FORGIVENESS IN ISLAM: BRACING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND NURTURING THE HEARTS

 

Islam places a high value on forgiveness, which includes the act of forgiving people and getting rid of grudges. It is an idea that has strong roots in the Quran's teachings and the customs of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This article seeks to put light on the Islamic concept of forgiveness and demonstrate how it may improve both people and relationships. We will gain a better understanding of forgiveness's significance in mending emotional wounds and creating stronger links between individuals and neighborhoods by investigating the Islamic perspective and prophetic lectures on it.

 QURANIC PERSPECTIVE

• Be merciful

We have not created the heavens and the earth and everything in between except for a purpose. And the Hour is certain to come, so forgive graciously. (Surah Al-Hijir: 85).

The above-mentioned verse of the Holy Quran commands us to be merciful and gracious with forgiveness. If we want forgiveness from Allah Almighty for our sins, we must have to forgive our brothers, sisters, friends, relatives, or neighbors.

• Forgiveness is to embracing kindness and trusting in Allah

It was thanks to Allah's mercy that you were gentle to them. Had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would surely have scattered away from you. So, pardon them, and pray for their forgiveness, and take counsel from them in matters of importance. And when you are resolved on a course of action place your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him). (Surah Ali 'Imran 159).

We do not forgive people when we realize their harsh sayings of them for us or anything makes us down. Is this like not trusting in the presence of Allah? Any person who does wrong to anyone will be asked one day by Allah Almighty then why we do not let these people. So, forgiveness is also an act of trusting in Allah Almighty.

 

PROPHETIC EXAMPLE

As the personification of mercy and compassion, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated forgiveness throughout his life. Even though he was subjected to severe suffering and persecution, he showed mercy to even his adamant detractors and forgave those who had wronged him. The Prophet showed unflinching mercy, pardoning those who plotted his death as well as the Ta'ifites who stoned him. His greatest act of mercy occurred when he forgave the people who had driven him and his supporters from their homes during his rule of Makkah. By illustrating the transforming effects of forgiveness, the strength in forgiving others, and the capacity to mend hearts and strengthen bonds, the forgiveness of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) serves as an everlasting example.

 

REAL LIFE EXAMPLE

• Significance of Forgiveness in Healing Emotional Wounds

Imagine Maidah, a young woman who has experienced a severe loss due to a close friend's treachery. She struggled with bitterness and hatred for months, unable to move on from the hurt her friend's actions had caused. Maidah’s heart would fill with resentment whenever she saw or thought about her friend, which harmed her emotional health.

One day, Maidah stumbled upon a Quranic verse that discussed forgiveness:

"And let them forgive and overlook. Wouldn't it be nice if Allah forgave you? (brief) (Surah An-Nur: 22)

After giving these remarks some thought, Maidah understood the significance of forgiveness in Islam and how it would help her recover from her emotional wounds. Maidah decided to start the process of forgiving with a sad heart. She contacted back to her friend, being open and honest about her emotions while also expressing a wish to repair their friendship. Maidah decided to forgive her buddy and let go of her grudge.

Maidah noticed a significant change in herself when she forgave her friend. Gradually, the weight of hurt and rage vanished, allowing room for healing and calm. Maidah emotional scars started to heal, and she noticed that she was feeling better overall.

By extending forgiveness, Maidah not only broke free from the bonds of bitterness but also made room for the prospect of restoring mutual respect and advancing her friendship. She discovered through forgiveness that overcoming emotional scars calls for bravery, sensitivity, and a readiness to let go of the past. This narrative serves as an illustration of how forgiveness can help to mend emotional wounds. Islam asserts that showing mercy is a symbol of strength and fortitude rather than a sign of weakness. People like Maidah can regain their emotional health, find tranquility within, and create healthier relationships by accepting forgiveness.

UNLEASHING THE SPLENDID SYMBOLISM OF SACRIFICE: LESSONS FROM EID-UL-ADHA

 

As the exuberant festival of Eid-ul-Adha is coming, we should delve deep into the theme of sacrifice and its profound symbolism in Islamic culture. Beyond the celebration and customary rituals, apprehending the true meaning of sacrifice can unleash the influential lessons that connect to all. Today, I will try my best to explore the compelling insights and interesting messages from the act of sacrifice,  to explain its importance and relevance to our lives in the fast-paced world.

The Sacrifice of Ibrahim: “A Testament of Adamant Faith”

The life of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was full of continuous trials that demonstrates his faith in the oneness of Allah Almighty in the face of adversity. The biggest trial of his life was opposition by his family member on the rejection of the concept of polytheism. Instead of following the concept like the whole society, he questioned the validity of idols and commenced the personal journey to seek a higher power. His rejection to follow the religion of his ancestors led to great conflict and opposition but his belief in the concept of true Worthy authority remained unshaken and he consistently tried to spread the message of Allah Almighty. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) followed the command of Allah Almighty and attempted to sacrifice his beloved son. All the trials were planned to check the faith of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and for his personal growth. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) never lost his courage and resilience to enlighten society with true faith. Now imagine the huge emotional turbulence, Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) has experienced on the command of Allah Almighty. He just identified that this command is from the high authority of wisdom and must be a better decision for my son’s life. The obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) to follow this command is unyielding.

The sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) teaches us the most beautiful and most important lessons;

1.  Believing in the Wisdom of Allah Almighty

Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was able to submit to the will of Allah because he had a deep conviction that Allah's intentions were always superior to his own. Because of this trust, he was able to set aside his desires and comply with the order to sacrifice his adored kid. Similar to this, trusting in Allah's judgment can provide us comfort and direct us towards the greatest outcomes when we experience difficulties or discover ourselves in trying situations.

2. Perseverance and patience

Since Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) had a firm belief in Allah, his path was defined by patience and perseverance. He endured a great deal of opposition, rejection, and difficulty while maintaining his faith. Similar to this, when we face difficulties or setbacks, clinging to our faith in Allah's direction and relying on His might enables us to survive and conquer challenges, encouraging personal development and perseverance.

3. Increasing our faith

Our faith is strengthened and our relationship with Allah is deepened when we remain firm in our religion in the face of hardship. Prophet Ibrahim's (A.S) steadfast devotion in the face of various hardships showed his unshakeable dedication to Allah. Similarly, when we encounter challenges, clinging firmly to the presence of Allah.

The conclusion to summarize the lessons is;

1. When we remain confident in Allah's guidance amid difficulty, our trust and relationship with Him are strengthened.

2. We must hold firm to our convictions and have faith that Allah's purposes are greater than our own, just like Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) did.

3. Our unwavering faith gives us the fundamental character traits of patience and tenacity, which enable us to overcome obstacles and advance spiritually.

4. We find contentment and feel Allah's presence in our life when we have steadfast faith in Him and submit to His will.

 

IF ALLAH ALMIGHTY IS ALL MERCIFUL THEN, WHY DOES HE NEEDS ANIMAL SACRIFICED IN HIS NAME?

 

IF ALLAH ALMIGHTY IS ALL MERCIFUL THEN, WHY DOES HE NEEDS ANIMAL SACRIFICED IN HIS NAME?

The word "sacrifice" is called "Qurban" in Arabic and the root word for this is "Qarraba". The meaning of Qarraba is "near'. Terminologically, it implies the slaughtering of livestock, life, money, to get "taqarrub" or to getting near to Allah Almighty.  It has been a part of Islam since the first Prophet Adam (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him). The true meaning of sacrifice is to show obedience and a broad gratitude for the favors of life that Allah Almighty bestowed upon us. It is mentioned in the Glorious Quran;

 

And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muhammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]. (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:34).

 

In  Surah Al-Maidah, Allah Almighty mentioned the story of two brothers who were asked to sacrifice. It depicts the true nature of sacrifice.

 

 And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah ], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]. (Surah Al-Maidah, 5:27)

 

In the Glorious Quran, Allah Almighty also mentioned the story of Prophet Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him). The Glorious Quran mention in several places that how Prophet Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) loved his son Ismail. Allah Almighty wanted to test Prophet Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) and it is mentioned in the Glorious Quran;

 And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think."  He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded.  You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (Surah As-Saffat, 37:102)

 

All aforementioned verses explain that Allah Almighty wants our sacrifices but He doesn't need our sacrifices because He order us to do these things because He knows that our betterment is in His worship. Dozens of verses in the Qur'an mention that Allah (the Glorified and Merciful) does not attains anything through being praised, or getting sacrifices in His name, but rather He is the Gracious Giver to performers of good and evil-performers alike. Without getting sufficient thought to the nature of the Almighty Allah, and without ingress to His revealed words, a person misperceives the Creator as a needy. (نعوذ بالله ) Considering that the Allah Almighty is egotistically driven to demand devotional service is neither common sense nor sound logic.  So, what is the reason that He is asking for worship and also saying that He doesn't need our worship? The reason is that Allah Almighty wants us to worship Him not because of His benefit but for our benefit. And Sacrifice is a most expressive way to show the obedience and a deep sense if gratitude. Allah Almighty test those people to whom He loves more. It is the most beloved worship form of Allah Almighty.

