Seeking forgiveness: tradition of the Prophets and the Righteous

09/04/2020| IslamWeb

The Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and the virtuous and righteous people were the quickest of all to comply with the call of Allah the Almighty.

Adam and  Hawwaa’ (Eve), may Allah exalt their mention, the father and mother of mankind:

They responded to the call of Allah the Almighty immediately after they disobeyed Him when Shaytan (Satan) caused them to slip and drove them to commit a sin. They hastened to show remorse and to repent. Allah the Almighty Says (what means):{They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers} [Quran 7:23]

Nooh (Noah) :

When Nooh felt sympathy for his disbelieving son, he said (what means): {…"My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You Are the most just of judges!} [Quran 11:45] Then Allah the Almighty Said to him (what means): {…"O Nooh, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant} [Quran 11:46]

Then, Nooh asked for the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty, repenting of what he said. Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {… "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers} [Quran 11:47]
Besides, after Allah the Exalted had punished the disbelieving people of Nooh with drowning and saved the believing people with Nooh he prayed to Allah the Almighty, and Allah Quotes that in the Quran. Allah Says (what means): {My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction} [Quran 71:28]

Ibraheem (Abraham) :

Ibraheem, may Allah exalt his mention, who was the intimate friend of Allah the Exalted, said the following statement and Allah Cites it in the Quran. Allah Says (what means): {And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense} [Quran 26:82]

Moosa (Moses) :

Moosa said the following sentences, and Allah the Almighty Mentioning it in the Quran. Allah Says that verses (what means): {He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful} [Quran 28:16] {[Moosa] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.} [Quran 7:151]

Muhammad :

The Companions of the Prophet narrated that the Prophet used to seek the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty at least one hundred times in each gathering, saying: "O Lord, forgive my sins and grant me (accept my) repentance; for You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful." In another version: "… You are the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Imam Abu Dawood] The Prophet said: "By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah The Exalted and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day." [Imam Al-Bukhari]

Furthermore, Allah the Almighty urges the Prophet to seek His forgiveness. He, the Exalted, Says (what means): {… ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women…} [Quran 47:19]

Yoonus (Jonah) :

Prophet Yoonus called out in the darkness of the whale’s belly (what means): {There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers} [Quran 21:87]

Dawood (David) :

Dawood supplicated Allah the Exalted as Allah the Exalted Says (what means): {And Daawood became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah]} [Quran 38: 24]

Abu Bakr :

Abu Bakr the best of this nation after the Prophet asked the Prophet "O Messenger of Allah, teach me an invocation with which I may invoke Allah in my prayers.” The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Say, ‘Allahumma innee thalamtu nafsi thulman katheeran wa la yaghfir ath-thunoob illa ant; ighfir lee maghfiratan min ‘indik wa irhamnee, innaka Anta Al-Ghafoor Ar-Raheem (O Allah, I have wronged my soul very much and none forgives the sins but You; so please bestow Your forgiveness and mercy upon me. No doubt, You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful).’” [Imam Al-Bukhari]

‘Umar :

‘Umar said to the Prophet "O Messenger of Allah, ask forgiveness for me." There are numerous righteous and devout people other than these, who used to seek the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty frequently; repentance was their banner, their request for forgiveness was their slogan, and they repeatedly turned to Allah the Almighty.