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.

WAYS TO DEVELOP SINCERITY IN WORSHIP

WAYS TO DEVELOP SINCERITY IN WORSHIP 

Achieving and developing a high degree of sincerity in worship and actions, is what every Muslim should constantly try to realize. There are some ways through which we can achieve sincerity and in worship of Allah Almighty and actions.

1. Improve your Secret Life

Secret Life means private life. In Islam we have excellent importance for our privacy. But it is the nature of man to have fear of visible authorities and in privacy, we cannot hide ourselves from Allah. With this belief, improvement in private life can develop sincerity in worship. "The primary stage of sincerity is that, your private and your public life should be similar".

2. Ask Allah Almighty for sincerity

Having deep fear for Allah Almighty, we should ask Him for sincerity and this is practiced by our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). Asking right path for your heart that interact with wrong beliefs. If a person attain Allah Almighty's guidance to develop sincerity that is the wonderful way to be strong and sincere believer.

3. Keep pure Intentions

Our intensions should always be closed to achieve the happiness of Allah Almighty and right cause or objectives of our doings. Good intentions can help us in transforming the attraction into rewarding action. For instance, our acts of eating, drinking, exercising with intension of attaining more strength to perform more worship of Allah Almighty can develop sincerity.

4. Adopt Patience to endure hardships in life

Hardships are the critical tests in a person's life. These are hard to bear if person doesn't have strong belief on Allah Almighty. The belief that every thing is just from Allah Almighty and every hardship has fruits behind it, can help a person in developing sincerity. The example of Life of Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him is like, how much his life was full of hardships but than his life is also a testament to success.

5. Keep motivated to do good deeds

Motivation is the inner quality that trigger to do something. If it trigger to do good deeds, with time the sincerity will be developed. It is the required element that should be developed by first. It is the development of determination and dedication. It is the sign of sincerity to practices strong determination for good deeds.

THE REWARD OF PATIENCE IN ISLAM

 

 THE REWARD OF PATIENCE IN ISLAM 

Patience has the greatest rank in the sight of Allah Almighty and it is the form of deed that will be rewarded with no limit. In this world, we face several hardships or tests and sufferings but the people who do patience (Sabr) and Believe in Allah Almighty's wisdom behind every hardship, will be rewarded with the Decree of their Lord. In the Glorious Quran Allah Almighty said;

 

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ أَجۡرَهُم بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٖ

“Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."

(Al-Quran: 39: 10)

It means those who are patient will receive their rewards in full, without limit, calculation, or estimation, and Hisaab.

Islam is the complete code of life. It provides or guides us in every sphere of life. It guides us on how we have to behave in different situations. To become a true Believer by following all the guidelines of Islam, we should have a strong belief in Allah Almighty and that He loves us and will never leave us alone. Allah Almighty mentioned in the Glorious Quran;

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِين

“Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

(Al-Quran, 2:153)

 

When we believe that every hardship or test is coming from Allah Almighty and Allah Almighty knows what is better for us. It makes us patient. Patience is the virtue, which authorizes the individual to proceed towards worthy goals. Many Hadiths help a Believer to become patient.

 

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 70, Number 545)

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

"Allah's Apostle said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes." (See Hadith No. 558, Vol. 9.)

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

"Allah's Apostle said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, Number 548)

 

Narrated 'Abdullah:

I visited the Prophet during his ailments and he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double reward for it?" He said, "Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall. (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, Number 550)

RESPONSIBILITY OF HIJAB FOR MUSLIM WOMAN

 

RESPONSIBILITY OF HIJAB FOR MUSLIM WOMAN

What kind of motivation we can get to do Hijab? Or how we can start Hijab? How Hijab shows modernization?

These questions are answered in the following lines.

Islam gives the order of the Hijab for both men and women but the Islamic framework of the Hijab for both sexes is quite different. In the Noble Quran, Allah Almighty first mentioned the responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim men, and then in the next verse, Allah Almighty explained the responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim women.

Responsibility of Hijab for Muslim men

 

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

(Surah An-Nur: 31)

 

Islamic Hijab symbolizes the ideologies of humility, dignity, and modesty in terms of dressings and manners of both Muslim women and men. The aforementioned verse depicts the total responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim women.

One of the most important questions often asked by Muslim women is, what kind of motivation we can get to do Hijab? Or how we can start Hijab? The answer reclines in understanding the quintessence of one's existence as mentioned in Islam.

Muslim believe that the basic purpose of their lives is to worship Allah Almighty according to His commandments, as mentioned in the Glorious Quran and through the teachings of the final Prophet Muhammad PBUH. In Islam worship is a comprehensive concept that motivates Allah Almighty's consciousness in every aspect of daily life, from the act of charity and neighborliness to honest dealings and prayer. When the verse related to Hijab was revealed to Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), the Muslim women around the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), directly adopted these instructions. In the same way, through the obedience of spirit, Muslim women have continued modest dressing (Hijab) ever since.

Therefore, the primary motivation for Hijab is to comply with the instructions of Allah Almighty.

 

The hijab expresses modest behaviors, manners, and speech. So, it is a constant reminder for Muslim women that they cannot adorn their beauty for men. They wear hijab to achieve the pleasure of Allah Almighty and to sustain Islam's code of dignity and modesty.

There is another problem in our society that people consider that if a woman is wearing a hijab, she is not modern and has no sense of modern dressing or dressing style. The answer for them is;

Islam is the religion of modernization and balance and it is the most modern religion but people who speak against it, don't have an idea that the true meaning of being modern. Modernization means “Upgrade yourself as sensible in the way you do things". The women, who do not wear hijabs, know what kind of problems of harassment they can face because of showing their Bodies to non-mahram men. It is estimated that approximately 35% of women worldwide have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Nonmuslim countries are facing this issue more than Muslim countries and it is because of dressing styles. In Muslim communities, when Muslim women wear hijabs and save their bodies from the eyes of non-mahram men being sensible in the way they do this, they are the most modern women in the world.

Hence, the motivations to wear the Hijab are,

1. The pleasure of Allah Almighty
2. A constant reminder for Muslim women to obey Allah's commandments
3. The most modern dressing style

Honor of Women in Islam 

 

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.

 

Why Non- Muslims who are more righteous than Muslims will go to Hell?

 

Why Non- Muslims who are more righteous than Muslims will go to Hell?

Is not Allah unjust to put non-Muslims who are more righteous into hell and just for the Muslims who are not righteous to put into heaven? Will Good righteous non-Muslims like Mother Teresa go to hell? Why only Muslims will go to Paradise and non-Muslims will go to hell? What are its references in the Glorious Quran?

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٖۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةٗ يُضَٰعِفۡهَا وَيُؤۡتِ مِن لَّدُنۡهُ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا

Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives Himself a great reward. (Surah An-Nisa: 40)

Allah is the justest, He will not do even a minute fraction of injustice. As far as the question is concerned, we have to understand what is the meaning of righteousness and who is the righteous person. I will give you some examples to understand the importance of Tauheed to get a place in Heaven. I hope you all know that in the education system, we have practical exams besides theory exams. To pass the subject you have to pass the practical exam as well, it is compulsory. If you fail the Practical exam and pass the theory exam of the same subject, it means you fail the theory exam as well. No matter how many good marks you achieve in the theory exam. If you want to pass the exam you have to pass the practical exam. You cannot argue because this is a rule set. So, in Islam, the compulsory paper is Tauheed, the first pillar of Islam. You should believe in only one God (Allah Almighty) and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) as a messenger of Allah. It is compulsory, if you fail in this you fail the test of righteousness. You may do as many good deeds but if you do not believe this you are not righteous.

 

If I say Allah Almighty sets the Five pillars of Islam in sequence according to their compulsion.  And this world is the exam for the hereafter. In this exam paper, you have 10 questions of hundred (100) marks. The first question is Tauheed and carries 51 marks. The other four questions are based on Salah, Zakat, Saum, and Hajj. These four questions carry 30 marks. The remaining 19 marks are for other small good deeds. To pass the exam you have to score 50 marks. And if you will get zero marks in the first question which is Tauheed and being a non-Muslim you do not believe in the oneness of Allah and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His messenger. You cannot pass this exam.

