The Definition of seeking the Forgiveness of Allah (2/2)

Allah's Prophet, Saleh, has ordered his people and guided them to seek forgiveness. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

“And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Salih (Saleh). He said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (God) but Him. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive.”(Surah Hud: 61)

Nuh also interested his people in it through promising them with abundant rain, and increased properties and children.

 “I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; (10) He will send rain to you in abundance; (11) And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (12).” (Surah Nuh: 10 -12).

And Hud (Peace be on him) gave the same promises to his people, if they asked forgiveness. 

 “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 Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah).”  (Surah Hud: 52 ).

And the sons of Ya'qub (Jacob) apologized to him asking him to seek the Forgiveness of Allah for their sins. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

 “They said: "O our father! Ask forgiveness (from Allah) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners (97) He said: "I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful (98)” (Surah Yusuf: 97 – 98)

And seeking forgiveness is conjugated with piety and it is a follower of it. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

“Say (O Muhammad!): "I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God - Allah), therefore take Straight Path to Him (with true Faith Islamic Monotheism) and obedience to Him, and seek Forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikun (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters, etc)." (Surah Fussilat: 6)

And Allah, the Exalted, gently guided the Christians to seek His Forgiveness, when they said their repulsive saying, that Allah is the third of the three. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

 “Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God -Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them (73) Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful (74)." (Surah Al-Ma'idah': 73 – 74)

And by seeking Forgiveness of Allah, Dawud (David) has had a nearer access to Him, and a good place of final return. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

 “And Dawud (David) guessed that We have tried him and he sought Forgiveness of his Lord, and he fell down prostrate and turned (to Allah) 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)." (Surah Saad: 24 – 25)  

And by it, Allah forgives the faults, blots out the sins, and the mercies descend. Allah, the Exalted, said:

 “If they (hypocrites), when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you (Muhammad ) and begged Allah's Forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them: indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving (One Who accepts repentance), Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Nisa': 64)

And said:

“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Nisa': 110)

And by it, Allah grants the slave in this worldy life good enjoyment, which includes every allowed good pleasure. Allah, the Exalted, said:  

“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).” (Surah Hud: 3)

And by it, the Angels, specially the largest Angels, the bearers of the Throne, beg forgiveness for the believers. Allah, the Exalted, said:      

“Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) 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 Allah) (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!” (Surah Ghafir: 7).

And the pious continuously ask Allah for forgiveness in the hours before dawn while others are asleep, and during the hours of the night and day. Allah, the Exalted, said: 

“Verily, the Muttaqun (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise) (15) Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun (good-doers) (16) They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope] (17) And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness (18).” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 15 – 18)

And it is an essential character of the firmly grounded in knowledge and faith. Allah mentioned five characters of those people; one of them is begging Allah's Pardon at the best times for confiding secrets to Allah. Allah, the Exalted, said:

“(They are) those who are patient ones, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah, those who spend [give the Zakat and alms in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg Allah's Pardon in the last hours of the night.” (Surah Aal-'Imran: 17)

Surely, seeking the Forgiveness of Allah has a great importance in Islam, and it is an important cause of getting every good thing and repelling every evil.

Ibn Taimiyah said: "If Allah loves a slave, He inspires him to repent and beg His Pardon. So, he doesn't persist in committing sins."

The Creator - I honor Him, the Exalted, from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him – guides us to beg His Pardon and to seek the gifts of His Mercy, and He promised us to forgive us. Then, what is the matter with us that we beg not His Pardon, while we are committing major evils and sins? Proper it is for us that we beg Allah's Pardon during the hours of the night and day, as we sin every time. Our ears, our eyes, our body parts and our hearts sin, and the cure for that is begging Allah's Pardon.

O Allah! Inspire us to follow right guidance, make us obedient to You, Inspire us to beg Your Pardon truthfully every time, make the Angels' seeking forgiveness embrace us, and accept our repentance, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.