Tawba
Definition
Tawba literally means 'to return' — a turning of the heart away from sin and back toward God. Al-Ghazali defines it as a three-part inward event: first, the knowledge that sin is a veil between the servant and his Lord; second, a deep remorse that makes the heart ache over what was done; and third, a firm, sincere resolve to abandon the sin immediately and never return to it. These three must coexist simultaneously for repentance to be genuine. If any element is absent — if one knows the sin is wrong but feels no grief, or feels grief but delays action — then tawba is incomplete. It is the first station on the path to God and the foundation of every subsequent spiritual virtue.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Tawba.
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"Chapter: If someone unlawfully seizes property and the original owner passes away, making it impossible to return it to them, the responsibility falls on the usurper to return it to the rightful heir. If that heir also passes away, the property must be returned to their heir, and so on. If the usurper fails to return the property to the original owner or any of the heirs, the question arises: in the Hereafter, who will have the right to demand it?"
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume One
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"without their knowledge, so they might recognize it when they returned home, encouraging them to come back. It was said that Yusuf wished for them to return the goods when they found them in their land, or he feared they might not have enough to return. Some said it was to avoid taking from them in exchange for provisions. The interpreters have differed regarding their merchandise, which will be mentioned later. Among the people of the book, it is said they were bundles of silver, which seems more likely, and Allah knows best. When they returned to their father, they said, O our father, we have been denied further measure, so send with us our"
— Ibn Kathir, The Story of Ishaq & Yaqub
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"This is the minimum required for the rights of Muslims, and the evidence supporting these rights is plentiful. This duty holds precedence over the obligation to return greetings, as neglect in these matters causes more harm than failing to return a greeting. Moreover, there is no dispute that if a person's property is unjustly taken and can be retrieved by testimony, it becomes incumbent to testify; withholding testimony is sinful."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 19: The Book of Commanding Good and Forbidding Evil
Appears in
3 books in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Tawba the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.