When God Gives a Second Chance

There is a saying that says, “Opportunity does not strike twice.” However, from the Islamic perspective, we learn that Allah does not close the door to those who want to improve themselves. Second chances are not about repeating the past, but about turning over a new page by learning from past mistakes.

God’s Grace: Space for second chances

In life, humans are not free from mistakes and sins. However, Allah’s mercy far exceeds His wrath. Allah Story said,

Say, “O My servants who commit disobedience against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.” Indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful

“Say, O My servants who disobey themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.” (QS. Az-Zumar: 53)

This verse is proof that second chances are always open to those who want to return. As long as the breath is still exhaling, the door of repentance has not been closed. A second chance is not to repeat mistakes, but to make amends and fix them.

Everyone deserves a second chance

Islam teaches a balance between compassion and responsibility. Allah is Most Forgiving, but also Most Just. A second chance does not mean a justification for repeating a sin, but a call to change.

Rasulullah May Allah bless him and grant him peace said,

A believer is not stung twice from the same hole.

“It is not fitting for a believer to be bitten by a snake from the same hole twice.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

That is, the second chance is a test of the honesty of intentions. Do we really want to improve ourselves, or are we just looking for an excuse to avoid human reproach for our sins and mistakes?

Your child is your second chance

Sometimes, second chances don’t come to us, but through the generation after us. Children are a mirror of the future and a long arm of our efforts, education and prayers. If our past is full of shortcomings, then children are a field for improvement. Through them, we can instill values ​​that we previously failed to live by.

Children are not only a trust, but also a gift to make up for things we haven’t had time to fix. It is a second chance at life, which we can direct towards goodness so as not to repeat the same mistakes.

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

When a person dies, his deeds cease, except for three things: continuous charity, knowledge that benefits him, or pious children who pray for him.

“If a person dies, then his deeds are cut off except for three things: (1) Almsgiving, (2) Use of knowledge, (3) Pious children who always pray for their parents.” (HR. Muslim)

In the process of educating and raising children, we can achieve the three goals above at once. Living is the best alms that we give them, education is the knowledge of Jariyah that we instill, and prayers from pious children are the fruit of halal livelihood and the education that we teach.

Inviting a second chance, proof of Allah’s love for His servants

Every human being deserves a second chance, because every heart deserves to be healed by hope. However, don’t waste that grace by delaying change. Because second chances are proof that God still loves us, even though we have been far from Him.

Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

All humans are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent.

“Every child of Adam must (have) made a mistake and the best person who makes a mistake is the one who repents.” (HR. Tirmidhi no. 2499)

In another narrative,

Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than one of you who rides on his camel and leads him astray in the desert.

“Indeed, Allah is very pleased with the repentance of His servant, more than the happiness of someone among you who finds his lost camel in a vast land.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

The second chance is taufik from Allah. Use it not to repeat mistakes, but to write a new story full of good pages.

Are there still open doors after a second chance?

Humans are creatures who slip easily. We fall, slump, and regret. However, Allah does not judge us by how many times we fall, but how sincerely we rise and return to Him. As long as life continues and breath is still exhaled, that opportunity remains open.

Islam is not a religion that closes the door to hope. Islam is a religion that embraces humans when they are negligent, then invites them to grow into more devout servants. As long as the heart still wants to regret, the tongue still wants to beg for forgiveness, try to stay away and not repeat it, then Allah will not reject the repentance of His servant as long as he does not commit shirk and associate partners with Him.

Allah Story said,

Indeed, Allah does not forgive anyone who associates partners with Him, but He also forgives whomever He wills.

“Indeed, Allah will not forgive the sin of polytheism, and He forgives all sins other than (polytheism), for whom He wills.” (QS. An Nisa’: 48)

Rasulullah May Allah bless him and grant him peace said,

Allah accepts a servant’s repentance as long as he does not cheat

“Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as his soul (spirit) has not yet reached his throat.” (HR. Tirmidhi no. 3537)

As long as life is not over, as long as the eyes can still shed tears of regret, as long as the heart can still whisper softly, “O Allah, forgive me,” as long as the opportunity continues to exist.

However, one thing we need to think about is that opportunities do not always come in the same form. It could be that this time he is present in a test, in a loss, in a warning, or even in a wound that forces us to be aware.

Before death comes, use every breath to improve yourself. Because as long as life exists, opportunity does not stop at number two, it continues to be open to a heart that never tires of returning to its Creator.

Also read: Opportunity Knocks on the King’s Door

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Writer: Arif Muhammad Nurwijaya

Article Muslim.or.id