No matter how many sins you have committed - Islam can still take you in its fold

Most of us live in a state of ignorance, for we are not aware of the immense mercy of Allah. And in this state of ignorance, we commit crimes, mostly knowingly and some unknowingly and still think that we may would get escort free. The concept of confession to priests is a misnomer as a priest or any religious entity may relieve the burden of one's sins from the time being for one feels lightened after confessing to someone, but this does not cleanse the slate of one's heart as the sole authority to forgive one's sins remains with Allah alone, the Master and the Creator of this universe and no on else.

There are many a people who have drowned in the quagmire of a sinful life, those who have committed smaller to heinous crimes and sins. While some continue to do so till death reaches them, many feel ashamed of their misdeed but do not know how to repent and to whom. No matter what wordily gods, saints and priests profess, none has the authority to waive off one's sins. Even if one makes confession, the sins continue to haunt them for repentance lies with none other than Allah.

Sincere tawba (repentance with a firm promise not to repeat a sin) is always accepted by Allah. Allah says: Verily, He is One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful. In the Holy Qur'an Allah promises:

“Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards” [an-Nisa’ 4:17]

Islam is the only religion where one can converse to Allah without any intermediary. No priest or saint or a religious entity is required to represent a sinner's case to Allah. It is the sinner all by himself who must make an earnest confession and seek repentance for his past sins, no matter how grave, and can have hope of being forgiven. 

Since committing sins is something that can lead one to the burning fire of hell, Allah has on a numerous occasions in the Holy Qur'an warned the sinners to repent for that is the only way to utter salvation:

“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah ? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.”  [Aal ‘Imraan Chapter 3:135]

So why not repent when one still has time to, for no one knows for sure when the angel of death would knocks one's door. And when the angel of death is around, the transition from life to death is so swift that one doesn't even get a second to repent. So why not repent while one has still time and embark upon a new life of the enlightened path and to paradise !!

I came across this video I am sharing below and thought I must do it for those who do not find a ray of hope out of their sinful life and do not find guidance from anyone as how to repent and begin a new life. Listen this short video for it may it may change your life. Remember, Islam is the only trusted light at the end of the tunnel and one must seek it before it is too late.

Watch this enlightening video that guides even the worst of the sinners to repent and come into the fold of Islam and be rest assured that your past will be washed away and you start your day and future with a clean slate:

What are you waiting for?

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Understanding Quran: Do we need saints as intermediaries to reach Allah?

The post today to me is very important for I have been in quest of an answer to one of my quires for there are many believers around us who seem to have got carried away with some notions mostly arising from not reading and understanding the Holy Qur'an. My query: Do we need saints as intermediaries to reach Allah?

In the part of the world where I live, I see many believers shirking to approach Allah and finding intermediaries to take their case to Allah for they feel they are too small or are sinners and thus are not worthy of praying directly to the Master of the Universe. While I do not blame them entirely for they have been told by their imams that they must find someone close to Allah and "request" them to plead their case to Allah for they do not know the etiquettes to approach Allah.

This has been the reason that there are graves of saints which are flocked with the believers with weak faith due to lack of understanding the Qur'an and understanding the clear message that Allah gives out to them and in fact to the entire humanity.

So while trying to understand the Holy Qur'an and sharing the exegesis / tafseer of the surahs / chapters of the Holy Qur'an I found the answer to my query; answered by none but Allah Himself in Surah Az Zumar:

Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. [Surah Az Zumar 39:3]

This verse carried a clear message for the disbelievers of Makkah and the polytheists the world over who generally say the same: We do not worship other beings regarding them as our creators: the Creator is only Allah, and He alone is the real Deity; but He is too high for us to have access to Him. Therefore, we make these saintly beings a means to convey our prayers and our petitions to Allah.

Although this verse was meant for the disbelievers of the time, how true it is even today when many Muslims still seek help from Allah by asking a saint or a pious man to pray for them. In fact a section of religious men have drilled this notion in the minds of their subjects that Allah is NOT for the ordinaries to be requested directly and that they need an intermediary to approach Allah on their behalf to forward their requests. 

