The Rights of People and True Repentance

According to Islamic teachings, repentance (Tawbah) means turning away from sins, returning to Allah, and sincerely regretting one’s past mistakes with a firm commitment not to repeat them in the future.
The word “Tawbah” in Arabic means “to return” or “to come back.” In Islamic jurisprudence, Tawbah refers to a believer repenting with a sincere heart for their mistakes, sins, and shortcomings, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and resolving to avoid them in the future. It is a process of spiritual purification and renewing one’s relationship with the Almighty.

Istighfar, on the other hand, means seeking forgiveness from Allah. It is not only a means of attaining forgiveness for sins but also serves to cleanse the heart and increase blessings and sustenance. In Islam, repentance and seeking forgiveness are regarded as great mercies that purify a person from sins and bring them closer to Allah. The Qur’an and Hadith repeatedly emphasize the importance of Tawbah and Istighfar, encouraging every Muslim to engage in them frequently to achieve success in this life and the Hereafter.

Istighfar means “asking for forgiveness,” where a person acknowledges their sins and sincerely prays to Allah for mercy and pardon. Tawbah and Istighfar are among the most important acts of worship in Islam, drawing a person closer to the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. The Qur’an extensively stresses the significance of repentance, allowing individuals to rectify their past shortcomings and establish a stronger bond with the Creator.

The Qur’an urges believers to seek repentance and reassures them that Allah is ever willing to accept it. As stated in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:222):
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ (البقرہ:222))
Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.

Regarding the collective benefits of Istighfar, Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) advised his people:
فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوارَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا،يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا،وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا
And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Surah Nuh: 10-12)

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًاأَوْيَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِاللَّهَ يَجِدِاللَّهَ غَفُورًارَحِيمً(النساء:110)
Allah promises the forgiveness of sins, as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa (4:110):
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

Allah further assures His servants in Surah Az-Zumar (39:53):
قُلۡ یٰعِبَادِیَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡاعَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَۃِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”(Zumar:53)

The blessings of Istighfar include divine forgiveness and abundant sustenance, as stated in Surah Nuh (10-12):
And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.

The virtues of repentance are also highlighted in the Hadith. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than a person who loses his camel and provisions in a desert and then finds them again.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Furthermore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned: “Whoever seeks forgiveness one hundred times a day, Allah will remove his worries and grant him ease in his sustenance from sources he could never have imagined.” (Sunan Abi Dawood)

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept his repentance.” (Sahih Muslim)

In another Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated: “Whoever remains steadfast in seeking forgiveness, Allah will grant him relief from every hardship, a way out from every distress, and provide for him from sources he never expected.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Thus, Tawbah and Istighfar are not only acts of seeking forgiveness but also pathways to divine mercy, blessings, and success in both this world and the Hereafter. Every believer is encouraged to frequently seek Allah’s forgiveness, as it leads to inner peace, spiritual growth, and the continuous favour of the Almighty.

The Etiquette of Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness in the Blessed Month of Ramadan
To fully benefit from the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan, it is essential to understand the proper etiquette of repentance (Tawbah) and seeking forgiveness (Istighfar). There are six key etiquettes that must be observed:

1. Recognition and Remorse – A person must first acknowledge their sin, feel genuine remorse, and admit their wrongdoing.

2. Sincerity of Intent – Repentance should be solely for the sake of pleasing Allah, with a sincere intention to abandon sin immediately and never return to it.

3. Firm Resolve – One must wholeheartedly resolve to refrain from committing the sin again in the future and make a steadfast commitment to righteousness.

4. Humble Supplication – Repentance should be accompanied by heartfelt prayers, seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness with humility.

5. Engagement in Good Deeds – After repenting, one should engage in virtuous acts to erase the effects of past sins.

6. Restoring the Rights of Others – Islam strongly emphasizes fulfilling the rights of fellow human beings. If the sin involves violating someone’s rights (such as theft or backbiting), it is necessary to return what was wrongfully taken or seek forgiveness from the wronged individual.

During Ramadan, believers should also make a habit of reciting authentic supplications for forgiveness from the Qur’an and Hadith. A general supplication for seeking forgiveness is:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
“I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance.”

For the most comprehensive form of repentance, there is a well-known supplication known as Sayyidul Istighfar (The Chief of Seeking Forgiveness), which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
“O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I uphold Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and confess my sins. So, forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.” (Sahih Bukhari)

It is important to remember that repentance and seeking forgiveness are the keys to success in both this world and the Hereafter. These acts not only erase sins but also bring a person closer to Allah. The Qur’an and Hadith repeatedly emphasise their virtues. Every Muslim should make repentance and seeking forgiveness a daily habit, as they unlock the doors to ease, mercy, and divine blessings in both worlds.

May Allah grant us all the ability to repent sincerely and remain steadfast upon it. Ameen.