[FRIDAY KUTHBAH REPORT]: IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS.

Published by Shukrah Oyetunji on August 16, 2023August 16, 2023

Topic : Importance of seeking Repentance and Forgiveness.
Lecturer: Imam Dr. Akinwekomi

Reported by : Raji Mubaarokah
Friday, 12th of August, 2023.

The sonorous adhaan was called at exactly 1:30pm and the Imaam began the Friday khutbah shortly after regarding repentance and forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness is asking Allah for His forgiveness for the sins that have been committed and repentance is turning away from our faults and returning to Allah, to His path. When Allah desires good for a believer, He gives him awareness of his faults. We are advised to seek Allah’s Forgiveness as many times as possible.

The ones Allah love
Allah loves whoever seeks His forgiveness and repents to Him. Allah says in سورة الحجرات (Qur’an 49: 12): “ان الله تواب رحيم ” (Indeed, He is the acceptor of repentance and Most Merciful)”. Allah also encouraged and enjoined His prophet and Messenger to always seek His forgiveness and repent to Him.

Allah taught mankind to seek forgiveness as it can be seen in the case of Prophet Adam and our mother, Hawwah.
Prophet Nooh asked for the forgiveness of Allah ,The Almighty, repenting of what he said : (… “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers*.) Quran 11:47.

In the case of Prophet Sulayman, he said “My Lord, forgive me and bestow upon me dominion that none would ever possess after I’m gone.”
This shows that all the prophets sought the forgiveness of Allah.
Allah also commanded our beloved prophet to seek forgiveness always and for the believing men and women

The actual Istighfar (seeking forgiveness)
The meaning of Istighfar is to seek forgiveness for a shortcoming so that the sin can be cleansed and kept hidden. When we seek Allah’s forgiveness, it is not just by chanting the words of forgiveness but it also includes us moving away from things that aren’t righteous. The scholars say that to say Istighfar without moving away from the sin is even another reason to say Istigfar again!

The importance of seeking repentance
Allah, the Most High, says in the Quran: {And [saying], “Seek Forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, (and) He Will Let you enjoy a good provision} (Quran 11: 3). We should know that seeking Allah’s forgiveness has a lot of benefits.

1. Allah would forgive our sins and grant us His mercy.
2. It is a means by which we can save ourselves and households from the punishment of Allah.
3. It is a means by which we can be increased in rizq (provision). Our Prophet said, He who often seeks forgiveness, Allah would provide for him where he least expects
   Also, in Suratul Nuh: 10-12, Prophet Nuh told his people that if they sought Allah’s forgiveness, He would accept their forgiveness, cause the heavens to rain upon them and provide for them children and wealth.
4. Forgiveness saves one from Fitnah and afflictions.

Is seeking Allah’s forgiveness limited to a particular time?
No, it isn’t limited to a particular time. We can seek Allah’s forgiveness all the time.
Though some times are highly encouraged such as:

1. After completing any obligatory act of worship such as obligatory Solat, after giving out zakah and so on.
2. When we move away from any gathering. Our beloved Prophet said, whenever he leaves a gathering, he would say, “(Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik, Astagfiruka and atuubu ilaek) – Blessed (or Glorified) is you Oh my Lord, I praise you, I seek forgiveness and I turn in repentance to you”.
   So that whatever sins one might have committed in the gathering would, hopefully, be wiped away by Allah, the most forgiving.
3. When we are close to the end of our time especially for those who are advanced in age. However there is no way for young people to determine when they are close to their end time. It is therefore advised to do Istigfar all the time.

In conclusion, a piece of advice was given to the listeners that “when sincerely asking for forgiveness, the intention should be to consciously ensure that such sin is not repeated again. A Muslim is to think better of Allah. No denying the fact that Allah is Mighty, Just and Wrathful, however, at the same time He is Merciful and forgiving. May Allah grant us the strength to forgive others and also seek forgiveness from Him.”
Aameen