Apologize, Repent and Reform

 
 
 
 
One of the systems designed by God almighty for the believers to constantly purify their souls and ultimately attain salvation is repentance. This divine system is to benefit from while we are still on earth. Repenting is always accompanied by two basic procedures. One of them is our apology to God which is how we acknowledge our sin and express our regret and remorse. It is like pleading guilty to God almighty, and asking Him to forgive that sin for us. Then we repent which means we make a promise to God that we will not go back to the same sin. After that a third procedure must follow which is reform. Reform is our chance to fulfill our promise and prove to God almighty our firm repentance.
 
The Quran clearly states that God forgives all sins as long as we follow these three basic steps - begging Him for His forgiveness (apology), repent to Him, then fulfill the promise by reforming. Going back to the same sin after repenting would nullify it and indicate our failure to reform. On the other hand, being firm in our repentance means that we have succeeded, by the will of God, to reform. Not only repentance is an exclusive trait for the true believers, but also a practice that God loves to witness His sincere servants going through (2:222). Being the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, God rewards those who repent by transforming their sins into credits:
 
[11:3]  "You SHALL seek your Lord's forgiveness, THEN repent to Him. He will then bless you generously for a predetermined period, and bestow His grace upon those who deserve it. If you turn away, then I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day."
 
[4:146]  Only those who REPENT, REFORM, HOLD FAST to GOD, and DEVOTE their religion absolutely to GOD alone, will be counted with the believers. GOD will bless the believers with a great recompense.
 
     God's Infinite Mercy
[39:53]  Proclaim: "O My servants who exceeded the limits, never despair of God's mercy. For GOD forgives all sins. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."
 
     The Believers Repent
[66:8]  O you who believe, you SHALL repent to GOD a firm repentance. Your Lord will then remit your sins and admit you into gardens with flowing streams. On that day, GOD will not disappoint the prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will radiate in front of them and to their right. They will say, "Our Lord, perfect our light for us, and forgive us; You are Omnipotent."
 
[25:70]  Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life. GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
 
All these steps are to be practiced while on earth. Once we leave this earth, our records are final. We cannot touch them or edit them. We are either redeemed, doomed, or waiting for God's mercy in the Purgatory.
 
This system is set straight in the Quran for us to also learn how to deal with our transgressions when others besides God and His commands are disrespected and violated. In this case, the damage  extends beyond our own souls to others or, on a bigger scale, becomes public. Those three steps set for us the right etiquette in dealing with God as well as the harmed party. They also offer a healthy remedy for all the harmful consequences resulting from our transgression. We apologize to others by admitting our wrong actions or words. We show that we regret them, and we express that clearly and sincerely to the involved party that has suffered from our aggression. We might be able to offer our own justification for the aggression, but this should have nothing to do with the fact that we must express our sorrow and remorse for what we have done. We also promise that we will not do that again, then strive to keep that promise and offer a way to fix any damage that we might have contributed to by our aggressive actions, words, or stands. God has educated us in the Quran with these exact, three basic procedures to achieve peace and redemption for our souls ; apology (ask for forgiveness), repentance ( promise to never do that again) , and reform ( keep the promise and fix the damage if there is any).. We apply them as a set pattern and a civilized and healthy formula, prescribed by God, to deal with our transgression against others. It is the only system that would bring peace and closure for  the involved parties. It also offers the healthiest management of all the harmful feelings we tend to accumulate deep inside when we do not deal with our transgressions against others, such as guilt, shame, regret, and remorse.  
 
A good example set for us in the Quran that shows how important it is to consider fixing any public damage resulting from our sins by proclaiming these three steps is in regard of the concealment of the truth. The public harm of concealing the truth lies on misleading others. Therefore, while following the three basic steps to redeem our souls, we must deal with the public consequences by acknowledging our transgression, fixing the damage, and proclaiming the truth:
 
      Gross Offense
[2:159]  Those who conceal our revelations and guidance, after proclaiming them for the people in the scripture, are condemned by GOD; they are condemned by all the condemners.
[2:160]  As for those who REPENT, REFORM, and PROCLAIM, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
 
Another example that proves the validity of these three basic steps in achieving peace is set in 49:9-10. Peace cannot be achieved between disputing parties as dictated in 49:10 until justice is served by fixing the corrupted actions of the the aggressive party and compensating the harmed one. Being equitable and just towards our souls and others is the essence behind our apology, repentance, and reform. These procedures are the only resort to redeem our souls and end our dispute with others in a healthy fashion and based on God's recommendations:
 
           Reconcile The Believers
[49:9]  If two groups of believers fought with each other, you shall reconcile them. If one group aggresses against the other, you shall fight the aggressing group until they submit to GOD's command. Once they submit, you shall reconcile the two groups equitably. You shall maintain justice; GOD loves those who are just.
[49:10]  The believers are members of one family; you shall keep the peace within your family and reverence GOD, that you may attain mercy.
 
Egoistically or out of ignorance, some confuse the apology with the repentance. They think that one can substitute the other. There is NO excuse for that. We know that God doesn't run out of words and that His precision in choosing every single word and letter in the Quran is for a reason. He has chosen two clear, different, and self explanatory words for these two separate and distinct actions. One is "repentance" or "tawbah" in Arabic and the other is "eatethar," and many other derivatives of the same root for apology. God has never mixed up these two steps. He doesn't err. We must offer our apologies whenever needed before our repentance to God almighty or before we promise others with reform (11:30). The following verses are about apology, not repentance:
 
[66:7]  O you who disbelieved, do not apologize today. You are being requited only for what you did.
 
[77:34]  Woe on that day to the rejectors.
[77:35]  That is the day they do not speak.
[77:36]  Nor are they given permission to apologize.
 
[40:52]  On that day, the apologies of the disbelievers will not benefit them. They have incurred condemnation; they have incurred the worst destiny.
 
In conclusion, apology is a basic first step in dealing with our transgressions whether they are against God or others. Repentance and reform, should follow that basic step. We must apologize before we promise God and/or others not to go back to the same transgression. God almighty has taught us that formula and it is the healthiest procedure to end disputes, and bring closure to pain, and guilt. The same peace and the ultimate redemption for our souls are achievable when we utilize that divine system with God whenever we sin. 
 
NO apologies will be effective on the Day of Judgment. On that Day, we basically cannot make up any thing we have missed on earth including apologies to God or to others. We can not repent, and we will not have any chance to reform. This is why it is far better for our souls to deal with our transgressions during this life, before we miss the chance and die with our loads of guilt, pain, shame, regret, and remorse..One of the attributes for the Day of Judgment is being the Day of Remorse. Remorse is an awful and intolerable feeling that would torture the guilty ones who couldn't overcome their egos to apologize, and repent for their transgressions on earth. 
 
[19:39]  Warn them about the Day of Remorse, when judgment will be issued. They are totally oblivious; they do not believe.
 
[25:14]  You will not declare just a single remorse, on that day; you will suffer through a great number of remorses.
 
[30:57]  Therefore, no apology, on that day, will benefit the transgressors, nor will they be excused.
 
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.
 

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