The Role of Forgiveness in Resolving Past Hostility
| Khatib : | Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: | 77 |
| Khutbah Date: | 10/10/03 |
[Quran 64:14]
Human beings are emotive beings who experience feelings all the time. Some of these feelings are positive (love, joy) while others are negative (hatred, envy). Emotions such as fear, jealousy, despair and anger are among the most challenging, most difficult, and potentially most destructive of human experiences; yet such experiences are inescapable.
Allah describes the pious and the doers of good as those who overcome their anger and forgive people [Q 3:134]. Learning to apply the positive social skills of compassion, forgiveness, humor and tolerance will empower us to deal with old grudges in the most effective way. When hate is fuelled by unresolved past hurt or pain, we tend to cling to old resentments. This historical component blocks our path and prevents us from traversing beyond the past. Whosoever bears a grudge and vengeance acts like one, who having cut one hand while handling a knife, avenges himself by stabbing the other hand.
Prophetic Examples of Forgiveness
- Prophet Muhammad said that while Jesus (peace be upon them both) was being tortured by his detractors, he prayed, "O Lord! Forgive my people for they know not what they do".
- Prophet Muhammad's message was not welcomed in Makkah, so he went to Taif to convey the message. The
people drove him out of town by stoning him till blood covered his body. Pardoning his abusers in Taif he
prayed that if these people do not believe, perhaps some day their children would. Instead of being
resentful he prayed:
"Oh, Allah! To Thee I complain of the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resources and of my being unimportant in the eyes of people. Oh, Most Merciful of all those capable of showing mercy! Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my Lord. To whom art Thou to entrust me; to an unsympathetic folk who would resentfully frown at me... May it never be that I should incur Thy wrath, or that Thou should be displeased with me. I must remove the cause of Thy displeasure until Thou art pleased. There is no strength nor power but through Thee."
- 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 of emotional wisdom and the pinnacle of spiritual strength. An event that the noted historian Stanley Lane-Pool refers to as ... through all the annals of conquest, there is no triumphant entry comparable to this one.
Prophets responded to negatives with positives, used love and forgiveness rather than hate and anger, thus turning
foe into friend. Responding to negativity in such a positive manner is no ordinary matter. Strength of character is
required.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
[Qur'an 41:34]
Remember, When we forgive we may not change the negativity of the past, but we certainly can affect the future in a positive way.