The verse and its explanation clearly states that this line of thinking is against the spirit of Islam and one should understand Islam by reading Qur'an and its exegesis / tafseer so that one is not mislead.

Then again later in Surah Zumar, Allah once again comes back to the same subject to make it clearer so that believers do not go astray like disbelievers:

And when Allah Alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust (from the Oneness of Allah) and when those (whom they obey or worship) besides Him [like all false deities other than Allah, it may be a Messenger like 'Eesa (Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra), an angel, a pious man, a jinn, or any other creature even idols, graves of religious people, saints, priests, monks, etc.] are mentioned, behold, they rejoice!  [39:45]

Now once again  there is a caution - EVEN for some Muslims: This evil is common to almost all polytheistic people of the world, and even some unfortunate Muslims also suffer from it, They profess with the tongue that they believe in Allah, but when One Allah alone is mentioned before them, their faces are distorted, and they say: This man certainly does not believe in the saints and holy men, that is why he talks of Allah and Allah alone. And if others besides Allah are mentioned, they are delighted, and their faces brighten up with joy. Their this attitude shows as to who is the actual object of their love and esteem. 

Allama Alusi, in his commentary Ruh al-Maani, has related his own experience here. He says: One day I saw that a man was invoking the help of a dead saint in his affliction. I said: O bondsman of Allah, invoke Allah, for He Himself says: If My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls to Me, (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 186), Hearing this, the man became angry. The people told me afterwards that he said: This man is a denier of the saints. And some others heard him also say: The saints answer the prayers more promptly than does Allah.

So please read and understand the Holy Qur'an by reading exegesis / tafseer written by prominent scholars and spread the right explanation to those who are at loss to understand the message contained in the Divine Book for it is our moral obligation and religious duty. Remember we need to understand Qur'an to understand Islam better and be a better Muslim.

Author's Note: The explanation of the verses above is from "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. Those not believing his work would not agree with him - but those who have a rationale mind and have read Qur'an deliberately would know what truth is.

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Understanding the Holy Quran: How Surah Ad-Duha Can Change Your Life

Surah Ad-Duha, the 93rd chapter / surah of the Holy Qur'an if understood properly can change a man's life as it did the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he was in great distress and low morale.  The surah guides the believers and shows them a way out of their despair and low days.

We have already presented the exegesis of the Surah Ad-Duha in one of our earlier posts. But the purpose of this post is to share an enlightening commentary on Surah Ad-Duha, wherein it is deliberated upon how one can change one's life if one seeks guidance given in the surah by Allah, the Almighty to His last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he was in great despair due to non receipt of the Divine revelations for a number of days and the pagans of Makkah had started to mock the Prophet of Allah that he had been abandoned by the Allah.

As per some sources, it is quoted that "Umm Jamil, wife of Abu Lahab, who was an aunt of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and whose house adjoined his, said to him: It appears your Satan has forsaken you."

In such trying times, Allah promised His Prophet through this surah that "Soon would follow what is better for you and that you shall be rewarded and given so much that you will be well pleased." This promise was fulfilled during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and all Arabia, from the southern coasts to the Syrian frontiers of the Byzantine empire and the Iraqi frontiers of the Persian empire in the north, and from the Persian Gulf in the east to the Red Sea in the west, came under his control.  

That is why Surah Ad Duha needs to be understood for it took out the Prophet of Allah from darkness of despair and depression and showed him the light and reminded him that didn't Allah look after him when he was orphan, very young and no one to rely upon. Those were the days when despite all odds, from where he grew up to be a strong young man and a successful businessman and later to be the Prophet of Allah.

Those of us who lose heart when confronted with difficult times and lose any hope, there must listen to this enlightening commentary by Sh Tawfique Chowdhury to an audience in Australia sometime ago:

I am sure after listening to this video, you will be a better man than you were before. May Allah help us to seek guidance from the Holy Qur'an by understanding its meaning and helping others who are in distress by making them understand what we now know.

You may refer to our post "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary / exegesis of other chapters (Though not complete but building up from 30th Part backwards for chapters in 30th Part are shorter and easier to understand). 

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If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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