Duaa is a great blessing and a divine gift from Allah the All-Merciful. He commanded us to make duaa and committed Himself to answer it for us.
{And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.} (Ghafir 40:60)
Some say that duaa is the weapon of the faithful; meaning, it is very effective and decisive.
However, there are conditions that make your duaa more eligible for Allah’s response; the following verse mentions a few:
{And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, “My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors.”
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.} (Al-Anbiya’ 21:89-90)
Why did Allah accept Zechariah’s duaa? The answer to this question constitutes three points mentioned in the verse above. Let’s touch upon them one by one.
They used to hasten to good deeds
Hastening to good deeds was one of the traits of Zechariah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his household. The word ‘hasten’ reflects their quickness in doing what is good and acceptable.
Many of us are good people with pure hearts who like to do well; however, we are procrastinators who delay and put things off. But the Prophetic command is that we should hasten to good deeds and seize all opportunities before it is too late or before being occupied with other things.
They used to supplicate to Allah in hope and fear
Zechariah and his household were eager to supplicate to Allah, Glory be His, at all times, moments of joy, sadness, hope, or fear.
Abu Hurairah narrated:
The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever wishes that Allah would respond to him during hardship and grief, then let him supplicate plentifully when at ease” (At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim –Al-Hakim deemed this hadith authentic).
They were humbly submissive to Allah
Submission is a state of the heart which is reflected on one’s limbs as well as actions.
Let’s get the most comprehensive definition of khushu` or submission from the Qur’an that says;
{And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ] Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.} (Al-Baqarah 2:45-46)
The Quran defines the humbly submissive to Allah as those who are certain to meet Him in the Hereafter and that they will return to Him after their demise.
Khushu represents any psychological state that leads its owner to observe piety, and recall fear of Allah at all times. Khushu is not just for prayer; it should be the trait of the faithful at all times and in all conditions.
All these characteristics show the type of life Prophet Zechariah led; He always acknowledged Allah. And in return, Allah, the Almighty never let him down. He fulfilled his wish, blessed him with a son, Yahiya (John), and amended his wife for him.
What do we mean by “acknowledge Allah”?
In a Prophetic hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity” (40 Hadith of Nawawi 19).
To “acknowledge Allah” means you should try to please Him and draw nearer to Him, thank Him for His gifts and grace, be patient in times of affliction, and observe sincerity at all times be they good or bad.
This is what happened to the three people who sought shelter in a cave and because of their good deeds, Allah saved them by moving the huge rock that blocked the cave’s entrance.
Similarly, Allah tells us in the Qur’an about what happened to Prophet Jonah (Yunus) when he found himself in the belly of a whale.
{And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.} (Al-Saffat 73:143-144)
Therefore, if you recognize Allah in times of prosperity and welfare, He will guide you through during the times of hardship and difficulty. That’s for sure!
This is unlike Pharaoh (Fir`aun) who denied Allah and denied faith in Him in times of ease. So, Allah did not save him when he was about to drown, even though he verbally declared his faith in Him. The Qur’an tells us;
{And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said,
“I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims.”
Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?
So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.} (Yunus 10:90-92)
The Quran tells us that Allah saved Pharaoh’s body to be a sign for those who succeeded him; meaning us. Sadly, many of us are heedless to these lessons despite them being very precise and clearly stated in the Quran!
This post is reposted with permission from the author Dr. Ali Al-Halawani and is found at AboutIslam.net
Some scholars say Surah Al-Ma`un was revealed in Makkah. Others say that only the first three ayahs of the surah were revealed there while the remaining ones were revealed in Madinah.
Though this last opinion seems to be most likely, the surah is cohesive and coherent as it has one main theme, that is, hypocrisy, insincerity, and pretension.
The overall theme of Surah Al-Ma`un
The religion of Islam is not a religion of appearances or meaningless rituals. Unless the acts of worship we are doing are characterized by perfect sincerity to Allah and also positively influencing the lives of others around us, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, these acts of worship are deemed null and void.
Why even do them if they do not impress the heart of the believer in a way that makes him want to perform good deeds and actions for the benefit of everyone
As the religion of Islam is complete and comprehensive, it is not acceptable to abide by some of its ordinances while neglecting others. This is explicitly referred to in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:85).
Likewise, as the Prophet was sent as a mercy to the world, the Shari`ah he brought is definitely a mercy to the whole world. That is why all acts of worship, both individual and collective, when combined together, create a condition of integration and mercy. This then affects and changes the lives of all human beings for the better.
There are signs that can prove whether we are true believers. Anyone can claim to be Muslim; they may even perform prayers and other rituals. However, this claim is proven through tangible actions and concrete deeds.
Surah Al-Ma`un presents us with a benchmark that identifies a real Muslim.
Key Terms
Ad-Din: This term stands for religion, faith, the Hereafter, or the final reward. This may mean that if one denounces any of these, he will be regarded as denying the religion in its entirety.
Sahun: This may refer to:
hypocrites who pray in public but do not pray in private, or
those who perform the prayer while they are mindless of it,
or those who usually delay prayer until the end of its prescribed time,
or those who perform the prayer outside of its prescribed time.
Consequently, whoever has any of the above characteristics, a portion of this ayah applies to him.
Al-Ma`un: Small tools and utensils people usually lend to each other, like an axe, a pot, a bucket, and the like.
But, who is the one who denies religion?
Surah Al-Ma`un starts with this question: “Have you seen him who denies religion?”
The most likely answer is the one who denounces faith and refuses to be a worshipper of God, or refuses to believe in the Hereafter.
To the reader’s surprise, the surah gives a totally unexpected answer:
“It is he who thrusts the orphan away,
Is this really the one who denies religion?!
Surely, he is, as the Qur’an states it clearly.
It depicts a portrait of a person who is hard on the orphan, treats him harshly as he pushes him away and snubs him.
Not only that. The one who denies religion is the one who “does not urge others to feed the needy.”
It is not enough for a Muslim to feed the needy and be generous to them. He should also encourage others to do good and be generous to the less fortunate..
One should do good and advise others to do good as well. Bringing happiness to society is both an individual as well as a collective duty. A true believer in God can never be inactive in any way.
In short, Allah does not want us to utter mere words that are void of any reality. He, Glory be His, wants us to walk the talk and be exemplary models of what we preach and say. Indeed, actions speak louder than words!
So, these three verses explain the reality of this faith in a very tangible and concrete way.
Low-Quality Prayers
Surah Al-Ma`un also introduces us to another example of that reality. It’s the ones who perform the prayers but at the same time they are careless of their prayers.
They use their prayers as a way to show off. They try to put on the cloak of piety to deceive others all the while their hearts are distracted or negligent.
Small Deeds Are Important
Furthermore, the ones who deny religion, also fail the practical test of being helpful and useful to their fellow members of society. They “refuse to give even the smallest help to others“, which is described in the Surah as al-Ma`un.
If you are a true believer in Allah, and your prayer has a real impact on your heart, this impact should appear in your actions.
You should use what Allah bestowed upon you to benefit others and make their lives easier.
You were given tools and things as a test whether you would help others, which is an obligation on you.
A final word
A line should be drawn between showing off and being pleased with one’s obedience to Allah. Showing off is to do good deeds only to be seen by others. But if one does a deed sincerely for Allah’s sake, and people come to know about it, then this is not considered showing off.
To conclude, Allah the Almighty does not need anything from His creation. Instead, He gives us all that can make our lives happy and enriched. He wants us to lead a life that is full of integration, love, fraternity, mutual understanding, and good conduct.
The people described in the Surah are those who do not worship their Lord well, nor do they treat His creation well.
25 Ways to Make Money Online, Offline and at Home for Quick Cash
In our quest for financial freedom, we’re always on the lookout for ideas to make money. Whether it’s online, offline, or from the comfort of our homes, there are countless opportunities to earn some quick cash. We’ve discovered a variety of methods that cater to different skills, interests, and schedules. From digital currency trading to traditional offline gigs, there’s something for everyone. Let’s dive into some of the most effective ways to boost our income.
