Khutbah Excerpt: Du’a to Blot out Bad Deeds
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said “[There are] four types of people – should they possess these [actions] they will never be destroyed [in the Fire of Hell]:Those who intend to do good deeds. For the one who makes the intention and he fulfills it, Almighty Allah (SWT) will bless him with the reward of that single good deed times ten. And for the one who made the intention but did not fulfill it, he will still gain the reward of that single deed as if he did it.
[The other two] are those who intend to do bad deeds. As for the one who made such an intention but does not act upon it – Almighty Allah (SWT) will bless him with the reward of a single good deed.
And as for the one who fulfills his intention to do a bad deed, Allah (SWT) will allow a delay of the recording it for seven hours. So [when the bad deed is fulfilled] the Angel who writes the Good Deeds will say to the Angel who writes the Bad Deeds “Please, don’t rush to record it. Perhaps he will do a good deed to blot it out, for Almighty Allah (SWT) said:
“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).”
Or maybe he might ask for forgiveness by saying:
TRANSLITERATION:
As-Stagh-fe-rul-laah Al-la-thee
Laa E-laa-ha Illa who
‘Aa-le-mul Ghay-be wa Sha-haa-dah
Al-‘Azeezul Ha-keem
Al-Ghaw-foo-rur Ra-heem
Thul Ja-laa-le Wal- Ik-raam
Wa A-too-bu E-layh
“I seek Allah’s forgiveness – The One Whom there is no God except Him – Knower of The Unseen and The Seen. The Almighty, The Wise, The Forgiving, The Most Merciful, The Lord of Glory and Honor – and I turn to Him in repentance.”
Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) continued saying “Should he ask for forgiveness in this manner, the Bad Deed will not be recorded.
However, if seven hours go by, and he did not follow his bad deeds by good deeds, nor did he repent what he had done – the Angel who writes the Good Deeds will say to his companion who writes the Bad Deeds “Write that sin on that Sad Fool.” And thus the Angel will record the bad deed.”