Day 29: Rivers of Purity Vs Fury

Indeed, we are created weak and prone to sins. We make mistakes, but we should not languish in our follies because our humanity suffers in pains, our soul is burdened and our conscience is perturbed until we make amend. Allah says, “…it is God’s Will to lighten your burdens, for humankind was created weak.”  (Q4:28)

Allah has given us an opportunity to be purified in three great rivers in this world so that we can have tranquillity. Those who fail to be purified here will then have to be purified in the Hereafter. Yes, you might be a believer, your sins and the impurities you imbibed must be cleaned here or in the Hereafter.

The first river is the River of Sincere Repentance – you must willingly and sincerely review, regret and repent with a resolve never to return to the sins. The second is the River of Good Deeds which will drown your sins. So you will increase your good deeds as these will help remove the stains on your life. The third is the River of Great Calamities. Painful things will happen to you to cleanse you and test your faith. You must be patient and grateful.

So, when Allah intends good for His slave, He allows you to swim in one or more of the above rivers, not requiring the fourth purification. The fourth river of purification is the River of Hell-fire in Aakhirah.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “So swim in the river of repentance and doing good deeds and have patience in the river of calamities. Do not neglect these before a day comes when you will be drowned in the river of Hell-fire whose fuel is men and stones.” (Madaarij as-Saalikeen Vol 1, page 312)

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

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