By Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi – 09 Muharram 1437

His Eminence Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday Khutbah entitled, “Seeking Forgiveness in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah,” in which he talked about seeking forgiveness from Allah, showing the virtues and benefits of doing so. He started with how the prophets, peace and blessings be upon them, asked Allah for forgiveness, citing some Qur’anic verses and hadiths to this effect, and then explained the situations in which one should ask forgiveness of Allah. In the second part of the khutbah, he warned against the trials facing the Ummah and against following dubious ideas.

Praise be to Allah, Praise be to Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the All-Knower, the All-Wise, and the Owner of Great Bounty. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I turn to Him in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the Owner of the Throne, the Most Generous, and I bear witness that our prophet and master, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, who was of a great moral character. O Allah! Bestow Your peace, prayers, and blessings upon Your servant and messenger Muhammad and upon his family and Companions, the callers to Islam who were guided to the straight path.

Now then,
Fear Allah by doing the deeds that He accepts and abandoning those that He has forbidden, so as to attain His good pleasure, enjoy the bliss of His Paradise, and be saved from His wrath and His punishment.

O Muslims!
By His infinite grace, mercy, generosity, and munificence, our Lord, Majesty and Glory be to Him, has increased the gates of good and the paths to righteous deeds, so that a Muslim may go through any gate of good or follow any path of obedience to Allah. The Lord, Exalted be He, will then set right the Muslim’s worldly affairs and raise his degree in the hereafter, for He will bless him with happiness and with a good life in this world and also give him the everlasting delights of Paradise as well as His good pleasure after his death. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“So hasten towards all that is good. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is Able to do all things.” (Al-Baqarah: 148)

Talking about the prophets, the examples that all people should follow, peace and blessings be upon them all, Allah, Glorified be He, says:
“… Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.” (Al-Anbiya’: 90)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Mu‘adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, “Shall I guide you to the doors of good? Fasting is a shield; charity puts out sin just as water puts out fire; and a man’s prayer in the middle of the night [is also one of the doors of good].” Then he recited the verse:
“Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (As-Sajdah: 16-17)

Then he added, “Shall I tell you of the root of the matter, its pillar, and its highest point?” Mu‘adh replied, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “The root of this matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and its highest point is jihad in the Cause of Allah (i.e. striving in the cause of Allah)” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who classified it as authenticated (sahih)).

Asking Allah for forgiveness is one of the gates of good and the paths to acts of righteousness and obedience to Allah, as well as one of the means to wipe out evil deeds. It is also one of the practices observed by prophets and messengers, peace and blessings be upon them. Allah, Exalted be He, says about Adam and Eve, the parents of all humankind, peace and blessings be upon them:
“They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (Al-A‘raf: 23)

The Qur’an tells us that Nuh (Noah), peace be upon him, said,
“My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. …” (Nuh: 28)
Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, also tells us that Ibrahim (Prophet Abraham), peace be upon him, supplicated Him, saying:
“Our Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” (Ibrahim: 41)

Allah, Exalted be He, also tells us that Musa (Prophet Moses), peace and blessings be upon him, supplicated Him, saying:
“… “O my Lord! Forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your Mercy, for you are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”” (Al-A‘raf: 151)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“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.” (Sad: 24)

Allah, Exalted be He, commanded His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to seek His forgiveness:
“So know (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) that La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women …” (Muhammad: 19)

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to frequently ask Allah for forgiveness, even though he was forgiven all his past and future sins. Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say a hundred times in one gathering: “O Allah! Forgive me my sins and accept my repentance; You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful” (Reported by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi, who classified it as hasan sahih (good and authenticated)). A’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “Before his death, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to frequently say, ‘Glorified be Allah and praise be to Him. I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance’” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim). Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I have never seen anyone say ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance’ more frequently than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him” (Reported by an-Nasa’i).

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say, “I seek forgiveness from Allah” three time after each prayer (Reported by Muslim on the authority of Thauban, may Allah be pleased with him). After prayers and seeking Allah’s forgiveness, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite the recommended words of remembrance of Allah.

