Sins & Acceptance of Repentance in Islam

I would like to share this article with you regarding the concept of sins in Islam and about Allah’s acceptance of a sinner’s repentance.

May Allah accept our repentance in this Holy month and may He help us walk on the straight path, Amen!

The Seventeenth Chapter of the Quran: The Night Journey

I found a good Website for reading the Quran with the meanings.

I finished reading the seventeenth chapter of the Holy Quran, the Night Journey. I would like to share some of the verses with you:

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.” (24)

Quran 17:23-24

And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. (26) Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful. (27)

Quran 17:26-27

I like the following verses. They are precious advices and are full of wisdom:

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent. (29) Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing. (30) And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. (31) And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. (32) And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly – We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law]. (33) And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned. (34) And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best [way] and best in result. (35) And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned. (36) And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. (37) All that – its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested. (38)

Quran 17:29-38

And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy. (53)

Quran 17:53

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. (70)

Quran 17:70

Ramadan Questions & Answers

I would like to share some questions and answers regarding the holy month of Ramadan from Islam Question and Answer Website:

• How can she make use of her time when she is cooking in Ramadaan?
• Ramadaan fasting is not acceptable if one does not pray.
• Fasting makes her lazy and causes her to lose weight; can she not fast?
• He is afraid that he may become sick because of being underweight; is he allowed not to fast during Ramadan?
• It is better for pregnant and breastfeeding women not to fast if it is too hard for them to fast.
• Does wearing lipstick when fasting break the fast?
• When should a person make the intention to fast, and what if he finds out during the day that Ramadan has begun?
• Having fillings and applying medicine to the teeth does not affect the fast.
• Using toothpaste whilst fasting.
• Worship is love and veneration; it is not burdensome and difficult.
• Every person who is resident in a country is obliged to start and end the fast with its people.
• Does he have to make up what he missed of Ramadan before he became Muslim?
• He is going to travel and will remain abroad for three months; does he have to fast Ramadan?
• He wants to delay making up Ramadan fasts until winter because the days are shorter.

And here is a link to a book about “70 Matters Related to Fasting” from Islam Question and Answer.

Fasting of the Tongue

Fasting in Ramadan is not only limited to abstaining from food, drinks, and sexual relationships during the day. More important than fasting from food and drinks is to guard one’s tongue.

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

One who while fasting does not guard his tongue from telling lies and does not refrain from bad deeds, is not respecting his fast. Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food.

When you are fasting, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be rough and noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you, reply him not, but say to him that you are fasting.

Fasting can make a person rough, but it is a good test to observe the willpower of one’s soul to perfect itself.

A Pity to the Worshippers of Ramadan

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

If people understood what good there was in the month of Ramadan, they would have liked that it last for a year.

It is very wrong for a Muslim to pray, read the Quran, do more good, and refrain from sins only in Ramadan. A Muslim is supposed to pray, read the Quran, do more good, and refrain from sins all year long. Ramadan is a month filled with Allah’s blessings. Each of us must invest more time during Ramadan for worshiping and perfecting one’s character.

Those who are submitting to Allah only in Ramadan are losers. Fasting is supposed to change hearts. Those who do not feel any guilt or shame during their fast and when Ramadan ends they continue committing sins are low in faith.

Ramadan blessings are felt by those who really want to change and start a new page as true Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

Unfortunate is the person who is deprived of the forgiveness of Allah during this great month (of Ramadan).

A pity to those who worship Ramadan!

Perfecting Your Character

I like the following Hadith about fasting quoted by ummsqueakster:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”

And I like what she said:

Remember, dear sisters and brothers, that fasting is more than just abstaining food, drink and sexual relations. It is about perfection of good character. Why should we leave what is lawful for us, and then indulge in the haram? Watch your character and your tongue, lest you get nothing from your fast but hunger and thirst.

So, let us, Muslims and non-Muslims, take this opportunity and try to be good people in Ramadan. Let us purify our souls and taste being a good person in the inside and the outside!

Ramadan Mubarak!

How to Stop Your Soul from Commiting Sins

Do you find yourself indulging many times in either drinking alcohol, watching pornography, cheating on your wife or husband, having a relationship out of wedlock, gambling, badmouthing people, backbiting, or doing other bad things in front of people or in hiding, and suddenly you regain control of yourself and feel ashamed? This feeling is good since it means that you still have control over the desires of the soul.

Remember that Allah is watching you. You do not want Him to see you doing bad things, do you? You would not want the One you respect to feel sad about how lowly you are becoming. Remember that every action you do and every word you spell is recorded in your book and it will be reviewed by Allah in front of all of His creations including your close family members and friends. It would be a very embarrassing situation, I tell you. And do not forget the accumulation of tiny bad things you did, helped to be done, or said which have been recorded, and every bit of them will be weighed on the scale, and alas if the scale touches down because of your big and little tiny sins!

You can change yourself starting from now! Yes. Say with me:

O, Allah! Forgive me for whatever bad things I have ever done to any creations by You! O, Allah! Help me to walk back on the straight path and assist me into not swerving away!

Do you feel the guilt and the regret? Good. Think of every little and big sin you had done and promise Allah not to come back to doing them again. Do not think of them. Try to forget the false sweetness. Ask your friends to help you into staying on the safe path. Pray more, read the Quran, use the TV and the Internet wisely, visit the Masjid and listen to the lectures, spend a lot of time with your family, go out and see Allah’s creations, help others to be good, and do not forget that He is seeing you and expecting good to come from you.

Live life for happiness now, tomorrow and in the hereafter.

I Do Not Like That Person

Yes I do, and I do not know why.

That is what I said to myself when I met a few new people in my life, even without talking with them. I just felt some kind of uneasiness. I am not sure why. I know it is bad and I do not like it, but what can I do?

I cannot remember from where I heard about the explanation for this feeling. The explanation states that when we sleep our souls leave our bodies and meet somewhere. I do not remember where, but the dreams we have are said to be experiences of our souls. Your soul may have met another person’s soul and they have had some interaction and came across each other’s qualities. That is the explanation for why you do not feel good about a person you meet for the first time.

I think it is true.