Tauba - Seeking forgiveness from Allah
Narrated Anas Bin Malik:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, " Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert."
Sahih Al Bukhari 6309
It is imperative to inculcate forgiveness in our lives. To seek forgiveness from Allah and to forgive others.
There are many verses in the Quran relating to forgiveness, a few are mentioned below.
Not despairing in Allah's mercy
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.1 He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Noble Quran, 39:53)
Repentance
Do they not know that Allah alone accepts the repentance of His servants and receives ˹their˺ charity, and that Allah alone is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful?
(Noble Quran, 9:104)
Allah's forgiveness
Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
(Noble Quran, 2:286)
Reflection
In Sufism, repentance (tawba) is the first stage in the spiritual journey to God. It is also compulsory on every person, as Allah states:
O believers! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance, so your Lord may absolve you of your sins and admit you into Gardens, under which rivers flow, on the Day Allah will not disgrace the Prophet or the believers with him. Their light will shine ahead of them and on their right. They will say, “Our Lord! Perfect our light for us, and forgive us. ˹For˺ You are truly Most Capable of everything.
(Noble Quran, 66:8)
Repentance involves turning to Allah and seeking his forgiveness. Resolving to refrain from sin and resolving to follow Allah's commands.