Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 432
Malfuzat - English translation of Urdu Volume 10 432 God. Misfortunes and trials cling to people like ants. There is no way to be safeguarded from them except being engaged in istighfar and repentance with a sincere heart. The meaning of repentance and forgiveness is not what people have taken it to be these days. There cannot be any benefit from saying َّٰ أَسْتَغْفِر ُ الل َّٰ أَسْتَغْفِر ُ الل [ Astaghfirullah, astagh- firullah ], when the meaning is not even understood by anyone. َّٰ أَسْتَغْفِر ُ الل is an expression in the Arabic language. As this was the mother tongue of those people, they had understood its mean- ing well. The meaning of istighfar is to seek the protection of God Almighty from one’s previous sins and the punishment of one’s offences, and to beg protection from committing sin in the future. Prophets would always engage in istighfar as did the common people as well. Some ignorant Christian priests have criticised the istigh- far of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and have written that his performing istighfar is proof— God forbid!—of the sinfulness of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. These uninformed people do not even understand that istighfar is a lofty quality [in one’s character]. Mankind, by nature, is created such that its natural tendency is feeble and frail. Prophets experience the fear of this inherent frailty and the weakness of human nature. For this rea- son, they pray that O my Allah, grant us such protection that those human weaknesses are not even capable of appearing. The [Arabic] word ghafar means ‘to cover’. The essential point is that the power that God wields is not possessed by any Prophet, nor any wali [saint] or Messenger. No one can possibly claim that they can safeguard themselves from sin through their own capability. Therefore, Prophets also stand in need of God for the sake of protection. Wherefore as a demonstration of his humble submission before God, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also