Pardoning

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Shaykh Ibraaheem bin Muhammad al-Haqeel
[May Allaah Preserve him]
An official preacher appointed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Saudi Arabia

All Praise is for the Lord of the Alameen and May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be on the most noblest of Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

To Proceed;                    

Verily, Allaah, the Most High, created mankind and he has made them a test for each other. He has also made us so we social and interact with one another, working, cooperating, transacting, sitting and visiting , in general humans are made to mix with one another in most aspects of their lives. 

When we are required to mix with each other, it is understandable that there will appear mistakes and times these mistakes may reach the level of oppression, transgression, whether this is in speech or in action. The Shariah stresses the importance of giving people their due rights, the establishment of justice, to repel any form of oppression, to deter the oppressor. At the same time to encourage one to be pardoning, to be forgiving and to readily except people’s excuses, to react to immoral with morality and a way that is better. We are also encouraged to connect to those who want to cut ties with us, to react to ignorance with forbearance and leniency. If these aspects are organised properly then there will be a great reward and benefit from the Lord of the Alameen, The Glorified and Exalted.

Pardoning with Allaah

Our Lord, The Glorified and Exalted, has an attribute of Pardoning, He is Generous and He Loves Pardoning. He loves those who pardon, he raises their ranks and he gives them from the best of rewards. How many people have Allaah, The Glorified and Exalted, Pardoned from the evils that His creations do? He prevents harm from reach and averts affliction from effecting them, despite them not being thankful to him, except those whom Allaah, The Glorified and Exalted, has mercy on, and these are very few.

From the Pardoning of Allaah, The Glorified and Exalted, upon His slaves is that he accepts their repentance and he pardons their sins, as He, the Most High, says;

“And it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do” [Shoora 42:25]

Also ‘Alee [May Allaah be Pleased with him] once said;

Shall I inform you about the most virtuous Ayah from the Book of Allaah, the Most High? The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] told me that it was;

“And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much” [Shoora 42:30]

And he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him said to me, “I will explain this to you Oh ‘Alee. Whatever you are afflicted by from sickness or punishment or trials in the life of this world, then this is from what your own hands have earned. Allaah, the Most High, is Generous, as He doesn’t give you sickness or punish you or test you with these things in the Hereafter. Whatever Allaah, the Most High, pardons you from in the life of this world then Allaah, the Most High, is lenient as He will not return to it once He has Pardoned you for it.“

[Narrated by Ahmad 1/58, Haakim classified it as being Saheeh and adh-Dhahabee agreed with him 2/445]

Praise of Allaah, the Most High, for those Pardon

Allaah, the Most High, Praises His servants, those who repel their anger and pardon the people. He has made their reward to be a place in Jannah, a reward that is as vast as the heavens and earths. He also commanded the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] to be pardoning to the general people, as He, The Exalted and Glorified, said;

“So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” [aal-Imraan 3:159]

In another Ayah, Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified, says;

“But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good” [Al-Maaidah 5:13]

Abdullah ibn Zubayr [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “Allaah commanded His Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] to be pardoning with the people.” [Narrated by Bukhaari 4644] this is referring to the Ayah;

“Be pardoning, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant” [A’raaf 7:199]

Some of the Salaf have stated about this Ayah that, ‘there is nothing in the Quraan that is more comprehensive in virtues of Akhlaaq than this Ayah.’ [Ma’aalim at-Tanzeel 1/213]

The Manner of Pardoning of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]

It is described that the manners of Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] was the Quraan. He guided people to its Ayaat and he did what the Quraan ordered him to and he abstained from what it prohibited. He did not leave being pardoning except in cases where he was not required by Allaah, the Most High, to pardon. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] only got angry for the sake of Allaah, the Most High, and he never got angry for the sake of himself. This is an attribute that has been mentioned in the Tawraah as well, that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him], ‘doesn’t repel evil with evil, rather he is pardoning and forgiving.‘ [Narrated by Bukhaari, 2125]

How many times did an ignorant person behave ignorantly with him? How many times did people transgress him? How many times was he afflicted by harm from the Muhsrikeen and the Munaafiqeen?  His reaction to all of this was to be patient with the harm that they were afflicting on him. When he became superior to them and had a chance to seek revenge he was pardoning and he forgot the pain they had caused him and he would say, “Go, for you are free” [Sunan Bayhaqee, 9/118]

This principle of his was based on the instructions he had received from the Book of Allaah, the Most High, as He had commanded him to be pardoning. This was also the way of his brothers from the Prophets [Peace be upon them all] before him. For example, Ibraaheem [Peace be upon him] said;

“My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - then he is of me; and whoever disobeys me - indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful” [Ibraaheem 14:36]

