Monica is from the West Midlands, and is currently working in higher education. Nature lover, bookworm extraordinaire, and in hot pursuit of the white rabbit!
The prestige and honour of Allah (SWT) bestowed upon reverts is truly a marvel and one of many beautiful and infinite favours of our Lord. What’s more, it’s a reflection of His unparalleled love and mercy. Subhan’Allah.
Becoming Muslim is such a powerful situation, it is a massive step where huge obstacles are faced, and it is not a light matter in the least.
When a person decides to take that big decision of embracing Islam, they relinquish everything that is wrong and, with deep regret and remorse, they submit to their Almighty Creator.
It is a tremendous act of repentance to seek Allah’s forgiveness i.e. to make tawbah.
Allah reciprocates this courageous and noble gesture, in a grand and beautiful manner, and what else would we expect from our most loving and majestic Lord? Subhan’Allah.
“Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them.” (Qur’an 8:38)
‘Amr ibn al-‘As reported: The Prophet (upon him be peace), said, “Do you not know that embracing Islam wipes away all sins committed before it.” (Ahmed)
He is always ready to forgive.
He grants His servant a clean slate, as it were, and what’s more, even after we sin again, timelessly, He is always ready to forgive. He is truly the most forgiving Who loves to forgive. The countless times we are reminded of Allah’s vast mercy and forgiving nature in the Qur’an and hadiths is truly profound.
“Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 25:70)
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
And as the well-known hadith goes:
“Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.” (at-Tirmithi)
Taking the shahadah is a beautiful and sublime event, it involves defying convention, and despite the repercussions that one may face from society; one surrenders, one submits; testifying the resounding truth their soul has been guided and awakened to.
It is literally ‘a leap of faith’, Subhan’Allah, and this brings to mind the hadith:
“Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’ ” (al-Bukhari)
The believer now has a renewed purpose and new beginning.
Knowing that they have been absolved of their past, a sense of comfort and calm washes over them; what a beautiful sentiment. They have now unearthed their true identity and are aware of their real (God-given) purpose; it is a gratifying and tranquil feeling to be granted that lifeline which is our most precious link to Allah, Subhan’Allah.
Navigating the challenging road of a believer requires sincerity in our pursuit. Similarly, remembering and reflecting on our most forgiving kind Lord is what gives us hope.
When we are mindful of Allah’s attribute of mercy and erasing sins, it helps to support us in focusing on keeping our slate clean.
It is also important to remember that Allah made us fallible, and we are prone to error and mistakes. It is all part of being human, and this is the way Allah has created us, according to His supreme wisdom.
Allah is the All-aware, All-hearing, All-seeing, so He knows exactly the trials and challenges that each one of us face. It is all a sign of His immense love, Subhan’Allah, He does not give us more than we can bear, and what’s more, He has fully equipped us with the resources and abilities, to handle all that comes our way. Alhamdulillah.
Every Muslim is in need of self-improvement and personal development and this is a continuous endeavour.
Furthermore, as believers we may attain self-growth via a test given to us by Allah where we must practice patience and trust in our Lord (Tawakkul)
“Do the people think that they will be left to say “We believe” and they will not be tried?” (Qur’an 29:2)
Our lifelong objective is to work hard to maintain a strong bond with our Creator; if we have this foundation, then everything else will fall into place Insha’Allah.
With the help and will of Allah, the clean slate, clarity, and purification process will remain, so long as we strive to nurture and uphold a strong, wholehearted connection with our Lord, The Most Loving, and to earn His pleasure.
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” (Qur’an 3:103)
We thank Allah for his infinite mercy and blessings, and for guiding us to the light of Islam. May He grant us ease, reassure us, envelope us with His love, pour upon us His kindness, forgive us, and keep us steadfast on the straight, guided path. Ameen!
