Three Pre-Requisites of Maghfirah (Allah’s Forgiveness)

Three Pre-Requisites of Maghfirah (Allah’s Forgiveness)Download

Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:

وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ اِذۡ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمْ جَآءُوۡکَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللہَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَہُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ لَوَجَدُوا اللہَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِیۡمًا ﴿۶۴﴾

And if they do injustice unto their souls, then O beloved! they should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them, then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful.

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 64)

Allah Almighty has stated three pre-requisites of Maghfirah in this verse.

The Three Pre-Requisites:

And if they do injustice unto their souls, then O beloved! they should come to you

وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ اِذۡ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمْ جَآءُوۡکَ

And then beg forgiveness of Allah

فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللہَ

And the messenger should intercede for them

وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَہُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ

Once they have fulfilled these three pre-requisites, then Allah Almighty makes a promise:

لَوَجَدُوا اللہَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِیۡمًا ﴿۶۴﴾

Then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful.

Reason of Revelation:

As you might be well aware, that there have always been three groups of people since the very beginning of Islam. To find out as to who are these people let us find its evidence from the Holy Quran as it states:

Believers

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۱﴾

Undoubtedly, the believers reached to their goal.

(Al-Mu’minoon 23, Verse 1)

Disbelievers

قُلْ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الْکٰفِرُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۱﴾

Say you, O disbelievers!

(Al-Kafiroon 109, Verse 1)

Hypocrites

اِذَا جَآءَکَ الْمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ

When the hypocrites come to you.

(Al-Munafiqoon 63, Verse 1)

There used to be a man by the name of Bishr who belonged to the third group and was one of the worst among them. Once he had some dispute with a jewish man where coincidently, was telling the truth whereas Bishr wanted to exploit him and was adamant at it.

The jew suggested to him that they both should present their case in the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. He was eager to gladly accept his judgment irrespective whether it went in his favour or in Bishr’s.

Bishr was an expert thug and he knew that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – would do honest justice as in black and white. He therefore suggested to the jew otherwise by saying, “No, we cannot have him as a judge in our affairs but we should rather go to Ka’b ibn Ashraf who is the leader of all Jews.” Bishr had a strong feeling that he would succeed in manipulating Ka’b ibn Ashraf by bribing him. This jewish man, on the other hand, insisted that he would only accept the judgment of Allah’s Messenger (may Allah send peace and blessings upon him). Willy-nilly, Bishr accept the condition of making the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – the judge of this case.

When they entered the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – for justice, he gave his verdict in the favour of the jewish man, for he was the rightful person.

The jew accepted the verdict of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – but Bishr, the hypocrite, did not accept his judgment due to his rage which was further fueled by his hypocrisy. He rejected the verdict altogether and said, “I will take this matter to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).” The jew accepted this condition of his as well, for he had full faith in the justice of Sayyiduna ‘Umar AL-FAROOQ – may Allah be pleased with him. He knew too well that he would not deviate from the truth even to the measure of an atom.

Hence, they both knocked at the door of Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – and presented their case in the court of Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him. The jew also added that the verdict of this case was already passed by the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – which I have accepted but Bishr is not ready to accept it, and has therefore brought the matter in your court for the sake of justice. Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – asked Bishr, “Is it really true that the verdict in this case has already been given by the Messenger of Allah?” Bishr replied in affirmation, “Yes, the Messenger of Allah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has already passed his verdict in this regard.” When Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he said, “Stand here, I will return from inside the house in just a short while and do justice to this case. It will be such that there will be no need to make any further appeal.” He quickly went inside the house and came out enraged with a naked sword in his hand, he swung his sword and decapitated the head of this hypocrite from the neck and then said to the jew, “You may go now, the justice has been served! Only the sword can do justice to the one who is not happy with the verdict of Allah and His Rasool!”

This news spread like wildfire throughout the entire city of Madinah Munawwarah and had erupted chaos in the city, that Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – had beheaded a man who recited Kalimah.

