Gems Of Ramadan ✔

DAY 8 - MAKE ALLAH HAPPY - Part 1

We are all familiar with the term Tawbah (when one repents to Allah), but there is another very similar term called Inaabah (إنابة), a term mentioned in the Qur'an many times. And since it is Ramadhaan, we want to move from Tawbah to Inaabah.

Ibn al-Qayyim said it is to hasten pleasing Allah, while continuously and repeatedly returning to Allah (at all times).

Meaning, it is Tawbah but continuous Tawbah. Part of Inaabah is to retreat to Allah with your heart, with love, reverence and sincerity in accordance to the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Just as one retreats in the last ten days of Ramadhaan for I'tikaaf, leaving everything behind, Inaabah is constant returning in I'tikaaf to Allah. A heart needs to retreats to Allah with honour because if it does not do so with Allah, it retreats with humility to other than Allah. Turning fully to Allah in trials and at ease is Inaabah.

A person who is Muneeb (منيب) is one who repents when he commits a sin but goes further beyond that to change and become in constant contact with Allah, with a relationship with Allah.
Allah said it about Ibraheem 'alayhis-salaam:

Verily, Ibraheem was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah all the time, again and again).
(Surat Hud: 75)

Ibraheem was without a doubt forbearing, which is Haleem (حليم). Invoking Allah with humility, that is Awwaah (أواه). And Muneeb (منيب) is repenting constantly, time and time, again and again, constant repenter to Allah.
A verse considered by some of the 'Ulamaa to be the most hopeful verse in the Qur'an:

Say: O 'Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam).
(Surat az-Zumar: 53-54)

After repentance, Allah mentions:
وَأَنِيبُوا
That is what we are targeting.
Inaabah is three levels. The first level is the root of Inaabah (the principle), which is leaving Shirk to Tawheed, leaving Kufr to Islam. Not having this will make one a Kaafir, because it is leaving Kufr to Islam. That is the first level and it is taken out of the verse:

Those who avoid At-Taaghoot (false deities) by not worshipping them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves.
(Surat az-Zumar: 17)

The second level of Inaabah is the Inaabah of al-Muttaqeen (the pious), leaving sins and committed in doing deeds. Whoever does not have this one, he is Muslim and he falls under Islam but we fear Hell over him unless Allah forgives Him (because he has sins). That is taken out of the verse in Surat az-Zumar:

Say: O 'Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Surat az-Zumar: 53)

And the following verse after it:

And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.
(Surat az-Zumar: 54)

The third and final level of Inaabah is the level we are trying to target this Ramadhaan, the Inaabah of the Muhsineen. The peak, complete turning to Allah in your heart and in your body. Constantly returning to Allah again and again, in all times and in all situations, and being in complete submission to Allah. This is the best form of Inaabah. This is the Inaabah of Ibraheem 'alayhis-salaam, this was the level of Ibraheem 'alayhis-salaam: