Question:
How to stop from committing a sin that has been committed for a long time? Even after numerous attempts and resolve to stop, I still fall into the sin again and again. Is there any supplication for me or certain worships that I can do to stop sinning?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
As a human being, mistakes, sins and misdeeds are things that we cannot avoid. This is the truth of the nature of humans, which is full of weaknesses, shortcomings and imperfections. There are a lot of Quranic and prophetic evidences explaining this. One of them is a hadith from Anas bin Malik RA, where he said the Prophet PBUH said:
كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ
“Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent."
Sunan Ibn Majah (4392)
According to the above hadith, it is understood that every son of Adam does mistakes. Even if the mistake is not a sin, however, according to siyaaq (context) of the hadith, the word al-khata’ clearly means sin. This is because the next sentence after it states that the best of people, are those who repent after they sinned. Generally, it is known that only sin would require repentance. The hadith conveys the message that every son of Adam commits sin and the best among them are those who repent to Allah SWT.
The same is stated in another hadith from Abu Hurairah R.A, the Prophet PBUH said:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوا لَذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ وَلَجَاءَ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُونَ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ فَيَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ
"By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, were you not to commit sins, Allah would replace you with people who would commit sins and then seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah would forgive them."
Sahih Muslim (2749)
To better understand the above hadith, and to prevent any misunderstandings from readers, we include the commentary and opinion of Imam al-Mubarakfuri Rahimahullah:
“It is you – O mukallaf people or O you who believe – that does not commit sins, surely Allah SWT would dismiss you through death, and replace you with people among you or from other people that commits sins. Which is, some of them may commit sin then they recite istighfar to Allah, repenting and hoping for His forgiveness. Thus, Allah SWT would forgive them for He is al-Ghaffar (Most Forgiving), and Allah SWT states:
اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّاراً
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.”
Surah Nuh (10)
And it is a norm for the impeccable attribute of Allah SWT (as al-Ghafoor Most Forgiving) that there is the existence of sins and misdeeds to humans. In other words, if all of you are ma’sum like the angels, surely Allah SWT would replace you with other people that commit sins so that Allah SWT’s attribute of Most Forgiving is not neglected.” Refer Mir’aat al-Mafaatih, Al-Mubarakfuri (8/23).
We would like to add, that Allah SWT is al-Ghafur, al-‘Afuww, al-Rahim and al-Sittir, clearly shows that humans are certainly a creation that makes mistakes and commits sins.
However, the stated evidences here are not an encouragement or a license for someone to continuously commit sins, for a person that commits sins should not feel that he is safe from Allah SWT’s punishment. But at the same time, he should not give up on Allah SWT’s rahman (mercy).
The following we share the things that could be practised to those who are continuously committing sin. Some of them are:
First: Increase Istighfar and Repentance
Someone who commits sins must always repent and do istighfar. This is in accordance to the few hadith and Quranic evidence we have stated before. Allah SWT said:
فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّابِينَ غَفُورًا
“Then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.”
Surah al-Isra’ (25)
The scholars have differing opinions as to who the awwabeen is in this verse, but there is an interesting commentary by a tabiin scholar Imam Sa’id Ibn al-Musayyib Rahimahullah, where he said:
الَّذِي يُصِيبُ الذَّنْبَ ثُمَّ يَتُوب ثُمَّ يُصِيبُ الذَّنْبَ ثُمَّ يَتُوب
“(Awwabeen) is someone that commits sin, then he repents. He commits sin again, then he repents.” See Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, Ibn Katsir (5/68).
Whereas, another tabiin scholar, al-Imam Mujahid bin Jabr Rahimahulah, a student of Abdullah Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma said:
هُو الَّذِي إِذَا ذَكَرَ ذُنُوبَهُ فِي الْخَلَاء فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ مِنْهَا
“(Awwabeen) is someone that remembers his sins when he is alone, then repents and asks for Allah SWT’s forgiveness for his sins.” See Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, Ibn Katsir (5/68).
Thus, from both the commentaries above, we understand that Allah SWT is Most Forgiving, even to those that commit sin after sin, as long as he comes back to Allah SWT, reflects and regrets the sins that he did, then ask for forgiveness from Allah SWT.
Furthermore, the Quran explains the characteristics of people with taqwa are those that remember Allah SWT, do istighfar, and do not repeat sins that they committed when they have wronged themselves or commits misdeeds. Allah SWT said in the Quran:
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.”
Surah al-Imran (135)
Second: Befriend people with good character
Undeniably, who you are friends with will have an impact and influence on your attitude and character. This is explained in a hadith from Abu Hurairah R.Anha, where the Prophet PBUH said:
الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ
"A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends."
Sunan al-Tarmizi (4833)
The word deen in the hadith can be literally translated as a way of life. Furthermore, the meaning is accurate for someone is usually easily influenced by his friends. If someone befriended pious people of good character, surely his personality would turn to good character too. While someone that chooses to befriend people of bad character, then he would be affected by his friends’ negative character onto himself. Follow the commandment of Allah SWT:
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ
“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance.”
Surah al-Kahfi (28)
Imam al-Tobari in commenting on this verse said: “Be patient O Muhammad with your companions, who always remember Allah SWT through tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, supplication and other acts of worship such as the obligatory prayer, not hoping for anything except Allah SWT attention and not hoping for the worldly matters for their actions.” See Tafsir al-Tobari, Ibn Jarir (18/5).
Even though the verse is meant for the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, the message is intended for all Muslims as a whole. This is due to the fact that the ibrah (wisdom) is from the generality of the words and not at the specificity of reason as has been stated in Islamic legal maxim.
Hence, befriend pious people and get closer to Allah SWT. Furthermore, it is best for someone to increase suhbah (getting closer) to scholars and attend Islamic sermons or teachings to always renew and increase one’s iman, knowledge and wisdom.
Third: Increase One’s Supplication (Doa)
It is recommended to always make doa to Allah SWT, so that he will always be obedience towards Allah SWT and His religion. There is a supplication (doa) taught by the Prophet PBUH:
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.”
Sunan al-Tarmizi (3522)
The above supplication is said to be the supplication most recited by the Prophet PBUH by Ummul Mu’minin Ummu Salamah R.Anha. This is because human hearts changed easily and are easily influenced by shaytan. Only by Allah SWT’s help and guidance we will be able to stand firm and be steadfast in obedience and avoiding sins and misdeeds.
Conclusion
Lastly, the few solutions we stated above is just a small portion of what someone can do to return and repent to Allah SWT after he has continuously committed sins and misdeeds. The rest will depend on the resolve, determination and will of an individual to give his best effort in leaving the sin and misdeed. May Allah SWT give us a clear understanding to us all, forgive all our sins, and make us be among His servants that are sincere and steadfast in worship to Him. Ameen.