Six Stages of Repentance according to Imam Ali

Six Stages of Repentance according to Imam Ali as Lord we have wronged ourselves and if You do not forgive us, and have mercy upon us, we shall surely be among the lost. (7: 23) Two form its basis, two are the requisites for its acceptance and two for its completion. We need to be repentant before death. This is because our belief must be just that, belief. It cannot depend on it being proven to us when we glimpse what is ahead when we are about to die. A ppt about the six stages of repentance according to Imam Ali as discussed by Ayatollah Murtadha Mutahhari in the book 'Spiritual Discourses'. Islamic Ethics – Suraiya Ahmed

Stage One – Regretting what has passed We must have contemplated the sins we have committed to the point where we feel regret for our past actions. Without going to this level we are not taking the process of repentance seriously.

Stage Two - Decisive resolution not to repeat the deed again. Success or failure depends on the decisions we make. In regard to repenting we have already stated that we must have regret for what we have done. Following this we need to make the decision to not repeat this deed again. Again this needs to be done with thought and commitment.

Stage Three – Return what belongs to others Returning what belongs to others is not only to be thought of in the literal sense. It is also about restoring a right that we have disregarded. We must give the wronged party satisfaction. Repentance does not depend on the enormity of sin. Every kind of sin, whether big or small, lends itself to repentance provided the Penitent is serious in his or her intention.

Stage Four – Restoration of heavenly rights And he who repents, after his evil doing and makes amends, God is All compassionate. (5: 39) We need to make up all those actions that we have let slide such as prayers or fasts. We may have had the finances to travel for Hajj and yet not gone. Allah has commanded actions of us in this life and for repentance to be accepted we must make amends.

Stage Five – mortification of the flesh, abstinence and self-discipline. To benefit from what is legitimate. Making changes that are necessary but not always comfortable is needed for repentance. When we sin we have lapsed in our judgement and behaviour reflects this. We are in need of self discipline so that when those urges arise that tempt us towards the wrong path that we can recognise them and choose the right path. This is part of our personal Jihad where our soul and desires need to be balanced.

Stage Six – the body needs to taste the pain of deviation and worship. God loves those who repent and He loves those who cleanse themselves. (2: 222)