Also, there was Yusuf [Peace be upon him] who was the subject of envy from his brothers and they threw him down a well. They turned him into a slave and took away his freedom and they made money from selling him, they abused him severely and took him through a great ordeal, however when Allaah, the Most High, honoured him and gave him prestige and he had the chance to seek revenge, he forgave and pardoned them;

He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” [Yoosuf 12:92]

And then there was ‘Eesa ibn Maryam [Peace be upon him], who said;

“If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise” [Maaidah 5:118] 

The approach of the Salaf to Pardoning

The Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] and those who followed them in guidance [May Allaah have Mercy on them] would constantly pardon those who transgressed against them. They would respond in good to those who were wicked towards them. They bore patience with those who were ignorant with them. 

It has been narrated that ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “Everyone with me free to do what they wish.” [Aadaab ash-Shariyyah 1/71]

It once occurred that some money was stolen from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood [May Allaah be Pleased with him], so he supplicated for the thief. He said, “Oh Allaah! If this person took from me because he desperate then may You Bless him in it and if he took it because he fell into sin then make this the final sin he ever does.” [Ahyaa ‘Uloom ad-Deen 3/184]

It was also narrated that Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said about the Salaf as-Saaleh of this Ummah, “They didn’t look to scorn or dispraise people rather if they had the chance, they would pardon.” [Fath al-Baari 5/120]

The Reward for Pardoning

Pardoning is a principle only understood by the people who have certainty, those who reach the high levels of Taqwa and they are those who seek for the Hereafter and not for the life of this world. They are those who seek the reward of their Lord for this characteristic in the Hereafter;

“And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah . Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.” [Shooraa 42:40]

The reward mentioned in this Ayah has been left general; the Ayah doesn’t tell us what the reward is for those who pardon and it doesn’t inform us on the amount they will receive. Rather, the decision for the amount of reward has been left for Allaah, the Most High and whoever is in this situation, so then let him know that the reward of Allaah, the Most High, isn’t trivial. There is no need for this person to feel that he will be dealt with cheaply, verily Allaah is Bountiful [Al-Jawwaad], Generous [Al-Kareem], Pardoning [Al-Afw] and Merciful [Al-Raheem] so He will recompense you from the best of rewards.

Whatever is in the Hereafter doesn’t have a limit so the slave acquires from the Bounty of Allaah, The Glorified and Exalted. The reward comprising of being pardoned includes both the worldly life and the hereafter, in the worldly life he is pardoned of his sins whilst at the same time a reward that is preserved and awaiting him in the Hereafter.

It was narrated that Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Giving in charity doesn’t decrease you wealth in the slightest, and the person who pardons is not increase except in honour and there is no person who is humble for the sake of Allaah, except that Allaah will raise his rank.” [Narrated by Muslim 2588]

Who is in need for Pardoning?

All those people who accompany you, from your family and your children, are all in need of receiving pardon and mercy from you. This is because you live with them and mistakes may transpire from them regularly. Not only this, it may be that they are ignorant but Allaah, the Most High, says;

“O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Taghaabun  64:14]

You are at service to them, so their mistakes must be met with pardoning from you. You must be merciful when they slip. A man once came to the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and said, “Oh Messenger of Allaah, how many times should we forgive our slaves?” So the Prophet remained silent until the man asked again and the Prophet remained silent. He asked a third time and he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Pardon them seventy times every day.” [Narrated by Ahmad 2/111 and Aboo Dawood 5164]  

Seeking Pardon from Allaah, the Most High

It was from the guidance of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] to repeated ask Alah, the Most High, to pardon him and protect him. It has been narrated that Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said;

The Messenger of Allaah didn’t leave asking Allaah every day and every night;

“O Allaah, I ask You for pardon and well being in this life and the next. O Allaah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth”

[Narrated by Aboo Dawood 5074, Ibn Maajah 3871 and it was classified Saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan 961] 

It was also from his habit to ask during the Witr prayer at the end of the night;

“Oh Allaah! I seek refuge in Your Pleasure from Your Anger and I seek refuge in Your Pardoning from Your Punishment.”

[Narrated by Aboo Dawood 1427; it was classified Saheeh by Haakim and adh-Dhahabee agreed 1/306]

So it is for the Muslim to adopt pardoning and being merciful in his manners and etiquettes. The Muslim must be one who overlooks people’s mistakes and harm done to him; he must use this when turning away from the ignorant, until it is written that he has reached the high status of those who pardon.

I ask Allaah, the Most High, to support us in ourselves and against what our desires want. I ask Allaah to Pardon and Protect us in the Dunya and the Aakhira. Oh Allaah! You are al-Afw, you love to Pardon, so Pardon us.