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).

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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 year 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.

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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.

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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.

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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 1 year 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 1 year 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

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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.

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Woman . Forgiveness . Sexual

If a woman has an orgasm by accident, such as during exercise or Yoga, should she pray for forgiveness?

Bismihi ta'ala

If this was accidental, and not in her control or on purpose, in that she was not "masturbating", then there is no sin and she does not need to pray for forgiveness.

Of course, if she knows that doing certain things while exercising, or some kind of friction, etc, would sexually arouse her and lead her to reaching climax, then she must avoid that.

And Allah knows best.