A person may spend years in sin and disobedience, yet Allah Ta‘ala can change his condition in a single moment. One should therefore never lose hope in the guidance or repentance of anyone, regardless of how distant from Din that person may appear.
On the 4th of Rabi’ul Awwal 1447 (27/08/25), after Salatul ‘Asr, Al-‘Allamatul Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) related an incident from his hometown of Aleppo illustrating this reality.
Forgive me! I Am Going for Hajj
Shaykh (hafizahullah) said:
“In Aleppo, when the city first began expanding and new neighbourhoods were being established, there was a neighbourhood called Al-Jamiliyyah. On one side of it was a large new Masjid bearing a very noble name: Jami’ Abi Bakr Siddiq (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Opposite it was a place of drinking and gambling. Its entire frontage was made of glass, and it was known as Maqhal Ballur (The Glass Café).
The wealthy people of Aleppo at that time would gather there for drinking and gambling. This was at a time when poverty was widespread throughout Aleppo.
Among them was a man known as Abu ‘Abduh Al-Miskinah. In those days of poverty, he owned a car dealership [such was his wealth]. He and his friends would gather every evening around a table for drinking and gambling.
One day, a waiter at the café, who would wait for Abu ‘Abduh to give him a few coins as a tip, came to him and said:
عَمِّي أبو عَبْدُه سامِحْني!
“Uncle Abu ‘Abduh, forgive me!”
Abu ‘Abduh thought to himself, who are you? What is there between us that I should forgive you for?
Abu ‘Abduh asked him: “Is everything alright? Why are you asking me to forgive you?”
The waiter simply replied:
أنَا رايِح للحَجِّ
“I am going for Hajj.”
Shaykh added: ‘It was customary for a person leaving for Hajj to seek forgiveness from people before departing.‘
Shaykh continued: ‘That’s all he said. Just these words: I am going for Hajj.
وإذ هذا الرجل ـ أبو عبده ـ انقلب رأسًا على عقب
[It had such an impact on him that] at that moment, Abu ‘Abduh underwent a complete transformation.
He immediately left the table, dismissed the people around him and went home. Throughout the night he wept, turned to Allah Ta‘ala and repented.
He cried: “O my Rabb! You have given me all this wealth, yet I use it in disobedience to You, while this man, who waits for the few coins I give him, is going for Hajj!”
He continued crying throughout the night and made sincere Tawbah to Allah Ta‘ala.
His life thereafter changed completely.
Being the owner of a car dealership, he had many contacts and knew influential people. He now dedicated himself, his time, his wealth, his influence and his vehicle to assisting people whose affairs had become complicated in government departments. He would help them resolve their difficulties.
All of this through just a single statement:
“I am going for Hajj.”‘
Shaykh (hafizahullah) then advised:
“So never despair of Allah granting a person Tawbah. Never despair.”
In an Instant, a Person’s Condition Can Change
Shaykh (hafizahullah) then mentioned:
“We have a saying among the people of Aleppo or Syrians in general:
بِلَمْحَةٍ تَقَعُ صَلْحة
“In an instant, a person’s condition can be transformed for the better.”
[Shaykh ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah), on another occasion added: “This is the kind of guidance we await from Allah, guidance with gentleness. Rather than guidance that comes after punishment or any sort of suffering. Listen to my lecture on this topic here.].”
Allah is At-Tawwab! Allah is At-Tawwab!
Shaykh (hafizahullah) then concluded with a brief academic point. A person’s return to Allah Ta‘ala is itself a manifestation of the effects of Allah’s beautiful Names in His creation. Shaykh (hafizahullah) said:
آثارُ أسماءِ الله الحسنى سبحانَه وتعالى دائمًا في كلِّ لَحْظَة، بل أقلّ مِنَ اللحظة، ظاهرةٌ في الكَون
“The effects of the beautiful Names of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala are constantly manifest throughout the universe, at every moment, and even in less than a moment. Allah Ta‘ala says:
﴿كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ﴾ [الرحمن: ٢٩]
‘Every moment He is bringing about a matter.‘
(Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:29)
Among the beautiful Names of Allah Ta‘ala is At Tawwab (The One who repeatedly accepts repentance).
The effects of Allah accepting the repentance of His servants are evident at every moment. If one were able to observe and survey this, one would find it occurring constantly, at every moment. [Likewise, the effects of Allah Ta‘ala’s other Names are continually manifest:] He guides, He allows to stray, He gives life, and so on.
And Among His Names is At-Tawwab, Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala, and among them are Al-Latif, Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim.
ونحن نسأل الله تعالى أنْ يعامِلَنا بِلُطْفه ورحمَتِه
We ask Allah Ta‘ala to deal with us through His kindness and mercy.”
15/09/2026 | 02/04/1448