 

“There is not a single deed performed by human beings on Eid Adha that is more loved by Allah s.w.t than slaughtering sacrificial animals. Indeed, the sacrificial animal will come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, feathers and nails. And indeed, before the blood of the victim touches the ground, he (his reward) will be accepted by Allah s.w.t. So, good luck to you all with (the reward) of the victim.”

 

(Tirmidhi)

 

 

 

HONOR AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN IN ISLAM

 

HONOR AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN IN ISLAM

Islam is the religion that derives the source and origin of dignity from Allah Almighty. Absolute honor and dignity belong to Allah Almighty and all other dignities that exist are driven from Him. Islam depicts man as vicegerent of Allah Almighty on earth. Every mundane component has been created to facilitate the accomplishment of man's aristocratic mission of Vicegerency. When Allah Almighty created Man (Adam), angels, the most exalted and impeccable creatures, were asked to witness the divine act of creation and then after completing this creation, Allah Almighty asked them to prostrate themselves before Man (Adam), that was, to prostrate to Allah Almighty, for there is no prostration except to Allah Almighty alone and to admit thereby the merit and wisdom of Allah Almighty's creation, and to give respect to Man and his empirical capabilities as the crown of Allah Almighty's invention.

In the Glorious Quran Allah Almighty mentioned this dramatic occurrence as;

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 30-34).

 

 

Hence, the main source of dignity is Allah Almighty and is the complete source of honor just as He is the source of light:

 

وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ نُورٗا فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن نُّورٍ

And he to whom Allah has not granted light - for him, there is no light. (Surah An-Nur, 40).

 

And in another verse, Allah Almighty mentioned that dignity only belongs to Him but it does not mean no man can achieve it; rather, it means that all honor (izzaah) belongs to Allah Almighty as the main source, and then He spread it to Man. It is a precious gift to Man from Allah Almighty. Man does not own it but gains from Allah Almighty. Then the verse describes it as;

 

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ

Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. (Surah Fatir, 10).

 

Islam is the guidance for man; it is meant for him. Man in turn is a follower of Islam. As man's entitlement, Islam through the Glorious Quran invites man to a righteous path by discovering the laws of nature and the universe's existence. Though every living or nonliving things creature from large mountains to the smallest insect or plant is made by Allah Almighty, no one has the book of Guidance, intellectual mindset except Man. We are all distinguished from birth. Allah Almighty has provided us some extent of honor as our capital.

 

وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٖ

 مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيلٗا

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. (Surah Al-Isra, 70)

 

The need is to make use of our capital and add to it. If we lose it, then this would be a great loss. We are to cherish, safeguard, and put to it. A majestic or dignified person deals others with majestically, and never embarrasses them. Dignified people never use abusive words and a strong believer comes down to dishonor.

THE SEVEN TYPES OF PEOPLE UNDER THE SHADE OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY

 

THE SEVEN TYPES OF PEOPLE UNDER THE SHADE OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY

The Day of Judgment is called Yawm ad-Din in the first surah of the Noble Quran. It is the day when Allah Almighty will decide how people will live their afterlife. When no one has the free will to make their own decisions and when people will be judged by Allah Almighty for their choices. On that day, Allah Almighty the Superior and the Glorious would turn up the Heavens, and then He would set them on His right hand and say; I am the Lord; where are the haughty and where are the proud (today)? He would fold the earth and then place it on his left hand and say; I am the Lord; where are the haughty and where are the proud (today)? (Sahih Muslim 2788 a)

The major heat source of the world is Sun and today it is about 93,000,000 miles away from planet earth yet heat waves that we face from time to time can be quite unbearable while some climates are almost uninhabitable. With that in mind, read over the following lines of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him);

 

"The sun will be brought close to mankind on the Day of Judgment until its distance from them will be one mile". Then the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said "Because of this, people will become submerged in sweat, the severity of which will depend on their deeds. Some will be submerged up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists while others will be submerged to their jaws." The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) then pointed to his mouth. (Narrated by Muslim- Al-Miqdad).

These harrowing scenes of discomfort, the enigmatic happenings that successively affect one after another from all around you in unprecedented levels of heat are horrible for Muslims. Only the selected group of blessed Muslims will be escorted to live in the shade which Allah Almighty has provided for them on this hard day. These are seven types of people that will be under the shelter of Allah Almighty from the scorching heat of the day of Judgment. (Riyadh-us-Saliheen, Hadith 376).

