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We should catch time by the forelock and realize the value of life that is left to us. We should not put off Tauba by a moment; we must not procrastinate. We ought to set about, at once, reforming our ways. Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) alone knows when death is going to make its call on us, and, then, it may be too late. Who can tell whether, at that time, we will get the opportunity to offer Tauba or not?

Brother, we all have seen people dying. The general experience is that a person dies in the same state in which he has led his life. It does not happen that a person may have spent all his days in folly and negligence and, he, suddenly repented and turned into a saint a day or two before his death. Hence, a man who wants to die in a state of piety, for him it is necessary to become pious in his lifetime. Then alone can he hope to die as a good Muslim, by the grace of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa), and to be raised up with the faithful and the righteous in the Hereafter.

An important point about Tauba

If after offering repentance for a sin a person may be guilty of the same sin again there is no need for him to feel so frustrated over it as to lose faith in Divine Mercifulness? He should offer Tauba quickly again, and if again he may break it he should not hesitate in offering it once more even if it be a thousand times. Whenever he will repent with a sincere heart it is the promise of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) that He will accept his repentance and forgive him. The Benevolence of the Lord, lays His Paradise, is Infinite.

Words of Tauba

Form the forgoing it would have been clear that in whatever words or language a person may offer Tauba Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) will listen and accept his penitence. But the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) has laid down certain specific phrases or prayers in this regard which he used to recite himself. These prayers, surely, are most pleasing to Him. We are reproducing some of these here for you to learn by heart and recite for seeking divine forgiveness.

Asthagfirullah halazi la ila ha illa huwal haiyuul khayoumu wa’toobu elaih

I seek forgiveness of Allah who is: "There is no god save He, the self-subsisting" and I turn repentant unto Him.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) has said, “Whoever will offer penitence to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) and implore His forgiveness through this Kalima Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) will forgive him even if he has fled from the field of Jihad which is a most mortal sin in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa).”

And again: “Whoever will recite this Kalima thrice before going to sleep Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) will forgive his sins even though they may be as profuse as the foam of the sea,”

Sometimes the sacred Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to recite only Asthagfirullah (I implore the forgiveness of the Lord). Asthagfirullah (I implore the forgiveness of the Lord). It is a very brief phrase and we should try to cultivate the habit of repeating it every now and then.