The Tenth and Final Reflection: The Virtue of Recognising and Repenting from one's Mistakes

Evidences: Allāh says: "˹They (the good-doers) are˺ those who, upon committing an evil deed or wronging themselves, remember Allāh and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives sins except Allāh?—and they do not knowingly persist in wrongdoing?" [Sūrah Āli-ʿImrān: 135] Benefits and Rulings: -> One of the qualities of Allāh’s righteous servants is their willingness to retract mistakes and avoid persistence in error and falsehood. Indeed, when the believer is reminded, he takes heed(1). -> Whoever sincerely realises the Tawḥīd of Allāh and truly follows the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ will find it very easy to abandon error once the truth becomes clear to them. Such a person does not concern themselves with defending their own opinion or mistake but rather focuses on returning to the truth whenever its light appears and its caller proclaims it. Their motto is: "Then I shall retract, even if it means being among the lowly," and "To be a follower of the truth is more beloved to me than to be a leader in falsehood." [This was stated by ’Ubaydillāh ibn Al-Ḥasan Al-ʿAnbāri, as recorded in Al-I’tiṣām, volume one, page 196] Assessing Charity Organisations in Light of These Principles: We hope that those among them whom Allāh has willed good for will reflect upon themselves and benefit from the meaning of the aforementioned Āyah. Especially now, as they witness firsthand what worldly pursuits have done to them—how they have lost the trust of many people, and how, in contrast, the efforts of steadfast reformers who remained firm upon the Sunnah, unaffected by whims and trials, have yielded fruitful results. Their efforts continue to bring goodness upon goodness, despite the challenges they endure. Through hardship, one perceives victory and empowerment, for والحق منصور وممتحن فلا * تعجب فهذه سنة الرحمن "The truth is always victorious, yet tested—so do not be surprised, for this is the way of the Most Merciful." [Al-Nūniyyah by Ibn Al-Qayyim, page 17] Discussion: "But if they repent, it will be better for them," But if they persist, then they have an example in those destroyed before them. "So do not let yourself waste away in regrets over them." Objection: What do we need to repent from? Response: إن كنت لا تدري فتلك مصيبة * وإن كنت تدري فالمصيبة أعظم "If you do not know, then that is a great calamity; and if you do know, then the calamity is even greater." [This was stated by Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allāh have mercy on him, in his Mīmiyyah poem] ___ (1) On the other hand, there are those who, when reminded, become even more stubborn. We ask Allāh for safety and well-being.