Golden, Yet Concise 7

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Praise be to Allah, as much as He Pleases and as befits His Majesty. We testify that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad SAW is His servant and Messenger. We ask Allah to bestow His Salutations and Peace upon His Messenger SAW, his household, companions and the entire Ummah as long as winds come before rains and thunder comes after lightening.

Thanks and Praises belong to Allah for granting us another opportunity to inform and remind one another about issues of the religion. We pray to Him to make these issues beneficial to us in this world and in the hereafter.

In shaa Allah we shall begin today’s post under the heading, “Is there a difference between Istighfaar (Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness) and Tawbah (Repenting to Allah)?”  Yes. There is a difference between Tawbah and Istighfaar. And the differences can be made apparent from many angles some of which shall be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs.

The first difference we can bring to light concerning this issue is that Tawbah has a timeframe. This means that there is a time within which nobody’s Tawbah shall be accepted. Absolutely nobody. But for Istighfaar, there is no time limit. Istighfaar can be done at anytime even to the extent of being done after a person is dead. But the dead person cannot repent. Forgiveness can be sought from Allah for him but the dead can never repent.

The second angle from which we can look at this issue is that, Tawbah has to be made only by the one who committed the evil deed. With Istighfaar, the one who committed the sin can do it and other people can also do Istighfaar for him or on his behalf. No one can make Tawbah on behalf of anyone. A son cannot make repentance for his father, a friend cannot make repentance for his friend but a son can seek forgiveness for his father, the angels can seek forgiveness for mankind. These aforementioned points will make it clear to us that indeed there is a difference between Tawbah and Istighfaar. Make Allah forgive us our sins and accept our repentance. Aameen.

We shall bring our discussion to and end here, Alhamdu-liLlah. This is to ensure that what comes after it shall be considered a new chapter. In our next post we shall begin to sojourn on the issue of whether Istighfaar is beneficial to a believer if it is done without Tawbah. May Allah forgive us our sins. May He let us die as Muslims and upon the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW. May He join us with His righteous servants who have preceded us in the transition from this world into the hereafter.

Whoever has a question, suggestion, misunderstanding or any problem concerning these posts can address them to me via WhatsApp: +233209237434

These explanations are taken from the explanation of the “Concise Admonition” of Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, by the Revered Scholar and Teacher Duktuur Sulayman ar-Ruhayliyy may Allah safeguard him for the Ummah.

May the Salutations and Peace of Allah be upon His Noble Prophet SAW.

Please don't forget to say a word of prayer for me.

As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatu-Llah wa Barakatuhu

Abu_Haleemah Uthaymeen Zuchi.