 Allah says in Holy Quran;

 

 ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ

 [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving. (Surah Al-Mulk: 2)

 

Allah Almighty has sent us into this world as a test for the hereafter and the rules and regulations he laid down in the Quran as His last and final revelation. He kept on sending revelation, when the moment got more corrupted He sent a new revelation and His new messenger. There were many revelations sent on the face of the earth. But the last and final revelation is the glorious Quran and the last and final messenger is Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So, sometimes these types of questions came into our mind like, this non-muslims is very honest, and what are the marks for his honesty? Answer: Maybe this honest person gets five marks on the paper of 100 marks. Or any other person who is more charitable, he maybe gets 10 marks. But out of 100 marks, these 5 or 10 marks will not make him pass the examination. The best would be a Muslim, who believed in Tauheed, offer Salah, give charity/Zakat, fast and does the Hajj, and does other good deeds like good to neighbors, love his parents, do not gamble, etc. He will get maybe more than 90 marks on paper and he would be the best Muslim. 

The main thing we need to understand is "what is righteousness?"

Allah says in Holy Quran;

 

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٖ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبٗا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ

 أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٞ 

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (Surah Al-Hujrat: 13)

 

This verse depicts the criteria of Judgement in the sight of Allah Almighty, it is not gender, not wealth, not color, not race, but it is TAQWA. It is righteousness and God's consciousness. So, Allah is not unjust to put No-Muslims into Hell. He has set all the rules and regulations for us to be more righteous with detailed explanations in the Glorious Quran. Refusing the oneness of Allah Almighty is the biggest sin in Islam. So, how the Non-Muslims who have been refusing oneness of Allah Almighty from the start of their lives till end, can go to heaven?

Importance of Charity in Islam and the Third pillar of Islam.

CHARITY IN ISLAM

Allah Almighty said,

"O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you."

(Narrated by Abu Huraira: Bukhari, 64)

Charity is called Sadaqah or Zakat in Islam and Muslims give voluntarily to poor people to please Allah Almighty. This act also describes an uncoerced charitable act towards other people through love, generosity, faith, and compassion. Even the simple kind deeds such as helping others, and smiling, are seen as Sadaqah.

Anyone can give sadaqah for any good purpose and amount. Many companions of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) were extremely bounteous in giving charity, often giving away big portions of wealth and keeping only small enough for their needs.

In Islam being caring and sympathetic to others is the central part of belief. At different points in the Quran, charity is mentioned several times and one can help being struck by them. Various references in the Quran about feeding the poor and needy, helping relatives, orphans, and travelers, and spending for the pleasure of Allah emphasize the importance of Sadaqah in Islam.

In addition to the undeniable benefits of charity, Islam mentioned the courage to spend your money selflessly with a strong belief that everything they have in life comes from Allah Almighty. We must not collect our money and blessings because we believe that He wishes for us to be sympathetic and share our blessings with others without pride.

 

Believers! Do not nullify your acts of charity by stressing your benevolence and causing hurt as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. (Al- Baqarah: 264)

Types of Charity in Islam

Zakat or charity is the third pillar of Islam. Spending wealth as charity for needy and poor people is the most important characteristic of Islam. Muslims should realize how their charity could build strong societies. It is necessary for the well-being of the poor as well as the ultimate pleasure of the giver. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) explained the forms of charity. One is Zakat and another is Sadaqah. Zakat is given to deserving people with a specific or standardized percentage of wealth. But sadaqah is not for specific people or in a standardized form, we can give it to anyone in different forms. The smile, true advice, or any good help is Sadaqah.

The Prophet said: "Your smile for your brother is a charity. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is a charity. Your guidance of a person who is lost is a charity." (Bukhari)

Awards on the day of Judgment

On the Final day of judgment when the sun will be too hot to bear and everyone lost shade and could not protect themselves from heat waves, Allah Almighty will save those under shade who spend money for the poor and give charity. The sacrifices of Muslims in this life will be the protection on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said: "The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity." (Al-Tirmidhi)

Giving Sadaqah that is too easy can save you from the hellfire if Allah Almighty so wishes.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said:

 

"Guard yourself against the Hellfire, even with half of a date in Sadaqah. If he cannot find it, then with a kind word."  (Bukhari and Muslim)

Sometimes we consider the small acts are not enough and we avoid ourselves to do these acts but Allah Almighty reminds us repeatedly that they are much enough and that we should do the act of kindness even when we can not see the value in them.

Another power of Sadaqah is that it can protect you from difficulties, calamities, trials, and hardships.

"Give Sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." – Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (At-Tirmidhi)

There are many reasons to give Sadaqah even when you are not particularly religious. You might help poor people and teach your children as an act of generosity or selflessness. But when you are Believer your reasons for spending money, care, and time for others are tied to the higher rank.

 

The question is: Will you act on this?