The great effect of seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh and some of its benefits - II part

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh frequently leads to succession of the good things, increase of the rainfall, land fertility, and flowing of milk copiously. Hud said:   

وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَاراً وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَى قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَوَلَّوْاْ مُجْرِمِينَ }هود52

"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh)." (Hud: 52)

It prolongs the life and makes it blessed. Allâh, the Most High, said:

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعاً حَسَناً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى }هود3

" And (commanding you): "Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed." ( Hud: 3)

It saves the slave from the frightful horrors of the Day of Resurrection. Allâh, the Most High, said: 

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعاً حَسَناً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنِّيَ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ (3) إِلَى اللّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ }هود3-4

"And (commanding you): "Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) (3) To Allâh is your return, and He is Able to do all things (4) " (Hud: 3 - 4)

It doubles the reward for the good deeds, removes the retribution of the evil deeds, and raises the grades. Allâh, the Most High, said:   

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعاً حَسَناً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ }هود3

"And (commanding you): "Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace  "(Hud: 3)

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allâh be pleased with him) explained this part of this verse

وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ

"… and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace … " (Hud: 3)

Saying: "Whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the recompense of the like thereof, and whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit." And seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh is one of the greatest deeds.

It is a cause of good enjoyment during this worldy life, which includes all what the slave enjoys of allowed things as the wife, the children, the house, the means of transport…etc.

Whoever asks the Forgiveness of Allâh and turn to Him in repentance frequently, is near to Him, and deserves the response to his supplication. Saleh said to his people:  

فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ }هود61

"..then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive." (Hud: 61)

Whoever asks the Forgiveness of Allâh is near to His Mercy, Love, and Courteousness, as He is the Most Merciful, Most Loving for the seekers for His Forgiveness, and the repenting to Him. Shu'aib said:      

وَاسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ }هود90

"And ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him in repentance. Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving." (Hud: 90)

It leads to the love of Allâh, and enough is that as a grace. Allâh, the Most High, said:

إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ }البقرة222

“Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.)" (Al-Baqarah: 222)

And " those who turn unto Him in repentance" means the seekers for His Forgiveness.

It expiates the sins and raises the grades, as the Prophet (May Allâh exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيَرْفَعُ الدَّرَجَةَ لِلْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ أَنَّى لِي هَذِهِ؟ فَيَقُولُ: بِاسْتِغْفَارِ وَلَدِكَ لَكَ.

“Surely, Allâh, the Exalted, raises the grade of the rightous slave in  Paradise, so he says: O my Lord! How could I reach this grade? Allâh, the Exalted, says: By seeking your child My forgiveness for you.”[1]

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh frequently grows in the psyche perfecting the character of humiliation and submission to Allâh, and this removes the boasting of the deeds, and this is a high grade of complete slavery, while stopping it or decreasing its frequency denotes ascribing righteousness and straightness to oneself, and the slave may become arrogant, and think that he is such and such.

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh and repenting to Him frequently teach the slave to accept people's execuses, as Allâh accepts seeking His Forgiveness and repentance to Him, so the slave should do the same, as he should deal with their faults towards him in the same way he wants Allâh to deal with him, as the recompence is of the same kind of the deeds, so he should deals with the sins of the creatures towards him as he wants Allâh to deals with his sins, so his mercy embraces them with fulfilling the commands of Allâh as regards them.

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh and repenting to Him frequently increase the fear of Allâh in the heart, so it becomes clear, weeping, fearful, easily affected, and regretful all the time.

Whoever asks the Forgiveness of Allâh frequently belittle his deeds as he knows that the perfect worship of Allâh is to obey Him, to be grateful to Him, to remember Him as much as possible.

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh frequently removes the chronic diseases of the heart, grows the sweetness of obedience in it, makes the slave near to Allâh, removes his solitude, and increases his eagerness to meet his Lord. 

It expiates the major sins as running away from the battlefield, as the Prophet (May Allâh exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) said:

مَنْ قَالَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيَّ الْقَيُّومَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ غُفِرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ فَرَّ مِنْ الزَّحْفِ

" He who says: ` (I seek the Forgiveness of Allâh, there is no true god except Allâh, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance),' his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allâh).”[2]

It helps the slave to sleep, calms his revolting psyche, and removes anxiety and evil whispers of Satan.

It intercedes for the dead, leads to his steadfastness in the tomb, and alleviate the torment by Allâh's Will, as Uthman bin `Affan (May Allâh be pleased with him) reported: After the burial of a dead man, the Prophet (May Allâh exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) would stand by the grave and say:

استغفروا لأخيكم واسألوا له التثبيت فإن الآن يسأل

"Ask Allâh to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now.”[3]

It leads to the Love of Allâh, the Most High, and His slaves, and grows the love between Muslims.