13. FEARING ALLAH AFTER REPENTING
The intelligent one should be in constant fear (kawf) of his sins, even if he repented from them and wept over them.
I notice that most people rely on the acceptance of their repentance as if they are certain of it. This is a matter that is left untold to us, and even if they were forgiven the shame of committing such sins will still remain.
This principle of fearing Allah from sins even after they are repented from, is what was reported in the Two Sahlhs that [on the Day of Resurrection] people will come to [Prophet] Adam (‘alayhi as-salam) asking him to intercede for them but he excuses himself with saying, ‘my sin!” And the same happens when they turn to [Prophet] Nuh, [Prophet] Ibrahim, [Prophet] Musa and [Prophet] ‘Isa (‘alayhi as-salam) as all of them will apologise for the same reason.
The sins of these Prophets were not in fact actual sins by definition, and were repented from yet they showed regret and were still in fear because of that.
The shame of sins after repentance is accepted does not completely vanish, and how beautiful is the statement of Al Fudayl Ibn Iyyad who said, ‘I am so ashamed in front of You! Even if You forgave my sin!’
I so wonder at those who favour sins and prefer the joy of a moment that will leave him with endless regret that never departs the heart of a believer, even if he is forgiven for it.
Beware! Beware of all that brings forth shame!
Indeed this is a matter that only a few ascetics and those who repent would consider or heed, for they think that forgiveness covers their sins with their sincere repentance! And what I have just mentioned necessitates constant caution and shame.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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John Doe
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