Ibn Rajab رحمه
الله said:
“Seeking forgiveness is a seal
for all righteous deeds. It seals the prayer, Hajj, Qayyam Al-Layl the night
prayer and it seals gatherings. Therefore, if it was a Remembrance of Allaah
then it is like putting a stamp of seal on it and if there were mistakes and
deficiencies then it would be an expiation for it. Likewise it is befitting to
complete the Ramadan with seeking forgiveness.
Umar Bin AbdulAziz wrote to the
different regions commanding them to complete Ramadan with seeking forgiveness
and giving Sadaqa Al-Fitr. Indeed Sadaq Al-Fitr is a purification for the
fasting person from mistakes and evil deeds and seeking forgiveness patches
that which is torn from the fast due to mistakes and evil deeds.
This is why some of the previous
scholars said: ‘Indeed Sadaqa Al-Fitr for the fasting person is like performing
the two Sajdas for forgetfulness for the prayer.’
Umar Bin AbdulAziz [Died 101
A.H.] [رحمه الله] said in his book, say as your father
Adam said:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا
وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ))
« They said: ‘Our Lord! We have
wronged ourselves. If you forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we
shall certainly be of the losers.’ » [Ara’af: 23]
Say as Nuh [عليه
سلم]
said:
وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي
وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ)
« And unless You forgive me and
have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers. » [Hud: 47]
Say as Musa [عليه
سلم]
said:
رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ
نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْلِي))
«My Lord!Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me. » [Qasas:
16]
Say as Dhul-Noon [عليه
سلم]
said:
سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ
مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ))
«Glorified [and Exalted] are You [above all that [evil] they
associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers. » [Al-Anbiyya: 87]”
[Lataif Al-Ma’arif, Page: 383]
Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
https://followingthesunnah.com/
