Role of Istighfar in Preventing Divine Punishment
One of the reactions that was always expressed by the opponents of the prophets (peace be upon them), including the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family), was that if these verses are from God, then “tell God to descend a calamity on us”.
The Holy Quran states two reasons why the Muslim Ummah will not receive the punishment of Istisal (a punishment for rebellious peoples who refuse to awaken to guidance of prophets no matter what), as it did for previous nations:
“But Allah was not to punish them whilst you were living in their midst. Nor would Allah punish them if they repeatedly ask forgiveness of Him.” (Verse 33 of Surah Al-Anfal)
The first reason is that God will not punish the Arabs or the Muslim Ummah with the torment of despair as long as the Prophet (PBUH) is among them. The second reason is that He will not punish them in the future as long as they seek forgiveness.
In Shia and Sunni sources, it is narrated from the Commander of the Faithful (AS): “There were two things on earth that protected people from the punishment of God: one of them was taken away and the other is still there, take it and hold on to it. The protection that was taken away was the Messenger of God (PBYH), and the protection that remained was seeking forgiveness.” Then Imam Ali (AS) recited Verse 33 of Surah Al-Anfal.
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In Surah Al-Kahf, faith and seeking forgiveness are introduced as a means of preventing divine punishment:
“Nothing prevented people from believing and seeking the forgiveness of their Lord when guidance came to them, unless they are waiting for the fate of the ancients to overtake them, or that the punishment should come upon them face to face.” (Verse 55).
In this verse, the word “seeking forgiveness” is added to the phrase “believe”; that is, it asks what prevents people from believing and asking forgiveness after God’s guidance came to them, unless they desire to see the divine punishment with their own eyes or that the tradition prevalent among the previous nations befall them; that is, the same punishments that destroyed the previous nations?
Therefore, faith that is accompanied by seeking forgiveness prevents the descent of divine punishment.
