The Book of Seeking Forgiveness: Chapter on the Command to Seek Forgiveness and Its Virtue: Allah the Exalted said: “And seek forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and women.”
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The Shaykh : Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) concluded his book with seeking forgiveness and repentance, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the last of his life, saying: [An-Nasr 110:1-3]. So the author (may Allah have mercy on him) concluded this great, beneficial book, from which Muslims in all corners of the world benefit, both the common people and the students of knowledge. And this book, which I mean *Riyad al-Salihin*, is among the most blessed of the books I have seen in terms of people benefiting from it, which indicates the good intention of its author (may Allah have mercy on him).
Seeking forgiveness: It is asking for forgiveness, and no person is without error, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 4251Hasan (Darussalam). The error that comes from the children of Adam is either a shortcoming in an obligatory duty or the doing of a forbidden act, and no person is free from that. But the cure for sins is seeking forgiveness and praising Allah. And in the athar, it is said that Satan says: “I have destroyed the children of Adam by means of sins and transgressions, and they have destroyed me by *La ilaha illa Allah* and seeking forgiveness”.
So seeking forgiveness is a cause for forgiveness, and for this reason, Allah the Exalted commanded it in many verses of the Qur'an, from which the author cited a good number. Among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):[Muhammad 47:19]: This is while he is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), of whom Allah has forgiven what has passed of his sin and what is to come, yet he was commanded to seek forgiveness for his sin.
And He said:[Muhammad 47:19] .
Likewise, Allah the Exalted praised those who seek forgiveness in many verses, among them are those who seek forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
Those who seek forgiveness in the early hours of the morning: They are those who seek forgiveness from Allah in the last part of the night. The scholars said: “That is because they perform the night prayer and worship Allah, and they see that they are shortcoming, so they ask Allah for forgiveness”. This is while they are striving, standing in prayer at night, and yet they seek forgiveness out of fear of shortcoming. A person should increase in seeking the forgiveness of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: “O Allah, forgive me. I seek Allah's forgiveness and I turn to Him in repentance.” And the hadiths explaining this will come, if Allah wills.
(1) When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, (2) And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, (3) Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.
إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح * ورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجاً * فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان تواباًSeeking forgiveness: It is asking for forgiveness, and no person is without error, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.
كل بني آدم خطاء وخير الخطائين التوابونSo seeking forgiveness is a cause for forgiveness, and for this reason, Allah the Exalted commanded it in many verses of the Qur'an, from which the author cited a good number. Among them is the saying of Allah the Exalted to His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin
فاعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله واستغفر لذنبكSeek forgiveness for your sin.
استغفر لذنبكAnd He said:
and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women
واستغفر لذنبك وللمؤمنين والمؤمناتLikewise, Allah the Exalted praised those who seek forgiveness in many verses, among them are those who seek forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
Those who seek forgiveness in the early hours of the morning: They are those who seek forgiveness from Allah in the last part of the night. The scholars said: “That is because they perform the night prayer and worship Allah, and they see that they are shortcoming, so they ask Allah for forgiveness”. This is while they are striving, standing in prayer at night, and yet they seek forgiveness out of fear of shortcoming. A person should increase in seeking the forgiveness of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: “O Allah, forgive me. I seek Allah's forgiveness and I turn to Him in repentance.” And the hadiths explaining this will come, if Allah wills.