The Power of Istegfar

Imam Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him) was attending his Majlis (gathering) and a man approached him, Please help me. I have been engulfed in sin for my entire life. My sins have overwhelmed me and I know not what to do. Please teach me some method by which Allah will forgive me.

He replied, Make continuous Istighfaar (Seek Allahs forgiveness)

Another man entered and asked, We are suffering from a drought and our crops are in danger of dying. Please give us some good deed to do or some prayer to make by which Allah will bless us with rain.

He replied, Make much Istighfaar

A third man came to Imam Hassan and said, I am poor and downtrodden. My business is failing miserably. For every step I take forward, I fall back two steps. Please advise me with some action by which Allah will put barakah (blessing) in my rizq (sustenance), increase my wealth, and free me from all my debts.

He replied, Make constant Istighfaar (Seek Allahs forgiveness)

A man and his wife entered and asked the Imam, We have been married for years yet have no children. We have suffered for too long with nothing to show for. Please advise us.

He replied, Make much Istighfaar (Seek Allahs forgiveness)

Then a group of men appealed, Imam Hassan, we are farmers with much land but no yield. We have properly cared for our land but it has produced nothing.

Help us our dear Master.

He replied, Make constant Istighfaar (Seek Allahs forgiveness)

Another man asked him, I have newly constructed gardens for which I desire to dig a well. Please pray that abundant water spring forth.

He replied, Make continuous Istighfaar (Seek Allahs forgiveness)

Now a man sitting in his gathering who had witnessed all this quietly approached the Imam and humbly asked him, My teacher, so many different people have come to you seeking your guidance and assistance for their various problems and you have told each one of them to make Istighfaar. Is there some secret that we are not aware of?

Imam Hassan looked up at him and responded, I have not counseled them with anything from my own self. Should I have advised them with something better than the word of Allah? Has He not said in His book:

"I (Prophet Noah)said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is OftForgiving; (10) 'He will send rain to you in abundance; (11) 'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.' " (71:10-12)