A Moment with Our Prophet, Muhammad (S)
By Imam Zijad Delic
Day 195: Forgive Others and Allah will Forgive You!
Narrated by Abu Huraira (r) that the Prophet (S) said: “No one forgives another person except that Allah increases his/her honor.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا
Source: Muslim
Transliteration: “Wa Ma Zadallahu ‘Abdan Bi ‘Afwin Illa ‘Izza.”
There is a direct correlation between the ways we treat others and how Allah treats us!
Our Prophet (S) taught us the correct understanding of this correlation!
Once he (S) said: “Forgive others and Allah will forgive you.” (Ahmad)
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَاغْفِرُوا يَغْفِرْ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ
Omar (r) was heard to say: “Anyone who does not forgive, will not be forgiven.” (Al Adabul Mufrad)
عَنْ عُمَرَ قَالَ وَلاَ يُغْفَرُ لِمَنْ لاَ يَغْفِرُ
The following marvelous story reflects on the high rank of those who do not keep grudges in their hearts against others but free their hearts from bitterness and anger.
Anas Ibn Malik (r) narrated: “We were sitting (at the masjid An Nabawi) with the Prophet (S) once when he (S) said: “A man from the dwellers of Paradise will walk in now” so a man from the Ansar walked in whose beard was wet from the effect of ablution and who held his slippers with his left hand.
The next day the Prophet (S) said the same thing, and the same man walked in.
On the third day, the Prophet (S) said the same thing, and the same man once again walked in.
When the Prophet (S) left the gathering, ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (r) followed that man and said to him: `I had a misunderstanding with my father and swore not to stay in his house three nights, so if you permit me I would like to spend these three nights with you` The man said: `Yes, I permit you.’”
Anas Ibn Malik (r) added: “‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr told us that he spent three nights and did not notice that the man prayed the optional night prayers during any of these nights, but if he woke up during the night, he would simply mention Allah.
Nonetheless, I never heard him utter except good things, so when the three nights finished, I almost belittled his deeds (as they were insignificant) and I said to him:
`O slave of Allah!
There was not dispute between me and my father or anger, but I heard the Prophet (S) saying thrice: “A man from the dwellers of Paradise will walk in now” and you walked in all three times, so I wanted to sleep in your place to see what you do in order to imitate you, but I did not see that you exert extra effort in performing any extra deeds.
How did you reach such status to deserve what the Prophet (S) said about you?
He replied: ‘My deeds are nothing more than what you saw.’
Then when I left, he called me back in and said: ‘My deeds are nothing more than what you saw, but the only thing I do (besides what you saw) is that I do not hold any grudge against any Muslim (I forgive) or envy anyone for what bounties Allah has bestowed upon them.’
Thereupon ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (r) said to him: “This difficult quality to obtain is what granted you this high rank!” (Ahmad)
Indeed, when we humble ourselves and forgive those who did wrong to us, Allah will honor us with a degree or high rank from Him, as the Prophet (S) mentioned in the opening Hadith of this post, narrated by Abu Huraira (r): “No one forgives another person except that Allah increases his/her honor.” (Muslim)
The most among human beings think that if we forgive, we will be perceived as weak, timid or sometimes dumb; however, that is not how it is in the universe of God and that is not how it should be, if we want to have peace in our hearts and our life in general.
Only great characters and personalities are capable of forgiving others – people of healthy hearts and the knowledge of what it means to know Allah, know about His rewards for forgiving others and what it means to sincerely follow the Prophet (S).
May Allah make us of those who would, against the odds of today’s thinking that forgiving others is a sign of weakness, have soft hearts for others and guide us towards that which is the best for us and others!
Allahumma Amin!
