Conditions of Istighfar It is important to note that to seek forgiveness...

Conditions of Istighfar It is important to note that to seek forgiveness, and then continue committing the same sin, is a sin in itself. It is wrong to mock and deceive oneself into thinking that one can seek forgiveness without having a firm intention to quit sins. That kind of Istighfar is a mockery, and will earn the displeasure of Allah. The following Ahadith clearly illustrate the evils of that type of attitude: Seeking forgiveness but continuing to sin, is a new sin.

Imam Ali (a) One who seeks forgiveness for a sin, and does it, has mocked his Lord. Imam Ali ar-Ridha (a) The best way of seeking forgiveness is through regret and avoidance (of sins) Holy Prophet (S) Once Imam Ali (a) heard someone saying: Astaghfirullah. Imam told him: Do you know what Istighfar is. Istighfar is meant for people of high positions. It is a word that stands on six meanings: To repent over the past. To make a firm determination never to repeat it.

To discharge all the rights of people so that you may meet Allah quite clean with nothing to account for. To fulfil every obligatory act which you ignored (in the past) so that you may now do justice with it. To aim at the flesh grown as a result of unlawful earnings, so that it may melt by grief (of repentance) till the skin touches the bone and a new flesh grows between them. To make the body taste the pain of obedience as you previously made it taste the sweetness of disobedience.

On such occasions you may say Astaghfirullah. Exercises Let the students familiarize themselves with the Arabic words: Ghafar, al-Ghafur, Istighfar. Write the Arabic as well as the English equivalent. Older children could write and memorize some of the relevant verses and hadith on Istighfar. Choose a hadith to work on. The hadith could be displayed with illustration on a board, written in calligraphy, use cut out letters, felt etc. to make a decorative hadith.

Write an essay on one of the following: • Shaytan's reaction upon finding out that Istighfar is allowed and encouraged for believers. • The difference between our record of deeds with Istighfar, and without Istighfar. • The story of a person's regret on the Day of Judgement when he sees his record devoid of Istighfar while the records of others shine brightly because of Istighfar. • How seeking forgiveness constantly helps us stay away from sins and be closer to the Almighty. Previous…