[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Turn to your Lord

Hosam Ibn `Abdul-`Aziz Al Jibrin





So after all praises and thanks:
I am exhorting you and myself to fear Allah, to renew repentance and to ask the sources of forgiveness in abundance.


The prophet Mohammad said:
"O mankind, return (in repentance) to Allah because I repent a hundred times in a day" (Narrated by MUSLIM).


O brothers in faith! This is a great act of worship on which Allah has praised the prophets. The people who perform this worship are the best people of human beings. This worship is the key to all kind of well-being and right guidance. Allah has given glad tidings to those who perform this act of worship. No one consider the signs and not take warning except by those who have a heart full of repentance and this worship. This act of worship protects man from the punishment of Allah. Even It has been reported that Paradise has been prepared only for the God-conscious who are characterized by this worship. This kind of worship fills the heart with faith. Its reality is to turn to Allah and return to Him, and it is a higher stage than repentance (TAUBA). The repentance is the renunciation of a sin, regret for what has passed, and a determination not to return to this side again. It includes all of these and indicates the turn to Allah by worship, indeed it is servitude of repentance.


O you who believe! There are some following verses which indicate that turning to Allah is the key to all types of well-being and right guidance.


As Allah SWT said:

قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ ﴾ [الرعد: 27] ﴿

Say, “Indeed, Allah lets go astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back (to Him).


And said in the regard of glad tidings to those who have return to Allah:

وَالَّذِينَ اجْتَنَبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَى فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ * الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴾ [الزمر: 17، 18] ﴿

And those who avoid false gods, lest they worship them and turn to Allah (in repentance), for them are glad tidings. So give glad tidings to My Slaves Those who listen to the Word, then follow the best thereof, those are they whom Allah has guided, and those are men of understanding.


No one consider the signs and not take warning but who wants to return to his Lord.

أَفَلَمْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَاهَا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِنْ فُرُوجٍ * وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ * تَبْصِرَةً وَذِكْرَى لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُنِيبٍ ﴾ [ق: 6 - 8] ﴿

Then do they not look at the sky above them, how structured it and adorned it and there are no rifts in it? And the earth, have We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains, and We made to grow therein every beautiful kind, giving insight and a reminder for every slave who turns (to Allah).


Another verse is:

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُنَزِّلُ لَكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ رِزْقًا وَمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ إِلَّا مَنْ يُنِيبُ ﴾ [غافر: 13]﴿

He is the One Who shows you Signs and sends down provision for you from the sky. But does not take heed except the one who turns (to Allah).


The turning to Allah is a great worship that protects from the punishment of Allah.

وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ ﴾ [الزمر: 54] ﴿

And turn (in repentance) to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes to you; then you will be not helped.


The great gift of Allah, Paradise, has been prepared for the pious who has repentant heart.

وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ * هَذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ * مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ ﴾ [ق: 31 - 33] ﴿

And the Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far. (It will be said), “This is what you were promised, for everyone who returns (to Allah) and keeps (His covenant), Who feared the Most Gracious unseen and came with a heart returning (in repentance).


O brothers in Faith! Allah Almighty said about Dawood (peace be upon him):

وَظَنَّ دَاوُودُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّاهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًا وَأَنَابَ ﴾ [ص: 24] ﴿

Dawood become certain that had tried him and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing (in prostration) and turned (to Allah) in repentance.


And He said about Suleiman (peace be upon him):

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَانَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ ﴾ [ص: 34] ﴿

And certainly We tried Sulaiman, and We placed a body on his throne; then he turned (to Allah).


And He said about Shoaib (peace be upon him):

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴾ [هود: 88] ﴿

And my success is not except with Allah. Upon Him i trust, and to Him I turn (repentant).


And He said about our prophet Mohammad (Blessings and peace be upon him):

ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ﴾ [الشورى: 10] ﴿

That is Allah, my Lord, in I put my trust, and to I turn.


