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Forgiveness In Islam - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Forgiveness In Islam
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims: Just
as it is important to believe in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, it is also
necessary to base human relations on forgiveness. We cannot expect Allah’s
forgiveness unless we also forgive those who do wrong to us. Forgiving each
other, even forgiving one’s enemies is one of the most important Islamic
teachings. The Qur’an says, “If you punish, then punish with the like of that
wherewith you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, indeed it is better
for the patient. Endure you patiently. Your patience is not except through the
help of Allah..” (16:126-127).
Moreover,
Allah (SWT) commands us to return the evil that is done to us by others not
only with good, but with best!.
Allah
(SWT) says: "Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of
their Lord; establish regular prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have
bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn off evil with good: for
such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home." (13:22 ).
In
another Surah He (SWT) says: "Repel
evil with that which is best: We are Well-acquainted with the
things they say." (23:96). Whether
people speak evil of you, in your presence or behind your back, or they do evil
to you in either of those ways, all is known to Allah Almighty. It is not
for you to punish. Your best course is not to do evil in your turn, but
to do what will best repel the evil. Two evils do not make a good.
You do
not return good for evil, for there is no equality or comparison between the
two. You repel or destroy evil with something which is far better, just
as an antidote is better than poison. You foil hatred with love.
You repel ignorance with knowledge, folly and wickedness with the friendly
message of Revelation. Allah (SWT) says:
"The
recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives
and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for
(Allah) Loves not those who do wrong." (42:40).
This man
who was in bondage of sin, you not only liberate from sin, but make him your
greatest friend and helper in the cause of Allah Almighty!. The Holy Qur’an
reads:
"Nor
can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with that is better: Then
will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and
intimate!." (41:34).
If you
forgive and return the evil with good, then Allah (SWT) will love you and
reward you. Allah (SWT) says:
"Twice
will they be given their reward, for that they have persevered, that they avert evil with
good, and that they spend (in charity) out of what We have
given them." (28:54).
Dear
Muslims:
The Holy Qur’an makes it clear that a strong, adverse, emotional reaction such
as anger does not befit the true believer, and instead cites as a mark of
excellence the quality of forgiveness: "When they become angry, they are
forgiving." (42:37).
If
he becomes angry with his brother, the true Muslim restrains his anger and is
quick to forgive him, and does not see any shame in doing so. Rather, he sees
it as a good deed which will bring him closer to Allah and earn him His love
which He bestows only on those who do good:
"…[those]
who restrain anger and pardon [all] men – for Allah loves those who do
good." (Qur’an, 3:134)
The
true Muslim whose soul has been saturated with this religion does not harbour
grudges; if he restrains his anger, he then follows that with forgiveness, and
thus he will be among those who do good.
Anger
is very difficult to restrain, for it is a heavy burden on the heart. But when
a person forgives another, this heavy burden is lifted, freeing him, soothing
him and bringing peace of mind. These are the feelings of ihsaan (goodness)
which the Muslim feels when he forgives his brother.
The
true Muslim is forgiving towards his brother, purely for the sake of Allah. He
hopes thereby to earn the honour which the Prophet (PBUH) referred to in the
hadith: "... No one humbles himself for the sake of Allah, but Allah will
raise his status." (Muslim).
Resentment
has no place in the heart of the sensitive Muslim who truly understands his
religion. He realizes the value of forgiveness and purity of heart, and their
importance if he seeks Allah’s forgiveness, as the Prophet (PBUH) explained:
"There are three sins, whoever dies free of these sins will be forgiven
for anything else if Allah wills: associating anything with Allah; practicing
magic or witchcraft; and bearing resentment towards his brother."
(al-Bukhari).
Dear Muslims: The Prophet -peace be upon him- was the most
forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to
Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him. They abused
him and hit him with stones.
He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the
angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the
people of Ta’if because of their sin of mistreating their Prophet. The Prophet
-peace be upon him- prayed to Allah to save the people of Taif, because what
they did was out of their ignorance. He said, “O Allah, guide these people,
because they did not know what they were doing.” When he entered the city of Makkah
A very striking example of forgiveness we find in the Qur’an in reference to
the most unfortunate event of “Slander of Sayyidah A’isha’”. Some hypocrites of
Madinah accused her. They tried to put dirt on her noble character. One of the
slanderers turned out to be Mistah, the cousin of ‘Aisha’s father Abu Bakr’s.
Abu Bakr (RAA) used to give financial help to this young man. After he
slandered his daughter, Abu Bakr vowed not to help him any more. But Allah
reminded Abu Bakr and through him all the Believers, “Let not those among you
who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against
helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of
Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive
you? Indeed Allah is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.” (24:22). Abu Bakr (RAA)
came out of his home and said, “Yes, indeed, I want Allah’s forgiveness. He not
only continued to help him but he gave him more. Islam emphasizes justice and
punishment of the wrong doers, but it equally strongly emphasizes mercy,
kindness and love. Justice, law and order are necessary for the maintenance of
a social order, but there is also a need for forgiveness to heal the wounds and
to restore good relations between the people. We must keep in mind that as much
as we need Allah’s forgiveness for our own sins and mistakes, we must also
practice forgiveness towards those who do wrong to us.
Dear
Brothers And Sisters In Islam: The Muslim who truly
understands the teachings of his religion is gentle, friendly and likeable. He
mixes with people and gets along with them. This is something which should be a
characteristic of the Muslim who understands that keeping in touch with people
and earning their trust is one of the most important duties of the Muslim. It
is an effective means of conveying the message of truth to them, and exposing
them to its moral values, because people only listen to those whom they like,
trust and accept. Hence there are many hadiths that commend the type of person
who is friendly and liked by others. Such a person is one of those who are
beloved by the Prophet (PBUH) and will be closest to him on the Day of
Resurrection:
"Shall
I not tell you who among you is most beloved to me and will be closest to me on
the Day of Resurrection?" He repeated it two or three times, and they
said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)”. He said: "Those of you who
are the best in attitude and character." [Ahmad].
One of the attributes of the believer is that
he gets along with others and others feel comfortable with him. He likes people
and they like him. If he is not like this, then he will not be able to convey
the message or achieve anything of significance. Whoever is like that has no
goodness in him, as in the hadith:
"The
believer gets along with people and they feel comfortable with him. There is no
goodness in the one who does not get along with people and with whom they do
not feel comfortable. " [Abmad and al-Bazar].
The
Prophet (PBUH) set the highest example of good behaviour towards people. He was
skilful in softening their hearts and called them to follow him in word and
deed. He demonstrated how to reach people's hearts and win their love and
admiration.
He
was always cheerful and easy-going, never harsh. When he came to any gathering,
he would sit wherever there was a free space, and he told others to do
likewise. He treated everyone equally, so that no one who was present in a
gathering would feel that anyone else was receiving preferential treatment. If
anyone came to him and asked for something, he would give it to him, or at
least respond with kind words. His good attitude extended to everyone. The
companions were truly equal, distinguished only by their level of taqwa.
They were humble, respecting their elders, showing compassion to young ones,
giving priority to those in need and taking care of strangers.
May Allah (SWT) make us from
those who are the best in attitude and character, help us to do whatever
pleases Him, bless, guide and forgive us all. (Ameen).
