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

It is a safeguard against the general torment and excision for the nation and the individuals inspite of the occurrence of the causes of torment, and if there is no advantage for it but this advantage, enough is it as a grace. Even the pagans of Quraish inspite of their wrongful repulsive saying, ignorance, obstinacy, and ugly behavior in their saying which they said publicly:   

وَإِذْ قَالُواْ اللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ }الأنفال32

“And (remember) when they said: "O Allâh! If this (the Qur'ân) is indeed the truth (revealed) from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment." (Al-Anfal: 32)

They were afraid the torment may afflict them, so they were seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh secretly. And Ibn Abbas[1] said: “There were two safeguards against the torment of Allâh on the earth, the Prophet (peace be on him), and seeking Allâh's Forgiveness: the Prophet has gone, and seeking Allâh's Forgiveness is still present." So, what an easy safeguard against the torment of Allâh in this worldy life and in the Hereafter, for whom He has made it easy. And the Islamic nation, on the individual and general levels, should remember this safeguard, increase its frequency, and behave in accordance with its requirements.

All the praises and thanks be to Allâh for His Mercy and Courteousness to His slaves. Allâh, the Most High, said:     

وَإِذْ قَالُواْ اللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ }الأنفال32

“And (remember) when they said: "O Allâh! If this (the Qur'ân) is indeed the truth (revealed) from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment." (Al-Anfal: 32)

This verse is related to the pagans of Quraish who are the leaders of paganism, and inspite of that Allâh, the Most High, was kind to them, and gave them the safeguard against the torment, what about the certain monotheists even if they commit faults, so this is the safeguard against the torment. We ask Allâh to guide us to what pleases Him.      

It leads to receiving Allâh's Mercy, descending of His guidance into the hearts, and steadfastness of the belief in Him, as all His Messengers invited their peoples to seek forgiveness for their disbelief and sins, and this is Sâlih (Saleh) who invited his people to increase the good deeds, to stop the bad deeds, not to hasten the torment, and to seek  forgiveness, as this leads to receiving Allâh's Mercy. Allâh, the Most High, said:         

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحاً أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ  -  قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ }النمل45-46

“And indeed We sent to Thamûd their brother Sâlih (Saleh), saying: "Worship Allâh (Alone and none else). Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbelievers) quarreling with each other (46) He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allâh's Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?" (An-Naml: 45-46)

Seeking the Forgiveness of Allâh with returning to Him truthfully leads to forgiveness of the sin whatever it is, raises the grade in the hereafter, makes the slave near to Him on the Day of Resurrection, makes the Paradise his residency by Allâh's Mercy and Will, and reforms his relation with Allâh, as what happened to the Prophet  Dâwûd (May Allâh exalt his mention, and peace be upon him) of Allâh's Courteousness to him, his repentance, and that his grade raised after seeking the forgiveness and repentance so that his state became better than before. Allâh, the Most High, said:         

وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعاً وَأَنَابَ - فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ }ص24-25

“And Dâwûd (David) guessed that We have tried him and he sought Forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down prostrate and turned (to Allâh) in repentance (24) So We forgave him that, and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of (final) return (25) " (Saad: 24 – 25 )

It is an essential necessity of the slaves of the Most Beneficent in this worldy life and in the Hereafter, as the Bearers of the Throne, who are of the best and largest Angles, seek forgiveness for those who believe continuously. And this shows the importance of seeking forgiveness and the essential necessity of the slaves for it for entering the Paradise, and surely, it is one of the benefits and advantages of faith, and this is a great honor for the believers that Allâh has made those Angels ready to seek forgiveness for them in their absence. Allâh, the Most High, said:          

الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْماً فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ }غافر7

"Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allâh) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh) (saying): "Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire!" (Ghafir: 7)

44- The asker for the Forgiveness of Allâh frequently specially after the sin imitate the happy people of the Prophets and the believers such as Adam, while he who insists, accuses the Foreordainment and does not ask for forgiveness, imitates the miserable as Satan and the misguided who followed him.