And Allah praised Ibrahim Khalil for that he was characterized by turning to Allah ,so Allah, the Most High, the Most Great said:

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُنِيبٌ ﴾ [هود: 75] ﴿

Indeed, Ibrahim was certainly forbearing, imploring and oft-returning (to Allah).


And the words of Ibrahim Khalil's prayer was:

رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴾ [الممتحنة: 4] ﴿

Our Lord, upon we put our trust, and to we turn (in repentance), and to You is the final return.


As Allah SWT commands to follow the path of oft-returnig to Allah:

وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ ﴾ [لقمان: 15] ﴿

And follow the path of him who turns to Me (in repentance).


O brothers in Faith! The true Inabat (turning to Allah) has two meanings: Turning to Allah and giving attention towards Him. The turning to Allah illuminates the heart with love of Allah, fear of Him, hope and greatness and its effect is manifested on the deeds and behaviour of a Muslim. Therefore, the place of greatest faith is heart, and the manifestation of obedience and submission widely seemed by the limbs and organs.


Ibn al-Qayyim says: The one who turns to Allah is the one who hastens to his pleasure and pleasure. He always turns to Him. And leads to his love.


He(May Allah have mercy on him) added:
There are two types of Inabat: First is turning to the Lordship of Allah, which means: the turning of all creatures towards Allah. This meaning includes believers and disbelievers , and those who have good deeds and who have bad deeds.

وَإِذَا مَسَّ النَّاسَ ضُرٌّ دَعَوْا رَبَّهُمْ مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ ﴾ [الروم: 33] ﴿

And when hardship touches people, they call upon their Lord turning in repentance to Him.


This type of Inabat includes everyone who is in trouble and he calls upon his Allah.


He (may Allaah have mercy on him) added: The second is: the Inabat of those who are near to Allaah, which is to return to the divinity of Allaah with worship and love. It includes four things: the love to Allah, The fully submission to Him, the giving attention to Him, the turning away from everyone except Allah.


O Servants of Allah! when the servant turns to the Lord then it is called optional, because the disbelievers also turn to their Lord in the situation of distress.


This repentance for some of them is good beginning, but among them are some wicked people who return to their evilness.

وَإِذَا مَسَّ النَّاسَ ضُرٌّ دَعَوْا رَبَّهُمْ مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا أَذَاقَهُمْ مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ * لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ ﴾ [الروم: 33، 34] ﴿

And when hardship touches people, they call upon their Lord turning in repentance to Him. Then when He causes them to taste Mercy from Him, behold! A party of them associate partners with their Lord So as to deny what We have granted them.


May Allah grant me blessing and you too.


After all praises:
Returning to Allah is the most high ranked status, as some of its virtues have passed now.


O, Dear peoples! One of the signs of turning to Allah is that when a sin is committed by muslim, he feels pain and his heart becomes sad.


The sign of this is: he longs for lost worships, and has desire to pay them back, or be worry for performing similar acts of worship or other good deeds.


One of the signs of this is: he long for save him from the sins that are between Allah and the servant, and it isn't possible but by repentance to bring the deserving rights which belong to the creatures.


One of the signs of this is that when his believing brother slips, he feels pain and does not make fun of him, but he praises Allah that he is safe from it, and also prays for his brother.


One of the signs of turning to Allah, the Exalted is: To avoid despising the people who are heedless and to be afraid of them, while continuing to open the door of hope open for himself. And be fearful even if he is in sin, and keep the hope of repentance for them even if they are in sin.


One of the signs of recourse is to take a good look at the diseases of the soul and to investigate deeply all these diseases, such as hypocrisy or seeking fame or selfishness.


O Allah! Treat us with Your grace and forgiveness and do not treat us with your justice.


O servants of Allah!
As all of you know that according to Moon dates tomorrow is the Day of Ashura, and the Fasting the day of ‘Ashura is expiation for the sins of one year,


As the prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said:
“I hope that Allah will expiate for the sins of the previous year.”