Faith Friday: Saint vs. Sinner

{via YoAz}

“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Mr. Mandela's words reminded of the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). 

“All human beings without exception are sinful, but the best sinners are those who repent the most.” {Tirmidhi}

Whatever the magnitude of your sins, purify your soul by offering repentance and be hopeful of Allah’s mercy. Despair is the characteristic of disbelievers. The integrals of seeking forgiveness are that you recognize the sin that you have committed and determine never to do so again. Thus, to be repentant dictates that you stay away from all such situations and events wherein it is likely that you will falter and commit the evil again.  

"And who, when they have committed a shameful deed or have [otherwise] sinned against themselves, remember Allah and pray that their sins be forgiven - for who but Allah could forgive sins? - and do not knowingly persist in doing whatever [wrong] they may have done.” {Quran 3:135} -- source: Daily Hadith

Nelson Mandela is critically ill at the moment. Let's keep our thoughts and prayers with him along with our brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity, inshaAllah.

"Allah, the Lord of honour and glory, will accept the repentance of His servant till his death-rattle begins." {Tirmidhi}