give them up purely for the pleasure of
Allah and for fear of Divine chastisement.
In terms of the second meaning, nasuh would
signify that ‘the sinner is required to repair the
torn clothes of righteous deeds’. Sayyiduna
Hasan Basri v says that tawbatan
nasuha signifies that a person should regret
his past evil actions, and make a firm resolve
never to repeat them. Kalbi v says the
phrase taubatan nasuha signifies that a person
should pray for pardon with his tongue, regret
in his heart, and should prevent the limbs of
his body from committing sins in the future.
Sayyiduna Ali was asked as to what is
tawbah’ and he replied that it consists of six
elements: [1] to regret one’s past evil deeds; [2]
to carry out Divine duties that were missed;
[3] to restore the rights that were usurped;
[4] to ask forgiveness of a person who has
been wronged by him physically or verbally;
[5] to make a firm resolve of avoiding the sin
in future; and [6] to consume one’s self in
obedience of Allah as one thus far consumed
one’s self in His disobedience. (Mazhari).
In fact, all of the conditions of ‘tawbah’ put
forward by Sayyidna Ali are recognized by
all the scholars. However, some have described
them concisely and others in details.
َٰ
ُۡ َ َّ َۡ ُۡ
عس َر ُّبك ان ُّيك ِف َر ع ۡنك
“It is hoped from your Lord that he will
write off your faults...”(66:8)
NISBAH 58
The verb ‘asa means ‘it is hoped’. In this
context, it purports to mean ‘promise’, but
the expression of ‘hope’ is used to indicate
that tawbah or any other righteous deeds
are not the just and equal price for the
Paradise or the divine forgiveness. In fact,
one compensation for man’s good deeds has
already been given to him in this world in
the form of worldly blessings. Therefore,
as regards the law of equality, it is not
necessary that he is further compensated by
the Jannah.
It entirely depends on Divine grace and
favour as is mentioned in a Hadith which
says: ‘Your actions alone cannot salvage you.’
The Companions inquired: ‘O Messenger
of Allah, not even you?’ He replied: ‘No, not
even me unless the Divine grace and mercy
covers me.’ (Bukhari and Muslim as quoted
by Mazhari)