that of
tawba
(repentance).
Tawba
was the first step towards a new spiritual
life, for it redeemed one of a past sinful life. Furthermore, if repentance
came from a sincere heart, it served as a safeguard against future sins.Thus
tawba
brought about a complete revolution in one’s life. Shaykh Nizamuddin
once observed that
tawba
was of two kinds — of the present and of the
future.The
tawba
of the present meant that a man felt guilty about past sins
and sincerely regretted them and the
tawba
of the future required him to
be fully determined never to commit those sins again, that is, to refrain
from further wrongdoing.
God assures us that no matter what our sins have been, if we truly
repent and seek His forgiveness, and take steps to put right our wrongs,
He will forgive us.
But the true
tawba
according to the Chishtis was not a mere repetition
of words. Rather it involved offering compensation to those who were
wronged. For instance, if someone stole money from another, not only had
he to repay the amount, but he also had to exert himself to placate the
person who was robbed. If someone abused another, it was necessary for
the abuser to approach the abused and offer him his sincere apologies.Thus
tawba
aimed at revolutionizing the whole life of an individual.
‘Dhikr’
means to remember God. One must remember God at all times
and in all situations. When a person reaches the stage of perpetual
remembrance, it is an indication that he has found God, with all His
attributes.The Sufi
dhikr
is a spiritual method of attaining concentration. It
is a technique whereby God’s name is recited in a rhythmical way, the aim
being to feel the divine presence in one’s inner being. In the process, one of
God’s 99 names is generally invoked while controlling the respiration.
