Perhaps this explains why frequently our notables frequently go on Haj and Umra, some multiple times!!!
But are they doing the repentance ritual right?
Saudi Arabia's Arab Times provides sound advice on how to cleanse your soul/conscience the correct way.
Friday 13 June 2008 (08 Jumada al-Thani 1429)
Regret and Atonement for Past Sins
Adil Salahi, Arab News
The
Q. A certain purchasing manager accepted bribes in the course of his work to facilitate deals for some international companies. Although he received large amounts, he now has very little. He has regretted his action and declared his repentance. He often goes to Makkah for Umrah or to pray in the Haram, and he earnestly appeals to God for forgiveness. Does he need to do anything else to ensure that God will grant him forgiveness?
(Name and address withheld)
A. There is no doubt that bribery is forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "God curses the one who gives a bribe and the one who takes it." This is due to the fact that a bribe is normally given in order to take an unfair advantage. In this person's capacity, he could influence the decisions of his employers, so as to buy certain products in preference to others. He might have ensured a very good price for the companies he was buying from. Had he not taken bribes, he would have made his advice on the qualities each product had, and which product could give the best performance. His action is extremely reprehensible. However, his repentance is very commendable. May God forgive him.
How to ensure God's forgiveness? We need to remember that God may forgive all sins. However, He forgives what is due to Him. If a person neglects certain duties owed to God, such as prayer and fasting, then genuinely repents, God forgives him that. What is needed is simply genuine and sincere repentance, together with a resolve not to do the same sin again.
Where a sin involves taking what is due to other people, or encroaches on their rights, or leads to depriving them of what should have been fairly theirs, such repentance is not enough. In such matters, a sin involves a dual violation of duty: one toward God as the person who commits such a sin actually does what is forbidden, and one toward those whose rights have been compromised. The first part God forgives, but the other He does not, unless the people concerned also forgive the sinner. On the Day of Judgment God puts the two parties face to face and asks whether the aggrieved are willing to forgo their rights. If they do, God rewards them generously for that and forgives the offender. If they do not, then God takes some of the good deeds of the offender and credits them to the other party. If the offender's good deeds are not sufficient to compensate the other party, God takes some of the sins of that party and adds them to the offender, so as to administer justice.
However, a person's repentance may be so genuine that he completely mends his ways and becomes a devoted servant of God. In this case, God in His wisdom and compassion may decide to take over that person's liability toward others. He grants them as much reward as they wish so that they would forgive the repentant offender without taking any part of his good deeds.
To ensure forgiveness, then, one needs to undo the harm he had done to others. If one has deprived people of something due to them, one must return to them what is due to them. I realize that this may be very difficult, or even impossible. In the case of someone who had taken bribes, this can easily be impossible. To start with, if he is to admit taking bribes, he may find himself in prison, when such imprisonment will not benefit anyone. If the bribe was to facilitate a certain deal, the deal might have already gone through and nothing can be done about it. In such cases, one must only try hard to make sure that his repentance is absolutely genuine. He must also try to increase his good deeds. One of the best ways we may try is to give to charity as much as we can. If one can organize an act of charity that continues after one's death, as in the case of an endowment, this ensures continuing reward for him. At all times, one must seek God's forgiveness, because we all make mistakes, slip and commit sins. Unless God forgives us, we will be in real trouble. May God forgive us all.
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