The Honour of Prophets — Page 34
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 34 16 خُلِقَ الْاِنْسَانُ ضَعِيْفًا In other words, man is created weak. It is this feebleness of man, which without the helping hand of God, leads to diverse forms of sin. The essence of istighfar therefore is that one should ever and always seek the succour of God, and beseech Him so that human failing, which is frailty of the flesh and is inescapable, may not come to light. A person who constantly takes to istighfar fur nishes evidence that they have overcome human frailty through the descent of divine light, which covered it and prevented it from being exposed. Here, it ought to be remembered that the word istighfar is derived from the Arabic ghafrun meaning to suppress and cover up, i. e. to supplicate that human frailty does not become manifest, causing harm, but rather remains covered. Man is neither God, nor independent of Him, and so he resembles the child who at every step is dependent on its mother so that she may protect it from falling and stumbling. In the same way, humanity depends upon God at every step so that He protects them from stumbling and faltering. And so, istighfar is the remedy which aids this purpose. At times, the meaning of this word is extended to apply to such people who have already committed a sin. In such cases, the meaning of istighfar or seeking forgiveness 16 an-Nisa, 4:29