Asking forgiveness of Allah is the habit of the righteous, the usual practice of the pious, and the motto of the believers. Allah, Exalted be He, tells us that they often say:
““… Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar (the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism).”” (Al ‘Imran: 193)

Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“Those who say: “Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire.” (They are) those who are patient, 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.” (Al ‘Imran: 16-17)

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Extend your voluntary night prayer to the last hours of the night, then start asking Allah for forgiveness”. Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (great sins as illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; – and none can forgive sins but Allah – and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know.” (Al ‘Imran: 135)

Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “Seeking Allah’s forgiveness for one’s sins means asking and pleading for pardoning them. A servant of Allah is in urgent need of forgiveness, for he errs day and night. The Qur’an repeatedly mentions repentance and seeking forgiveness and often urges and even orders Muslims to repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness.” The Lord, Majesty and Glory be to Him, has promised to forgive those who ask for His forgiveness and answer their call.

It is permissible for the servant to ask forgiveness for a particular wrongdoing, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A servant of Allah committed a sin and he said: ‘O Allah! I have committed a sin. Forgive me.’ Allah then said, ‘My servant has realized that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them. I have forgiven My servant” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu-Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him).

It is also permissible for the servant to ask for forgiveness in general, saying for instance, “O My Lord! Forgive me and have mercy on me.” Allah, Exalted be He, said:
“And say (O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)): “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy.”” (Al-Mu’minun: 118)

When anyone embraced Islam, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to teach him to supplicate Allah in these words: “My Lord! Forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, guard me against harm, and provide me with sustenance” (Reported by Muslim on the authority of Tariq ibn Ushaim, may Allah be pleased with him).

It is also recommended that the servant ask his Lord, Glorified be He, to forgive all his sins, whether known or unknown to him, for many sins are known only to Allah and the servant will be held to account for them. Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to recite this supplication:

O Allah! Forgive me my sins, my ignorance, my transgressions in keeping my duties to You, and what You know better than I do. O Allah! Forgive me the sins that I have committed seriously and the sins that I have committed jocularly; and forgive me the sins that I have committed inadvertently and the sins that I have committed deliberately – and all these failings are in me. O Allah! Forgive me the sins that I have committed before and the sins that I may commit in the future; forgive me the sins that I have committed in secret and the sins that I have committed in public; and forgive me the sins that You know better than I do. You are the Expediter and the Delayer, and You are Powerful over all things! (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “Shirk (associating partners with Allah) in this Ummah is more hidden than the sound of the crawling of ants.” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Messenger of Allah! How can we avoid it?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By saying, ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from ascribing partners to You knowingly and I seek Your forgiveness for the sins that I do not know’” (Reported by Ibn Hibban on the authority of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him; also reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him).

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to supplicate Allah, saying, “O Allah! Forgive me all my sins, the small and the great, the unintentional and the deliberate, the secret and the public, and the first and the last” (Reported by Muslim and Abu-Dawud). Therefore, if a servant asks his Lord to forgive all his sins, both known and unknown to him, then he has indeed been granted great success.

When a servant prays to his Lord to forgive his sins, he should show sincerity and persistence as well as humility and submissiveness. His supplication should also include repentance of sins. At the same time, asking for repentance and attaining it is granted by seeking Allah’s forgiveness, for forgiveness and repentance each implies the meaning of the other, even if it is mentioned by itself. Whenever both of them are mentioned together in Islamic sacred texts, the meaning of seeking forgiveness would include pleading for wiping out the sin and erasing its consequence, as well as concealing past sins and protecting one from their evil consequences. Similarly, repentance means returning to Allah through abandoning sins, seeking protection from the future consequences of one’s evil deeds, and resolving not to commit the sin again. Combining both seeking forgiveness and repentance, Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“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).” (Hud: 3)

This is one of many other verses that combine repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “O people! Turn to your Lord in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness, for I turn to Him in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness a hundred times a day” (Reported by an-Nasa’i on the authority of al-Agharr al-Muzani, may Allah be pleased with him). A servant is always in great need of asking Allah for forgiveness, especially in our age, which is replete with trials and possibilities for falling into sins, so that Allah may set right his condition and grant him success in his worldly life and after his death. Seeking forgiveness is a gate of good and a shield from evils and punishments. The Ummah is in constant need of seeking forgiveness in order that Allah may lift all the punishments that have afflicted it and ward off future punishments. Indeed, none abandons seeking Allah’s forgiveness except those who are unaware of its benefits and blessings. The Qur’an and the Sunnah extensively mention the virtues of seeking forgiveness. Allah, Exalted be He, says that Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, said to his people:
“… “O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy?”” (An-Naml: 46)

This indicates that seeking forgiveness brings about mercy for the Ummah. Allah, Exalted be He, also tells us that Nuh (Prophet Noah), peace be upon him, said to his people:
” “I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”” (Nuh: 10-12)

Allah, Exalted be He, says that Prophet Hud, peace be upon him, said to his people:
“”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).”” (Hud: 52)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness.” (Al-Anfal: 33)

After the Prophet’s death, Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “You used to have two sources of protection against punishments. As for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he has passed away. As for seeking Allah’s forgiveness, it will remain with you until the Day of Resurrection.”

