Juz 12- Juz Gems

Assalaamu Alaykum! Our mashayikh will be reciting Surat Hud and a portion of Surat Yusuf tonight and as we have entered the beautiful portion of Ramadan focused on maghfira, or forgiveness, a juz gem that can provide us with a renewed interest in seeking Allah’s forgiveness is found in Surat Hud, aya 52:

وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا مُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾

And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals," (Surat Hud, aya 52).

Sometimes, we may think that making istighfaar has no worldly benefit to us. Rather, the focus is to rectify our affairs with Al-Ghaffaar, and establish a close relationship to our Creator. While this is indeed the case, we are rewarded with worldly benefit as well. There are several verses in the Qur’an which highlight the worldly benefits of making istighfar as well as ahadith. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (sas) said, “If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.” [Abu Dawud].

SubhanAllah, Prophet Hud (as) is telling his people to seek forgiveness from their Lord, and He will ensure that their farms receive abundant rain, guaranteeing a beautiful and fruitful harvest as well as increasing them in strength, which they were already known for. A few verses before Prophet Hud (as) addresses his people, our beloved Messenger (sas)- thousands of years later- commands his ummah to do the same:

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ ﴿٣﴾

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, (Surat Hud, aya 3).

Istighfar is directly linked to increased sustenance. It opens up the doors of your rizq (provision) and is timeless in its importance. One of the most beautiful things about Islam is its relevance throughout time and space and the ease in which Allah has made it possible to worship Him. Not everyone is capable of waking up in the middle of the night to pray or spend hours reading and studying Islamic sciences- and yet, we can all make istighfar. Our beloved Messenger (sas) used to make istighfar over 100 times a day, so remember in these blessed days and nights to increase in your istighfar. Find pockets of time throughout your day to establish a litany of istighfar- waiting on the check out line, folding laundry, commuting to work etc. We can maximize on these times with very little effort on our part, but a very conscious intention to grow closer to our Lord.