Sense in Human Forgiveness

Introduction:

Forgiveness is 'to grant free pardon and to give up all claims on account of an offense or debt'. Forgiveness in Islam is rewarding for the forgiver and opportunities for the forgiven. In order to shed the rage of anger and working on self reform, such would lead us to forgive fellow brothers who wish to regret, repent and reform.

This we learn from the Last Messenger Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), who on the day of Meccan conquest, when he came back to Mecca with the Muslims' army of 10,000, one need to observe his (PBUH) attitude towards the conquered. Muslims this day returned to Mecca victorious with no war and anyone of Muslims or unbelievers was not killed, and Muhammad (PBUH) didn’t take any revenge on anyone from those who rebuked and stoned him and killed many Muslims and fought so many battles against Muslims like his deadliest enemy Abu Sufyan and his wife Hinda during the period of their ignorance. Later, both embraced Islam and became Muslims (RTA).

A great quality of the Last Messenger Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is that he never took revenge on his own behalf on anyone as his wife Aysha (RTA) said: "He never returned evil for evil, but always forgave and pardoned".

The Qur’an Testifies:

"Mohammad - The Messenger of (Almighty) Alloh - and those with him are harsh and stern against the disbelievers, but kind and compassionate amongst themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, as they seek (Almighty) Alloh's blessings and approval. Their marks are on their faces, because of prostrating. This is the same example as in the Torah. Their example in the Gospel is like plants that grow taller and stronger, and please the farmers. He thus enrages the disbelievers. God promises those among them who believe, and lead a righteous life, forgiveness and a great recompense" {The Qur’an – Surah Al Fatah (Chapter: The Victory) 48: 29}.

The Mercy of the Prophet (PBUH) even extended to those who brutally killed and then mutilated the body of his uncle Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib (RTA), one of the most beloved of people to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).  Hamzah (RTA) was one of the earliest to accept Islam and, through his power and position in the Quraishite hierarchy, diverted much harm which was destined for the Muslims.  Hamzah (RTA) while in the process of Jihad in the battle of Badr had killed Utbah, the father of Hinda. In the battle of Uhud, she slaked her thirst for vengeance which had given her no rest since the battle of Badr. Hinda, the wife of Abu Sufyan and the mother of Muawiya, nursed a grudge against Hamzah (RTA) and was determined to take her father's revenge on the Muslims at any cost.

An Abyssinian known as Wahshi, was the slave of the wife of Abu Sufyan, Hinda, sought out and killed Hamzah (RTA) in the battle of Uhud.  The night before the victory of Mecca, Abu Sufyan accepted Islam (RTA).  The Last Messenger Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) forgave him and sought no retribution for his years of enmity. Abu Sufyan and Hinda both embraced Islam and became Muslims (RTA).

After Hinda had killed Hamzah (RTA) she mutilated his body by cutting his chest and tearing his liver and heart into pieces.  When she quietly came to the Prophet and accepted Islam, he recognized her but did not say anything.  She was so impressed by his magnanimity and stature that she said, "O Messenger of God, no tent was more deserted in my eyes than yours; but today no tent is lovelier in my eyes than yours".

Ikramah, son of Abu Jahal, was a great enemy of the Prophet (PBUH) and Islam.  He ran away after the victory of Mecca and went to Yemen.  After his wife embraced Islam, she brought him to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) under her protection.  He was so pleased to see the Prophet (PBUH) that he greeted him with the words: There is no deity but Alloh and Mohammad is the Messenger of Alloh.

The Last Messenger Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said to the Quraish: "O people of Quraish! What do you think I will do to you? Hoping for a good response, they said: "You will do well. You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother".

The Prophet then said: "Then I say to you what Joseph said to his brothers: ‘There is no blame upon you; Go! For you all free" (“Seeratur Rasool”, Muhammad Ibn Suleiman at-Tameemi).

Rarely in the annals of history can we read such an instance of forgiveness? Another situation, when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) went to city of Ta'if to invite them to Islam, they beat him and throw some stone towards him, Almighty Alloh then sent the Angel of mountains, seeking the permission of the Prophet (PBUH) to join together the two hills and crush the city of Ta’if, between which it was located. Out of his great tolerance, mercy and forgiveness, the Messenger of Almighty Alloh replied, “No! For, I hope that (Almighty) Alloh will bring forth from their loins, the people who will worship Alloh alone and associating nothing with Him” (Hadith - Sahih Muslim).

Lesson for Modern Muslims:

"And obey Alloh and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. And hasten  to  forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend (in the cause of Alloh) during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Alloh loves the doers of good; And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves (by transgression), remember Alloh and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Alloh ? - And (who) do not persist in what they have done while they know. For those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow (in Paradise), wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the (righteous) workers" {The Qur’an – Surah Ale Imran (Chapter: The Amramites) 03: 132 – 136}.