Virtues of pardon

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Pardon is one of the good manners and righteous qualities with which Allah commanded His Prophet and His Believing Servants. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them)." [Surat Al A`raf: 199].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And had you (Muhammad peace be upon him) been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults)." [Surat Al `Imran: 159].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masakin (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surat An-Nur: 22].

Al Kafawy said: Pardon is stopping harm while you are able to do it.[1]

Anyone deserves punishment for an action and he abandons himself from doing it for fear of punishment is considered forgiving. The difference between Safh and `Afw despite their close meaning is: Safh means overlooking one's sins and not to rebuke him for it however, Safh is more eloquent than pardon where a person may pardon without overlooking the guilt. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "So turn away from them (O Muhammad peace be upon him), and say: Salam (peace)! But they will come to know." [Surat Az-Zukhruf: 89].[2]

Ibn Kathir commented on Allah's Saying: "Let them pardon and forgive."

The previous Ayah was revealed concerning Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) when he swore that he will not give Mistah ibn Athathah any money after he had accused `A'ishah. When Allah sent down the acquittal of the Mother of believers (may Allah be pleased with her) and the believers' souls rested, Allah forgave those who spoke about the honor of `A'ishah, and the Prescribed Punishment set by Allah was executed against some people, Abu Bakr resumed his allowance to Mistah, his cousin, who was poor and had no money. Mistah had repented to Allah and he was lashed as set by Allah, then the following Ayah was revealed: "Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." i.e., the reward was part of the deed. As you forgive [the guilt of a person], we forgive you and as you overlook and pardon, we overlook and pardon. Thereupon, Abu Bakr said: Sure, by Allah I love to be forgiven then he resumed his allowance to Mistah and said: By Allah, I shall never cut it. [3]

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "`Uyaynah ibn Hisn ibn Hudhayfah came and stayed with his nephew Al-Hurr ibn Qays who was one of those whom `Umar used to keep near him, as the Qurra' (learned men knowing Qur'an by heart) were the people of `Umar's meetings and his advisors whether they were old or young. `Uyaynah said to his nephew, "O son of my brother! You have an approach to this chief, so get for me the permission to see him." Al-Hurr said: "I will get the permission for you to see him." So Al-Hurr asked the permission for `Uyayna and 'Umar admitted him. When `Uyaynah entered upon him, he said: "Beware! O the son of Al-Khattab! By Allah, you neither give us sufficient provision nor judge among us with justice." Thereupon `Umar became so furious that he intended to harm him, but Al-Hurr said: "O chief of the Believers! Allah said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): "Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; and leave (do not punish) the foolish." (Surat Al A`raf: 199) and this (i.e. `Uyaynah) is one of the foolish." By Allah, `Umar did not overlook that Verse when Al-Hurr recited it before him; he observed (the orders of) Allah's Book strictly."[4]

Al Shafi`y (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: People said: You kept silent while others are slandering you, so I said to them:

My response to them shall open the gate of evil

Pardoning an ignorant or a foolish person is an honor as it will protect my honor indeed, lions are feared while they are silent, whereas dogs[5] are cast with stones while they are barking. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). * Those who spend (in Allâh's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good-doers)." [Surat Al `Imran: 133 - 134].

Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Wealth is not diminished by giving (in charity). Allah augments the honor of one who forgives; And one who displays humbleness towards another seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah exalts him in ranks."[6]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most forgiving and tolerant. Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A person came to me while I was asleep and he took hold of the sword. I woke up and found him standing upon my head and I had hardly become alert (and saw) that the sword was in his hand. And he said to me: Who can protect you from me? He said: I said: Allah. He again said: Who can protect you from me? He said: I said: Allah. He said: He put his sword in the sheath (and you can see) this man sitting here. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not in any way touch him."[7]

In another narration: "Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not punish him."[8]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the leaders of Quraysh who harmed him, they killed his Companions, and drove him out of his country: "Go, you are free."[9]

It was reported in Musnad Ahmad from the Hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka`b (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: On the Battle of Uhud, sixty-four men were killed from the Ansar (Helpers, inhabitants of Madinah who supported the Prophet) and six men from the Emigrants. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: When we encounter polytheists like we did today, we shall exceed the number [of martyrs from us][10]