Hence, all the relatives of Bishr and his allies and members of the hypocrite nation gathered in the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – to avenge the blood of Bishr. They all swore oath that Bishr did not have any ill intentions and he was a true believer and practicing Muslim and so on. They began singing his praises as to what a wonderful Muslim he was and how strong he was in his Islamic faith. They all took their hypocritical oaths and put their best acts on to convince the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, so that he gives in.

When the hypocrites played this drama of their mockery Allah Almighty revealed the following verses, exposing their dark layers of hypocrisy. He endorsed Bishr as a hypocrite who was rightfully sentenced to death and that his blood was not to be avenged.

(Tafseer Saawi Vol. 1, p. 226)

These were the verses that Allah Almighty revealed at the time:

اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَی الَّذِیۡنَ یَزْعُمُوۡنَ اَنَّہُمْ اٰمَنُوۡا بِمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ وَمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ مِنۡ قَبْلِکَ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ اَنۡ یَّتَحَاکَمُوۡۤا اِلَی الطّٰغُوۡتِ وَقَدْ اُمِرُوۡۤا اَنۡ یَّکْفُرُوۡا بِہٖ ؕ وَیُرِیۡدُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ اَنۡ یُّضِلَّہُمْ ضَلٰلًۢابـَعِیۡدًا ﴿۶۰﴾

Have you not observed those who claim that they believed in what has been sent down to you, and what has been send down before you? Then they wish to make the devil their arbiter, whereas they were commanded to reject him wholly. And Satan desires to lead them far astray.

وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمْ تَعَالَوْا اِلٰی مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللہُ وَ اِلَی الرَّسُوۡلِ رَاَیۡتَ الْمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ یَصُدُّوۡنَ عَنۡکَ صُدُوۡدًا ﴿ۚ۶۱﴾

And when it is said to them, ‘Come towards the Book sent down by Allah and the messenger; then you shall see that the hypocrites turn away from you averting their faces.

فَکَیۡفَ اِذَاۤ اَصٰبَتْہُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ اَیۡدِیۡہِمْ ثُمَّ جَآءُوۡکَ یَحْلِفُوۡنَ ٭ۖ بِاللہِ اِنْ اَرَدْنَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اِحْسٰنًا وَّتَوْفِیۡقًا ﴿۶۲﴾

How shall it be, when any affliction befalls them, for what their hands have sent forth? Then O beloved! They come to you swearing by Allah that our object was kindness and concord only.

اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَعْلَمُ اللہُ مَا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمْ ٭ فَاَعْرِضْ عَنْہُمْ وَعِظْہُمْ وَقُلۡ لَّہُمْ فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِہِمْ قَوْلاًۢ بَلِیۡغًا ﴿۶۳﴾

Allah knows what is in their hearts then overlook them, and admonish them and say to them convincing words concerning their affairs.

وَمَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا لِیُطَاعَ بِاِذْنِ اللہِ ؕ وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ اِذۡ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمْ جَآءُوۡکَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللہَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَہُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ لَوَجَدُوا اللہَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِیۡمًا ﴿۶۴﴾

And We did not send any messenger, but that he should be obeyed by Allah’s will. And if when they do injustice unto their souls, then O beloved! they should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them, then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful.

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 60-64)

Allah Almighty has very clearly stated in this verse that it is incumbent upon every Muslim to gladly accept every verdict Allah and His Rasool make. One who rejects the verdict of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has in fact disbelieved in him, and hence deserving of deaths sentence.

When we look at the last verse where Allah Almighty has openly described three conditions:

The sinner has to present himself in the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him
He must beg for Allah’s forgiveness
The Messenger of Allah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – too, intercede for him in the court of Allah

For as long as these three conditions are not met, no sinner can hope for forgiveness in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty.

Let us now discuss the three pre-requisites in detail.

First Pre-Requisite:

And if they do injustice unto their souls, then O beloved! they should come to you

وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ اِذۡ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمْ جَآءُوۡکَ

Masjidun Nabawi shareef is known for some of its blessed pillars for their historical and emotional significance; such as,

Ustuwaanat al-Wofood

This is the pillar where the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – used to recline and welcome the delegations that came from distant places, blessed them with his Ziyarah and addressed them from here.

