In many verses Allah ﷻ informs that a servant can have his sins forgiven because of his repentance and forgiveness. After explaining the threats for perpetrators of sin and immorality, then the threats for people who repent and ask for forgiveness are excluded.
Allah ﷻ says,
Except for those who repent, believe and do good deeds, they are the ones who will enter heaven and will not be persecuted in the slightest.
“Except for those who repent, believe and do good deeds, then they will enter heaven and will not be persecuted (harmed) in the slightest.” (QS. Maryam: 60)
And Allah will not punish them while you are among them. And Allah will not punish them when they are asking for forgiveness.
“And Allah will not punish them when you are among them. And Allah will not punish them when they are asking for forgiveness.” (QS. Al-Anfal: 33)
We as Muslims are generally very familiar with the terms repentance and istigfar. However, what is meant by istigfar and repentance? Do the two terms have the same meaning or are there differences?
If repentance and forgiveness are mentioned separately (mentioned separately)
Imam Ibn Abil Izz Al-Hanafi may Allah forgive him, writer Thahawiyyah Aqidah Lecture most widely famous, explain that. After reciting verses about repentance and forgiveness, he God bless explained, “Sometimes istigfar is mentioned alone, but sometimes it is also mentioned together with the word repentance.
If it is just mentioned then it includes repentance, just as if it just says repentance then it includes asking for forgiveness.
If the word istigfar is mentioned separately, then repentance is included in the meaning of istigfar. Just like if the word repentance is mentioned alone, then it contains the meaning of istigfar.” (Thahawiyah Aqidah Lecture, 2: 452; paint minutes)
The word repentance includes the meaning of istigfar, and the word istigfar includes the meaning of repentance, and each includes the meaning of the other when used absolutely.
The meaning of repentance and istigfar when mentioned together
The words repentance and istigfar are mentioned together as in the verse,
And ask forgiveness from your Lord and then repent to Him
“And you should ask forgiveness from your Lord and repent to Him.” (QS. Hud: 3)
Imam Ibn Abil Izz God bless explain,
When one of these two words is combined with another word, seek forgiveness: ask for protection from past crimes, and repentance: return and ask for protection from past crimes. He was afraid of his bad deeds in the future.
“If each word is put together in one discussion, then each has its own meaning. Istigfar means asking for protection from bad things in the past. Meanwhile, repentance means going back and asking for protection from bad things in the future for the bad deeds he committed.”
Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Hamd explained another meaning,
Asking for forgiveness means asking for forgiveness verbally, and repenting means turning away from sin with the heart and body parts.
“Istigfar can be interpreted as asking for forgiveness verbally, while repentance is abandoning immoral sins with the heart and limbs.” (Musthalahat in the Book of Aqaid, matter. 187)
This is as a rule,
When they meet, they separate, and when they separate, they unite.
“If the two come together (mentioned together), then the meaning is different. If they are separated, then the meaning is the same.”
Examples include terms such as: Islam and iman; needy and needy; itume And udwan; Birr and piety; or I am sorry And ‘ishyan.
Also read: Nasuha’s Way of Repentance
The origin of the meaning of repentance and istigfar
According to Ibn Faris and Mu’jam Maqayis Lughah (1: 357), each word consists of letters T – F – B, like repentance, the meaning is always about reconciliation or return (return). Examples of words are:
- Return (go home)
- Delegation (return)
- Regret (regret)
It all comes back to the meaning of referring or returning.
As for Ibnul Qayyim God bless in the Madarij (1: 198) explains,
The essence of repentance is regretting past actions, immediately giving up, and resolving not to repeat them in the future.
“The essence of repentance is regret for past sins, immediate cessation of these sins, and a strong determination not to repeat them in the future.”
This means that repentance is broader than just regretting past sins, but also an effort to stop them now, and a determination not to repeat them in the future.
While the meaning of istighfar is,
Asking for forgiveness means protecting the ugliness of sin while covering it
“Efforts to seek forgiveness, namely protection from the ugliness of sin and hope that the sin will be covered.” (Musthalahat in the Book of Aqaid, matter. 187)
Difference between repentance and istigfar
There are several differences between repentance and istigfar that we extract from the book Practices in the Book of Aqaid the work of Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Hamd as follows:
1) The origin of the word is different, namely: the word repentance comes from the word Blessed (return) and istigfar come from the words forgive (forgiveness).
2) Repentance means trying to cover up regrets in the past, stopping them now, and trying not to repeat them in the future. Meanwhile, istighfar means asking for forgiveness and covering up sins.
3) Istigfar can be done even if the sin continues. Meanwhile, repentance requires the person to stop their actions.
4) Repentance that meets the requirements will definitely be accepted, and with it will erase sins and add goodness if the repentance is good and sincere (repentance Nasuha). Meanwhile, istigfar, like other prayers, can be accepted or rejected.
5) Istigfar can be requested for yourself or for others. As Allah ﷻ says,
And ask forgiveness for your sins and for men and women who believe
“And ask forgiveness for your sins and for those who believe, men and women.” (QS. Muhammad: 19)
A person gets a reward by asking for istigfar for another person. Meanwhile, repentance can only be done by oneself and it is even forbidden to do it on behalf of someone else.
6) Angels can intercede for believers; whereas repenting in the name of a believer is impossible.
7) Penance lasts until before the breath reaches the throat (ghargarah) when dying or before the sun rises from the west. Meanwhile, istigfar can apply whether you are alive, when you are dying or after you die.
7) Istigfar can be done at any time, and is recommended at certain times, such as when sitting between two prostrations, after greeting the prayer, after performing expression during the Hajj, and at dawn. Repentance is prescribed as soon as possible.
8) Istigfar is by verbal expression, while repentance is leaving with the heart and limbs.
9) Repentance is obligatory for both Muslims and unbelievers, while istigfar is only for Muslims.
10) Repentance must be caused by returning from sins and immorality and arrogance, as well as abandoning obligations and the Sunnah. As for istigfar, it could be for this reason, or just as a form of remembering and is worth the reward.
Hopefully by reading this information we can be more enthusiastic about repenting and asking Allah ﷻ for forgiveness. Because of the many sins and imperfections of our practices, it is fitting for us to be servants who steadfastly repent and ask for forgiveness.
Also read: Sayyidul Istigfar prayer
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Writer: Glenshah Fauzi
Article Muslim.or.id
Reference:
Practices in the Book of Aqaid: https://shamela.ws/book/12070/191
Madarijus Salikin: https://www.islamweb.net
Lecture on the Aqidah of Ibni Abil Izz Al-Hanafi Thahawiyah, cet. Muasasah Ar-Risala.
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