On the battle of opening Makkah to Islam, an ignorant man said: There will be no Quraysh after today. The announcer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called:[11] All the people whether white or black are safe except so and so [he called some people by their names]. So, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) revealed: "And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers 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 As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)." [Surat An-Nahl: 126], upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) remarked: We observe patience rather than being punished.[12]

Pardon is one of his traits by which he was described in Torah. Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al `Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) "`Ata' ibn Yasar narrated: I met `Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-`As and asked him: "Tell me about the description of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old Testament.") He replied: 'Yes. By Allah, he is described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran as follows: "O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness (for Allah's True religion) And a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), And a warner (to the unbelievers) And guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger (i.e. Messenger). I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who depends upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh nor a noise-maker in the markets, and you do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness."[13]

Pardon is one of the traits of Prophets. Allah (may He be Exalted) said about Joseph (peace be upon him) when he addressed his brethren: "He said: No reproach on you this day; may Allâh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" [Surat Yusuf: 92].

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported in their books of authentic Hadiths from the Hadith of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "As if I am looking at the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was speaking about one of the prophets whose people have beaten and wounded him, and he was wiping the blood off his face and saying: "O Lord! Forgive my people as they do not know."[14]

Pardon is one of the traits of righteous people.

In the time of Al Mu`tisim, the Caliph, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was imprisoned and lashed until he passed out and blood flowed from his body. He used to say: I have forgiven Abu Ishaq (i.e., Al Mu`tasim) and pardoned him. Imam Malik also was imprisoned and lashed until one of his hands was displaced from his shoulder, but he pardoned the one who lashed him. There are many situations to the same effect.

Shaykh-ul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyah, (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: I do not love that someone harms another because he attributed lies against me or slandered me. I have forgiven all Muslims of their insults. I love goodness for all Muslims and like goodness for every believer as I love it for myself, and I forgive those who wronged and oppressed me.[15]

It is important that pardon is conditioned by righteousness. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allâh." [Surat Ash-Shura: 40].

 (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Allah shall reward him greatly, and Allah conditioned righteousness before pardon, so if a criminal does not deserve pardon and the Shari`ah-based benefit requires punishment, in this case he does not deserve pardon. A person should treat people in the way he likes to be treated, so he should pardon as he likes pardon from Allah, for rewards depend on the type of actions.[16]

Whoever reaches that sublime stage of pardon should thank Allah for this blessing and self-comfort.

It is permissible for a Muslim to ask Allah frequently for pardon. At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it? He (peace be upon him) replied, You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhibbul-`afwa, fa`fu `anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)."[17]

The poet said:

O Lord, if my sins are huge, I have known that Your Pardon in greater. If only good-doers invoke You, whom should a criminal invoke and beseech? I have no other means to You except hope, Your Pardon, and being a Muslim.

Benefits of pardon:

1- Following the commands of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).

2- Removing envy and hatred from oneself.

3- Self-peace and comfort of the heart.

4- The great reward a person receives from Allah (Exalted be He).

5- Highness in this world and in the Hereafter.

6- Spreading love and brotherhood among Muslims.

7- It is an access to Paradise.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

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[1] Al Kulliyat (p. 53, 598).

[2] Basa'ir Dhawy At-Tamiyz (3/ 421) with paraphrasing.

[3] Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10/ 198). The Hadith is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 4757)

[4] Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 4642).

[5] Is thrown and cast by stones and pebbles.

[6] Sahih Muslim No. 2588.

[7] Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 2910) and Sahih Muslim (No. 843).

[8] Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 4135).

[9] Sirat Ibn Hisham (4/ 27) which was reported in the books of biography.

[10] We will out-number them.

[11] Everybody shall be safe and none of them shall be killed.

[12] Musnad (Hadith compilation of) Imam Ahmad (35/ 152) (No. 21229). The verifiers of the Hadith said: Its chain of narration is good.

[13] Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 2125).

[14]Sahih Al Bukhari (No. 3477) and Sahih Muslim (No. 1792).

[15] Al Fatawa (28/ 55).

[16] Taysir Al Karim Ar-Rahman Fi Tafsir Kalam Al Mannan (p. 727).

[17] Sunan At-Tirmidhy (No. 3513) and he also said: It is a good and authentic Hadith.