60: Forgiveness - An Attitude of the Divine (Part 1)
[Qur'an 64:14]
It is said that to err is human and to forgive is divine. Both parts of this statement are very true. As human beings we are responsible, but we do also make mistakes and are constantly in need of pardon/forgiveness. Islam emphasizes the manifestation of justice; which includes punishment of the wrong doers; but it equally emphasizes mercy, kindness, forgiveness 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. Islam speaks about two aspects of forgiveness ...
- Divine Forgiveness
- Human Forgiveness
Prophet Jesus/'Isa (pbuh) "If you do not forgive people their sins, God will not forgive you" [Matthew 6:15] Sayyedna 'Ali echoed the same sentiments when he asked: "How do you expect the mercy of the Most Merciful Who is most merciful to those who show mercy to others."
Divine Forgiveness
There are many names of Allah given in the Qur'an which reflect divine attributes. Some of these names are directly related to His compassion and forgiveness ...
- Al-Ghafoor/The most Forgiving: There are other names from the same root, such as ghafir and
ghaffaar. The meaning of the word ghafara is to cover, to hide, and from it comes the meaning
to excuse, to pardon, to remit and to forgive.
( Occurs in the Qur'an more than seventy times )
- Al-'Afuw: This refers to another dimension of forgiveness. Literally the word 'afw means
"to release" "to heal", "to restore", "to remit". Thus in relation to Allah it means "to release us from the
burden of punishment due to our sins and mistakes", "to restore our honor after we have dishonored ourselves by
committing sins and making mistakes."
( Occurs in the Qur'an five times )
Sometimes in the Qur'an both names, 'afuw and ghafoor come together.
- Al-Tawwab/The Acceptor of repentance: Allah accepts the repentance of those who sincerely repent
and turn to Him. The word "tawwab" gives the sense of "oft-returning" which means that Allah again and again
accepts repentance. We commit sins and mistakes then we repent, He accepts our repentance.
( Occurs in the Qur'an about eleven times )
- Al-Haleem/The Clement: This means that Allah is not quick to judge. He gives time. He forebears
and is patient to see His servant to return to Him.
( This name is mentioned fifteen times in the Qur'an )
- Al-Rahman and al-Raheem/The most Merciful and Compassionate: Al-Rahman indicates that Allah's mercy
is abundant and free-flowing and al-Raheem indicates that this is always the case with Allah. He is full of love and
mercy and He is ever Merciful.
( These names are the most frequent in the Qur'an. Al-Rahman is mentioned 57 times and al-Raheem is mentioned 115 times. )
The Qur'an teaches that Allah is the ultimate Judge, Who punishes, but is not bound to punish. The justice of Allah,
according to Qur'an is that Allah does not and will not inflict undue punishment on any person nor will He ignore the good
of any person. His mercy is unlimited and His love is infinite. "O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against
your own selves! Despair not of Allah's mercy: behold, Allah forgives sins totally; verily, He is indeed Most Forgiving,
Dispenser of Grace!" [Qur'an 39:53] There are many verses in the Qur'an and sayings of the Prophet
(peace be upon him) on the love, mercy and forgiveness of Allah.
In one of the prayers that the Prophet taught, he said, "O Allah, Thou art the most Forgiving, Thou love to forgive, so
please forgive me."
Human Forgiveness
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 is one of the most important Islamic teaching. In the Qur'an Allah has described the Believers as "those who avoid major sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive." [Qur'an 42:37]. "The recompense for wrongdoing is a fitting punishment, but whosoever forgives and makes amends, his reward is with Allah." [Qur'an 42:40] The capacity for compassion, and the wisdom to forgive one another for past wrongs, hurts, and misunderstandings, is one of the greatest attributes any human being can possess and exercise.
Example of the Prophets (peace be upon them)
In many verses while using different modes of expression, the Holy Qur'an has recommended moral issues to us and praised the Prophets for possessing such merits as patience, truthfulness, forgiveness, modesty and good manners. Forgiveness is an attribute which has received due attention in Islam and which has been extensively discussed in the Qur'an and in numerous Prophetic traditions. In a well-known tradition the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Allah has commanded him about nine things. One of these was that I forgive those who wrong to me.
The Examples of Prophets are beacons of light for all humanity:
- Prophet Moses (pbuh) asked: "O my Lord! Who is the best honorable of Thy servants to Thee?" Allah revealed: "He who forgives when in a position to hurt/take revenge."
- Prophet Muhammad said that while Jesus (peace be upon both) was being tortured by his detractors, he prayed, "O Lord! Forgive my people for they know not what they do." [see also Luke 23:34]
- A few Muslims violated the Prophet's order in the Battle of Uhud thus leading the Muslim army to the brink of defeat. People expected the Prophet to strongly punish those violators; however, the following verse was revealed; "Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hardhearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you; pardon them therefore and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs; and when a resolution is made then place your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who trustful." [Qur'an 3:159]
- Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was ostracized, threatened and eventually had to flee his hometown of Makkah. His detractors persecuted
him, his family and his followers; and even when settled in Madinah, they waged wars against him and his followers. When he returned
8 years later with an army of 12,000 and forgave his enemies, it served as a magnanimous example of magnificence of character,
depth, emotional wisdom and the pinnacle of spiritual strength. {Among the people the Prophet forgave was Hind who had
caused the murder of his uncle Hamza. After killing him she had his body mutilated and she chewed his liver.}
It was in reference to this forgiveness of past anger that a historian writes; "The day of Mohammad's greatest triumph over his enemies was also the day of his grandest victory over himself. He freely forgave the Koraysh all the years of sorrow and cruel scorn in which they had afflicted him and gave an amnesty to the whole population of Mekka ... The Muslim army followed his example, and entered quietly and peacefully: no tree was cut down, no water polluted, no aged one humiliated no house was robbed, no woman insulted ... It was thus Mohammad entered again his native city (of Mekka). Through all the annals of conquest there is no triumphant entry comparable to this one." [Historian Stanley Lane-Poole: The Speeches and Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammad, 1882]
Prophet Jesus/'Isa (pbuh) "If you do not forgive people their sins, God will not forgive you" [Matthew 6:15] The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) echoed the same sentiments when he said, "Allah will not be merciful to the one not merciful to people."
Wise ones have said that forgiveness is God's invention for coming to terms with a world in which, despite their best intentions,
people are unfair to each other and hurt each other. He began by forgiving us and He invites us all to forgive each other. His way of
forgiving is the model for our forgiving.