Page 76 - Commonly Disregarded Qur'anic Rulings

74 COMMONLY DISREGARDED QURANIC RULINGS

If Allah were to punish people during this life for their
wrong actions, no being, without exception, would be left
upon the Earth. Obviously, believers are included in this.
Therefore, no believer can see himself as sinless and without

error.
Knowingly or not, believers commit various sins through-
out the course of their lives. The number of these sins or mis-
takes varies according to one's wisdom, consciousness and
the profoundness of one’s faith. No one can regard himself as
sinless—for doing so is a serious mistake. We learn from the
Qur’an that claiming to be without error was an attribute of
Pharaoh’s perverted character.
As the faith of a Muslim becomes firmer and he grows
wiser, he begins to better recognize his sins and mistakes.
Attaining a better awareness of his situation and a deeper fear
of Allah leads him to a more serious effort to correct himself
and seek forgiveness for the sins he committed intentionally
or unintentionally. This is the practice of a conscientious
Muslim. As a matter of fact, asking for forgiveness is an oblig-
ation for believers:

Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then repent to
Him. He will let you enjoy a good life until a specified
time, and will give His favor to all who merit it. But
if you turn your backs, I fear for you the punishment
of a Mighty Day. (Surah Hud; 3)
We may see that such obedience in asking Allah for for-
giveness will be a means to His favors. Throughout the
Qur’an, there are references to prophets asking forgiveness