Forgive Others So That Allah Might Forgive You
If someone hurts us, as humans we are naturally inclined to teach them a lesson, as supposed to forgiving them. We love to give someone what they deserved. Or worse we want to pay them back double the amount of what was inflicted on us. Teaching lesson has become a norm these days and out of rage we are ready to do anything that will help us overcome our ego.
The Quran says,
If we read The Quran, justice appears about 30 times whereas 'to forgive' or 'forgiveness' or 'pardon' appears three times more than justice. Here are two examples:
A detailed study of The Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) indicates it is very important for Muslims to forgive (one of the core principles of Islam) and not demand justice. In fact we always seek justice from the system/people, without realizing that forgiveness is also an option and a straightforward one.
Listen to brother Mohamed Hoblos carefully how he narrates several instances during the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and presents "Forgiving Each Other is Not An Option that We Have"
The speaker narrates the personal life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). When The Prophet (pbuh) was 40 he started receiving divine revelations from Allah and was ordered to let people know the message of Islam. For the next 13 years in Mecca he was tortured, harmed, sworn at, spat at; stones, mud and filth thrown on his face and body; the people of Mecca killed his companions (just because they accepted Islam); Meccans boycotted The Prophet (pbuh), his family & companions in the harsh desert for 3 years ― his daughters were divorced, a woman was martyred and a spear was pushed into her privates in front of her family and companions.
The Prophet (pbuh) was driven out of Mecca and as a result he went to Medina, The Prophet (pbuh) saw deaths of all his children except one, his enemies butchered his dear uncle. All of this yet during the conquest of Mecca when The Prophet (pbuh) marched with 10,000 companions, despite him in the position of authority, he (pbuh) forgave everyone in Mecca who harmed him, his family and his companions for about 21 years. Can we imagine this?
Also consider of the following two scenarios:
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
The Quran says
The Quran says,
The Quran says
The Quran says,
Let us remember that the inability to forgive affects us spiritually and psychologically, and furthermore, has a detrimental effect on our health. One study showed that people who focused on a personal grudge had increased blood pressure and heart rates, as well as increased muscle tension and feelings of being less in control. Participants in this study were asked to imagine forgiving their wrongdoers, and they said they felt more positive and relaxed and thus, the changes disappeared. Details on how to improve your productivity is available here.
The Quran says,
May Allah give us the strength to forgive others for their faults, and to forgive us for our own. Ameen.
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The Quran says,
Indeed Qiyamah is approaching, so pardon (those who wrong you) with most graceful pardon (without revenge). ~ Quran 15:85
If we read The Quran, justice appears about 30 times whereas 'to forgive' or 'forgiveness' or 'pardon' appears three times more than justice. Here are two examples:
- Forgiveness: Quran 64:14 says, "O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e. may stop you from the obedience of Allah), therefore beware of them! But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive (their faults), then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
- Justice: Quran 5:8 says, "Do not let the hatred of people prevent you from being just. Be just." The elsewhere in The Quran it is mentioned "Allah loves those who act justly." ~ Quran 49:9
A detailed study of The Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) indicates it is very important for Muslims to forgive (one of the core principles of Islam) and not demand justice. In fact we always seek justice from the system/people, without realizing that forgiveness is also an option and a straightforward one.
Listen to brother Mohamed Hoblos carefully how he narrates several instances during the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and presents "Forgiving Each Other is Not An Option that We Have"
The speaker narrates the personal life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). When The Prophet (pbuh) was 40 he started receiving divine revelations from Allah and was ordered to let people know the message of Islam. For the next 13 years in Mecca he was tortured, harmed, sworn at, spat at; stones, mud and filth thrown on his face and body; the people of Mecca killed his companions (just because they accepted Islam); Meccans boycotted The Prophet (pbuh), his family & companions in the harsh desert for 3 years ― his daughters were divorced, a woman was martyred and a spear was pushed into her privates in front of her family and companions.
The Prophet (pbuh) was driven out of Mecca and as a result he went to Medina, The Prophet (pbuh) saw deaths of all his children except one, his enemies butchered his dear uncle. All of this yet during the conquest of Mecca when The Prophet (pbuh) marched with 10,000 companions, despite him in the position of authority, he (pbuh) forgave everyone in Mecca who harmed him, his family and his companions for about 21 years. Can we imagine this?
Also consider of the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1: If we always crave for justice in this world then Allah may follow our approach on ourselves on the day of Qiyamah. He will do justice based on deeds we bring to Him. And since we will have tons of bad ones, based on principle of justice we can never enter Jannah.
Scenario 2: If we are merciful and we forgive other people then Allah will also have mercy on us and forgive us. He will take our approach on the day of Qiyamah. THAT makes it very easy for us to enter Jannah by the mercy of Allah.
Some Quranic verse and teachings of The Prophet (pbuh) on forgiveness
The Prophet (pbuh) said,
Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind ~ Bukhari 7376
The Quran says
A kind word and forgiveness is better than charity followed by hurt ~ Quran 2:263
The Quran says,
The believers are brothers. So make reconciliation between your brothers and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy. ~ Quran 49:10
The Quran says
Those who restrain anger and pardon people; verily Allah loves the doers of good.
The Quran says,
Adopt forgiveness, instruct what is right, and ignore the foolish. ~ Quran 7:199
Let us remember that the inability to forgive affects us spiritually and psychologically, and furthermore, has a detrimental effect on our health. One study showed that people who focused on a personal grudge had increased blood pressure and heart rates, as well as increased muscle tension and feelings of being less in control. Participants in this study were asked to imagine forgiving their wrongdoers, and they said they felt more positive and relaxed and thus, the changes disappeared. Details on how to improve your productivity is available here.
The Quran says,
Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ~ Quran 24:22
May Allah give us the strength to forgive others for their faults, and to forgive us for our own. Ameen.
Related Posts:
- The message of love in Islam
- The message of Allah to His Creation
- The character of a Muslim
- The Prophet's way of correcting people's mistakes
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