Ustuwaanat al-Hannaanah

This the is the pillar that used to cry in the separation of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – which Maulana Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – describes as follows:

استن حنانہ از ہجر رسول

نالہ می زد ہمچو ارباب عقول

Ustun-e-Hannaanah az hijr-e-Rasool

Naalah mi zad hamchu arbaab-e-‘Uqool

O people of intellect, (like how you cry in separation of your loved ones) this is how the pillar of Hannaanah cries in separation of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.

Though it has many other pillars of great value and significance, there is also this following pillar know as the pillar of Taubah, also known as “the pillar of Abu Lubabah”.

The Pillar of Abu Lubabah:

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah bin Abdul Mundhir – may Allah be pleased with him – was a blessed companion from the Ansaar community. He had an orchard in an area which belonged to the Bani Qurayzah. Prior to the appearance of Islam, his family were protectorates of the Bani Qurayzah and after the appearance of Islam, this connection continued.

There is also no doubt that everyone is aware of the treachery which was displayed by the Jews in the Battle of the Trench. In fact, in the Battle of the Trench, it seemed impossible that the Muslims would actually win this war.

The blessed city of Madina Shareef was surrounded by nearly ten thousand ardent enemies of the Muslims. The actual population of Madina Shareef was only about five thousand and this was made up of men, women and children. The disbelievers had joined all their forces and appeared in front of Madina Shareef to destroy this small community. It was certainly a great Divine Blessing that the Muslims were saved from total annihilation.

During the entire period of this siege, the Jews had continued to conspire against the Muslims. They had even tried to attack a special area where the Muslim women and children were kept without success. At the same time, they had continued to instigate the Meccans against the Muslims.

However, after these disbelievers had left without any success, Jibra’eel Ameen appeared in the blessed court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and informed him that even though the Muslims had kept away their weapons, yet the Angels had still not done so.

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was then informed to go the Bani Qurayzah. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – informed the Muslims that they would perform the Asr Salaah in the vicinity of the Bani Qurayzah. He left Madina Shareef and left Hadrat Sayyiduna Umme Maktum – may Allah be pleased with him – in charge and travelled to a well called “Anaa” which was near where the Bani Qurayzah was.

When they besieged the fort of the Jews, besides surrendering their weapons, they had no other choice. However, before surrendering their weapons, they felt it would be a good idea to speak to their protectors and perhaps in this manner, they would come to realise what the consequences would be of surrendering their weapons.

They called for their old associate Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah bin Abdul Manzar – may Allah be pleased with him – who went to see them. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – was also given permission by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – to go and see them. When Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – appeared in front of them, all of them ran to meet him both women, men and children and they were also crying. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – also felt extremely sorry for them. They asked him the consequences of surrendering their weapons and without thinking, he pointed to his throat. In other words, he indicated that they would be slaughtered for this treachery they had displayed.

As soon as he revealed the secret, Sayyiduna Jibreel – peace be upon him – descended with the damning Command of Allah Almighty:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَخُوۡنُوا اللہَ وَالرَّسُوۡلَ وَتَخُوۡنُوۡۤا اَمٰنٰتِکُمْ وَاَنۡتُمْ تَعْلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾

‘O believers! betray not Allah and Messenger and nor commit defalcation in your trusts knowingly.

وَاعْلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّمَاۤ اَمْوٰلُکُمْ وَ اَوْلٰدُکُمْ فِتْنَۃٌ ۙ وَّاَنَّ اللہَ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اَجْرٌ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿٪۲۸﴾

And know that your wealth and your children are all a trial, and with Allah is the great reward.

(Al-Anfal 8, Verse 27-28)

Sayyiduna Abu Lubabah – may Allah be pleased with him – himself confessed that he had not even moved his feet yet and his heart began to curse him that he had dishonoured the Muslims by revealing something like this. He also felt that he had gone against Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Instead of returning to his home, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – headed straight for Masjidun Nabawi shareef immediately and tied himself to the pillar which we have mentioned at the beginning.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – also made it clear that he will not allow anyone to open the ropes until Allah Almighty does not accept his Taubah and until the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – himself does not open it for me.

