Central Khutbah: “Ten Ways to Purify Oneself from Sins”

One day, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, conveyed a hadith qudsi to his companions in which it is said: “A man committed a sin and said: ‘O Lord, forgive me my sin!’ The Almighty Allah said: ‘My servant has committed a sin and knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins.’

Then he committed a sin again and said: ‘O my Lord, forgive me my sin!’ The Almighty Allah said: ‘My servant has committed a sin and knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins.’

Then he committed a sin again and said: ‘O my Lord, forgive me my sin!’ Allah, exalted be He, said: ‘My servant has committed a sin and knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins. Do as you wish, I have forgiven you. (Meaning, as long as you commit sins and then sincerely repent, I will forgive you.)” (Muttafaqun ‘alayhi)
This hadith does not imply an encouragement to sin, as some might think, for a man might die with a sin without repenting. Rather, this hadith is an encouragement and an incentive to repent, even if a man commits a sin a thousand times. Indeed, Allah, exalted be He, did not name Himself Al-Ghaffar – The One Who forgives sins – without reason, for He truly forgives sins.

However, the principle is that the servant of Allah should be respectful and humble before Allah’s greatness, while knowing that none of us are sinless. If the devil overpowers you and leads you to sin, remember that you have a Lord who waits for you to return to Him so that He may forgive you after sincere repentance.

“If a believer commits a sin, the punishment for that sin can be annulled for ten reasons:

First, that he repents and Allah accepts his repentance, for he who repents from a sin is like one who has never committed it.

Second, that he seeks forgiveness (istighfar) and Allah forgives the sin committed.

Third, that he performs a good deed which will erase the bad, for good deeds erase bad deeds.

Fourth, that his Muslim brothers pray and ask forgiveness for him, whether he is alive or dead.

Fifth, that Muslims gift him the reward of their good deeds, which will benefit him with Allah.

Sixth, that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, intercedes (makes shafa’ah) for him.

Seventh, that Allah tests him with calamities in this world which will expiate and erase his sins.

Eighth, that he is tested with the punishment of the grave, which will be an expiation and purification of his sins.

Ninth, that he experiences the horror and terrors of the Day of Judgment, which will expiate his sins.

Tenth, that the Merciful Allah grants him His mercy.

Whoever escapes all these ten reasons for the annulment of punishment for a committed sin can only blame himself.” (see: Majmu’ al-Fatawa, X/45)

Dr. Muhammad Rajab said: “My son, the issue is not so much in your first or last sin, nor in its magnitude or smallness. The deadly danger lies in the first sin which did not cause your soul to suffer, nor did it make your heart sad and empty. The real issue arises when you love the sin and it becomes a habit, and when, after committing a sin, you do not feel the depression and anxiety that will lead you to repentance. My son, if we thoroughly examined our days, we would find many sins that have become life habits for which our hearts no longer feel as sins. My son, the greatest danger lies in the sin that intoxicates and enchants you.”

We ask Allah to forgive us and to purify us from our sins.

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on July 5, 2024, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique Nordstad” in Diekirch)