07 - Adam and Hawwa BOTH Repent to Allah - Ramadan Reflections 2023

On the seventh day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Adam and Hawwa BOTH Repent to Allah." Previously, we reviewed the episode which took place in the Garden in which Adam and Hawwa fell for the temptation of Satan and had to recognize that they went against the spiritual guidance of Allah. However, as we know, there is NEVER a dead-end with Allah. Allah has told us that we will make mistakes, we will sin, we will falter, but that He can forgive us – we just need to turn back to Him in tawbah and ask for His forgiveness – istighfār. In Sūrah al-Araf (7), Verses 23-25, we are told that once they realized their situation, Adam and Eve BOTH turned in repentance to Allah and made a sincere appeal for His forgiveness and said: "They said (straightaway): “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, we will surely be among those who have lost!” He said: “Go down, (all of you,) (and henceforth you will live a life,) some of you being the enemies of the others. There shall be for you on the earth a habitation and provision until an appointed time.” He said: “You will live there, and there you will die, and from it you will be brought forth (on the Day of Resurrection).” These verses for today is not only a historical narrative but also a lesson for us – it teaches us how to engage with Allah when we commit sins. Thus, the first step in turning back to Allah is to acknowledge when we have done wrong.