Sincere repentance towards Allah is a great
obligation for every Muslim. When a person makes a mistake, falls into sin, or
deviates from the straight path, he must return to Allah with a humble and
sincere heart. Repentance is not merely words on the lips; it is a deep
commitment in the heart, a true regret and a firm decision not to return to the
same error again.
In the Holy Qur’an (Az-Zumar, 39: 54), Allah
says that His mercy is vast and He forgives all sins if people return to Him
with sincerity. This shows that despite the number of mistakes a servant may
commit, the door of forgiveness remains open if he/ she asks for His
forgiveness sincerely.
In a Hadith reported by Anas bin Malik (ra), the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than a traveller who finds his mount after losing it in the desert.” (Bukhari, Muslim). This comparison shows the depth of Allah’s joy when a servant returns to Him.
Sincere repentance involves three main
conditions. First, a deep regret for what has been committed. Second, a firm
intention not to return to the same sin. Third, if that sin involved another
person, he must restore or correct the wrong he has done. For example, if a
Muslim has taken money from another person without right, he must return that
money and then ask forgiveness. Repentance is not complete if there is no
correction of what was wrong. In the Holy Qur’an (At-Tahrim 66: 9), Allah has
commanded the believers to return to Him with sincere repentance so that He may
forgive them and grant them entry into Paradise.
You must reflect that in this present age,
Allah has granted humanity the blessing of receiving one of His Messengers
among you. This period is known as a period of Divine Manifestation. And Allah
has given the opportunity to all seekers of truth to recognise His Message
which He sends through His Chosen One and to put it into practice with
sincerity in your daily lives. Therefore, to remain in perfect harmony with His
Message and His Messenger, Allah has established the fundamental concept called
Bai’ah, the pledge of allegiance. Bai’ah is a commitment
that every sincere Muslim gives to Allah and His Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)
first, and also to the Prophet of their age, and this commitment is accompanied
by repentance for what they have done before, a promise that they will not
allow themselves to fall again into degradation, that they will preserve their
faith and their Islam, and that they will obey Allah and the Prophet and
Messenger of their age and spread the truth of Islam within themselves first, in
their homes, in their environment and in the whole world if they have the
capacity and means to do so.
In the Holy Qur’an (Fath, 48: 11), Allah says
that those who give Bai’ah to the Prophet [the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and
the Prophet of their age] are in truth giving Bai’ah to Allah, and the
hand of Allah is over them. This shows that the pledge of allegiance is not
merely a formality, but a sacred act which connects a believer directly with
Allah. Bai’ah implies fidelity, loyalty and constancy in faith. A Muslim
who has given Bai’ah – and especially in this age of Divine
Manifestation when Allah has sent one of His Prophets among you – must remain
firm in his/ her Islam, not allowing temptation to divert him/ her from the
straight path.
The importance of Bai’ah lies in the
fact that it protects the Muslim community against division and weakness. When
Muslims remain faithful to the pledge they have made to Allah and His Prophet,
the Islamic Community remains united and strong. Fidelity in Bai’ah is
also a reminder that every Muslim must remain firm upon the truth, upon the
Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and upon the authentic teaching of Islam.
You must keep in mind that whoever breaks his Bai’ah
commits a great sin and exposes himself/ herself to the wrath of Allah.
Therefore, fidelity in Bai’ah is an obligation which cannot be
neglected. And so, if someone happens to break their Bai’ah, they must
repent to Allah, and make a new Bai’ah, and this time, whatever happens,
they must not break their Bai’ah. Allah is a Forgiving Creator, but a
servant must not abuse His Goodness. Allah gives His servants time to reform,
and the best way to avoid all evils is that a person always remains in
remembrance and in a state of repentance and gratitude towards Allah, Who has
removed him from the wrong path and kept him upon the straight path. In the
Holy Qur’an (Al-Maida 5: 8), Allah says: “Remember
your covenant which you made with Allah.” This verse is a constant
reminder that Bai’ah cannot be forgotten.
Therefore, Repentance and Bai’ah are two
pillars which strengthen the faith of a Muslim, and especially a member of the
Divine Manifestation of this present age. Repentance purifies the heart,
removes the stain of sin and brings a servant closer to Allah. Bai’ah
engages him/ her in fidelity and constancy upon the straight path. When you
combine sincere repentance with fidelity in Bai’ah, then you will have a
solid faith, an authentic Islam and you will remain in Sahih al Islam.
In the Holy Qur’an (Al-Imran 3: 103), Allah has
commanded the believers to fear Him as He should be feared and not to leave
this world except as Muslims. This verse is a reminder that fidelity in faith
is obligatory until the last moment.
In a Hadith reported by Muslim, the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever remains firm upon his faith until death will
enter Paradise.” This shows that fidelity is not merely a temporary act but
a constant effort until the last breath.
In daily life, every Muslim may fall into
error. But they must always keep an open heart towards Allah, ask forgiveness
and return to Him. Sincere repentance is not merely an occasional act, but must
be a constant habit. Every time a Muslim feels that they have deviated, they must
return to Allah with regret and ask forgiveness.
In a Hadith, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said that
every son of Adam commits mistakes, but the best among them are those who
repent. This shows that repentance is a sign of greatness and humility, not of
weakness.
In the Holy Qur’an (Al-Baqara 2: 223), Allah
says: “Allah loves those who repent and those
who purify themselves.” This verse shows that repentance is a source
of spiritual purification.
Bai’ah must
also be renewed in the heart. Even if a Muslim has already given the pledge,
they must always remind themselves of their commitment. Fidelity is not only in
words, but in daily actions. For example: remaining faithful in the practice of
prayer, in respect of obligations, in avoiding prohibitions. Fidelity in Bai’ah
also implies that every Muslim, each of my disciples, remains loyal to Islam,
to the truth and to Allah and His Khalifatullah.
In the Holy Qur’an (At-Tauba, 9:111), Allah
says that He has purchased the lives and wealth of the believers in exchange
for Paradise, and they give their pledge to Him. This verse shows that Bai’ah
is a sacred transaction between a servant of Allah and his Creator.
Therefore, sincere repentance and fidelity in Bai’ah
are two obligations which every Muslim must take seriously. Repentance purifies
a person and brings them closer to Allah, and Bai’ah engages them in the
sacred cause of Islam and strengthens fidelity. Together, they form a solid
path towards salvation and Paradise.
A Muslim who sincerely repents and remains
faithful in his/ her Bai’ah has the assurance that Allah forgives them
and grants them success in life and in the Hereafter. Fidelity in faith is not
merely a choice, but an obligation which defines the identity of Muslims, and
especially the Muslims of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. Sincere repentance is not
merely a spiritual act, but a transformation which changes life and brings a
servant of Allah closer to Allah the Almighty.
In His Qur’an (Al-Hadid, 57:13), Allah
describes the light of the believers on the Day of Judgement, where that light
is the result of fidelity and repentance. Therefore, repentance and Bai’ah
are not merely obligations, but they are keys to eternal light.
Insha-Allah, I
pray that all my disciples remain sincere towards Allah and His Khalifatullah,
in the Bai’ah you have taken, and that you do your utmost not to let
Satan divert you from the reward which Allah has promised you if they remain
firm upon His path. Satan is jealous and wants to make you lose the reward and
the love of Allah. So do not let his tricks make you lose this treasure. Your
faith in Allah is a great treasure. So do not lose this treasure and purify
yourselves through repentance.
May Allah accept your repentance and make you
His true servants and soldiers of Islam who are sincere and who spread the
light of Islam within yourselves and throughout the world. Insha-Allah,
Ameen.