The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 295
The Holy Prophetsa 295 This means that: The succour and victory that had been promised having come and you having seen, O Prophet, that people are entering into Islām in great hosts, then praise and glorify God, that is to say, confess that what- ever has happened was not your doing but was the grace and beneficence of Allah, and supplicate Allāh in final Istighfar for He is Oft-Returning with compassion. When Prophets are urged to Istighfar, it is wrong to con- clude that this means that they have to seek forgiveness like sinful people. In their case, it is a confession of their nothingness and humility and weakness and is a respect- ful way of seeking His help. As these verses affirm that the purpose of the advent of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] had been fulfilled, that is to say, thousands of people had accepted Islām and this was an indication of the approaching death of the Holy Prophet he died within a year of the receipt of this revelation-it was natural that as these verses had given pleasure to the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Al- lah be on him] he should also be concerned that the garden having been planted, what about its future irriga- tion? So God Almighty, in order to remove this concern of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] urged him to Istighfar. The meaning of maghfirat is so to cover up a person that he should be safeguarded against calamities. Thus, migh- far means a helmet. Istighfar means that the calamity that is feared or the sin that is apprehended, may be covered up and stopped from becoming manifest. In this case it was to convey reassurance to the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] that he should not grieve over the faith, that God Almighty would not let it