The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 239
Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness 239 forgiveness. This is not limited to once or twice, but it is the eternal attribute of God Almighty that He turns towards a remorseful and repentant servant whenever the latter turns to Him. Thus it is not God's natural law that a weak person should not stumble or that the nature of those who are overcome by their animal faculties should be changed, but His eternal law is that those who commit sin should be forgiven through repentance and seeking forgiveness. [Brāhin-e-Aḥmadiyya, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 1, pp. 185-187, footnote 11]. Man Turns to God with Remorse and God Turns to. Man with Mercy. In Arabic idiom, Taubah (repentance) means 'returning', and that is why in the Holy Qur'ān God's name is also. Tawwab, that is to say, He Who is Oft-Returning. This means that when a person discarding sin turns to God with a sincere heart, God Almighty turns even more to him. This is altogether in accord with the law of nature. . God Almighty has made it part of human nature that when a person turns to another with a sincere heart, the latter's heart is also softened for him. Then how can reason accept that when a servant turns towards God. Almighty with a true heart God should not turn to him?. Indeed God, Who is Benevolent and Merciful, turns even more towards His servant. That is why in the Holy. Qur'an, God's name, as we have just mentioned, is also. Tawwāb, meaning Oft-Returning. . Man's turning to God is through remorse and humility and meekness, and God's turning to man is with mercy and forgiveness. If mercy were not one of the attributes of God Almighty, no one would be delivered. It is a pity that people do not ponder over the attributes of God. Almighty and depend entirely upon their own actions.