Islam Guidance

Perfection of Tawba, Siyyam, Ghusl and Salāt

Perfection of Tawba, Siyyam, Ghusl and Salāt

Before doing Tawba the following should be done:

1. Fasting three days: Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) says,

“The one who wants to do Tawbatan-NasÅ«h should fast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”

(Wasa’il ul-Shia)

2. Ghusl al-Tawba: A man used to enjoy music, songs and dance parties. He was badly accustomed to this evil. One day he approached Imam Riza (a.) and said: I was madly addicted to song and music. Now I want to repent. Kindly tell me what I should do? The Imam said,

“Get up! Take a bath. The holy Prophet (S) has said: There is no one whom Allah did not forgive if that man had made a repentance corresponding to his sins.”

Then he said,

“Get up, take a bath and make a as-Sajda (prostration) for Allah.”

(Mustadrak ul-Wasa’il)

3. To recite two or four rakat Salāt: Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) says,

“A man who wants to repent should first perform Wuzu (ablution), then perform two rakats (units) of prayer and then seek pardon from Allah. God forgives him because He has said in the Holy Qur’an thus:

“And whosoever does evil or acts unjustly to his soul, then asks forgiveness of Allah, he shall find Allah forgiving, Merciful.”

(Surah an-Nisa'’ 4:110)

It is written in Kitab al-Iqbal, that the Holy Prophet (S) used to ask his companions on Sundays of Zilqad,

“O people! Who from you wants to do Tawba?”

The companions replied: O Messenger of Allah! All of us want to repent. Then he used to say,

First perform ablution and Ghusl (bath), then offer four rakats of prayer. In every rakat recite Surah Ikhlas thrice, and Muawwazatain (Surah Falaq and Surah Nās) once after Surah Fatiha. Then recite Istighfar seventy times. Finally recite Lā Hawla wa lā Quwwata illa billāhil a’liyyil A’zīm. Then recite a brief Du’a, preferably this:

ياعزيز ياغفار اغفرلي ذنوبي وذنوب جميع المؤمنين والمؤمنات فانه لا يغفر الذنوب الا انت

Yā A’zīzo, Yā Ghaffāro, Ighfirlī ‍unūbi Wa ‍unūbi Jamī’il Mo-minīna wal Mo-mināt. Innahu lā yaghfiruz ‍unūb illa ant.’

Then he said,

“Anyone from my Ummah (community) who does this will hear a voice from the sky that his repentance (Tawba) has been accepted and his/her sins pardoned. An angel in the Arsh (Throne) will say: “Those who were displeased with you (in the worldly life) will be pleased with you on the day of Qiyama”. Another angel will announce: “O Believing Slave! Your grave will become wide and bright. Another angel will say: Your parents are pleased with you and, due to your performance, they too have entered the Mercy of Allah. Your provision in both this world and the Hereafter will be abundant. Hazrat Jibrīl (a.s.) says: At the moment of your death I will come to you along with Izrael (the angel of death) and recommend to him to retrieve your soul with ease.”

The companions submitted: O Messenger of Allah! What if somebody performs this deed in any other month? The Holy Prophet (S) said,

“Yes, he too will get the reward mentioned by me. These are the words taught to me by Jibrīl during the night of Miraj (ascension).”

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