Islam is a religion that teaches peace and patience to all its followers. Alongside The Five Pillars of Islam, Muslims are expected to live in harmony amongst everyone in the Ummah, including those that aren’t a part of their faith. In order to successfully achieve a life where you get along with everyone, you must show extreme patience and have a forgiving heart. Being humble enough to seek forgiveness for your own mistakes also showcases one’s strength.
The Holy Quran advocates the importance of forgiving in Islam within the following verse:
"And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Quran 24:22)
This verse emphasizes the significance of forgiveness, advising those who are virtuous and wealthy not to stop supporting their needy relatives, and those who migrated for Allah's cause even if they made mistakes. It instructs to pardon and overlook their faults.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains that this verse was revealed concerning Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), who had vowed to discontinue supporting a relative who had been involved in spreading false rumours about his daughter Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). It teaches that just as Allah (SWT) is Forgiving and Merciful, believers too should emulate these attributes by pardoning and overlooking the faults of others. The verse implies that if you desire Allah's forgiveness, you should forgive others.
Allah (SWT) has 99 names. Muslims should take the time to learn these names and ponder upon their meaning to understand how magnificent Allah (SWT) really is. Below is a list of some names of Allah that are associated with forgiveness, inclusive of their translation:
Al-Ghaffar: oft-forgiving
Al-Ghafoor: exceedingly forgiving
Ar-Rahmaan: entirely merciful
Ar-Raheem: bestower of mercy
When the creator is known to be the most merciful then what excuse does his creation have? Therefore, the stance of Islam on forgiveness is about showing mercy and adopting a forgiving attitude to ensure success in this life and the hereafter Insha’Allah.
Duas (prayers), are a powerful tool of communication between a believer and their lord. By engaging in prayers, one can adopt an attitude of humility that emphasise Allah’s mercy and how only by engaging in acts that are pleasing to him will ensure the betterment of this life and the hereafter. Here are some examples of forgiveness Duas:
Astaghfirullah: by reciting “Astaghfirullah”, you can bank on your accounts of good deeds that will weigh heavy on the scale, during The Day of Reckoning (also formally known as Yawm Al-Qiyama). Astaghfirullah translates to ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah’.
Rabbighfir li wa tub 'alayya innaka Anta At-Tawwabur-Raheem: This powerful dua translates to ‘My Lord! Forgive me and pardon me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful.’
Subhaana-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Astaghfirullaha, wa atuubu ilaihi: This beautiful dua translates to ‘Glory be to Allah (Allah is free from imperfection), and I begin by praising Him. I beg forgiveness from Allah, and I turn to Him in repentance.’
You can also personalise your duas to ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness in a way that is more meaningful to you. The more sincere you are in your prayers, the more likely your duas are to be accepted!
Istighfar is the act of seeking Allah’s forgiveness. Muslims recite ‘Astaghfirullah’ in order to seek Allah’s forgiveness with a devoted will to repent and rid themselves of sins.
There are two things in the earth that give a person safety and security from the punishment of Allah. The first has been removed, whilst the second still remains.
As for the first, it was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah would not punish them while you were among them.” [al-Anfal (8):33]
As for the second, it is Istighfaar. “Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness.” [al-Anfal (8):33]
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“If anyone continually asks forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he never realised.” [Abu Dawood, Hadith 599]
As Ramadan is marked as the month of forgiveness and repentance, it is crucial for all Muslims to seek sincere repentance from our creator. Equally if you feel as though you may have upset a fellow Muslim, either intentionally or unintentionally, be sure to seek their forgiveness with just as much sincerity so you may enter Ramadan with a clean heart. By practicing the teachings of Islam, one can successfully adopt the principles of forgiveness and apply these learnings directly to their lives.
Strive for a forgiving heart as Allah (SWT) has made it one of the eight gates in heaven to enter from. Known as the ‘Baab Al-Kaazimeen Al-Ghaiz Wal Aafina Anin Naas’, it is a gate designed for those who control their anger and forgive others.
Holding onto anger and resentment can cause severe implications to your health and surroundings. You lose time and energy mulling over the past when you can proactively put that energy towards positive things such as donating to deprived families to help brighten up their lives.
The beauty of forgiveness is its motive, peace and strive for the feeling of liberation and freedom and become amongst the steadfast who are not easily overcome by emotions due to the acts of others. We encourage you to take control of your character in a manner that is pleasing to Allah.
So, as we know, to forgive others in Islam is as equally important as seeking forgiveness and repenting. Humans are fallible creatures and most often cases than not we may cause upset to others without meaning to, and on the contrary, we may experience hurt by someone else’s actions. With the power of forgiveness, both parties can let go in order to lighten our soul and actually move on with our life in a positive manner.
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