In life, there will be times when we fail, succumb to our desires and go against the commands of Allah. Nevertheless, we must not lose hope in the mercy of Allah even as we repeatedly find ourselves committing mistakes. Instead, we should acknowledge our weaknesses and feelings of guilt, then seek His forgiveness as we continue to strive to become amongst those who repent sincerely.
In a hadith, our Prophet s.a.w. explained that Allah loves when we turn to Him in repentance:
Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly).
[Hadith Narrated by Imam Muslim]
This is supported by the verse in Surah Al-Baqarah:
Indeed, Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance.
(Al-Baqarah 2:222)
Look at how beautiful this verse is. It is not about the sinner, but the repentant. There’s always hope for the sinner. Even when you feel overwhelmed by sins, grappling with personal struggles and inner conflicts, don’t let despair take hold. Persevere and strive for sincere repentance, and do not let Shaitan triumph. Keep pushing forward, putting in the effort to repent with utmost sincerity.
Never give up hope in Allah’s mercy. You are always surrounded by Allah’s blessing. You should never feel that Allah has abandoned you, because He never abandons His creation as His mercy encompasses everything.
Allah SWT said:
And My mercy encompasses everything.
(Al-A’raf 7:156)
Take a moment to observe our surroundings. Despite the abundant blessings bestowed upon us, we often find ourselves disobeying Him. Yet, in His infinite mercy, He continues to provide for us.
Even though we may misuse our wealth, bodies, tongues, hands, and eyes in disobedience, He still grants us sustenance (rizq) and shields our sins from the sight of others. SubhanAllah, His mercy knows no bounds.
No matter the extent of your sins, trust in the boundless mercy of Allah, who forgives all sins. The feeling of guilt or the gnawing of your conscience are signs of Allah’s mercy. Recognizing the emptiness in your heart and the distance from Allah SWT is itself a blessing and mercy. Allah desires our return to the right path, hence He instills this sense of guilt and emptiness within us. Without these reminders, we may stray further from Him. Therefore, embrace these feelings as a call to return to Him.
Another example is when a person engages excessively in materialistic pursuits, neglecting spiritual growth and connection with Allah. Despite the temporary satisfaction from worldly pleasures, there may be a lingering sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness in the heart. This feeling serves as a reminder from Allah, urging individuals to reevaluate their priorities and turn back to Him for true fulfilment and contentment.
Let’s turn back to Allah SWT and always ask him for forgiveness for He is indeed Al-Ghafur (the All-Forgiving) and Al-Rahman (the Most Gracious).
This article was contributed by Al-Khair Mosque.
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