SOMETIMES regret over making mistakes can be debilitating; it disables one from getting up, fixing the problem, and moving on. This form of regret is unproductive. Remorse without changing your habits is useless, such as not studying for an exam, yelling at a colleague at work, speeding and damaging your car, backbiting about a friend, or oversleeping and missing the pre-dawn prayer. A more productive form of regret is an impetus to correct what was wrong, to build character, and improve ourselves to the point where we become better than before. The imam of the Prophet's Holy Mosque in Al-Madinah, Sheikh Dr. Ali Bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhaifi shows that the door to repentance is always open and that light comes after darkness. Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi said: “Men and women are all human; perfection is reserved only for the Creator. As humans, we are prone to make mistakes and there are times when we fall short in fulfilling our religious obligations. Knowing that Allah is forgiving gives optimism and hope to the believer. “Allah has created mankind and He is all aware of our shortcomings and weakness and Allah has made it easier for us to gain rewards. A good deed is multiplied by ten or more whereas a bad deed remains as one. “Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an, {Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times its like to his credit, and whoever brings an evil deed shall have only the equal recompense of its like, and they will not be wronged.} (8:160) “The paths which lead to gaining rewards are many in Islam. Allah rewards believers for performing acts of worship and kind acts not only by multiplying their good deeds but also by erasing their bad deeds, and elevating their spiritual status. Even the acts that may lead a man or woman to falling into sin are discouraged, to protect the believer. We strive to make the good deeds heavier and larger than the bad deeds on the scale, so that the good deeds will tip over and we will be among the happy winners and the successful. “One of the main causes for happiness and peace of mind is repentance, seeking forgiveness. To repent is to return to Allah after making mistakes, deviating from the path, or neglecting duties. The key to an accepted repentance lies in the heart, when one feels pain, remorse, and regret. The feeling in the heart must be followed by a firm determination to not repeat that error, and also action. When one genuinely and sincerely asks for forgiveness, Allah forgives the sin, erases it, rewards the believer for his repentance, and fends off punishment for the sin. “The door of repentance is open to all, and Muslims must repent on a regular basis. It is imperative for one who has committed a major sin to repent because death can come without warning, and then it will be too late for expiation of sins. The one who makes minor mistakes must also repent because as the traditional saying of Muslim scholars goes, ‘A smaller sin which is committed again and again is a major one. And a major sin for which one repents does not remain great — since Allah accepts the repentance of His believers.' “When a believer humbly and sincerely seeks forgiveness, while refraining from repeating the same mistake, he/she will gain not only forgiveness from Allah, but also His pleasure. Allah loves the believer who repents. What nobler position can we aspire to than for Allah to love us? “Always remember that Allah, our Creator is merciful, tolerant, forgiving, generous, and beneficent. “Allah forgives the sins of believers, wipes away anguish, and pardons their faults and weakness. He has opened the wide and all-encompassing door of repentance, tawbah, which does not close in the face of the worshiper, man or woman, who is faithful and sincere. “It is normal for humans to make mistakes and seeking Allah's forgiveness for our mistakes is the key that will keep us on the straight path, purify our hearts, bring us closer to our Creator, and offer us hope of a new beginning.”