These are;

1. A just ruler

2. A young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of Allah Almighty

3. One whose heart is attached to the mosque

4. Two people who love each other for the sake of Allah Almighty

5. A man who is invited to sin but declines, saying 'I fear Allah Almighty"

6. One who spends his charity in secret, without making a show

7. One who remembers Allah Almighty in solitude so that his eyes overflow with tears.

 

After reading the aforementioned lines, if you have a question about the kind of shade as there will be no mountains, trees, buildings, or objects then how people will get shade? For this Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) answered that;

"Allah Almighty will shade them within the shade of His Throne." (Narrated by Sa'eed Ibn Mansoor in his 'Sunan')

 

How many blessings of Allah Almighty we have that such a Hadith has been narrated for us and Islam provided us such opportunities and set very concise categories for our understanding. Allah Almighty first described the hardships of the Day of Resurrection and then provided us detailed deeds to enjoy His blessings on the day of Judgment. No doubt, Allah Almighty is the Exalted and the Glorious.

 

If ALLAH is free of all wants, then why does He ask us to worship Him?

 

If ALLAH is free of all wants, then why does He ask us to worship Him?     

 

First consider the question;

In Sahih Muslim, Hadith number; 6572, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Allah says;

"My slaves! If all of you, the first of you and the last of you, if all the men and all the jinn among you, were to be as god-fearing as the most god-fearing heart of any one of you, that would not add anything to My Greatness If they were to be evilest as the evilest heart of any one of you, that would not decrease anything even not a little bit in My Dominion. If they were to join together in one place and then ask of Me, and I gave every man among them what he asked for that, that would not reduce My Dominion at all, except as the sea is decreased if a needle is dipped into it."

 

There are some verses in the Quran that explain the Greatness of Allah Almighty.

وَمَن جَٰهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَٰهِدُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 

“And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah is free of all wants from the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists).” (Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse; 06)

 

Allah repeats a similar message in another Surah.

يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اَنۡتُمُ الۡفُقَرَآءُ اِلَى اللّٰهِۚ وَاللّٰهُ هُوَ الۡغَنِىُّ الۡحمید 

“O people, it is you who need Allah;36 as for Allah, He is Self-Sufficient, Immensely Praiseworthy.” (Surah Fatir, Verse no; 15)

 

But in another Surah Allah is asking for worshipping Him!

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ

 “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surat Adh-Dhariyat, verse no; 56)

 

Dozens of verses in the Qur'an mention that Allah (the Glorified and Merciful) does not attains anything through being praised, but rather He is the Gracious Giver to performers of good and evil-performers alike. Without getting sufficient thought to the nature of the Almighty Allah, and without ingress to His revealed words, a person misperceives the Creator as a needy. (نعوذ بالله ) Considering that the Allah Almighty is egotistically driven to demand devotional service is neither common sense nor sound logic.  So, what is the reason that He is asking for worship and also saying that He doesn't need our worship? The reason is that Allah Almighty wants us to worship Him not because of His benefit but for our benefit. How will we benefit if we worship Allah? You just need to revise the first three verses of Surah Al-Fatiha, the first surah of the Quran, and the most important part of our best form of worship (Salah). Without the recitation of surah Al-Fatiha, the Salah cannot complete. In these three verses, you see the praise of Allah;

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعالَمِينَ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

ٱلرَّحْمن ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

ملک يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

Master of the Day of Judgment

 

Every time a Muslim prays with an alert heart, he/she finds God listening attentively and replying with gifts that only the never-exhausting treasures of the Most Bountiful can afford. Outside of prayer, a Muslim remains invited to connect with God and experience His Nearness at every moment. Allah starts the Quran with his praise because He is well known to human psychology. A human when starts praising someone, he starts following him. For example, if you the most gorgeous or successful person in your family or in surrounding become your ideal and you automatically start following him. The steps that you take to follow him will only benefit you not the person whom you are following. In the same way, Allah wants us to praise Him because if we praise Him we will automatically start following Him and the path of Allah is for the True Success of humans.

If we say Allah u Akbar a thousand times in a day, it will not add anything to Allah's Greatness because He is already greatest and will remain greatest. The only reason for why we have to follow Him or praise him is when we praise Him, we will follow His advice.  We will follow the whole Quran and Sunnah that are full of His Advice. Our praise to him helps us to realize that we have to follow the one, who is the Greatest, most wise, most knowledgeable, and Merciful. As for the Muslim, he or she is blessed to understand that Allah loves to be worshipped and obeyed by His creation, not because of a need for authentication or enslavement, but because He loves to see the benefit we achieve from it. And all praise is due to Allah, the compassionate Lord of all the worlds.