Do Not Leave the Istighfar

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

A man once came to Shaykh Abu Sa’id ibn Abu al-Hasan Yasar al-Baswri (q.s.) and complained to him, “The sky does not shower us with rain.” 

He replied: “Seek Allah’s Forgiveness.” 

Then another person came to him and said, “I complain of poverty.” 

He replied, “Seek Allah’s Forgiveness.” 

Then another person came to him and complained, “My wife is barren; she cannot bear children.” 

He replied, “Seek Allah’s Forgiveness.” 

The people who were present, said to Shaykh Hasan (q.s.), “Every time a person came to you complaining, you instructed them to seek Allah’s forgiveness!” 

Shaykh Hasan al-Baswri (q.s.) replied, “Have you not read the Statement of Allah: 

سُوۡرَةُ نُوح

فَقُلۡتُ ٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ غَفَّارً۬ا (١٠) يُرۡسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّدۡرَارً۬ا (١١) وَيُمۡدِدۡكُم بِأَمۡوَٲلٍ۬ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ وَيَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ أَنۡہَـٰرً۬ا (١٢) 

“Saying, ‘Ask Forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving;’  ‘He will Send rain to you in abundance’; `Give you Increase in wealth and sons; and Bestow on you Gardens and Bestow on you rivers (of flowing water)’.” (Surah Nuh:10-12)” 

There are two things in the earth that give a person safety and security from the Punishment of Allah (s.w.t.).  The first has been removed, whilst the second still remains.  As for the first, it was the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.).  As for the second, it is istighfar. 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنفَال

وَمَا ڪَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمۡ وَأَنتَ فِيہِمۡ‌ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ (٣٣) 

But Allah was not going to Send them a Penalty while you were amongst them; nor was He going to Send it whilst they could ask for pardon. (Surah al-Anfal:33) 

Insha’Allah, may we never leave istighfar.