Mohammad Ehsan Ahmad, Graduate, Jamia Ahmadiyya UK
Despite being Muslims and believers in Allah the Almighty, we commit various sins. Some are easy to rectify, whereas others are not. Some sins are such that we continue to commit them despite being fully aware of their harm, and each time we fall into such a deed, we promise ourselves and our Lord that we will do everything possible not to repeat it. Yet, being human, we find ourselves slipping again.
Gradually, this can lead to a damaging inner dialogue: “I am not strong enough to stop,” followed by, “There is no point in asking for Allah’s help and mercy, for I do not deserve it.” In this way, a person begins to label himself as nothing more than a sinner, too weak and incapable of reform.
In contrast to these emotions, there is a narration of the Holy Prophetsa about a believer who did good deeds himself but at the same time looked down upon and undermined another believer riddled with sin, deeming him unfit for Allah’s mercy and being able to enter paradise. As a result, Allah sent the ‘sinner’ to Paradise, while the so-called saint was admitted to the Hellfire. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-adab, Hadith 4901).
From this, we learn two things: we should never overestimate our good deeds, as this can lead to arrogance and the belief that it is our right to be blessed with Allah’s grace. Moreover, we should never be in despair of Allah’s mercy, for in both cases, He is Al-Malik and does what He wills.
Spirituality is not linear
Sometimes we experience varying levels of spirituality in our lives; it can fluctuate, and such feelings are a normal experience that even the companions of the Holy Prophetsa experienced. For example, Hazrat Hanzalara feared hypocrisy as he felt spiritually uplifted in the company of the Holy Prophetsa, but his spirituality faded at home. The Prophetsa reassured that faith naturally ebbs and flows. (Mishkat al-Masabih, Kitab al-dawat, Hadith 2268)
Therefore, on a day when we may feel too sinful or not holy enough to pray, our task is to keep trying. This is true sacrifice, and this is where we will grow. It may seem more straightforward to give up, but by giving up, we risk becoming the hypocrites that Hazrat Hanzlara feared he was.
In Arabic, the term used for a hypocrite is منافق which comes from النفاق (an-Nifaq), which means entering faith through one door and leaving it through another (Five Volume Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 1174). So, by giving up, we will be leaving the garden of God’s Mercy. Rather, we should never limit ourselves, no matter how hypocritical it may feel to bow in prostration for forgiveness, just moments after sinning, for it is the best remedy to relieve us from these spiritual ailments.
Intentional and consistent sinning
There are two types of workers who make mistakes: one who is devoted, remorseful after an error and determined to improve. The other one is indifferent, remorseful in words only, but already scheming to make the same mistake. This is similar to the true believers and those who may not be. A true believer, after committing a sin, feels genuine remorse. This feeling is proof that he is a believer. Despite the fact that he may commit the same mistake, he does everything within his power to prevent himself from doing so.
In the Holy Quran it states:
وَمَنۡ یَّعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّۃٍ شَرًّا یَّرَہٗ
“And whoso does an atom’s weight of evil will also see it.” (Surah az-Zilzal, Ch.99: V.9)
Does this mean that even a believer who feels deeply remorseful for his misdeed and does everything possible to rectify it will still be punished? The word used in this verse is ‘evil’ (شر), which refers to a sin a person insists on and does not cease from nor repents of. That is why ‘شر’ is used instead of ‘ذنب’ (fault) to show an intended action which one refuses to abandon. (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, p. 24)
The Holy Quran is abundant with verses proclaiming that sins are forgiven through repentance, and Allah loves those who repent and keep turning back to him, for example:
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِیۡنَ وَیُحِبُّ الۡمُتَطَہِّرِیۡنَ
“Allah loves those who turn to Him and loves those who keep themselves clean.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.223)
Hence, if we do our part in trying to rectify ourselves, Allah’s mercy will surely be bestowed on us, either in this world by freeing us of this ailment or in the next with divine forgiveness.
The good diminishes the bad
When a gardener wants to get rid of weeds, he does not just rip them out but also plants strong grass to crowd out the weeds’ roots and prevent future growth. In a similar manner, it is stated in the Holy Quran:
اِنَّ الۡحَسَنٰتِ یُذۡہِبۡنَ السَّیِّاٰتِ
“Surely, good works drive away the evil ones.” (Surah al-Hud, Ch.11: V.114)
Therefore, the simplest solution when one seeks to rid oneself of a spiritual ailment is to adopt good deeds in its place. More specifically, the best deed to adopt in such instances is the worship of God as stated in the Holy Quran:
اِنَّ الصَّلٰوۃَ تَنۡہٰی عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَالۡمُنۡکَرِ
“Surely, prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil.” (Surah al-Ankabut, Ch.29: V.46)
It is better to be fearful and humble due to one’s sins than to fall into despair and, one after another, into a pit of sins. We are bound to make mistakes. That is what leads us to grow, to improve. Yet improvement comes only when one attempts to resolve the problem and pursue its solution.
