The Garden of Guidance.
Allah, Almighty and Glorious, said:
“And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn unto Him repentant; He will cause the sky to rain abundance on you and will add unto you strength to your strength. Turn not away, guilty!” (11:52)
“And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn unto Him repentant; He will cause the sky to rain abundance on you and will add unto you strength to your strength. Turn not away, guilty!” (11:52)
And on the authority of Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him),
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The master of seeking forgiveness is to say:
'O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no deity except You.
You created me, and I am Your servant,
and I abide by Your covenant and Your promise as best I can.
I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done.
I acknowledge Your favor upon me,
and I acknowledge my sin to You,
so forgive me,
for none forgives sins except You.'"
He said:
"Whoever says it during the day with firm conviction in it,
and dies that day before evening comes,
he will be among the people of Paradise.
And whoever says it during the night with firm conviction in it,
and dies before morning comes,
he will be among the people of Paradise."
Narrated by al-Bukhari.
And on the authority of 'Abdullah ibn Busr (may Allah be pleased with him),
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Glad tidings to him who finds in his record abundant seeking of forgiveness."
Narrated by Ibn Majah.
Thus, when 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"How astonishing it is that one perishes when salvation is right beside him!"
It was asked, "And what is it?"
He said:
"Seeking forgiveness."
And he used to say:
"Allah, Glorious and Exalted, does not inspire a servant to seek forgiveness
while intending to punish him."
And Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"Indeed, my mind sometimes comes to a standstill regarding a matter, a problem, or a complex situation that baffles me,
so I seek forgiveness of Allah Almighty a thousand times, or more, or less,
until my heart opens and the knot of whatever troubled me is untied."
He said:
"At such times, whether I am in the marketplace, the mosque, an alley, or a school,
that does not prevent me from engaging in remembrance and seeking forgiveness,
until I attain what I seek."