Humans living in this world are never free from mistakes. Because it is human nature to have mistakes and sins except for the Prophets and Apostles who are infallibly protected by Allah SWT. But Allah SWT is most merciful and forgives the sins of his servants as long as they repent. This is a test from Allah SWT that we have to go through and it is a balance where there is a mistake, there is forgiveness.
Therefore, Allah SWT repeatedly mentions the words Ghafur and Rahim in the Qur'an, which mean Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. Allah's forgiveness also applies even if the servant commits a sin and then repents, then commits the sin again and then repents. As mentioned in the hadith,
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وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ عَبْدًا أَذْنَبُ ذنْبًا فَقَالَ: رَبِّ! أذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي، فَقَالَ رَبُّهُ: أَعْلَمُ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي، ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ، ثُمَّ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا، فَقَالَ: رَبِّ! أَذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا آَخَرَ فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي، فَقَالَ: أَعْلَمُ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي، ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ، ثُمَّ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا فَقَالَ: رَبِّ! أَذْنَبْتُ ذَنْبًا آَخَرَ فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي، فَقَالَ: أَعْلَمُ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ؟ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي فَلْيَعْمَلْ مَا شَاءَ. متفقٌ عَلَيهِ
And from Abu Hurairah RA said: Rasulullah SAW said: "Indeed, a servant commits a sin, then he says: O my God, I have committed a sin so forgive me. Then his God said, I know that my servant has sins and then his sins are forgiven, then I forgive him. Then time passes according to Allah's will. Then a servant commits a sin, then he says: O my God, I have committed another sin, then forgive me forgiven, then I forgive him. Then a servant commits a sin, then he says: O my God, I have committed another sin, so forgive me. Then his God says, I know that My servant has sin and then his sin is forgiven, so I forgive him him then he does what he wants." (Mutafaq Alaih)
So it can be concluded that the meaning of this hadith is that even if a servant of Allah commits a sin many times, Allah SWT will forgive him on the condition that he has no intention of deliberately committing the sin again after repenting[1] especially if he commits the same sin as before and does not underestimate him. As well as establishing in your heart love for Allah SWT and truly hoping for mercy and goodness from Allah SWT.[2]
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The meaning of 'what ai wills' in the hadith quote in the book Tuhfatul Abrar is stated, it does not mean that a servant can go around committing sins again, but what is meant there is a warning from Allah not to be careless by committing sins. The repeated forgiveness here is a form of my help and love from Allah SWT so that we can be more active in worship.[3]
Apart from that, there are two types of sins, namely: small sins and big sins. Of the two types, the method of repentance to Allah SWT is different.
- Small sins such as hurting animals and so on, can be forgiven if a servant can steady his heart by dhikr and return to Allah SWT.
- A big sin with a hardened and unjust heart, usually it will be difficult for him to come to his senses unless he is hit by a very tough test and has a chaotic mood, so Allah SWT cannot forgive him immediately. He must remember and regret his actions and promise not to repeat them. So with the virtue and grace of Allah he will be forgiven.
Allah SWT says in the Qur'an in Surah An-Nisa verse 17,
إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (17)
"Indeed, repentance to Allah is for the person who does bad deeds in a condition of not understanding, then he repents in a short time and then Allah accepts his repentance. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
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According to Imam Ad-Dahak, the words 'Jahl' or not understanding in this verse do not mean a person who does not know the halal and haram laws of his actions, but what is meant is that he commits a sinful act through his ignorance. In another history, Imam Hujaj emphasized that a person who commits a sin is a stupid person until he is aware of his sin.[4]
Then what is meant by the word 'Qarib' or which means near future according to Imam Ibnu Rajab Al-Hanbali in his interpretation is as long as the person concerned has not died.[5] So as long as humans are still alive in the world, it is still possible for Allah SWT to forgive their sins. Therefore, don't waste time in this world, we still have many opportunities to repent and ask forgiveness from Allah SWT.
Wallahu 'alam...
[1] Imam Ibnu Malik, Syarh Al-Mashabih, (Idarah Tsaqafah Islamiah), vol. 3 p. 41
[2] Imam Maturidi, Tafsir Al-Maturidi Ta'wilat Ahlussunnah, (Beirut: Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiah), vol. 3 p. 78
[3] Imam Al-Baidlowi, Tuhfatul Abrar Syarh Mashabihus Sunnah, (Kuait: Wizara Al-Awqaf), vol. 2 p. 72
[4] Imam Ibnu Abi Hatim, Tafsir Ibnu Abi Hatim, (Maktabah Nizar Mustofa), vol. 3 p. 897
[5] Imam Ibnu Rajab Al-Hanbali, Tafsir Ibnu Rajab Al-Hanbali, (Maktabah Al-Ashima), vol. 2 p. 21