Reconciliation in Islam

[Micosil]

Salam to all my Muslim friends on CAF!

It is well known that in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, the sacrament of Penance (confession) is the ordinary manner in which the penitent seeks God’s forgiveness from serious offenses (mortal sins). In Protestantism, it is generally a prayer in which the faithful seeks mercy and God’s forgiveness with a firm resolution to attempt to not sin again.

What is the equivalent or analogous process in Islam?

 

[xaira]

In Islam you pray directly to God to repent. You never know if you’re forgiven or not. However one of allahs 99 names is the all merciful. One is taught that allahs mercy exceeds the mercy of 70 mothers.
I converted to Islam in my 20s and practiced for about 5 years.

 

[drac16]

Wa alaykum salam,

You just ask God directly to forgive you. We don’t have all kinds of sacraments where the clergy has to hold your hand and distribute God’s mercy. You just pray to Allah directly and He will forgive if you are sincere. It’s simple.

There’s also a type of dhikr that muslims will recite. They say “Astaghfirullah”, which means “Forgive me, God” 70 times or 100 times (you can even count with beads if you want, which is sort of like the Rosary that catholics do).

 

[drac16]

In Islam you pray directly to God to repent. You never know if you’re forgiven or not. However one of allahs 99 names is the all merciful. One is taught that allahs mercy exceeds the mercy of 70 mothers.
I converted to Islam in my 20s and practiced for about 5 years.

Hogwash. I know that I am forgiven.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (surah 2:186)

“Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped’.” (surah 39:54-54)

There are dozens of promises in the Qur’an about Allah’s mercy. When you say something like “You can’t really know if you’re forgiven”, it makes me wonder how devout you were (as a muslim).

 

[TonyBS]

Hogwash. I know that I am forgiven.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (surah 2:186)

“Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped’.” (surah 39:54-54)

There are dozens of promises in the Qur’an about Allah’s mercy. When you say something like “You can’t really know if you’re forgiven”, it makes me wonder how devout you were (as a muslim).

Yes I would see it that way as well.

We ask forgiveness of transgressions and then do not repeat. It we repeat, we agin have to ask and try harder not to repeat. God knows all our struggles and gives us what we need to face them and subdue our selves to overcome.

Regards Tony

 

[SyroMalankara]

Hogwash. I know that I am forgiven.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (surah 2:186)

“Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped’.” (surah 39:54-54)

There are dozens of promises in the Qur’an about Allah’s mercy. When you say something like “You can’t really know if you’re forgiven”, it makes me wonder how devout you were (as a muslim).

Is there a concept of going over these issues with a spiritual guide or elder, or is this all internal?

 

[drac16]

Is there a concept of going over these issues with a spiritual guide or elder, or is this all internal?

Excellent question!

Yeah, Sufism has a long and rich history of having sheikhs mentor people (a sheikh is an Islamic scholar). What often happens is that you join what’s called a Tariqa. Within a Tariqa, there’s a sheikh who counsels you and gives you devotional practices to do (like meditating on the 99 names of Allah).

I am of the opinion that it’s not necessary for a sufi to join a Tariqa. It can help, especially for persons who are new to the faith, but I don’t believe it’s absolutely necessary. Allah’s Grace is sufficient to guide someone, whether they’re mentored by a sheikh or not.