Sometimes it is the case that we find ourselves in the grip of a sinful habit that, despite our numerous efforts to desist from that habit, we return to it over and over again.

We pray to Allah for forgiveness and resolve in our hearts not to do it again, but in no time we find ourselves right back where we started and our hearts become filled with despair. It is during these times that our enemy - the great deceiver and subtle whisperer who is intent on our utter perdition - pays us a visit. He, shaytan (the devil) inserts suggestions into our minds, such as the following:

 "You cannot overcome that sin, so just give up trying."

"It is not that sinful anyways, and no one can see you, so no big deal."

"Allah will not forgive you because you keep doing it over and over again, and os you are doomed."

"You are a hypocrite and there is no salvation for hypocrites"

And the list of what he tells us goes on and on.

Allah says in the Quran: “He (Abraham) said: "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord, but such as go astray?" and "O my sons! go ye and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith." 

I encourage you to read the wider context of these verses to get the fuller meaning of what Allah is seeking to convey to us as the lessons are most comforting.

Never, my dear fellow Muslims, give up on making repentance to Allah no matter how many times you fall into the same sin. Do not give in to the whisperings of the shaytan for he is a liar.  Allah loves to forgive his servants, for he is Rahman (Beneficent) and Raheem (Most Merciful). Take note of the beautiful Hadeeth Qudsi as a comforting reminder:

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may peace be upon him, from among the things he reports from his Lord, mighty and sublime be He, is that he said:

“A servant [of Allah's] committed a sin and said: O Allah, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them. Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them. Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins. Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.”  – (Muslim and Bukhari)

And look at the generosity of Allah in this following Hadeeth Qudsi:

On the authority of son of Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), among the sayings he related from his Lord (glorified and exalted be He) is that He said: “Allah has written down the good deeds and the bad ones. Then He explained it [by saying that] he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over. But if he has intended a bad deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah is Most Merciful. Continue to do good deeds and remember Him much throughout your day no matter who many times you fall into error. Think well of your Lord and he will never disappoint you. 

This article first appeared at Yahya's blog on life, politics, religion, culture, etc: http://yahyaottawa.blogspot.com/. Reprinted with permission.