Virtues Of Saying Astaghfirullah
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh
Astaghfirullah is the act of seeking forgiveness from Allah (swt), which itself is big thing, recognizing that we are weak, sinful and have / done wrong, the most important thing we can do in our lifes’ is to truly repent and change our ways into becoming sincere Muslims.
Unfortunately in todays world so many Muslims don’t recognize they are doing wrong let alone seek forgiveness. People fall into denial they have done anything wrong or those close them have wronged. I find it absolutely sad that people refuse to accept the reality of what they have done.
Example can be seen everywhere, look amongst your families and network of friends you will find people who won’t recognise what they have done is wrong, sinful and something they should repent for.
I give you couple of examples of this: firstly a person who was engage in a transaction very underhandedly, craftily and was dishonest (sounds familiar), outwardly he portrayed himself as a pious person, preaching to his local community. This person actually goes to Umrah and ask Allah (swt) whilst doing Tawaf to assist him to complete this corrupt transaction. What utter arrogance, did not want to recognize he was engaging in a transaction which was dishonest. Surprisingly Allah (swt) accept his dua and his transaction got completed, to the detriment to the other party.
This example I give is something to ponder over as Allah(swt) accepted his dua but what we are unaware of is what happen afterwards further down the line. The All Mighty works in a mysterious way and that person may have got what he wanted but in all likelihood to his detriment. People like this Allah (swt) will never given them contentment, peace and tranquility in their lives. These people are nothing short of hypocrites, they will never acknowledge what are doing is sinful, wrong and corrupt.
In our lifes, most people will be cheated out of something or another (big or little) – this will hurt but see the positive in that Allah (swt) will give you something far better than what has been lost. A believer always has faith regardless of the difficulties, hardship and the battles they constantly face. In the example I gave above the other party may have gain far more than what they had lost out on, not just materially but in the hereafter.
The above reminds me of a hadith:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “In the End Times men will come forth who will fraudulently use religion for worldly ends and wear sheepskins (as in the long white Jubbas) in public to display submissiveness. Their tongues will be sweeter than sugar, but their hearts will be the hearts of wolves.” (Tirmidhi)
Second Example I give, was actually an infamous incident where a Muslim drug dealer got shot by the police, people protested in the street over the incident. However his parents never acknowledged their son was engage in drug dealing, they never questioned his sudden wealth that was obtained. Also his associates who were with him when he was killed during the trial admitted they were drug dealers and used their business as a front to launder their ill gotten gains.
I give this example as the parents refusal to accept what their sons was doing, I find this denial very sad as for the son sake they should accept he was doing wrong and repent on his behalf, this would be better for what has happened, surely this is what the son in his grave would want.
Our Prophet (saw) used to make Istighfar 70 times a day, itself is something to ponder over, someone who is pure makes Istighfar, what about people like us who are impure and sinful, it makes it imperative to seek forgiveness everyday of our life’s.
Doing Istighfar is not only about seek forgiveness, there are so much benefits and virtues of doing small and simple supplication each day:
>>It purifies the heart, makes our heart softer as our sins are washed away, which means we become lot more content within ourselves. Majority of the sins people do commit are because they are not content, they let their desire overtake them.
>>It will provide you with wealth, in making sure you have enough to live day to day – wealth here does not mean you will become wealthy materially but have more than enough to survive.
>>It will provide you with patience in times of hardship, everyone goes through difficulties and tribulations, we need patience to managed the difficulties we face.
>>It will provide you with knowledge, throughout life it is the knowledge we seek that makes a person, gaining knowledge which is beneficial to us is the key to this world and the hereafter. Allah (swt) will open the doors for us to gain the knowledge we need and also act on it in a positive way.
>>It will protect your wealth, in the modern world there are so many addictions that one can fall into, whether this substance abuse (drugs & alcohol), gambling, excessive shopping, fulfilling sexual desires and other OCD ailments – Istighfar will act as a barrier in falling into this. Also Allah (swt) will safe you from falling victim to fraud & scams.
>>Acceptance of Duas: Istighfar is the key that opens the door for our Duas to be granted, without it our duas are not readily accepted, we all need something or another from Allah(swt) whether we realize it or not.
>>It will make our lives more productive, our hearts and minds will begin to focus on those activities that are off benefit and importance rather than those which have little to no value for us. The modern world has provided us with so much to do for our leisure time, most takes us away from what we should be focused on.
>>It helps us to stay focus so we do not fall into a circle of worry, depression and anxiety, more focus we become the more we are able to shield ourselves from psychological illnesses.
>>It makes us humble, this is a sign of a true believer. Being humble is a important as it is the opposite of arrogance, all our rituals are about being humble, piety and righteous.
These are some of the virtues of saying Astaghfirullah abundantly, how do you know Allah (swt) has accepted your repentance is when you no longer commit the same sins over and over again, you start to become a sincere and sound believer.
Our Prophet (saw) used to recited Astaghfirullah Al Azim 70 times a day, I know of someone who sits down each day and says Astaghfirullah for a good 15 to 20 minutes without fail. We can managed to say Astaghfirullah at least 100 times a day, you can do this whilst you walking, cooking, whilst waiting in a queue at a shop or any minute you can muster.
Surah Hud Verse 3: 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. But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day.)
An-Nahl 16:119: Then, indeed your Lord, to those who have done wrong out of ignorance and then repent after that and correct themselves – indeed, your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
Al-Isra verse 25: Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] – then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.
Al-Hijr 15:4: [O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful.
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