فَسَأَلُونِيَSo they asked meفَأَعْطَيْتُand I gaveكُلَّeveryوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمُof themمَسْأَلَتَهُhis requestمَاwhatنَقَصَdecreasedذَلِكَthatمِنْfromمُلْكِيَmy dominionإِلَّاexceptكَمَاasيَنْقُصُdecreasesالْمِخْيَطُthe needleإِذَاwhenغَمَسَdippedفِيinالْبَحْرِthe sea
So they asked me, and I gave every one of them his request. What decreased that from my dominion except as the needle decreases when dipped in the sea.
يَاOعِبَادِيَMy servantsإِنَّمَاIndeed,هِيَit isأَعْمَالُكُمْyour deedsأُحْصِيهَاI count themلَكُمْfor youثُمَّthenأُوفِيكُمْI will fulfill them to youإِيَّاهَاthem
O My servants, indeed it is your deeds that I count for you, then I will fulfill them to you.
فَمَنْSo whoeverوَجَدَfindsخَيْرًاgoodفَلْيَحْمَدْlet him praiseاللَّهَAllahوَمَنْand whoeverوَجَدَfindsغَيْرَother thanذَٰلِكَthatفَلَاthen do notيَلُومَنَّblameإِلَّاexceptنَفْسَهُhimself
So whoever finds good, let him praise Allah, and whoever finds other than that, then let him blame no one but himself.
وَمَاAnd whatرَوَاهُwas narrated byالْبُخَارِيُّAl-BukhariعَنْfromشَدَّادٍShaddadابْنِibnأَوْسٍAwsقَالَhe saidقَالَthe Messengerرَسُولَof Allah(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)(peace be upon him)
And what was narrated by Al-Bukhari from Shaddad ibn Aws, he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said.
سَيِّدُThe chiefالِاسْتِغْفَارِof supplication for forgivenessأَنْis thatيَقُولَthe servant saysالْعَبْدُthe slaveاللَّهُمَّO Allah,أَنْتَYou areرَبِّيmy Lordلَاthere is noإِلَٰهَgodإِلَّاexceptأَنْتَYou.خَلَقْتَنِيYou created meوَأَنَاand I amعَبْدُكَYour servant.وَأَنَاand I amعَلَىuponعَهْدِكَYour covenantوَوَعْدِكَand Your promiseمَاas much asاسْتَطَعْتُI could.أَعُوذُI seek refugeبِكَwith Youمِنْfromشَرِّthe evil ofمَاwhatصَنَعْتُI have done.أَبُوءُI confessلَكَto Youبِنِعْمَتِكَwith Your blessingsعَلَيَّupon me.وَأَبُوءُAnd I confessبِذَنْبِيmy sin.فَاغْفِرْSo forgive meلِيfor me.فَإِنَّهُIndeed,لَاnoيَغْفِرُforgivesالذُّنُوبَthe sinsإِلَّاexceptأَنْتَYou.
The chief of supplication for forgiveness is that the servant says, 'O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am upon Your covenant and promise as much as I could. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done. I confess to You with Your blessings upon me and I confess my sin. So forgive me, for indeed, no one can forgive sins except You.'
مَنْWhoeverقَالَهَاsays itإِذَاwhenأَصْبَحَhe wakes upمُوقِنًاwith certaintyبِهَاin itفَمَاتَand diesفِيonيَوْمِهِhis dayدَخَلَwill enterالْجَنَّةَParadise.
Whoever says it when he wakes up with certainty in it, and then dies on that day will enter Paradise.
وَمَنْAnd whoeverقَالَهَاsays itإِذَاwhenأَمْسَىhe goes to eveningمُوقِنًاwith certaintyبِهَاin itفَمَاتَand diesمِنْfromلَيْلَتِهِhis nightدَخَلَwill enterالْجَنَّةَParadise.
And whoever says it when he goes to evening with certainty in it, and then dies on that night will enter Paradise.
فَالْعَبْدُSo the servantدَائِمًاis alwaysبَيْنَbetweenنِعْمَةٍblessingمِنَfromاللَّهِAllahيَحْتَاجُhe needsفِيهَاin itإِلَىtoشُكْرٍgratitudeوَذَنْبٍand a sinمِنْهُfrom him.يَحْتَاجُhe needsفِيهِin itإِلَىtoاَسْتِغْفَارٍsupplication for forgiveness.
So the servant is always between a blessing from Allah that he needs to be grateful for, and a sin from him that he needs to seek forgiveness for.
وَكُلُّAnd eachمِنْofهَذَيْنِthese twoمِنَofالْأُمُورِthe mattersاللَّازِمَةِnecessaryلِلْعَبْدِfor the servantدَائِمًاalways.
And each of these two matters is necessary for the servant always.
