Repentance Accompanied By Rectification and Clarification

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

After Their Concealment of The Truth, What Did Allah Also Command The Carriers of Knowledge Among The People of The Scripture?

Repentance Accompanied By Rectification and Clarification

Allah, The Most High, said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed). These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. [al-Baqarah 159-160]

[وَأَصْلَحُوا – and do righteous deeds] by rectifying what was corrupted in their deeds. It is not enough merely to abandon what is repugnant (or evil) until one does what is good. Nor is this enough in the case of the one who conceals (the truth), until he makes clear what he concealed and reveals the opposite of what he had hidden. It is such a person whom Allah accepts in repentance. [1]

[وبينوا – and openly declare] what they concealed. [2]

[إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا – Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed)]- Meaning, they turn away from what they had been upon, rectify their deeds and their circumstances, and make clear to people what they had concealed. [3]

Umar Ibn Khattab, may Allah be pleased witrh him, said: Sincere repentance is that a person repents from sins and reminds himself not to return to sinning. Al-Hasan Al-Basri was asked about sincere repentance, he said: “It is regret (felt in) the heart, asking for forgiveness with the tongue, the limbs refrain from sinning and being cautious of returning to sin”. Ibn Mas’ud said: “Sincere repentance expiates every evil deed”, then he recited the Ayah [i.e. Ayah 8 Surah At-Tahreem] [4]

Shaqeeq Al-Balkhi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “The signs of repentance are: Weeping over what has preceded, fear of falling into sin (again), keeping way from evil companions and accompanying the good people”. [5]

[1] Tafsir as-Sadi
[2] al-Baghawi
[3] Ibn kathir
[4] Ibn al-Jawzi [Zad Al-Maseer Fee Ilm at-Tafseer]
[6] Nazha Al-Fudalaa 711.