The Tremendous Virtues of Forgiving others

by Asma bint Shameem

🔺Forgiving others is one of the most beloved deeds to Allaah.

We’re encouraged to forgive others and overlook their shortcomings.

🍃Allaah says:

“And whoever is patient and forgives - indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination” (Surah ash-Shoora:43)

“But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (Surah at-Taghaabun :14)

🔺 Forgiving others is a characteristic of the people of Jannah.

🍃 Allaah tells us who they are:

“Those who spend [in Allaah's Cause - deeds of charity] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon people;

verily, Allaah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).”

(Aal-Imraan:134)

🍃 Abu ʿAli al-Hussain ibn ʿAbdullaah al-Khiraqi said:

“I spent the night along with Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

I never saw him sleep, he just cried until the morning.

So I said:

“Abu ʿAbdullaah, you cried a lot this night, what happened?’

He said, ‘I remembered how al-Muʿtasim beat me and I came across this aayah in the dars, ‘And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation—his reward is [due] from Allaah,’ [42:40]

so I prostrated and in the sajdah I forgave him for beating me.”
(Manaaqib al-Imaam Aḥmad, p. 467)

🍃 Al-Hassan al-Basri supplicated one night saying:

“Oh Allaah forgive whomsoever oppressed me”… and he increased in that.

So a man said to him: “Oh Abaa Sa'eed, indeed I heard you supplicating this night for the ones who oppressed you, until I wished to be amongst them. What led you to do this?”

He said: “His saying, the Most High: “…but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allaah.”

(Ash-Shura 42:40)”

(Sharh’ al-Bukhaari by Ibn Battaal 6/575)

🔺If you forgive others, Allaah will forgive YOU

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is no man who suffers an injury to his body, then he forgives [the one who caused it] as an act of charity, but Allaah will absolve his sins commensurate with the extent of his charity.”

(Ahmad 21643; saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Saheehah 2273)

🔺 Forgive others and Allaah will RAISE your status

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There are three things concerning which, by the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, I would certainly swear an oath:

wealth does not decrease because of charity, so give charity;

no man pardons another for some mistreatment, seeking thereby the pleasure of Allaah, but Allaah will raise him in status thereby;

and no one asks of people but Allaah will increase him in poverty.”

(Ahmad 1584; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Targheeb 2426)

🔺 If we forgive others, that brings Allaah’s LOVE.

What more could a person want?

🍃 Allaah says in a Hadeeth Qudsi:

“My love is due for those who love one another for My sake;

My love is due for those who visit one another for My sake;

My love is due for those who help one another for My sake;

My love is due for those whose hearts are FREE of grudges and who uphold ties with one another for My sake.’”

(saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘)

Isn’t that amazing?

I know it’s not easy.

But if you want to be among the people of Jannah, then you MUST find it in your heart to forgive.

And if you will do so, then expect its rewards from Allaah.

🔺 Forgiveness is not something we do for anyone else; rather it’s something we do for our OWN selves so we can move on.

We forgive, not because that person ‘deserves’ it, but because “we” deserve peace.

By forgiving others we LIBERATE our hearts and our lives.

And it doesn’t matter if they ask you for forgiveness or not.

Be the BIGGER person and forgive them for the sake of Allaah.

Forgive them BEFORE they ask for forgiveness.

After all, don’t WE want Allaah to forgive US?

🍃 Allaah says:

“Let them pardon and forgive.

Do you not love that Allaah should forgive you?

And Allaah is Forgiving, Merciful."

(Surah Noor: 22)

Keep in mind, no one is perfect and neither are we.

🍃 Ibn Al-Qayyim said:

“Whoever wrongs you and then comes in order to apologise, then you should accept his apology out of humbleness and leave his intention up to Allaah, Exalted is He.” [Tahdheeb Al-Madaarij 2/687]

🍃 And he said:

“Whoever has offended you and then apologized, humility obligates that you accept his apology whether it is truthful or not, and that you leave his secret thoughts to Allaah.

The sign of generosity and humility is that if you notice a defect in his apology, you do not address it nor hold him against it.”

(Madaarij as-Salikeen 2/338)

So forgive and move on.

I know it’s easier said than done.

But isn’t the Mercy of Allaah, His Love and Forgiveness worth it?!

“but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allaah”

(Surah ash-Shoora :40)

May Allaah enable us to forgive others and earn the forgiveness of our Rabb in return.

And Allaah knows best