Assalamualaikum Wr Wb,

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list. InshaAllah this email finds you and your family in the best of health and imaan. May the peace and blessings of Allah SWT be upon you and your family, inshaAllah.

To Err Is Human
We all make mistakes in our lives and we all commit sins. We are all human and sometimes tend to lose our path for a while. What do we do when we realise we are wrong? How do we ensure that our repentance is sincere, consistent and successful?
There are four main steps one must take to repent:

1. Stop the sin.
2. Regret deeply and truly for the sin you committed.
3. Return to Allah SWT for forgiveness.
4. Make a strong intention never to return to that same sin again.

There is also a fifth step: if the sin involved infringing on the rights of other people, then one must return the infringed rights back to the individual to whom they belong.

However, many people find that their repentance begins strong, but then slowly they get weaker and fall back into committing the sin only a short while later. Thus, to ensure that we stay true to our repentance and keep our promises to Allah SWT, we should always believe that Allah is the Most Forgiving, and the Most Merciful. 

You may lose hope and despair, feeling like there’s no point in turning back to Him because you’ve wronged so much and do not deserve God’s forgiveness, and that He will never forgive you. Stop right there!

How can you think that way, when Allah says in the Holy Quran over and over again that He is All-Forgiving and Most Compassionate? How can you lose faith in Allah’s mercy? In fact, ‘forgiveness’ and ‘mercy’ are mentioned roughly 100 and 200 times respectively. An entire chapter of the Quran is devoted to the quality of mercy (Surah Rahman).

Allah SWT mentions in the Quran, His love for those who repent and His promises to forgive with mercy and compassion:

• “And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran, 73:20]
• “And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran, 4:110]

Allah SWT created you and He knows your weaknesses and your faults. Everyone in the world makes mistakes, but what sets you apart is when you turn to Allah and beg for His Forgiveness. We must never think that Allah will not forgive us. Repent with sincerity and remember that Allah loves His servants and Allah will accept your repentance.

Keep in Good Company
The people you surround yourself with have a great impact on the way you behave. It is very important to choose your friends wisely. Peer pressure is real. Even if you think that you are strong and you will not fall again, your friends can pressure you into returning to what you used to do.

Your friends should be those who support you in whatever you do and better yet, they join you and work with you towards the goal of becoming a better person. They encourage you to attend lectures and workshops, and join you in volunteering for good causes.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Stay Connected
It is important for you to stay connected with Islam and the Muslim Ummah. It is very uplifting for the soul when you are surrounded by Muslims seeking knowledge together and worshipping together. Make an effort to visit the mosque regularly and attend Islamic lectures and workshops. Keeping yourself busy with useful Islamic events and surrounded with the Islamic community takes your mind off the worldly things, which may trigger your urge to commit the sin once more.

Staying connected also helps your connection to Allah SWT. Reading the Quran regularly and performing your prayers on time, including the sunnah prayers, keeps the connection lines between yourself and Allah strong.

Once you feel that Islam encompasses all parts of your life and that you are truly close to Allah, it will be hard for shaytan to drag you back to your old sins. However, always remember to continuously keep asking Allah SWT for guidance and protection. Keep asking for His forgiveness as He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

No matter what sins you have committed, there is always a way to repent and start afresh. Always have faith in Allah, fear His wrath and love Him for His mercy. Surround yourself with as much support and motivation as you possibly can and keep your intentions clear. May Allah SWT support us all on our journey through the right path, ameen.

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Source: Productive Muslim