A Hadith and Forgiveness in Islam

This is truly a beautiful hadith. Very touching. As humans we will make mistakes. Often, we tend to despair when we make a mistake. But Alhamdullilah, our forgiveness is only a prayer away.

On the authority of Anas (RA), who said: I heard the messenger of Allah (SAW) say:

Allah the Almighty has said: “O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as its.”

To receive forgiveness from God there are three requirements:

1. Recognizing the offense itself and its admission before God.

2. Making a commitment not to repeat the offense.

3. Asking for forgiveness from God.

If the offense was committed against another human being, or against society, a fourth condition is added:

1. Recognizing the offense before those against whom offense was committed and before God.

2. Committing oneself not to repeat the offense.

3. Doing whatever needs to be done to rectify the offense (within reason) and asking pardon
of the offended party.

4. Asking God for forgiveness.

There are no particular words to say for asking forgiveness. However, Muslims are taught many phrases and words to keep repeating daily asking God’s forgiveness. For example:

• Astaghfiru-Allah, “I ask forgiveness from Allah”

• Subhanaka-Allah humma wa bi hamdika wa ash-hadu al la Ilaha illa Anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk, “Glory be to You, Allah, and with You Praise (thanks) and I bear witness that there is no deity but You, I ask Your forgiveness and I return to You (in obedience)”.

Islamic teaching presents the prophet Muhammad SAW as an example of someone who would forgive others for their ignorance, even those who might have once considered themselves to be his enemies. One example of Muhammad SAW’s practice of forgiveness can be found in the Hadith, the body of early Islamic literature about the life of Muhammad. This account is as follows:

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him, abused him and hit him with stones. He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of maltreating their Prophet. Muhammad (may peace be upon him) prayed to Allah to save the people of Ta’if, because what they did was out of their ignorance.

From the above ahadith, its is clear, that we should forgive our brothers and sisters, when they upset us. Islaim is a way of life which teaches us all good general principles of life, which when we follow, we not only makes our lives better, but we will be rewarded by Almighty Allah as per Quran and ahadith.

Taking revenge, harms both parties, in most cases, in the long run. Forgive the one who hurts you.It will benefit you both in this world and the hereafter. Instead of the path of peace, would you prefer to hurt those who hurt you? Then you both come to the same level, when you do this. Both have erred. Forgive those who hurt you, and make it easier on you and the other….Its easier to let go of a grudge than holding on to it……….