MERIT OF ISTIGHFAR & ITS INFLUENCE
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "He who binds himself to make Istighfar, *Allah carves for him a way out of every hardship, and from every anxiety a solace.* And He will provide for him (provision) from where he did not expect."
[Abu Dawud # 1518, Ibn Majah # 3819, Musand Ahmad # 1-248, Mishkaat #2339]
Commentry:
If a sin is committed or an anxiety, distress or grief descends on anyone, he must make Istighfar. Or, one must make Istighfar constantly, for man is dependant on it every moment of his life. This is why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,
طُوبَى لِمَنْ وَجَدَ فِي صَحِيفَتِهِ اسْتِغْفَارًا كَثِيرًا
"He is fortunate who find in his record of deeds numerous Istighfar." [Majah]
He who binds himself to make Istighfar, his heart place a strong reliance on Allah and his sins are forgiven. *So, he is counted among those who fear Allah and who rely on Him. Allah says of such people:*
(And whosoever fears Allah, He appoints a way out for him. And he provides him sustenance from whence he expects not. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, so He will suffice him) [65:2-3]
This aboeve verse is also is the root of this hadith (tradition). The merit of Istighfar is established by this verse too:
*فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ ۗ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُّرْسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّدْرَارًا وَّيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِاَمْوَالٍ وَّبَنِيْنَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَّـكُمْ جَنّٰتٍ وَّيَجْعَلْ لَّـكُمْ اَنْهٰرًا *
"And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver." "He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers" "And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers."
[71:10-12]
Someone complained to Hasan Busri رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ , about drought. He advised him to seek Allah's forgiveness. He gave the same advice to those who complained to poverty and need, of being childless and of poor return from fields. People asked him why he gave the same advice to make Istighfar in all these cases. He recited the foregoing verse in answer. This verse mentions all those things of which people had complained to him.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ , narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "He does not insist (on committing sin) who seeks forgiveness even if he returns to it (sin) seventy times a day."
[Tirmidhi # 3570, Abu Dawud # 1514, Mishkaat #2340]
*Commentry*
'To insist' implies to be stubborn in committing sin again and again. As it is, to sin is itself very bad, what to say of being stubborn and defiant. Committing minor sins again and again leads to major sins doing which repeatedly leads to disbelief. Thus if any one is ashamed of his sin and makes Istighfar for it whether it is minor or major, then he is out of the folds of the stubborn even if he happens to commit this sins very often. Only he is said to insist on sin who commits it repeatedly and I neither ashamed nor repents.