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Have you ever been in a position where all you wanted was the forgiveness of someone you had hurt?

You seek their forgiveness because it hurts you to have hurt them. I know you have, because at some time in our lives we have been the seeker of forgiveness, since we as human beings wrong each other whether intentional or not on a regular basis.

This is why Allah in His mercy has given us tawbah (repentance/forgiveness). Many of us lack the capacity to forgive, which is wrong. Often someone has hurt us and we are not willing to forgive, no matter how apologetic or how much we have been begged to forgive.

Mahatma Gandhi said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

How true, because sometimes it takes a big man or woman to forgive. We all are familiar with the old adage, "to err is human and to forgive is divine."

Both parts of this statement are very true. As human beings we make mistakes and we are constantly in need of forgiveness. Islam speaks about two aspects of forgiveness, Allah's forgiveness and human forgiveness. We need both, because we do wrong in our relations to Allah as well as in our relations to each other.

Allah in His mercy grants us forgiveness over and over again. Hence we must have the heart to forgive as well. Allah has many names, in fact, 99.

One of them is Al-Ghafoor, which means the most Forgiving. This name occurs in the Qur'an more than 70 times. There are other names from the same root, such as Ghafir and Ghaffar.

The meaning of the "ghafara" is to cover, to hide and from it comes the meaning "to excuse", "to pardon", "to remit" and "to forgive". Allah (swt) does all these things.

Repentance

In the Qur'an, it is mentioned that Allah does not forgive the Shirk (without repentance) but He may forgive every other sin for whomsoever He wills (al-Nisa' 4:116). We must turn to Allah in sincerity to seek His forgiveness, as we need Allah's mercy and forgiveness all the time. We must never assume that one will find eternal salvation without the forgiveness of Allah, it cannot happen. So seek Allah's forgiveness unceasingly.

Just as it is important to believe in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, it is also necessary for us to forgive our fellowman. We cannot expect Allah's forgiveness unless we also forgive those who do wrong to us. Forgiving each other, even forgiving one's enemies is one of the most important Islamic teachings. In the Qur'an Allah has described the believers as "those who avoid sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive." (al-Shura 42:37).

The Qur'an also says on forgiveness, "If you punish (your enemy, O you believes in the Oneness of Allah) then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient. Endure you patiently. Your patience comes through the help of Allah. (al-Nahl 16:126-127).

In one Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said that Allah has commanded him about nine things. One of them he mentioned was "that I forgive those who do wrong to me." The Prophet (pbuh) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. He forgave even Hind who had caused the murder of his beloved Uncle Hamza, not only did Hind have Hamza killed, but after his death she had his body mutilated and chewed his liver! After time, Hind accepted Islam, and though she has caused the Prophet (pbuh) much pain and grief, he still forgave her. Islam emphasizes justice and punishment of the wrong doers, but it equally strongly emphasizes mercy, kindness and love.

Healing wounds

Justice, law and order are necessary for the maintenance of a social order, but there is also a need for forgiveness to heal the wounds and to restore good relations between the people. We must keep in mind that as much as we need Allah's forgiveness for our own sins and mistakes, we must also practice forgiveness towards those who do wrong to us.

"Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want and those who migrated in the path of Allah. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? Indeed Allah is oft-Forgiving, most Merciful." (Al-Nur 24:22). Ameen.[[In-content Ad]]

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