It is reported that he spent the next six days and night tied to this pillar and he was released by his wife so that he could go and perform the Salaah in congregation. After he completed the Salaah, he was again tied to the pillar.

He was exhausted due to continuous starvation for six days without eating or drinking. He had even begun to hallucinate as his senses were starting to give up gradually. He could hardly hear or see clearly.

One morning, when the Mother of the Faithful, Sayyidah Umm Salemah – may Allah be pleased with her – noticed that the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – smiling, she asked him the reason for his broad smile at this hour. He revealed that he was smiling at the acceptance of the Taubah of Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – and the following verse was revealed upon him:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَتَّقُوا اللہَ یَجْعَلۡ لَّکُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَّیُکَفِّرْ عَنۡکُمْ سَیِّاٰتِکُمْ وَیَغْفِرْ لَکُمْ ؕ وَاللہُ ذُوالْفَضْلِ الْعَظِیۡمِ ﴿۲۹﴾

‘O believers! If you will fear Allah, He will grant you that by which you may be able to distinguish between right and wrong and will remove off your evils and will forgive you. And Allah is the owner of great Grace.

(Al-Anfal 8, Verse 29)

She was so happy that his taubah was accepted and hence sought the permission of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, if he allowed her she would like to reveal this herself to the beloved companion.

She then stood at the door of her room and loudly announced this to Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him. When the other companions heard this announcement, they came running to open the rope. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Lubaabah – may Allah be pleased with him – made it clear that he will only allow the rope to be opened by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and no one else. It is reported that when the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – left his room for the Fajr Salaah, he personally removed the rope around him.

(Seerat An Nabawih ibn Hishaam, Tafseer Saawi Vol. 1, p. 122)

The reason as to why he did not run in any other direction but came to Masjidun Nabawi shareef in the court of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, because he was well aware as to where to turn for forgiveness if he had done injustice:

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 64)

AlaHazrat – may Allah be pleased with him – presents his sentiments in this regard with the following words of his beautiful poetry:

بخدا خدا کا یہی ہے در، نہیں اور کوئی مفر مقر

جو وہاں سے ہو یہیں آ کے ہو، جو یہاں نہیں تو وہاں نہیں

Ba-Khuda Khuda ka yahi hai dar, nahi aur koi mafar maqar

Jo wahaN se ho yahiN aa ke ho, jo yahaN nahi wo wahaN nahi

By Allah, this is the Court of Allah, there is no other place where one may seek shelter and find peace

For the one who is destined by Allah’s Court for forgiveness will end up here (in the court of RasoolAllah), as opposed to the one who does not present oneself here, does not make it there (in the Court of Allah)

Presenting Oneself at the Blessed Grave of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him:

Question: One may raise the question that while it was possible for people to present themselves in the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – when he was physically alive in the world. Hence, the Sahaba presented themselves at his feet as soon as they had committed a sin but now that he is resting in his blessed grave, how could one present himself in his court on account of his sins? How can one now act upon Allah’s Command to come in the court of RasoolAllah – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – for Maghfirah?

Answer: For anyone to present oneself at his blessed grave is the same as one presenting oneself in his court. One is considered to have fulfilled the pre-requisite of presenting oneself in his court by visiting his blessed grave.

Hence, the recent history of the era of the Tabe’een and those that came after them among the Ulama and Awliya, presented themselves at the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, fulfilling the Command of Allah Almighty, seeking Allah’s Maghfirah.

Endorsement of Maghfirah from His Blessed Grave:

Once a Muslim villager, who deeply loved the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, visited the blessed Tomb of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. Upon arrival, he first rubbed the dust that was around the blessed Tomb on his head, and then he began to cry uttering these words, “Ya RasoolAllah, we read and believe in the Message you brought from Allah. The book Allah Almighty revealed upon you contains this verse as well:

(Al-Nisa 4, Verse 64)

Ya RasoolAllah, I have done injustice to my soul by sinning and therefore, obeying the Divine Command of Allah, I have come to your court seeking Allah’s Maghfirah. Ya RasoolAllah, intercede for me in the Court of Allah.”