فَإِنَّهُIndeed,لَاnoيَزَالُkeepsيَتَقَلَّبُturningفِيinنِعَمِthe favorsاللَّهِof Allahوَآلَائِهِand His bountiesوَلَاand he is notيَزَالُkeepsمُحْتَاجًاneedingإِلَىtoالتَّوْبَةِrepentanceوَالِاسْتِغْفَارِand seeking forgiveness.
Indeed, he keeps turning in the favors of Allah and his bounties, and he is not ceasing to need repentance and seeking forgiveness.
وَلِهَذَاAnd for thisكَانَwasسَيِّدُthe leaderوَلَدِof the childrenآدَمَAdamوَإِمَامُand the leaderالْمُتَّقِينَof the righteous.يَسْتَغْفِرُHe used to seek forgivenessفِيinجَمِيعِallالأَحْوَالِsituations.
And for this, the leader of the children of Adam and the leader of the righteous used to seek forgiveness in all situations.
وَقَالَAnd he said(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)(peace be upon him)فِيinالْحَدِيثِthe hadithالصَّحِيحِauthenticالَّذِيwhichرَوَاهُwas narrated byالْبُخَارِيُّAl-Bukhari
And he said (peace be upon him) in the authentic hadith which was narrated by Al-Bukhari.
أَيُّهَاO people,تُوبُواrepentإِلَىtoرَبِّكُمْyour Lord.فَإِنِّيIndeed, IأَتُوبُrepentإِلَىtoاللَّهِAllahفِيinاليَوْمِthe dayمِائَةًa hundredمَرَّةًtimes.
O people, repent to your Lord, for indeed, I repent to Allah a hundred times a day.
وَقَالَAnd he saidعَبْدَ اللّهِAbdullahابْنَibnعُمَرَUmarكُنَّاWe used toنَعُدُّcountلِرَسُولِ اللَّهِfor the Messenger of Allah(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)(peace be upon him)
And Abdullah ibn Umar said, 'We used to count for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
فِيinالْمَجْلِسِthe gatheringالْوَاحِدِoneيَقُولُhe would sayرَبِّO Lord,اغْفِرْforgive meوَتُبْand accept repentanceعَلَيَّupon me.إِنَّكَIndeed, Youأَنتَareالتَّوَابُthe Accepting of Repentanceالرَّحِيمُthe Most Merciful.مِائَةًa hundredمَرَّةًtimes.
In a single gathering, he would say, 'O Lord, forgive me and accept repentance upon me. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Most Merciful,' a hundred times.
وَقَالَAnd he saidإِنِّيIndeed, Iلَأَسْتَغْفِرُseek forgivenessاللَّهَAllahوَأَتُوبُand repentإِلَيْهِto Himفِيinاليَوْمِthe dayاثْنَتَيْنِtwoوَالسَّبْعِينَand seventyمَرَّةًtimes.
And he said, 'Indeed, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him seventy times a day.'
وَفِيAnd inالصَّحِيحِthe authenticمُسْلِمٍMuslimأَنَّهُthat heقَالَsaidإِنَّهُIndeed,لَيُغْلَانُmy heart is veiledعَلَىonقَلْبِيmy heart.وَإِنِّيAnd indeed, Iلَأَسْتَغْفِرُseek forgivenessاللَّهَAllahفِيinاليَوْمِthe dayمِائَةًa hundredمَرَّةًtimes.
And in authentic Muslim, he said, 'Indeed, my heart is veiled, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a hundred times a day.'
وَلِهَذَاAnd for thisشُرِعَwas legislatedالِاسْتِغْفَارُsupplication for forgivenessفِيinخَوَاتِيمِthe endingsالأَعْمَالِof deeds.
And for this, supplication for forgiveness was legislated in the endings of deeds.
قَالَHe saidتَعَالَىThe Most HighآلِعِمْرَانَAl-Imranوَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَand those who seek forgivenessبِالْأَسْحَارِin the last hours of the night.
He said, 'The Most High: Al-Imran and those who seek forgiveness in the last hours of the night.'
قَالَSome saidبَعْضُهُمْsome of themأَحْيُواreviveاللَّيْلَthe nightبِالصَّلَاةِwith prayers.فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasوَقْتَthe timeالسَّحَرِof the pre-dawn periodأُمِرُواthey were commandedبِالِاسْتِغْفَارِto seek forgiveness.
Some of them said, 'They revive the night with prayers.' When the time of the pre-dawn period came, they were commanded to seek forgiveness.
وَفِيAnd inالصَّحِيحِthe authenticأَنَّthatالنَّبِيَّthe Prophet(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)(peace be upon him)
And in the authentic hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said.
كَانَHe used toإِذَاwhenانْصَرَفَhe finishedمِنْfromصَلَاتِهِhis prayerاسْتَغْفِرُhe would seek forgivenessثَلاثَةَthreeأَحْرَفٍtimes.وَقَالَAnd he saidاللَّهُمَّO Allah,أَنتَYou areالسَّلَامُthe Peaceوَمِنْكَand from You isالسَّلَامُpeace.تَبَارَكَتBlessedيَاYou, OالْجَلَالِAspects of Majestyوَالْإِكْرَامِand Honor.
