[1] A Reminder from One of My Closest Friends Regarding Forgetfulness

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As usual, while returning from work and engaged in our nightly conversations about different Masaa’il, my close friend, companion, confidant, colleague, and teacher, Ustadh Abu Tasneen, Mushaf al-Banghali, may Allah preserve him and his family, mentioned to me the subject matter regarding forgetfulness. So, I decided to engage in some reading of several verses for further benefits, and wish to share them for the next few days, InShaAllah. I ask Allah to grant me and my family, him and his family, all the teachers and their families, and all of you, an increase in steadfastness, Sidq and righteous deeds. Ameen.

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا

And never say of anything, “I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.” Except (with the saying), “If Allah will!” And remember your Lord when you forget and say: “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this.” [al-Kahf 23-24]

وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ
And remember your Lord when you forget.

The command to remember Allah when one forgets, for indeed, it removes (forgetfulness) and reminds the servant of what he forgot. Likewise, the one who is inattentive and forgetful regarding the remembrance of Allah is commanded to remember his Lord and not be among the heedless. Since the servant is in need of Allah to grant him Tawfiq to attain what is correct and avoid error in his statements and actions, Allah commanded him to say: “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this.”

Therefore, He commanded him to invoke Allah, hope in Him, and trust Him to guide him to the nearest paths leading to upright guidance. It is befitting for a servant of Allah to be in this state, and then exert his effort and exhaust his utmost ability in seeking guidance and upright conduct, that he be granted success in this, that assistance comes to him from his Lord, and that He guides him in all his affairs. [An Excerpt from Tafsir As-Sadi]