Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (751H)
There are two types of Istaghfar:
1. Istaghfar
that is mentioned alone.
2. Istaghfar
that is mentioned with Taubah.
The Istaghfar that is mentioned alone
is found in the words of Nuh (peace and blessings be upon him):
“I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness
from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; ‘He will send rain to you in
abundance.”
[Nuh 10-11]
and in the words of Salih (peace and
blessings be upon him):
Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allaah,
that you may receive mercy?” [ An-Naml 46]
Allaah also said:
“…and ask Allaah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allaah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
[ Al-Baqarah 199]
“And Allaah would not punish them while you (Muhammad)
are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allaah’s)
Forgiveness.”
[Al-Anfal 33]
Istaghfar mentioned with Taubah is
found in the following verses from the Most Merciful’s speech:
“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and
turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term
appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace.”
[Hud 3]
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then
repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain.”
[Hud 52]
Also Prophet Salih’s words to his
people have Taubah and Istaghfar mentioned together:
"He brought you forth from the
earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in
repentance.”
[ Hud 61]
and Shuaib’s speech as well has these
two actions joined together.
“And ask forgiveness of your Lord and
turn unto Him in repentance. Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving.” [
Hud 90]
Al-Istaghfar is like Taubah and in
reality it is. Contained in Istaghfar is the request of Allaah’s forgiveness. Allaah’s
forgiveness is the removal of the sin, its affect and protection from the sin’s
harm…
Al-Istaghfar contains At-Taubah and
vice versa. Both of these actions are included in each other. Whenever both of
these words are mentioned together Al-Istaghfar is protection from the
consequence of any previous evil. At-Taubah on the other hand is to return to Allaah
obediently and the search of His protection from the sin’s effect in the
future.
There are two sins. The sin that was
committed. Hence a person does Al-Istaghfar- seeking protection from its harm
and evil. And then there is the second sin which is the one that is feared to
occur in the future.
At-Taubah is the resolution to avoid
the sin and penitence to Allaah. Penitence to Allaah holds two things. The
first is the act of returning to Allaah in order to be protected from the
result of previous sin and evil. The second thing held in At-Taubah is the
search for protection against evil that might befall you in the future
resulting from the evil of yourself and deeds.
The sinner is like a driver who takes a
road that leads to his death. That road doesn’t take him where he intended to
go. He is ordered to take alternative route and travel the road that leads to
his safety. That alternative route takes him where he wanted to go and as a
result he is successful.
Therefore in this instance there are
two things that are necessary:
1. Separation
from something
2. Recourse
to a different way
At-Taubah is the recourse and
Al-Istaghfar is the separation. Whenever these words are mentioned separately
one is included in the other. Allaah knows best, but that’s why He said,
““And
ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him in repentance. “
[ Hud 90]
This is the recourse to the path of
truth after separation from the path of falsehood.
In conclusion, Al-Istaghfar is from the
chapter of the removal of harm. And At-Taubah is from the chapter of requesting
a good outcome. Therefore Al-Maghfirah is protection against sin’s evil and
At-Taubah is the obtainment of good after the protection is sought. Each one is
included in the other when mentioned alone. Allaah knows best.
Taken
from Madarajus Sallikeen
Translated
by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Dwight Battle
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