Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, forswears recompense from or punishment of the offender, however legally or morally justified it might be, and with an increased ability to wish the offender well. Forgiveness is different from condoning (failing to see the action as wrong and in need of forgiveness), excusing (not holding the offender as responsible for the action), forgetting (removing awareness of the offense from consciousness), pardoning (granted for an acknowledged offense by a representative of society, such as a judge), and reconciliation (restoration of a relationship).

109887

Love . Forgiveness . Ibadah . Sadaqa (Charity)

Could you please verify if the following statements attributed to Holy Prophet are authentic: the best Ibadat is love and the best charity is forgiveness?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 2 weeks ago

I can't quite figure out the Arabic text of these quotations in English, in order to discuss them, so it would be helpful if you could write the exact texts in Arabic, or give a reference.

The closest narrations that come to mind are:
* It is narrated that the best form of ibadah is love for the Ahl al-Bayt (A).
* There is a narration in the Sunni books that a man who is bodily injured by someone (such as in a fight) and forgives that has offered a form of charity to the person who injured him.

Anyway, there are a lot of hadith attributed to the Prophet (S) saying "the best form of worship is..." and "the best form of charity is...", and sometimes different things are mentioned.

From this, one gets the sense that the intent behind the text is often to say that "this is a good thing to do" and encourage people to do it, not that there is a hierarchy of different types of charity or worship, and only one of them is at the top.

(Except in a case where the text is very clear that this is the absolute best thing to do and specifies that it really is meant to be better than anything else.)

Of course, there are many hadith encouraging charity (whether it be material assistance, or other forms of generosity such as kindness or assistance), forgiveness, and love (apart from love towards the vicious or enemies of God).

(Note that someone else may recognize what texts are being discussed here and have a better answer!)

112924

Sin . Forgiveness . God (Allah)

I heard from someone that once you sin, it can be forgiven but the internal effects will always stay within your nature. Is this true and if so is there a cure for it? And is there still a chance for us to reach high stations with Allah despite it?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 month ago

What you were told is not always correct. Allah's forgiveness is much greater than our imagination. Sincere repentance and seeking forgiveness can omit the sins totally as Allah says ( Verily, Allah forgives all the sins)(Sura 39, Verse 53). More than forgiveness, Allah changes the sins of very sincere believers who repent, believe and do good in to good deeds (Sura al-Furqan, verse 70).

Wassalam.

103270

Pork . Repentance (Tawbah) . God (Allah) . Forgiveness

I once ate candy that had pork ingredients in it and I knew it. I was about 12 to 14 years old at the time and have since repented. Will Allah forgive me?

Allah knows who is entitled to be forgiven according to the degree of his sincerity and real decision not to commit the sin again. Allah (SWT) said in Quran (Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves (in committing sins) : Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins, truly He is The Oft-Forgiving, The Most Merciful) Sura 39, verse 53.

We need to always seek forgiveness and repeat that whenever we remember our sins.

Wassalam.

107139

Love . Man . God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Divine Guidance

If I love a non-Muslim man, can I ask Allah to forgive him, guide him and for him to become a Muslim?

Muslim woman is not allowed to marry non Muslim man under any circumstance until and unless he becomes a Muslim.

We are allowed to pray to Allah for non Muslim to be guided and to see and follow the true religion of Islam.

Wassalam.

106659

Wife . Forgiveness . Christianity . Salah (Prayers) . God (Allah)

I am a Muslim and my wife is a Christian. She died about 8 years ago. When praying for forgiveness from Allah can I also pray for her?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 4 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Your late wife must have been a good lady for you to continue to remember her. Yes, of course you can do dua and pray for her forgiveness, as long as she was not hostile to Islam and she knew no better.

With prayers for your success.

104088

Backbiting . Forgiveness

I have done a lot of Gheebat in my childhood when I was not Baaligh. Is it compulsory on me to go and ask the person who was backbitten to forgive me?

It is not obligatory on non Baligh child to seek forgiveness for acts committed by him during his childhood. It is good to seek forgiveness from them if you can. It is also good to pray to Allah to forgive you and them as well.

Wassalam.

106162

God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Sin

Is there any person or entity, other than Almighty Allah, who has the authority to forgive sins such as an Imam or any saintly person?

Allah (SWT) is The Forgiver. The Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) taught us to supplicate to Allah: O Allah, who no one forgives sins but He يا من لا يغفر الذنب إلا هو

This part of Du'a Jawshan al-Kabeer which we recite during month of Ramadhan and other occasions.

We seek the Shafa'ah (intercession) from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) to Allah (SWT) to forgive our sins.

Wassalam.

105469

Forgiveness . God (Allah)

If someone thought bad about people but didn't convey those thoughts to them should they ask forgiveness from them or just ask forgiveness from Allah?

If you did not tell them nor any one else about your bad thoughts, you don't need to tell them now but just to seek forgiveness from Allah to forgive you and them as well.

Wassalam.

104577

Forgiveness . Repentance (Tawbah) . God (Allah) . Gheebah . Backbiting

How do I repent from Ghibah? Do I need to ask forgiveness of the people I have backbitten even if they do not know about it, or just seek forgiveness from Allah?

You need to seek forgiveness and pardon from them. If you are unable to do that then seek forgiveness from Allah to forgive you and them and keep praying for them.

Wassalam.

103617

Backbiting . Adolescence . Forgiveness

I am a teenager and when I was young I did not know much about Gheebat. At times I have done backbiting of a person who is very much older than me in age. Is it required for me to go and ask him to forgive me?

Bismihi ta'ala

Although you might have been young, but you must have known that talking ill about someone is a bad thing. If this person is still alive, and you do see him, greet him, and just say 'forgive me if I have wronged you', without going into details.

I am sure he wont comment on anything, and answer in a positive way, and your conscience will be clear, in shaa Allah.

With prayers for your success.

101764

God (Allah) . Forgiveness

How can you apologize to Allah if you had done a promise to him many times and broke it?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 7 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Even when we repeatedly promise and break our promises we can only keep seeking forgiveness from Allah, with renewed intention of not repeating that action. Sometimes it is hard to do something and we repeatedly fall back into the same mistakes. But just keep trying and begging for help and forgiveness. As long as we don't take our promises lightly and truly mean them, there is always a chance for us to not break them the next time.

May you always be successful

101809

Forgiveness

If someone who was upset with you passes away, how can one seek forgiveness from him or her?

Bismihi ta'ala

After you have repented to God, if you have somehow wronged them, intentionally or unintentionally, then pray for them with doing dua for their soul.

If you can, visit their grave, and read some Quran over their grave. Pay some sadaqah on their behalf, or do some good deeds, and gift it to their soul.

Recite fatiha for them, whenever you remember them. Give out some food on their behalf, and gift its reward to them.

Be kind to their family members who are alive.

These are some of the things that are recommended to do. As you are sincere, in shaa Allah, the Almighty and the marhoom/marhoomah will forgive you.

And Allah knows best.