Pardon is important in dialogue

Pardon is important in dialogue

(speculations on the dialogue of Surat Yusuf)

Pardon with the ability of applying punishment, forgiving, tolerance with others' mistakes are the manners of a true believer who supresses his anger, pardons people, does not blame them for their mistakes, seeks execuses for them, thinks good of them especially those who come to apologize, and offers his apology and admission of mistakes.

Allah (Glory be to Him) granted Joseph (peace be upon him) that great manner during his dialogue with his brothers; Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "They said: By Allâh! Indeed Allâh has preferred you to us, and we certainly have been sinners." [Surat Yusuf: 91].

That was their recognition of the crime which they committed against Joseph (peace be upon him) but Joseph (peace be upon him) said to them: "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]. This great dialogue which took place between an honorable Prophet and the son of an honorable Prophet indicated the forgiveness of Joseph to his brothers about their past sins and promised them in the future that he would not blame them for the past and would not remind them of anything because that would hurt them and make them sad. They showed regret about what happened, therefore Allah said: "After the Shaitân (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers." [Surat Yusuf: 100].

He did not say: After Satan had seduced them and he did not say either after Satan had seduced them, but he attributed the action to Satan who separated between him and his brothers as if guilt and ignorance came from both parties. That showed the perfection of his magnanimity because it is improper for a person to humiliate others with sins after their repentance of it. That showed also the perfection of his high moral standards which is to meet insult with pardon and forgiveness, ignorance with forbearance and pardon with the ability of applying punishment, therefore Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive you?" [Surat An-Nur: 22].

So, pardon with the ability of applying punishment is considered a strong position of the person, therefore Allah (Glory be to Him) mentioned pardon followed by forgiveness. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And to forego (and give her the full Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 237].

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it, or pardon an evil, verily, Allâh is Ever Oft-Pardoning, All-Powerful." [Surat An-Nisa': 149].

The Qur'an mentioned the word "Su' [i.e., an evil]" such as insult, beating, or offence, and asked the people to pardon that evil deeds.

When `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the manner of the Prophet (peace be upon him), she said: "He was never indecent of speech or of manners. He never spoke loudly in the markets. And, he never returned evil with evil, but he forgave and overlooked." [Sunan At-Tirmidhy, 2015, and said: This is a good and authentic Hadith].

These are the Prophetic manners which should be embodied in the nation and should be applied in dialogues whether between ordinary people or leaders in their meetings.

References:

* See: Tafsir As-Sa`dy: Benefits taken from the story of Yusuf (Joseph) (p. 62).

* See Al Wad`an: How to establish a good relationship with a Muslim brother (p. 57-59).