Tawbah Used as An Educational Method
Tawbah (repentance) is such a method. Tawbah means to regret having committed a sin, to decide not to commit it again and to make up for it. According to Islam Tawbah means abandoning sin, regretting it, having the intention not to return to it, and preparing the ground for not returning to it.
When these four conditions are met, the ground has been set for not returning to sin.
Tawbah is a unique way for staying away from evils and moving toward God. If the path of Tawbah was not open, mankind would never have the opportunity for growth.
Tawbah is an educational method that calls one from within to move toward good and return from evils.
In Verse 82 of Surah Taha, God addresses the Bani Isra’il: “And most surely I am most Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does good, then continues to follow the right direction.”
In the story of Moses (AS), after God saved the Bani Isra’il from pharaoh and his people, the Bani Isra’il began worshipping idols when Moses (AS) was away. When Moses (AS) returned to the people, “Moses said to his people, ‘My people, you have done wrong to yourselves by worshipping the calf. Seek pardon from your Lord and slay yourselves.’ He told them that it would be best for them in the sight of their Lord, Who would forgive them, for He is All-forgiving and All-merciful.” (Verse 54 of Surah Al-Baqarah)
Worshipping a calf was no minor issue after Bani Isra’il had seen so many signs of God and miracles from their prophet. They violated the major principles of Tawheed (monotheism) and became idolaters after Moses (AS) had left for a short time. That is why God commanded Tawbah and return to Tawheed,
