19-A. LAMBI UMAR
786.
The book Tarbiutul Ishaq was to be published and Hazrat saheb gave the example about its proof- readings he said this book of precepts of Shah Saheb was proof- read five times but even now some mistakes were overlooked … Once the book has been printed nothing can be done. In the same way we overlook many of our own wrong deeds. So continue to check your deeds. So also in our book of deeds don’t let it reach the stage where you have overlooked your deeds which you should have asked forgiveness for while you are living one has the opportunity to do Tauba – ask Allah’s forgiveness make amends and corrections - as long as we are alive and in this world one must go over our deeds to check our shortcomings. Some venerated persons/Buzurgs- only prayed for a long life/lambi umar so that there would be time to atone for ones sins and shortcomings
Tauba does not mean asking to be forgiven but continuing to do the same deeds!
Tauba /asking for forgiveness of sins must be done and this includes the condition which requires that one must try our best and with sincere intention decide to stop doing wrong. It must be a firm commitment in your heart; the conditions of Tauba include feeling shame and regret too, this is the way in which one can attempt to reform, correct and protect oneself from doing wrong.
Tauba must be done until the very end of life as we overlook many of our faults and shortcomings and even forget about it - so one must never give up hope from asking for forgiveness as one may have overlooked our wrongs and not asked for their forgiveness. Whatever your spiritual status some shortcoming may have been overlooked…Once the final printing of your book of deeds is done nothing can be done…you cannot correct anything after you die! Nothing can be erased…
Your intention should be sincere for asking Allah to forgive you and the intention of never doing it again, decide to earn or eat or do only that which is permissible and to avoid every prohibited thing or action.
As one progresses spiritually one carries extra responsibility and will be accountable to a greater degree than one who has not…….it is like if you have given a responsibility for a work to someone, you will check on him and if has not done the work you will question him and he is accountable for that as against a person who has not been given any work.
Such a person will receive merit for whatever good deed he has done and his small lapses will be erased and forgiven.
In the Quran we find that Allah says time and again that as long as you have Belief in God and the Hereafter and do good deeds you will be rewarded and your small lapses and sins will be forgiven. This is for the ordinary average persons but for those who have been given the opportunity to have studied the knowledge of the requirements and training to achieve a higher status- one who has progressed spiritually - will be accountable to a greater degree, others may have lapsed but such a person will be questioned, they should not have done wrong! One who has been given the status of a Teacher or a role model- an example…will be accountable to a greater degree!
The time spent in worship and practising permitted deeds and avoiding all prohibited deeds and things in one’s youth has great merit. When you are young bad habits can be changed and corrected in old age they have become so ingrained it is not easy to change
The same things in old age do not carry the same reward. When one is young one has the power - the capability, opportunity and strength to indulge in wrong actions and sins so abstaining from these in youth when you are capable - is highly rewarded. So also you can worship by praying extra namaz and staying awake in the nights to please Allah and beg for forgiveness which is not possible in old age.
When old we cannot commit sins as our strength, power, opportunities are absent!
In old age when people come ask for what to pray and how to worship, one cannot advise them to spend nights in worship or the day in fasting for Allah’s pleasure and atonement of sins as they do not have much strength and such ability at their age. They can only do Tauba…as the door of Tauba has been said to be very wide and it is always open/ajar - so spend time in asking for forgiveness of sins and having full trust in Allah’s compassion and mercy is all you can do right up to old age and while you are still alive!.
It is said that on the Day of judgement when everyone will feel great heat as the sun will be so close and all will be drenched in perspiration…the young people who have spent time in worshiping and remembering Allah will be in front, facing the Arsh without feeling the heat or any anxiety!
There are four kinds of people who will be right before the Arsh, on the day of Judgement - one the young people who have done worship in the remembrance of Allah, secondly those who have loved others solely for the sake of Allah. Loving your blood relatives is an innate thing but to love someone who has love for Allah and you love the people solely for Allah’s sake because of your mutual love of learning about and for Allah will be rewarded thus, third those who cry solely and sincerely in remembrance of Allah…not cry for some calamity in your life for loss of wealth or the death of a close and loved one…but only in awe and remembrance of Allah as when you remember Allah with tears you recall all the wrong, the sinful and punishable deeds you have done and pray for forgiveness and do tauba sincerely.
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