Islam and Women
I wish to repent!
Umm Milad Attariyya
Islam is a religion of positivity and a faith which gives hope. Since sins and disobedience of the Creator may hurl the person into the abyss of despair, Islam teaches us the powerful and beautiful concept of repentance and turning back to Allah Almighty.
The Quran and Sunnah not only encourage us to repent but command it. Also, not only does Allah Almighty accept the repentance of those who repent, He loves them. Allah Almighty states:
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِیۡنَ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who repent abundantly.”[1]
They have been referred to as the best of people in the hadith. Just as the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “All humans make mistakes, and the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent.”[2]
The sacred month of Rajab has arrived. As one of the four sanctified months, Rajab is immensely blessed and its virtues are signalled in the Quran and hadith. For example, Allah Almighty states:
اِنَّ عِدَّۃَ الشُّہُوۡرِ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ اثۡنَا عَشَرَ شَہۡرًا فِیۡ کِتٰبِ اللّٰہِ یَوۡمَ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ مِنۡہَاۤ اَرۡبَعَۃٌ حُرُمٌ ؕ
“Indeed, the number of months according to Allah is twelve in the Book of Allah, from when He created the heavens and the earth, of which four are sacred.”[3]
It is narrated that, “Increase your seeking of forgiveness in Rajab, for indeed, Allah Almighty saves many people from the Fire in its every moment.”[4]
The time that has passed is no more. It has lapsed, never to return. So focus on the present and value each breath by sincerely repenting and adorning your days and nights with deeds that please your Lord. You should never think that because you are sinful, how will you repent or how can you perform good deeds. Allah Almighty readily accepts repentance; we are only required to fulfil the requirements of repentance. Therefore, make up any missed prayers, seek forgiveness from those whose rights you have not fulfilled, and if it is possible to make up for them, then atone for them.
Do not only repent yourself but encourage others too. If a sister is avoiding sins and adopting the way of repentance, you should encourage her. Some women dishearten others on such occasions and say all sorts of strange things to them, such as, “Enough, enough. Leave it”, or, “We know how pious you are!”, etc. It is unfortunate that such women are not only distant from our precious faith themselves, they also discourage those who are toiling to traverse the path of piety and repentance in these testing times. Those sisters who are engaged in rectifying themselves should not pay any attention to the words of such women.
May Allah Almighty grant Muslim women the ability to repent sincerely.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
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