Repentance and reliance Increase the believer's blessings

17/10/2023| IslamWeb

In the context of Prophet Nooh (Noah) Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers} [Quran 71: 10-12]

Commenting on this, Iman Ibn Katheer said, "If you repent to Allah, supplicate to Him for forgiveness and obey His commandments; He will increase your provisions, send down blessings from the Heavens and the earth, bring forth plantations, increase the milk production from your animals, grant you children and wealth and provide you with gardens through which rivers flow and which contain different types of fruits."

Allah the Almighty also Says (what means): {And [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day”} [Quran, 11: 3]

Repentance and seeking forgiveness

Allah the Almighty has promised the one who repents and seeks His forgiveness, enjoyment, increased provisions and the bestowal of bounties. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah will relieve one who excessively seeks His forgiveness from all grief, find a way out for him from all hardships and provide him from means which he could never have expected.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam Abu Dawood]

The supplication for forgiveness that increases provision and blessings is the one which affects the heart, giving rise to sincere supplications, while the person seeking forgiveness does not persist in his disobedience. However, the one who seeks forgiveness verbally while committing different types of sins at the same time is not truthful in his supplications and these supplications will be fruitless.

If Allah the Almighty has provided for you abundantly, then hasten to true repentance and follow your words with actions. Beware of uttering supplications with your tongue alone because these are the actions of a liar.

Reliance on Allah the Almighty

Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent} [Quran 65: 3] A person whose heart is connected to Allah the Almighty alone and depends upon Him to bring about benefit or prevent harm, and who puts his trust fully in Allah, Allah will suffice him, relieve him from all grief and provide him from sources which others are deprived of.

The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If you rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He will provide for you as He provides for the birds; they go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return full.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam At-Tirmithi] Commenting on this Hadeeth (narration), Ibn Rajab said, "This Hadeeth is fundamental in the issue of reliance upon Allah, and it is one of the greatest reasons for gaining provisions, as some of the Salaf have said 'If you rely on Allah, provisions will come to you without any effort.’"

Reliance on Allah the Almighty is to express one's inherent incapacity and complete dependence on Allah the Almighty alone, along with the certainty that He, the Almighty alone has control over the universe and that the affairs of all of creation are under His will. It is He alone Who provides, creates, grants, and deprives from bounties, benefits, afflicts, gives wealth, causes poverty, health, sickness and life and death. Therefore, the fact remains that for those who put their trust in Allah, Almighty Allah will always be a reliable source.

Reliance on Allah the Almighty does not entail abandoning worldly means, because He has commanded us to utilize all the possible means along with relying on Him. Physically striving to utilize all worldly means is in fact an act of obedience to Allah the Almighty, and reliance on Him with one's heart reflects belief in Him. Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah , and remember Allah often that you may succeed} [Quran 62: 10]

A Muslim is required to utilize all the available means without relying on them for the results; instead, he should firmly believe that the matter of his sustenance is completely with Allah, and that He alone is The Provider. Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength}   [Quran 51:58]