Revive a Sunnah

In the name of Allah

Revive a Sunnah: Two Rak'ah for Repentance

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu) said the Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Any person who sins then performs wudu correctly and prays and afterward seeks Allah’s forgiveness Allah forgives him.” Then As-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu) recited the verse” And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults - and who forgives the faults but Allah, and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done. {Al-Imran: 135}

Collected by Abu Dawud (1521) At-Tirmithi (406) Ibn Majah (1395) and Ahmed (1/2-8-9-10) graded as being Hasan by At-Tirmithi, Ibn ‘Adee, Ibn Kathir, At-Thahabee and Al-Albani (rahimahumullah)

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said: "It is a recommended act for every person who sinned to perform Wudu then pray two Rak’ah [Majmu' Fatawaa vol 21 / 139]

Ibn Al-Arabee (rahimahullah) mentioned some beneficial remarks about this hadeeth He wrote the following in ‘Aaridatul Ahwathi Bi Sharh Sunnan At-Tirmithi [vol 2 page 167 . Printed by Darul Kitabul Ilmeeyah]

- This hadeeth shows the superiority of the Wudu, the prayer and the act of seeking Allah’s forgiveness

- This hadeeth explains verse 135 in surah Al-Imran.

- This hadeeth shows how the servant carries out acts of obedience in repenting. First the servant feels regret which purifies him internally. Then he makes wudu. Next he prays. And after he finishes praying he seeks the Most Merciful’s forgiveness.