The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 235
6. REPENTANCE AND SEEKING. FORGIVENESS. It is obvious that man is very weak by nature and has been charged with hundreds of Divine commandments. . On account of his weakness, he falls short in carrying out some Divine commandments and sometimes he is overcome by the desires of the self that incite to evil. On account of his weak nature, he deserves that at the time of any slipping, if he should repent and seek forgiveness,. God's mercy should save him from being ruined. It is a certainty that if God had not been the Acceptor of repentance, man would not have been charged with these hundreds of commandments. This proves conclusively that God turns towards man with mercy and is Most. Forgiving. . Meaning of Taubah (Repentance). Taubah (Repentance) means that a person should discard a vice with the resolve that thereafter, even if he is thrown into the fire, he would not commit that vice. . When man turns towards God Almighty with such sincerity and firm resolve, then God, who is Benevolent and Merciful, forgives him that particular sin. It is one of the high Divine attributes that God accepts repentance and saves a sinner from ruin. . If man had not the hope of his repentance being accepted, he would not be able to refrain from sinning. The Chris235