Asking forgiveness of Allah frequently is a cause for lifting existing punishments and warding off possible ones, for adversities never occur except owing to committing a sin, nor are they lifted except through repentance and seeking forgiveness. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If anyone constantly seeks Allah’s forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, give him relief from every hardship, and grant him provision from sources he could never imagine” (Reported by Abu-Dawud).

There are a number of blessed supplications for seeking forgiveness that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, often recited and that Muslims have committed to memory. A great reward is promised to whoever recites them. For instance, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever says, ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah, the One other than Whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance’ will be forgiven his sins, even if he had fled from the battlefield’” (Reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirtmidhi, and al-Hakim, who classified it as authenticated as per al-Bukhari and Muslim’s criteria)

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever says when he goes to bed, ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah, the One other than Whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance’ three times will be forgiven his sins, even if they were more than the foam of the sea” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi).

‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
If anyone gets up at night and says, ‘There is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners. For Him is the dominion and all the praises are due for Him. He is Powerful over all things; Glorified be Allah; Praise be to Allah; there is no god but Allah; Allah is the Greatest; and there is neither might nor power except with Allah. O Allah! Forgive me my sins,’ and then calls upon Allah, his call will be answered; and if he performs prayers, his prayer will be accepted. (Reported by al-Bukhari)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said, “Whoever says before the Friday Dawn Prayer, ‘I ask forgiveness of Allah, the One other than Whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance’ three times will be forgiven his sins even if they were more than the foam of the sea.”

Shaddad ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
The best supplication for seeking forgiveness from Allah is to say, “O Allah! You are my Lord! There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge to You Your favours towards me, and I confess my sins to You. So forgive me my sins, for there is none to forgive sins but You.” Whoever recites it during the day with firm faith in it and dies on the same day before the evening will go to Paradise; and whoever recites it at night with firm faith in it and dies before the morning will go to Paradise. (Reported by al-Bukhari)

Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, “Allah, Exalted be He, said, ‘O Son of Adam! Were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you, and I would not mind’” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, “It is a good (hasan) Hadith”).

It is recommended to ask Allah for forgiveness when performing an act of obedience to Him and after it in order to make up for any shortcomings and failings in it and to stay away from conceit and showing off. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Baqarah: 199)

Allah, Glorified be He, also says:
“… and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and lend Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e. Nawafil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and ‘Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allah. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” (Al-Muzzammil: 20)
These verses make it clear that Allah commands Muslims to ask Him for forgiveness during and after acts of obedience to Him.

It is also recommended that a Muslim should ask Allah to forgive all the believers and Muslims, men and women, the living and the dead, as an act of benevolence and love for Muslims and as a token of bearing no grudges against them, in order to bring benefit for Muslims and intercede for them with Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.”” (Al-Hashr: 10)

‘Ubadah ibn as-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If anyone seeks forgiveness for all the believers, men and women, Allah will write for him a good deed for each believing man and believing woman” (Al-Haithami said, “This hadith has a good chain of transmission (isnad)”). For instance, a Muslim can ask Allah to forgive the dead believers at funerals and when visiting their graves, following the example of the angels who carry the Throne of Allah and the angels around it. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“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!”” (Ghafir: 7)

Doing so is one of the best forms of sincerity and love for the believers.

Servants of Allah!
Obey your Lord’s command. Allah, Exalted be He, says in the Holy Hadith, “O My servants! You err by day and by night, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you” (Reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him). Therefore, turn to your Lord asking for forgiveness, and you will see His munificence, generosity, favour, and blessings and see how He will wipe out your evil deeds and raise your degree in Paradise.

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, were you not to commit sins, Allah would replace you with people who would commit sins and then seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them” (Reported by Muslim). This is because Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, has vast forgiveness; He is Munificent and Most Generous, and He loves it for His servants to supplicate Him and call upon Him. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (An-Nisa’: 110)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words and benefit from the guidance and right sayings of the Imam of Messengers. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.