He used to seek forgiveness three times when he concluded his prayer and would say, 'O Allah, You are the Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Glory and Honor.'
وَقَالَAnd He saidتَعَالَىThe Most HighالْبَقَرَةُSurah Al-BaqarahفَإِذَاSo whenأَفَضْتُمyou make the pilgrimageمِنْfromعَرَفَاتَArafatفَاذْكُرُواrememberاللَّهَAllahعِندَatالْمَشْعَرِthe sacred siteالْحَرَامِof sacredness.إِلَىtoقَوْلِهِHis saying.
So when you make the pilgrimage from Arafat, remember Allah at the sacred site.
وَاسْتَغْفِرُواAnd seek forgiveness from Him.اللَّهَIndeed, AllahإنَّIndeed,اللَّهَAllahغَفُورٌis Forgivingرَحِيمٌand Merciful.
And seek forgiveness from Allah, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَقَدْAnd indeedأَمَرَHe commandedاللَّهُAllahنَبِيَّهُHis Prophetبَعْدَafterأَنْthatبَلَّغَhe deliveredالرِّسَالَةَthe message.وَجَاهَدَAnd he struggledفِيinاللَّهِthe cause of Allahحَقَّwith truthجِهَادًاthe struggleوَأَتَىand he broughtبِمَاwhatأَمَرَwas commandedاللَّهُby Allahبِهِto him.مِمَّاFrom whatلَمhe did notيَصِلْreachإِلَيْهِto him.
Allah commanded His Prophet after he delivered the message and struggled in the cause of Allah with what was commanded to him, from what others did not reach.
فَقَالَSo he saidإِذَاwhenجَاءَthe helpنَصْرُof victoryاللَّهِAllahوَالْفَتْحُand the openingرَأَيْتَyou will seeالنَّاسَthe peopleيَدْخُلُونَenteringفِيinدِينِthe religionاللَّهِof Allahأَفْوَاجًاin droves.
So when the help of Allah and the opening comes, you will see the people entering the religion of Allah in droves.
فَسَبِّحْSo glorifyبِحَمْدِwith praiseرَبِّكَyour Lordوَاسْتَغْفِرْهُand seek His forgiveness.إِنَّهُIndeed,كَانَHe isتَوَّابًاthe Accepting of Repentance.
So glorify your Lord with praise and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance.
وَلِهَذَاAnd for thisكَانَthe foundationقَوَّامُof the religionالدِّينُis the monotheismبِالتَّوْحِيدِby the unity of Godوَالِاسْتِغْفَارِand seeking forgiveness.كَمَاAsقَالَHe saidاللَّهُAllahتَعَالَىthe Most HighأَوَّلُearlierهُودَSurah Hudالرَّthe lettersكِتَابٌa bookأُمِحْتُwhose verses were perfectedآيَاتُهُits versesثُمَّand thenفُصِّلَتْwere made distinctمِنْfromلَدُنِfrom the presenceحَكِيمٍof the Wiseخَبِيرٍthe All-Aware.
And for this, the foundation of the religion is the monotheism by the unity of God and seeking forgiveness, as Allah the Most High said in Surah Hud, 'A book whose verses were perfected, then were made distinct from the presence of the Wise, the All-Aware.'
أَلَّاDo notتَعْبُدُواworshipإِلَّاexceptاللَّهَAllah.إِنَّنِيIndeed, Iلَكُمْfor youمِنْهُfrom Himنَذِيرٌa warningوَبَشِيرٌand a giver of good tidings.وَأَنَّAnd that you shouldاسْتَغْفِرُواseek forgivenessرَبَّكُمْfrom your Lord.ثُمَّThenتُوبُواrepent
Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I am for you from Him a warning and a giver of good tidings. And that you should seek forgiveness from your Lord and then repent to Him.
يُمْتِعُكُمْHe will give you enjoymentمَتَاعًاgood provisionsحَسَنًاgood.الْآيَةُThis is the verse.
He will give you enjoyment with good provisions; this is the verse.
وَقَالَAnd He saidتَعَالَىThe Most HighفَصْلَتAnd in Surah FussilatفَاسْتَقِيمُواSo be steadfastإِلَيْهِto Himوَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُand seek His forgiveness.
And He said, 'So be steadfast to Him and seek His forgiveness.'
وَكَتَبَAnd He has writtenفِيinقُلُوبِهِمtheir heartsالْإِيمَانَfaith.
And He has written faith in their hearts.
وَأَيَّدَهُمAnd He has supported themبِرُوحٍwith a spiritمِنْهُfrom Him.
And He has supported them with a spirit from Him.