Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah`s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

are we aloud to ask for forgiveness from rasulullah too? for going against what he has taught us?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can we ask forgiveness from Prophet Mohamed (saws)

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the Messenger of Allah (saws) was alive and amongst us, there would be no harm in going to him and seeking his forgiveness for the deeds we do against him. But after his (saws) death, it would not be appropriate or right to seek his forgiveness; for it is Allah Subhanah Alone Who is the All Hearing, Who can hear our supplications, and He it is Who has the power to forgive us our sins.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verses 53-54:

53 Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

54 "Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will) before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 79-80:

We have sent you (O Mohamed) as a Messenger to mankind, and Allah’s witness suffices for this. Whoever obeys the Messenger, in fact obeys Allah, and whoever turns away from him, he (saws) will not be accountable for their deeds. Anyhow, we have not sent you (O Mohamed) to be a guardian over them.

Thus one should ask forgiveness only from Allah Subhanah. If one disobeys the Messenger of Allah (saws), he has in truth disobeyed Allah Subhanah, and thus it is only right that one must turn to Allah Subhanah and seek His Forgiveness.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verses 135-136:

135 And those who having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls; earnestly bring Allah to mind and ask for forgiveness for their sins; and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.

136 For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath; an eternal dwelling; how excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan