Sayings of the Salaf » repentance

True Goodness

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:43:49 +0000

It is reported that ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib – Allâh be pleased with him – said:

Goodness is not in your wealth and offspring being plentiful; true goodness is when your [good] deeds are plenty and you have great understanding and forbearance, and when you compete to worship your Lord. If you do good you praise Allâh and thank Him, and if you sin you beg Allâh’s forgiveness. There is no good in this life except with two types of men: A man who sins but then corrects himself through repentance, and a man who strives and hastens to get [the good] of the hereafter.

Ibn ‘Asâkir, Al-Tawbah article 13.

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Repentance in Action

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:45:39 +0000

It is reported that ‘Alî b. Husayn – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “Tawbah is only through action, and turning back from what has been done. Tawbah is not by mere speech.” Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Tawbah article 57. More: The Successful Pilgrim We can only repent Lowering the Gaze True Goodness True Repentance

The Successful Pilgrim

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:45:38 +0000

It was said to Al-Hasan Al-Basrî, “People say that the one who has been on Hajj is the one who is forgiven.” He said, “And the sign of this is that he leaves the evils he used to do.”

Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Tawbah article 70.

We can only repent

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:45:23 +0000

It is reported that Talq b. Habîb – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “The right of Allâh is too great and heavy for the creation to fulfill and the blessings of Allâh are too many to enumerate, but you should remain repentant, morning and evening.”

Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Tawbah article 62.

The signs of true Repentance

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:12 +0000

The great ascetic Shaqîq Al-Balakhî – Allâh have mercy on him – was once asked, “What is the mark of [true] repentance?” He replied, “Continued crying over past sins, deep fear of falling into them again, staying away from bad company, and keeping the company of good people.”

Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm article 2645.