The Spirituality of Imperfection

There is a profound reality that unites us all—the spirituality of imperfection. As Ahmadi Muslims, we strive for goodness, but we stumble. We try, we fall, we flounder. Yet, by Allah's grace, we rise again—sometimes by our own resolve, often with the help of others, always with the mercy of our Creator. There is a story of someone asking a monk What is your life like as a monk. The monk replied we walk, we fall down, someone helps us up. We walk some more, someone else falls down. We help them up. That is pretty much what we do. We need to lessen finding faults in others, so as to pay more attention on finding our own faults, so as to rectify them.

Every sin has a past. Every sinner has a future. We're not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. This is the nature of the nafs-e-ammara—the self that incites to evil. The Quran relates this to us in the words of Hazrat Yusuf (as) "And I do not absolve my own self: surely, the soul is prone to enjoin evil—save that whereon my Lord has mercy. Surely, my Lord is Most Forgiving, Merciful." (12:54)

This verse reminds us that our nature is wounded, inclined to slip. We are caught in a cycle—sin, remorse, repentance, and many a times, half-hearted efforts. Our hearts harden, our souls fracture. But Islam, especially as taught by the Promised Messiah (as), does not abandon us to despair.

The Hope in Repentance

When we sin, it feels as if the string that connects us to Allah breaks. But our faith teaches something beautiful: when we turn to Him in sincere remorse and repentance, Allah ties a knot in that string, drawing us even closer to Him. Every act of taubah—repentance—becomes a step towards Him, not away.

The Holy Prophet (sa) said: "All the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent." (Tirmidhi) What this means is that we must strive to graduate from being recurrent sinners to becoming recovering sinners.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: And that you seek forgiveness of your Lord, and then turn to Him in repentance (11:4) (11:91) This indicates that in the spiritual development of man the stage of Taubah (repentance) comes after, and is higher than Istighfar (seeking Allah's forgiveness for sins committed and seeking His protection from the evil effects of past sins and seeking strength from Him to be able to avoid committing future sins).

So, our failures are not the end. They are invitations to humility, patience, and steadfastness. Through remorse, repentance, and heartfelt prayers, we soften our hearts and heal our souls.

We learn patience and develop steadfastness, as Allah says: "And those who, when they commit a foul deed or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins—and who can forgive sins except Allah?—and do not persist knowingly in what they have done." (3:136)

The Promised Messiah, (as), said: This verse which is so profound and full of wisdom means that as stumbling and sinning are the characteristics of defective souls, which are manifested by them, there are corresponding to them the eternal attributes of God which are mercy and forgiveness and He is inherently Forgiving and Merciful. His forgiveness is not casual but is His eternal attribute which He loves and which He desires to exercise on deserving people. Whenever a person turns to God in remorse and repentance at the time of stumbling or sinning, he becomes deserving that God should turn to him with mercy and forgiveness. This is not limited to once or twice, but it is the eternal attribute of God Almighty that He turns towards a remorseful and repentant servant whenever the latter turns to Him."

And further: "Hence, repentance and seeking forgiveness from God is a tried and tested means that never fails."

This means our spiritual journey is not about perfection, but about humility, struggle, and sincere supplication. Our brokenness is not a barrier to Allah's mercy—it is the very reason we seek it.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) reminds us: Yes, Allah forgives weaknesses. Whosoever is weak and raises his hand for somebody to grasp and lift him up, will be lifted up…. May our attention become diverted towards true repentance, such repentance that will forever continue to become a means of drawing us nearer and nearer to God Almighty.

The Promised Messiah (as) and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) both stress that true spiritual progress is found in humility, persistent effort, and never giving up hope in Allah's forgiveness and support.

He calls us not to despair in our shortcomings, but to strive continuously for self-reformation and to inspire others by our example.

The Cycle of Sin and Redemption

We are not trapped forever. The beauty of Islam is that every time we fall, the door of Allah's mercy remains open. Our remorse is not a sign of weakness, but of spiritual life. Our repentance is not a shame, but a badge of hope. Keep praying, but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers! Prayer is an offering up of our desires for God, for things agreeable to His will, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of His mercies.

Let us remember:

• We are imperfect, but our striving is beloved to Allah.
• When we fall, we must rise—sometimes by our own strength, often with the support of our community, always with Allah's help.
• Remorse, repentance, and prayer are the tools that help us become patient and steadfast.
• Every knot tied in our broken string of connection brings us closer to our Creator.

May Allah grant us the humility to recognize our flaws, the courage to repent, and the steadfastness to continue striving. May our imperfections be the reason we draw ever nearer to Him.