Online Income Strategies
Freelance Writing: Offer your writing services online.
Virtual Assistant: Help businesses remotely with administrative tasks.
Online Surveys: Participate in surveys for cash or gift cards.
Cryptocurrency Trading: Join communities like The Free Crypto Trading Community for free guidance.
Affiliate Marketing: Earn commissions by promoting products online.
Earn from Home Ideas
Sell Handmade Crafts: Use platforms like Etsy to sell your creations.
Online Tutoring: Share your knowledge in a subject with students worldwide.
Remote Customer Service: Work as a customer support agent from home.
Content Creation: Start a YouTube channel or a blog on a niche you’re passionate about.
Stock Photography: Sell your photos to stock photo websites.
Offline Money-Making Methods
Pet Sitting: Take care of pets while their owners are away.
House Cleaning: Offer cleaning services to households in your area.
Personal Training: Help others achieve their fitness goals.
Event Planning: Organize events for individuals or businesses.
Tutoring: Teach subjects you’re knowledgeable in, face-to-face.
Quick Money-Making Methods
Sell Unused Items: Declutter your home and sell items you no longer need.
Ride-Sharing: Drive for companies like Uber or Lyft.
Food Delivery: Deliver food from local restaurants to people’s homes.
Participate in Research Studies: Join studies in universities or hospitals.
Babysitting: Offer to take care of children in your neighborhood.
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In today’s digital age, finding ideas to make money online is easier than ever, especially for beginners. With the internet at our fingertips, we can explore a variety of avenues to start generating income from the comfort of our homes. Let’s look at some beginner-friendly methods to kickstart our journey towards financial independence.
Pick up freelance work online
One of the most flexible ways to earn from home is by picking up freelance work online. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr offer a platform where we can showcase our skills, whether it’s writing, graphic design, or web development. Starting is as simple as creating a profile and bidding on jobs that match our expertise. The beauty of freelancing is that we can work as much or as little as we want, making it a perfect side hustle or a full-time career path. Plus, it’s a great way to enhance our portfolio and gain valuable experience.
Sell your wares on Etsy
For those of us with a creative streak, selling handmade goods on Etsy can be a lucrative way to make money online. From jewelry and clothing to art and home decor, Etsy is a marketplace for unique, handcrafted items. Starting an Etsy shop allows us to turn our hobbies into a business, reaching customers worldwide who appreciate the personal touch of handmade products. It’s important to focus on quality, customer service, and building a strong brand to stand out in the marketplace.
Monetize your Twitch channel
Gaming enthusiasts and entertainers can find their niche by monetizing a Twitch channel. Twitch is a live streaming platform where creators can share their gaming sessions, music performances, or just chat with a live audience. Making money on Twitch comes from advertisements, subscriptions, and donations from viewers. Growing a channel takes time and dedication, but for those passionate about sharing their interests, it can be a fun and rewarding way to earn from home. Engaging with our audience and offering entertaining or informative content is key to success on this platform.
Real Ways to Make Money from Home for Free
In our journey to find ideas to make money without leaving our house, we’ve stumbled upon some incredible options that don’t require any money to start. These methods are perfect for us because they allow us to use our skills and resources we already have. Let’s explore some of the best ways to make money from home for free.
Start freelancing without upfront costs
Freelancing is a fantastic way for us to start earning money right from our living rooms. The best part? We can start without spending any money. Websites like Freelancer and PeoplePerHour allow us to offer our skills in writing, graphic design, programming, and more to clients all over the world. We just need to set up a profile, showcase our work, and start applying for projects that match our skills. It’s a great way for us to gain experience, build our portfolios, and make money all at the same time.
Publish a Kindle eBook
If we love writing, publishing a Kindle eBook can be a great way to share our stories or knowledge with the world. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform lets us publish our books for free and reach millions of readers. We can write about anything we’re passionate about, from fiction to how-to guides. The key is to create a compelling book cover, write a catchy description, and promote our book on social media to get started. Every time someone buys our book, we earn royalties, making it a great source of passive income.
Participate in online paid surveys
Another easy way for us to make money from home is by participating in online paid surveys. Websites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks pay us for our opinions on various topics. While we’re not going to become millionaires overnight, it’s a simple way to earn a little extra cash in our spare time. All we need is an internet connection and a few minutes to complete each survey. Plus, some sites offer rewards like gift cards or points that we can redeem for cash. It’s a hassle-free way to add to our savings without any upfront costs.
In our journey to find ideas to make money, especially for students, we’ve uncovered some fantastic opportunities that fit perfectly into the busy schedules and unique skills of students. Whether it’s leveraging academic strengths, capitalizing on course materials, or finding flexible part-time jobs, there’s a wealth of options to explore. Let’s dive into some of the most promising ways for students to earn money while balancing their studies.
Tutor students online
One of the best ways we’ve found to make money as students is by tutoring others online. With the rise of e-learning, there are countless platforms where we can offer our expertise in subjects we excel in. Whether it’s math, science, languages, or any other subject, tutoring online allows us to connect with students from all over the world. What’s great about this is we can set our own hours and rates, making it a flexible option that fits around our class schedules. Plus, it’s rewarding to help others learn and understand complex topics. 📚✏️
Platforms to Consider: Websites like Tutor.com and Chegg Tutors.
Benefits: Flexible hours, work from anywhere, and good pay.
Requirements: A solid understanding of the subject and a reliable internet connection.
Sell course notes
Another innovative idea to make money for us students is selling our course notes. Throughout the semester, we take detailed notes to help us study for exams, but these notes can also be valuable to other students. There are websites where we can upload our notes and set a price. Every time another student downloads them, we earn money. It’s a great way to passively earn income while also helping our peers. Just make sure to only sell notes for the courses we’ve taken and that our notes are clear and well-organized. 📝💰
Where to Sell: Platforms like Stuvia and Nexus Notes.
Tips for Success: Ensure notes are neat, detailed, and accurate.
Potential Earnings: Varies based on demand and quality of notes.
Part-time job opportunities for students
Part-time jobs are a classic way for us to make money while studying. The key is finding jobs that offer flexibility around our class schedules. Many businesses understand the demands of student life and offer part-time positions that can work around our availability. From retail and hospitality to campus jobs and internships related to our field of study, these jobs not only provide a steady income but also valuable work experience. 🕒💼
Places to Look: Campus career centers, local businesses, and online job boards.
Benefits: Earn money, gain work experience, and develop professional skills.
Considerations: Look for jobs with flexible hours or those that offer evening and weekend shifts.
By exploring these ideas to make money, we as students can find ways to support ourselves financially without sacrificing our education or valuable study time. Whether it’s through sharing our knowledge, capitalizing on our academic materials, or finding the right part-time job, there’s a wealth of opportunities out there waiting for us.
FAQ: Earning Money Made Simple
Finding ideas to make money can sometimes feel like a puzzle. But don’t worry, we’ve got some answers that might help us all figure it out together. Whether it’s making a quick buck or finding a steady income, there are ways to fill up our piggy banks. Let’s dive into some common questions we might have.
What is the best idea to earn money?
The best idea to make money really depends on what we like to do and how much time we have. But one cool idea is starting a blog or a YouTube channel about something we’re really passionate about, like video games, cooking, or even teaching others new skills. We can make videos or write posts and might earn money through ads or sponsors. It’s like turning our hobby into a treasure chest!
How to earn RS 4000 per day?
Earning RS 4000 a day might sound tough, but it’s possible with some smart moves. One way is to offer specialized services online, like web design, coding, or even tutoring in subjects we’re really good at. Websites like Upwork or Freelancer can be our playground for finding people who need our skills. It’s all about showcasing what we can do and finding the right gigs.
How to make money 🤑 💰?
Making money can be fun and creative! For example, we can create and sell our own T-shirts or crafts online. Websites like Etsy or Redbubble let us put our designs on all sorts of things and sell them to people all over the world. It’s like being an artist and a shop owner all in one. Plus, we get to see people wearing or using things we made, which is pretty cool.
What can I do to make a lot of money?
To make a lot of money, think about learning a high-demand skill, like programming or digital marketing. These skills can help us land jobs or freelance gigs that pay really well. Another idea is investing in stocks or cryptocurrencies, but we have to study and be careful because it can be risky. It’s like planting a money tree and watching it grow, but we need to water it wisely.
By exploring these ideas to make money, we can find paths that not only fill our wallets but also bring joy and satisfaction into our lives. Remember, the key is to find something we love doing and then figure out how to make money doing it.
This blog post is reposted with permission from the author Dr. Ali Al-Halawani and is found at Aboutislam.net
It was reported by Ibn `Umar that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day.”(Muslim)
The term tawbah (Arabic for ‘repentance‘) is an Arabic Quranic term which means “a retreat” or “a return”. Examining the Quran and the Hadith reveals that repentance denotes the act of leaving what Allah has prohibited and returning to what He has commanded.
Repentance is of immense importance in the religion of Islam. For a faithful Muslim, it is a major gateway to rectifying one’s life and amending one’s own wrong acts.
In Surah 66, verse 8, the term tawbah is associated with the Arabic adjective nasuh (Arabic for ‘pure and sincere‘). Thus it signifies sincere and faithful repentance, which is free from pretense and hypocrisy.
Numerous Prophetic hadiths celebrate and stress the issue of repentance such as the one narrated by Anas ibn Malik in Sahih Al-Bukhari which reads what may mean,
“Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert.” (Al-Bukhari)
Sometimes, however, one may become ashamed of himself as he cannot keep his word with Allah and returns to the state of sinning after declaring his repentance. To understand this, let us go through the following conversation as quoted by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali:
It was said to Al-Hassan, the Prophet’s grandson, “Isn’t the servant [of Allah] ashamed of sinning and then repenting, and then sinning again and then again repenting?”
Al-Hassan said: “This is what Satan exactly wants! Never stop making repentance.”
In the same vein, Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah is reported to have said,
More than one person has said to me: “When I repent to Allah and perform righteous actions; my sustenance is straitened and difficulty comes upon my livelihood.
However, when I return to disobeying Him and give my soul its desires, then sustenance, relief and other than it comes to me.”
So I replied to some of them:
“This is a test from Him to see whether you are truthful or untruthful in your seeking refuge with Him, responding and submitting to Him in obedience and exercising patience upon (what He has decreed of afflictions for you with absolute justice and wisdom) so that there are (good) end results for you; or whether you are untruthful so that you return to what you were upon (of evil)”.
However, do not ever hesitate to return to Allah in repentance no matter how grievous and numerous the sins you have committed were. The One Who screened you while you were sinning would never disgrace you when you return to Him!
Try to feel the passion in Jalal Ad-Deen Rumi’s two poetic verses in which he says,
Come even though you have broken your vows a thousand times,
Come, and come yet again. Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Yes, indeed, a faithful servant of Allah should never fall into despair over his failure to abide by Allah’s Ordinances and Orders.
Rather, he should strive to be the one he wishes himself to be; the one who is to gain the Love and Pleasure of Allah, the All-Merciful and the All-Forgiving.
Five conditions of repentance
But, what does it mean to return to Allah in repentance?
What does it mean to ask for His Forgiveness?
Is it just to articulate the expression, “O Lord! Forgive me!” Or, “I seek forgiveness from Allah!”?!
According to Islamic Shariah, when an act of repentance is performed by a Muslim, Allah generally accepts it as long as it is sincere and true. On the other hand, if a person is not ashamed of his past misdeeds, or does not intend to forsake these misdeeds, then his verbal announcement of repentance is an open mockery of repentance. Mere verbal repentance does not account for a true repentance. Surely, a sincere repentance must have some criteria.
As is stated above, the issue is not that simple as asking for forgiveness is not just a mere act of the tongue. Rather, one has to follow a certain attitude in seeking forgiveness from Allah. Verily, repenting of one’s sins is the first step towards seeking forgiveness from Allah.
