the month as when he was born. It is a glorious opportunity offered to us by the Almighty, an opportunity to cleanse and purify ourselves from the filth of sins and evil. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) advised the believers: O People... your back is breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Him (in Ramadhan) for long intervals, and make it lighter.

Allah Most High says,

وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٣٣

And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (133)

[Quran, AleImran 3:133]

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿١١٠

And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (110)

[Quran, An-Nisa 4:110]

أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٧٤

So will they not repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (74)

[Quran, Al-Ma'idah 5:74]

The month of Ramadhan is a time when there is a general amnesty for sinners. Allah invites the sinners to come and seek His forgiveness. This is an opportunity that must not be missed, for no one knows if he/she will be alive next Ramadhan.

So ask Allah for forgiveness abundantly. Make sure that do not repeat your sins once you have done repentance. Allah loves to forgive and loves the person who seeks forgiveness. Forgive others in these days of forgiveness. This is a tremendous way to expose ourselves to an opportunity for Allah's pardon when we need it most, by pardoning His servants. 

Allah Most High says, 

وَجَزَ‌ٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٤٠

And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (40)  [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:40] 

Tabarani relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter paradise without reckoning." 

Imagine being among that fortunate group and having all of our many sins forgiven and receiving our reward directly from Allah. 

اَللّـهُمَّ اَدِّ عَنّا حَقَّ ما مَضى مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضانَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنا تَقْصيرَنا فيهِ، وَتَسَلَّمْهُ مِنّا مَقْبُولاً وَلا تُؤاخِذْنا بِاِسْرافِنا عَلى اَنْفُسِنا، وَاجْعَلْنا مِنَ الْمَرْحُومينَ وَلا تَجْعَلْنا مِنَ الَْمحْرُومينَ

O Allah, help us fulfill the right of what has passed of the month of Ramadhan, and forgive us our shortcoming during it, and receive it from us with acceptance, and do not take us by our extravagance against ourselves, and make us among those who receive mercy, and do not make us among those who are deprived.

Ameen.

 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam