MUSJIDUL HAQ

Download PDF: [S] Young People should make Taubah

One of the great gifts given to man is his young age. As much as we enjoy this part of our life, so much so, we should also give thanks to Allah Almighty for this part of our life.

 

Someone has stated that to make Taubah and increase in Ibadah during this age is the habit and manner of the Prophets. Therefore, when a young man or lady increases in their Ibadah in this age, so much so, they are loved by Allah Almighty. At the same time, we all know that something which is highly valuable, that is how much it is difficult to safeguard and secure.  That is the reason that a thief is always looking at this valuable object and is always looking for a way to steal this valuable object. Since the best time for a person to worship Allah Almighty is when a person is young, the ardent enemy of man which is the Satan is always looking for methods to mislead a young person. He is also looking for ways and means to destroy the life of a young person. For this purpose, he creates all types of thoughts and ideas in the mind of a young person. He also tries his level best to move this young person away from thinking about the Hereafter.

This is how he plots and plans

 

We see that when one youngster calls another towards Ibadah, the other replies that there is still a lot of time left in life and that he will read when he is older. When he is commanded to perform the commands of Allah Almighty again he answers that he will see later on in life. He also gives the answer that he will perform Ibadah when he is old as there would be plenty of time in old age to perform Ibadah. Yet, what guarantee does a person have that he will even live till old age.

 

This advice has fallen on so many deaf ears. Sometimes when the young person is told that he should keep a beard, his answer is that he had not yet married and will do so after he gets married. When young girls are told to cover their heads and dress in an Islamic manner, they say, we are still students, this is the time when we should enjoy our life. By you giving us advice like this, you are just acting like a “Moulana Sahib”. There are numerous excuses given like this by young people. Yet, they see how many young people die in front of them, but they seem to take no heed of this. They forget to understand that this power, this strength, and this beauty is only present for a few number of days and after that, there is only torment upon torment.

 

They should remember that everyone has come to this world to leave this world. No one has come to this world to stay here forever. When a person dies, they would have to answer for how he or she spent their young life. Everyone also knows that most of the young people in this world have become trapped in the snare of the Satan and it is becoming more and difficult to bring them to the right path. At the same time, the most learned and intelligent they are, the more difficult it is to convince because they now feel that they know everything.

 

But when the young people of a nation abandon un-Islamic activities, when they adopt a much more strict life, when they abandon fashion and useless speech and action, then they move from this world to the next world in fame and glory. This is why the young people should continue to make Taubah in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty and this is the first step towards glory and great luck.

 

The meaning of Taubah.

 

The root word signifies “to turn away.”

 

Imam Raaghib Isfahani – may Allah be pleased with him – explains that, “The subject of Taubah in Shari’ah is when a person thinks bad about something and decides to leave that certain act or deed. Whatever, he or she had committed in the past, they feel shame for these actions and whatever they feel they can refrain from, they strive to refrain from these actions.” (Al Mufridaat, 1/148)

 

Imam Sharfudeen Yayha Maneeri – may Allah be pleased with him – explains that, “It is Waajib to seek pardon for every sin. If this sin is between him and his Creator, then there are three conditions attached:

1. He should refrain from this sin.
2. He or she should display shame for having committed this sin.
3. He or she should make the firm intention that they would never perform this again. If only one condition is not present, then true Taubah has not taken place.

If this sin has been committed against another person, then the fourth condition is that he should make sure that he fulfils the right of the other person. If this pertains to wealth or property, then he should return that to the person and if he has spoken ill of someone, then he should seek the pardon of that person.” (Riyaazus Saaliheen)

 

Taubah in the Qur’an

 

In Surah Nisaa, verses 17 and 18, the Qur’an declares that:

 

اِنَّمَا التَّوْبَۃُ عَلَی اللہِ لِلَّذِیۡنَ یَعْمَلُوۡنَ السُّوۡٓءَ بِجَہٰلَۃٍ ثُمَّ یَتُوۡبُوۡنَ مِنۡ قَرِیۡبٍ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ یَتُوۡبُ اللہُ عَلَیۡہِمْ ؕ وَکَانَ اللہُ عَلِیۡمًا حَکِیۡمًا ﴿۱۷﴾

وَلَیۡسَتِ التَّوْبَۃُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ یَعْمَلُوۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ ۚ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا حَضَرَ اَحَدَہُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ اِنِّیْ تُبْتُ الۡـٰٔنَ وَلَا الَّذِیۡنَ یَمُوۡتُوۡنَ وَہُمْ کُفَّارٌ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَعْتَدْنَا لَہُمْ عَذَابًا اَلِیۡمًا ﴿۱۸﴾

 

“The repentance whose acceptance has been under taken by Allah with His own Grace is only for those who do evil ignorantly and then again repent soon after. To wards such people Allah turns with His Mercy; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. And that repentance is not neither of those who continue in doing evil until when death comes to anyone of them, he says, ‘now I repent’ nor for those who die as infidels. For them We have prepared a painful torment.”

 

Taubah in the Hadith

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas – may Allah be pleased with them – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “The person who makes Taubah is like a person who has not committed any sin.” (Ibn Maja, pg. 306)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Without doubt a person commits sin and when he thinks about this sin, he becomes sad and when Allah Almighty sees that he is sad for his action, then He pardons him.” (Majmaus Zawaaid, no. 1752)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “If you have performed so much of sin which even reaches till the heavens and you make Taubah, (still too) Allah Almighty will accepts your pardon.” (Sunan ibn Maja, no 4248)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “I seek pardon and make Istighfaar more than seventy times a day.” (Sahih Bukhari Shareef, no 6308)

 

Hadrat Abu Maalik Ash’ari – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “There will still remain four things in my Ummah from the days of ignorance. (In other words, people will still practise these four evil traits). The first is that they will continue to show off about their family lineage. The second is that they will insult another person’s family lineage. The third is that some will continue to seek rain through stars. (In other words, they will look at the predications of others). And fourthly, some will continue to weep loudly for a deceased person and will utter words of regret at the passing of this person, (instead of making Sabr and displaying patience). If this female who screams and cries for the deceased does not make Taubah before she dies, she will be made to wear upper clothing of sulphur and the lower clothing will be nothing but that which she will scratch at.” (Sahih Muslim Shareef, no. 934)

 

Our beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also declared that, “The Allah Almighty is more pleased with a person who makes Taubah than that person who finds his camel in a desolate jungle.”

 

You can imagine that if a person is lost, he has no friends or means of getting out of a desolate place and if his camel or horse is also lost, you can imagine the stress and anxiety which overtakes this man. However, if he suddenly finds his camel or horse, you can imagine his immense joy and happiness. Such is the Divine Mercy of Allah Almighty that when a person makes Taubah, He, in His Mercy, becomes so pleased that it is more than that person who has found his camel. This again proves that Allah Almighty is always looking for ways and means for a Muslim to enter Jannah, yet, sadly, Muslims are always looking for ways and means to receive punishment.

 

The reward for making Taubah while young

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that our beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “On the Day of Judgement Allah Almighty will allow seven (types) of people to stand under His Divine Shadow on that Day in which there will no other shadow besides His Divine Shadow. One of them will be that young person who while he was young learnt the Qur’an and continued to recite it.” (Shuhubul Imaan, 1/487)

 

In another narration it is mentioned that this young person will be under the shadow of the Divine Throne who grew up in the worship of Allah Almighty. (Sahih Bukhari Shareef, 1/911)

 

The story of how a young person made Taubah

 

It is reported that once a person approached Khalifah Abdul Malik and he seemed extremely stressed and full of anxiety. He declared, “Sir! I am an extremely sinful person and I wish to ask whether there is any possibility of me being pardoned.”

 

The Khalifah asked, “Tell me, are your sins bigger than the Divine Tablet and the Pen?”

 

He replied, “It is bigger.”

 

The Khalifah then asked, “Tell me, are your sins bigger than the Divine Throne and the Divine Platform?”

 

He replied, “It is bigger.”

 

The Khalifah then asked him, “Tell me brother, are your sins bigger or larger than the Divine Mercy of Allah Almighty?”

 

When this person heard this, he started to weep.

 

Finally, the Khalifah asked him to reveal his sin. He answered, “I am extremely embarrassed to reveal my sin but I will do so anyway. Perhaps in this manner, there would be some possibility of my sins being pardoned.” He then continued, “O Khalifah! I am a kaffan thief. Tonight, I dug up five graves and after seeing the condition inside the grave, it has encouraged me to make Taubah.”

 

He then continued, “When I opened the first grave, I noticed that the deceased’s face was not facing the Qiblah. I became extremely scared and as I left a Voice informed me, ‘Ask the reason for this person’s punishment.’ I replied that I did not have the courage to do so and that I should be informed by this person himself. The voice then declared, ‘This person was someone who committed adultery and used to consume alcohol.’

 

“I then opened the second grave and I saw something which shook my entire being. The person had transformed into a pig. His neck had a necklace around it and it was wrapped in chains. The Voice from the Unseen then declared, ‘This person used to take false oaths and used to acquire Haraam wealth.’

 

“When I opened the third grave, I also saw a most frightening scene. The tongue of this person was hanging like that of a donkey and his body was being nailed with nails of fire. From the Unseen, the Voice was heard declaring, ‘This person used to back bite and used to make people fight against each other.’

 

“I then opened the fourth grave and saw something even more frightening. I saw a person who was turning around and around in fire and the Angels were whipping him with flames of fire. I then became very afraid and stood up to run away. Suddenly the Voice was heard saying, ‘This person used to be lazy in Salaah and fasting.’

 

“I then opened the fifth grave and the condition inside this grave was completely different from the other graves. This grave was extremely wide and expansive. Inside, there was a young man who was sitting on a throne and his face was bright as the moon. The Voice was again heard declaring that, ‘This person had made Taubah when he was still young and was also steadfast in his Salaah and fasting.’” (Tambihul Ghaafileen)

 

From this, our young people can see the immense reward and benefit one gets when a young person makes Taubah and continues to be steadfast on the Ibadah of Allah Almighty. This is the reason why the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “Seek five things before five things. Or consider five things extremely valuable before the onset of the next five conditions. The first is young age before old age. (In other words, value young age before old age sets in). The second is health before sickness. The third is wealth before poverty. The fourth is life before death and the fifth is spare time before becoming busy.” Therefore, let us make the intention that as of today, we will change our lives and make the firm intention to live according to the rules of Islam. Who knows that perhaps after this, we may never get the opportunity again.

 

* The beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “There are three types of people who are loved by Allah Almighty. And there are three types of people whom Allah Almighty loves extremely. The first is an old person who is pious, but Allah Almighty loves the young person (even more) who is pious. The second is a poor person, however Allah Almighty loves the generous poor person even more. The third is that person who is humble and simple, however Allah Almighty loves even more that wealthy person who is humble and simple.” (Tambihul Ghaafileen, 1/225)

 

The story of a young man who made Taubah

 

It is reported that once the eminent saint, Hadrat Sayyiduna Hasan Basri – may Allah be pleased with him – was walking past some people when he noticed a young man who was sitting among them laughing and joking. He then asked him, “O young man! Have you already crossed the Pulsiraat?” He replied, “No.” The Saint asked, “Are you aware of whether you will enter Jannah or Hell?” He replied, “No.” The Saint then asked, “What therefore is the reason for this happiness and joy?” It is reported that this young man was never seen laughing aloud again. (Ihya ul Uloom, 4/227)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ata – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that, “Once a few of us were walking when we noticed a young man and an old man. These were people who had performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu of the Esha Salaah. Their condition was such that their legs had become numbed. Their eyes had become sunk and their skin had become one with their bones. Even their veins stood out. Their skin appeared like dried melon it looked like they had just appeared from the grave. Suddenly, the young many among them fell to the ground and began to weep. When he regained consciousness, he declared, ‘The reason that I was crying was that at this same spot, once I had disobeyed Allah Almighty.’” (Ihya ul Uloom, 4/229)