Gem3: Hoping for forgiveness in Laylatul Qadr
Aishah asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “if I were to come upon Laylatul Qadr what should I say in it?” He said “Say: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah indeed You are the Pardoner, You love to Pardon, so Pardon me).”
Al’afuw is one of the names of Allah, subhana wa ta’ala, by which He overlooks the sins of his servants and by which He effaces its traces from them. He loves to forgive and He loves to forgive his servants. He loves that his servants should forgive one another, and when they do so He forgives them. His forgiveness is more beloved to Him than his punishment.
When the knowers (al-arifeen) know His majesty they submit themselves, when the sinners hear of His forgiveness/pardon (‘afuw) they seek it passionately. There is nothing in the hereafter except either Allah’s forgiveness or the Fire. If the sinners were not to seek passionately the forgiveness of Allah their hearts would have burned from the despair of not earning His mercy but when they are reminded of His forgiveness they find respite in the coolness of His forgiveness.
Some of the predecessors (salaf) used to say in their duas; “O Allah indeed my sins are huge, beyond description, but they are small in comparison to your forgiveness so forgive me.”
O the one who has sinned much, the forgiveness of Allah is greater than your sins. The greatest of sins in front of Allah’s forgiveness becomes small.
Indeed the issue of asking forgiveness in Laylatul Qadr comes after striving to perform good deeds in it, and in the last ten nights. For the knowers strive their utmost in deeds, then they see nothing for themselves of their deeds which they performed nor any state or speech, they then return to asking for His forgiveness like the state of the sinners, the inadequate ones.
He is not a knower the one whose ultimate goal from Allah is not al’afuw.
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