Ramadan: Month for Repentance

In the present age of computers and technological gadgetry, its generally considered a good practice to routinely clear unused and temporary files from one's computer. This keeps the machine running smoothly and decreases the chances of malfunction and crashing. Similarly, we delete unimportant messages fro our e-mail inboxes to keep them uncluttered and open to receiving new incoming messages. 
Though we spend time routinely cleaning up our machines, we often do so while neglecting our hearts, which are far more worthy of meticulous attention since they become spiritually starved and devastated by the overwhelming burden of sin. 

The Companion Abu Hurayra (r.a) relates that the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "When a believer commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart becomes purified. If he advances in sin, the black dots increase until they overcome his heart. These black dots constitute the encrusted pollution that Allah Almighty refers to in the verse, "No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning." - Qur'an, 83:14

If one allows sins to accumulate on his or her heart in the form of this inner filth and decay, the heart gradually becomes blind and unperceptive to spiritual sweetness. One can easily observe this inner lack of spiritual cognition when, for example, a person yawns at the mention of Hell fire and its severity, whereas another faints upon hearing of the same. We are thus in need of a reliable method and rigid routine for cleansing our hearts of the contamination they accumulate from frequent sinning. 

Cleansing the heart is achieved through the remembrance of Allah [dhikr], repentance [tawba], seeking forgiveness [istighfar], and humbly turing to Allah in penitence [inaba]. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w) did this seventy to a hundred times a day, despite being inerrant and guarded from sin. He (s.a.w) also said, "Every descendant of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent." at-Tirmidhi. When a person makes sincere repentance for her sins, no matter how severe they may be, Allah purifies her heart and treats her as if she never committed them. 

Why is it such a blessing that we are able to turn to the Almighty and seek His forgiveness? Turing to Allah in repentance and seeking His forgiveness provide us the stress release we need from the guilt and dread of living with sins and their negative consequences. Repentance gives us a way out, another chance, a sense of lightheartedness, emancipation from despair and inspiration needed to turn a new page in life and start afresh. It is through forgiveness that we gain confidence to persevere and hope in Allah's mercy. Allah advises us not to run away from Him in fear but to run toward Him like baby, crawling on all four into its mothers' lap. So lovingly does Allah addresses His sinful servants, "Say, O My Servants - those of you who have committed sins in great excess against their own souls - never despair of the mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He Who is the All-Forgiving, the Merciful. So turn in repentance to your Rabb. And submit yourselves to Him before the punishment of Allah comes upon you; then you will not be helped." - al-Qu'ran, 39:53-54

The objective of Ramadan is to seek Allah’s forgiveness and become purified.

The mercy of Allah is so greatly infinite and His position so grand, that rather than immediately punishing us,

He has granted us a grace period in which to seek forgiveness for our sins. And as if it were not enough, Allah then gave us the means by which to wipe away our sins and their negative effects in Ramadan. 

Reflecting on our deeds in light of Allah's Greatness, one can only wonder how anything we do could ever be worthy of presentation before such an Exalted Being. What could we present to the Owner of all? What could we place before the One whose status is so Magnificent and unparalleled that it is neither diminished nor strengthened by the quality of what we present? Despite our imperfections, it is only by the infinite mercy of Allah that we are rewarded for the minute ibadaah we place before Him. 

Casting aside the issue of whether our deeds are worthy of presentation before our Creator, the reality is that each of us carries a load of sin and disobedience upon our shoulders. By design we are imperfect creatures prone to making mistakes. 

Perhaps the simplest form of ibadaah we can do in Ramadan is to reflect on our daily routine and seek forgiveness for the errors that are apparent. This was the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w) and has been the way of the righteous who follow his footsteps. However, just as with any art, time spent in the company of those who are deep in their repentance provides an apprenticeship in how to sincerely turn which a lowered head towards our Sustainer. A pious scholar from the past was once asked what we should do to rectify our connection with our Rabb. He said, "Seek the company of the righteous." He was then asked, "What if the righteous are no longer present among us?" He replied, "Read their books."

It is a mercy from Allah that Ramadan is less than 10 days away, lending the seekers and opportunity to realize and view our actions and deeds with a presence of mind conscious of Allah. Make this Ramadan a guide to achieve nearness to Allah and help us lower ourselves before our Sustainer. Make this Ramadan a process of deep self-reflection, seeking forgiveness and insight. I pray that Allah opens our eyes to the reality of His grandeur, the reality of our servitude, and the power of returning to Him aameen.