We continued with the last 15 Ayat of Surat Al Furqan describing Ebad AlRahman / The Servants of The most Merciful. We studied Ayat 70 & 71 dealing with repentance / Tawba.
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا (70) وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًا (71)
(70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
(71) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed repents to Allah with [accepted] repentance.
– Allah revealed ways to avoid falling into fornication. Among them:
1- Getting married to the right partner as soon as possible and not delay it.
2- Avoid places where males & females unnecessarily intermingle such as parties or Prom Night.
3- Have only good behaving friends who will help one do good and stop one from committing sins.
4- Allah ordered males & females should dress moderately all-time except between married couple.
5- Allah ordered females after reaching adolescence to cover their body except the face and hand with clothing that is not tight nor is see thru in a way that doesn’t attract attention by color nor design.
6- Allah ordered females after reaching adolescence not to attract attention by smell, sounds of heels nor speak in a soft inviting tone to protect them from predators.
7- Allah ordered people to lower their gaze and not stare at opposite sex.
8- Allah forbade that a male and a female be alone (other than Maharem who are forbidden at all time from marriage).
9- Allah ordered that siblings should be separated in sleeping arrangements after age six at least by having separate covers.
10- Practice self-control by fasting the month of Ramadan and extra days as much as needed. Also, by practicing self-control by delaying the timing or reducing the amount to have of halal things we like such as ice-cream or playing video games.
– Extra days the Profit PBUH advised to fast include, 6 days of the month of Shawal that follows Ramadan, the first 9 days of the Month of Hajj; Dhu-Alhejja, the 9th & 10th or 10th & 11th or the first 10 days of the month of Muharam, fasting the 13th, 14th & 15th days of each Hejeri month, fasting Monday and or Thursday each week. The maximum extra fasting days are each other day.
– Muslim youth have a great one in a life time opportunity to be among one of seven groups Allah protects on Judgment Day by reaching manhood/ womanhood in obedience to Allah. Don’t waste it.
Why repent?
Because humans are sinners by nature so that Allah, The Most Forgiving “ AlGhafoor”, the Pardoner “Al A’foo” & The Accepter of repentance “ AlTwab” fulfills His attributes by forgiving, pardoning and accepting repentance.
How?
1- The sinner needs knowledge about right & wrong according to Allah’s revelation.
2- The sinner needs awakening / awareness/ realization of his sin.
3- The Sinner starts fulfilling the conditions for his repentance to be accepted.
Conditions for acceptable Twaba:
1- Regret the past sin.
2- Stop immediately the sin in the present without delay.
3- Strongly intent not to repeat the sin in the future.
4- Replace the resources spent on sinning with good deeds.
5- If the sin involved damage to others, fix or repair the damage without creating further damage.
Leads to lifelong repenting:
1- Sincerity to Allah.
2- Love of Allah.
3- Appreciate Allah’s gifts.
4- Jihad /struggle with oneself.
5- Remember death & hereafter often.
6- Continued learning of Islam.
7- Keeping busy with useful things.
8- Avoidance of excitement that lead to the sin.
9- Keeping around good company & friends.
10- Avoid bad people who may pull one to fall back into sinning.
11- Think about bad results of bad deeds and sins.
12- Think about good rewards of good deed.
13- Ignore approval of bad wicked society.
14- Have sham from Allah and good people.
15- Practice self-control by fasting and self-discipline like reducing intake of desired halal consumption.
16- Getting close to Allah by doing Fard, Sunnah & extra worship.
17- Constant Zeker and mentioning of Allah to weaken Satan.
18- Du3aa and supplication to Allah to help not go back to the sin.
New Home Work: Answer 2 pages Quiz 7 and bring back to school.
Fast Monday or Thursday.
Permanent Home work:
1- Read at least one page of Quran daily and the meanings. Give it priority over all else 1st thing in the morning.
2- Use the weekly check chart for the daily things you should be doing including, but not limited to, the 5 daily prayers, daily Quran, being best to parents, chores, …etc…
3- Think of the meaning of Surat Alfatiha during your prayers especially asking Allah for guidance to the straight with its two components. If you do so at least 17 times a day, He will guide you definitely.
4– Practice lowering your voice when speaking to or in the presence of your parents, elders and those of authority.
5- Receive the news and media with critical thinking and don’t form opinions without independent verification.
6 – Recognize Allah’s Gifts and appreciate by preserving them and using them properly in accordance to His guidance.
7 – Fix broken relationships with or between others.
8- Practice not to make fun of others, no calling others bad nick names, avoid suspicion, no spying on others and no backbiting.
9- Think of a sin you know you make and practice repentance “Towba”.
10- Treat others equally.
11- Stay away from bad friends and befriend good Muslims.
12- Exercise moderation in all your behavior.
13- Don’t be provoked
14- Pray at least 2 Rakaat extra in the middle of the night weekly.
15- Ask Allah to protect you from Hell.