To repent means to return to Allah and intend to obey Him for the rest of one’s life. For repentance to be valid and, thus, accepted, five preconditions have to be observed; these are:
1. To be sincere to Allah
Sincerity is a precondition that must be observed in every act of worship. Allah Almighty says what may mean,
{Though they were not commanded but to worship One God- making the practice of their religion pure and sincere to Him alone}. (Al-Bayyinah 98: 5)
2. To regret one’s past evil deeds
This means that one should be ashamed of oneself before Allah as one has committed what he was forbidden to and has neglected what he was ordered to observe.
3. To give up sinning
If the sin involves a religious duty that has been neglected such as performing the salah or paying off the zakah, this should be corrected at once. But, if the sin involves a human’s right, it requires absolving oneself of such right. If it is a property, one should return it to its rightful owner; and, if it is an act of slander or backbiting, one should seek the offended person’s pardon.
4. To make a firm resolve of avoiding such sins in the future
This is mandatory as if one intends to return to the sins he used to commit after showing repentance whenever it is possible, he will not be considered as faithful or true in his repentance.
However, if one truly decides to repent but was later on overcome by his own weaknesses – as was explained earlier – his repentance will not be nullified. However, he should renew his repentance; thus, showing new repentance for the recent evil doing.
5. To show repentance while it is still valid
Showing repentance is always valid save in two cases:
a) At the time of death, one’s repentance becomes of no avail. Allah says what may mean,
{But there is no repentance for those who continue to do great sins- until, when death approaches one of them, he says: I do, indeed, repent now! Nor is there repentance for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such as these, We have made ready a most painful torment.} (An-Nisa’ 4: 18)
The case of Pharaoh is very clear in this regard as when death approached him while in the middle of the sea he said,
{I believe that there is no God but the One in whom the Children of Israel have believed.} (Yunus 10: 90)
However, he was then answered,
{Now you believe, while before you have truly disobeyed your Lord, and you were ever of those who sowed corruption?} (Yunus 10: 91)
Certainly, Pharaoh’s last-minute belief could not avail him in any way.
b) When the sun rises from the West, repentance becomes invalid and is never accepted by Allah. On that very day, all human beings will declare their faith in Allah, the Creator. However, their sudden belief will not benefit them as they have never believed in Him before. Allah says in the Ever-Glorious Quran what may mean,
{On a Day when some of the awesome signs of your Lord shall come at the end of time, sudden belief will not benefit a soul that has not believed before, nor a soul that has not earned any good from its belief.} (Al-An`am 6: 158)
Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah’s Apostle said,
“The Hour will not be established until the sun rises from the West: and when the people see it, then whoever on the surface of the earth will have faith, and that is (the time) when belief will be of no benefit to a soul that believed not before.” (Al-Bukhari)
These were the conditions for repentance to be valid and accepted by Allah the Almighty.
A final word
It is worth noting here that textual proofs from the Quran, the Sunnah and the consensus of Muslim scholars support the obligation of showing repentance as follows:
{…But turn all together to God in repentance, O you believers, so that you may be successful.} (An-Nur 24: 31),
{…you shall all seek forgiveness from you Lord. Then repent to Him.} (Hud 11: 3),
{O you who believe! Repent to God with a most sincere repentance.} (At-Tahrim 66: 8) and,
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: “By Allah, I seek Allah’s Forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.” (Al-Bukhari)
That was the state of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) whose sins were forgiven by Allah. What about the sinful servants such as ourselves who suffer from the darkness caused by the oft-repeated evil deeds?!
Finally, repentance is a twofold approach: a person first should be able to recognize and forsake his/her sins upon which Allah promises to forgive them. Islam expects Muslims to realize their mistakes and shortcomings, and to seek Allah’s Forgiveness.
Forgiveness for one’s sins is not something that comes automatically; it is something that must be sought for, with sincerity and true devotion. Becoming indifferent to one’s sins is fatally dangerous. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said what may mean,
“A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this.” Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator) moved his hand over his nose in illustration. (Al-Bukhari)