Allah’s Mercy is always within reach
Allah increases the weight of our good deeds. But He also forgives many, if not all, of our sins and mistakes. All we have to do is ask for His forgiveness:
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا
Say, “O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah, surely Allah forgives all sins.” (Surah az-Zumar, Ch.39: V.54)
Therefore, never be hopeless in the search for Allah’s mercy. It is never too late to be forgiven, such as the murderer of a hundred people who was informed of Allah’s vast mercy by a scholar of his time. On his journey to a righteous land, he died on the way. Angels of mercy and punishment disputed over him. Allah measured the earth and deemed him closer by a handspan to the land of the righteous, so he was forgiven. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-anbiya, Hadith 3470)
Hence, we should strive towards Allah so we can be amongst the blessed ones upon whom Allah bestows His mercy. Regarding this everyday struggle, Huzoor-e-Anwaraa told a khadim:
“When one climbs a ladder, one must take the first step; you do not jump straight onto the final step. You must climb each step one by one; otherwise, if you try to leap forward, you will fall. The same is the case with spiritual rank […] Just as we exert ourselves in worldly matters, we must exert ourselves in religious matters. One does not find Allah in a single day. Allah says, ‘Strive in My path.’ That you worship Allah, and offer your five daily prayers properly.” (“This Week With Huzoor – 21 November 2025”, youtube.com)
If God is so Merciful, why does He punish His people?
A thought that may come to mind is that if Allah is so merciful that he can forgive the greatest of sinners, then why punish us at all? Why talk about Hell? Why not let us do whatever we want and then forgive us in the end?
If it were so, then we would have no order in the world. Islam is a way of life that calls us to reform ourselves so we attain our true purpose. In each country, there is law and order, with a system designed to punish and reform its people. Just as the thought of jail deters many from committing a crime, Hell is a deterrent of sin. Just as the thought of being fined prevents one from speeding, the thought of being punished for an ill action prevents one from sinning. This thought can also lead one to feel remorse for one’s misdeeds.
But not every hardship in this life is a punishment; rather, it can be a trial. Regarding hardships in this life, Huzoor-e-Anwaraa told a Khadim, “A person will continue to face hardships in life.” Huzooraa explained that some are natural, such as illness. Even good people go through great pain and difficulty, and it may make one think that they are being punished. Huzooraa said:
“If you are doing righteous deeds, worshipping God, giving charity, paying alms, and fulfilling the rights of others, yet the trial continues for long, then it means that Allah is testing you.” (“This Week With Huzoor – 21 November 2025”, youtube.com)
Alongside trials, Allah the Almighty admonishes his people to guide them away from the life of sin. As loving parents are firm to protect a child, Allah, who loves us more than any mother, allows trials so we reflect and turn back to our Creator.
The Promised Messiahas states:
“He sometimes punishes sin, He also sometimes forgives it; His power operates on both sides, as befits the prerogatives of true ownership. If He were to punish sin always, what refuge would remain for humankind? In fact, He often forgives, and at times He administers punishment for a sin as a warning, so that the heedless may awaken and turn towards Him, as the Quran states:
وَمَآ اَصَابَکُمۡ مِّنۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٍ فَبِمَا کَسَبَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ وَیَعۡفُوۡا عَنۡ کَثِیۡرٍ
“And whatever misfortune befalls you, is due to what your own hands have wrought. And He forgives many of your sins. (Surah ash-Shura, Ch.42: V.31)” (Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 23, p. 23)
So, if we go through a hardship, which after self-reflection may be thought of as a divine warning from Allah, we should also know that it is never too late to attain Allah’s grace and mercy. The path to Allah is not marked by perfection, but by persistence. Falling into sin does not mean failure in this pursuit, but abandoning hope does. Every sincere attempt of repentance and every prayer offered despite feeling unworthy is beloved to Allah.
No matter how distant we may feel, Allah’s mercy is always closer than we think. With patience, persistence and prayer, we can enter the door of forgiveness which remains forever open.