Lesson No 73

17. What is the way to escape Al-lah’s punishment in the event of one’s having committed a sin?

Ans. Repentance invokes Al-lah’s forgiveness. To be repentant means to feel sorry for one’s sinful deeds, to crave Al-lah’s forgiveness and to affirm one’s determination not to repeat the sins again. It must be remembered that mere lip service is no real repentance.

17. Can repentance absolve one of all types of sins?

Ans. Sins that have no bearing on other fellow human beings or creatures but are transgressions against Al-lah can be washed off by repentance. Even sins of polytheism and unbelief are condoned by Al-lah. But sins that have consequences or bearings on others, such as squandering the property of an orphan without right, scandalous talks against others or perpetrating cruelties on somebody fall within the definition of Huququl-’Ibad (rights of fellow human beings) Mere oral expression of repentance will not wash off such sins. To deserve reprieve from punishment for such sins it is necessary that we fulfill our obligations to such persons or secure their forgiveness. Thus only can we expect Al-lah’s forgiveness on expressing our repentance.

17. What is the latest hour by which repentance sought by a person stands the chance of being accepted by Al-lah?

Ans. Repentance by anyone would be acceptable to Al-lah at any time except by a person on the verge of death when the angels of punishment appear before him and life is extinguishing in him.

17. Can ever a sinner who dies without repentance go to Heaven?

Ans. Yes, all persons who have committed sins other than polytheism and unbelief will go to Heaven on completion of their punishment. It is also not unlikely that Al-lah will forgive all sins except those of polytheism and unbelief before punishment with or without intercession.

17. Can the surviving relatives and friends of a deceased person do some good to him (the deceased)?

Ans. Yes, worships and charity for the sake of Al-lah by the living can also benefit the deceased. If those alive do righteous deeds like reciting the Qur-an or chanting the Darud, giving alms and feeding the hungry, they shall get reward from Al-lah. But I t is also open to them to send their blessing to the departed souls and pray to Al-lah to apportion their own reward to them (the departed ones). Al-lah will apportion such reward to them in Heaven.

There should be no particularization of any item or hour or method for sending blessings from our side. On the contray, whatever is within our means at any time, we should give it to the deserving, in the name of Al-lah and send the expected reward to the departed ones. It is extremely bad to fix something as a permanent ritual or organize grand feasts or ceremonies on borrowed money for purposes of show or love of fame.

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