The Villager then recited these couplets:

یَا خَیْرَ مَنْ دُفِنَتْ بِالْقَاعِ اَعْظُمُہٗ

فَطَابَ مِنْ طِیْبِھِنَّ الْقَاعُ وَالْاَکَمٗ

O blessed Prophet (may Allah send peace and blessings upon you), when your glorious body was buried in the ground, it purified the earth and its terrains.

نَفْسِیْ الْفِدَاءُ لِقَبْرٍ اَنْتَ سَاکِنُہٗ

فِیْہِ الْعَفَافُ وَفِیْہِ الْجُوْدُ وَالْکَرَم

May my soul be sacrificed upon the blessed grave in which you reside

It has virtues, generosity and mercy.

It is narrated that when this villager had pleaded in the court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – a voice echoed from the blessed grave, “You have been forgiven.”

(Khazain al-‘Irfan p. 105)

Presenting Oneself in His Court Through Waseelah:

Sahaba – may Allah be pleased with them – had direct access to the Court of the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – and then after his departure from the world, one could also present himself at his blessed grave but how would a poor Muslim, who lacks resources and means to visit the blessed Tomb and lives thousands of miles away from Madinah Munawwarah, present himself in his court?

There is a third way for one to present oneself in his court without having access to approach his blessed Tomb physically. It is always so easy and accessible to everyone, no matter where a person lives. He could be a beggar on the street or a king living in a mansion. He could hail from the east or west. All he has to do is, make the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – his Waseelah (medium) in the court of Allah while he seeks forgiveness from Allah. Making Du’a through his Waseelah is also a method of approaching his court.

It’s the same method used by Sayyiduna Adam – peace be upon him – when he sought Allah’s Maghfirah.

اخْرُج الْحَاكِم وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ وَالطَّبَرَانِيّ فِي الصَّغِير وَأَبُو نعيم وَابْن عَسَاكِر عَن عمر بن الْخطاب رَضِي الله عَنهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم لما اقْتَرَف آدم الْخَطِيئَة قَالَ يَا رب بِحَق مُحَمَّد لما غفرت لي قَالَ وَكَيف عرفت مُحَمَّدًا قَالَ لِأَنَّك لما خلقتني بِيَدِك ونفخت فِي من روحك رفعت رَأْسِي فَرَأَيْت على قَوَائِم الْعَرْش مَكْتُوبًا لَا إِلَه إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّد رَسُول الله فَعلمت انك لم تضف إِلَى اسْمك إِلَّا احب الْخلق إِلَيْك قَالَ صدقت يَا آدم وَلَوْلَا مُحَمَّد مَا خلقتك

Imam Hakim, Bayhaqi and Tabrani in Sagheer, and Abu Nu’aim and Ibn Asaakir narrated from Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattaab – may Allah be pleased with them – who reported that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – has stated: “When (Sayyiduna) Adam (peace be upon him) erred, he pleaded, “O Lord, I seek Your forgiveness by the medium (Waseelah) of (Sayyyiduna) Muhammad (may Allah send peace and blessings upon him).” Allah Almighty asked, “And how did you know Muhammad?” He replied, “When You created me with Your Hand and blew soul into me from Your soul, I raise my head and I saw لَا إِلَه إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّد رَسُول الله on the ‘Arsh, so I knew that the only one whose name You would join with Yours is the one who is the Most beloved of the creation to You.” Allah Almighty said, “You have spoken the truth, O Adam, and had Muhammad not been there, I would not have created you.”

(Al-Khasaais al-Kubra Li al-Suyooti)

May Allah Almighty give us Taufeeq to fulfil these three requirements and be forgiven in His Court.

Ameen!

MUSJIDUL HAQ

Musjidul Haq Research Department