Repentance: The Only Way to Salvation
What needs to be done, therefore, if we are to escape
from the impending catastrophe, is to turn towards Allah (SWT), repent truly,
and make a solemn vow to practice Islam in its totality.
The starting point of collective repentance of a nation
is repentance by its individual members. This must include a real feeling of
regret, a firm resolve never to repeat the sins, followed by actual change in
behavior, and, in the case of any violation of the rights of other human
beings, an appropriate compensation or asking for forgiveness from the
aggrieved party. This individual repentance, if performed with its true spirit,
does guarantee forgiveness from Almighty Allah (SWT) in the Hereafter. It does
not mean, however, that the individual will escape any collective Divine
punishment that might befall his nation (Al-Qur’an Al-Anfaal 8:25), except in
the case when he had used all
available resources and
had tried his utmost to persuade
others to give up their sinful practices (Al-Qur’an Al- A‘raaf 7:165).
The desired state
of collective repentance
can be achieved only when first
of all a considerable number of individuals would repent and mend their ways;
then they unite themselves into a cohesive force and change the main trend of
the society by their exhortation and persuasion, their enjoining the good and
forbidding the evil, leading to a revolution in thought as well as behavior.
And then, in order to change the whole politico-socio-economic setup, a popular
resistance movement would have to be launched, which will bring about the
desired transformation through a non-violent revolutionary struggle.
At the same time, a strong nucleus of Iman or true faith has to be created within the educated classes, especially among the intelligentsia, which would act as a center for rekindling the light of Iman throughout the whole society, and thus generate an intellectual base and popular support for the revolutionary struggle The establishment of the Islamic System of Social Justice would then represent our collective repentance.
At the same time, a strong nucleus of Iman or true faith has to be created within the educated classes, especially among the intelligentsia, which would act as a center for rekindling the light of Iman throughout the whole society, and thus generate an intellectual base and popular support for the revolutionary struggle The establishment of the Islamic System of Social Justice would then represent our collective repentance.
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