Chapter I: Repentance
So to know and search for doing good deeds as mentioned above is the first condition. This knowledge means faith and certainty of belief, as the meaning of faith is to know with truth that sin is destructive like poison. The certainty of belief means to believe as sure the immutable truths. The light of this faith is enkindled in the heart when the fire of repentance rises up. As a result his heart becomes dejected. He becomes then like a person who remains in darkness and then the rays of the sun shine on him or he sees his beloved if the screen is removed from him.
So knowledge, repentance and determination have got connection with the giving up of sin in the present and future and repentance of the past sins. If these three elements are united in person in an orderly manner, it is called Tauba or repentance but most people confine Tauba within repentance and do not consider the other two elements. The Prophet said: Tauba means repentance. It is such a fire of repentance as burns the heart and even attacks the back-bone. Hazrat Sahal Tastari said: To change
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bad habits into good habits is Tauba. Solitude, silence and eating lawful things are conditions of perfection of Tauba.
MERITS OF TAUBA
Tauba is Wazeb or compulsory. There are different classes of sojourners of religion. (1) One class are short-sighted. They cannot cross their blind faith at every step. So the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet are necessary for them at every step (2)
Another class of sojourners are fortunate. God expanded their breasts for Islam and they are upon light from their Lords and cross the impregnable stage of the path with care at the slightest hint. The light of the Quran and faith shines upon their hearts. A slight hint is sufficient for them owing to the brilliance of light. They know that repentance is compulsory in order to gain permanenet good fortune and security from permanent ruin. The meaning of Tauba is to give up sins and to determine to do gooddeeds.
God says: O believers, be repentant to God all together that you may get salvation — 24 : 31. God says : O believers, repent to God with sincere penitance — 66 : 8. Sincere penitance means to return to God from sin in order to inncur pleasure of God in a condition free from doubt. God says: God loves those who are penitent and pure — 2 : 220. The Prophet said : A penitent man is dear to God. He who returns from sin is like one who has got no sin.