Pardon and Forgiveness (3/4)

The incident of slander

This incident is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an when some hypocrites spread false accusations about ‘A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and defamed her. One of these was a man named Mustah ibn Athatha who was the cousin of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Though this man was penniless, Abu Bakr took an oath not to give him money any more after what he said about his daughter ‘A'ishah after which Allah, the Exalted, revealed verses regarding this situation,

“And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, 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.” [1]

When Abu Bakr heard this verse, he said, "Yes, O Lord we do desire that you forgive us." Then, he resumed giving Mustah the money as he used to do, and said, "No by Allah, I will never take it away from him.”[2]

In yet another form of pardoning, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) sent a mounted force towards Najd and they brought back a man from Bani Hanifah called Thumamah ibn Uthal. They tied this man lo a pole in the mosque, and the Prophet went out to see him. The Prophet said to him, "What do you have to say Thumamah?" He said, "I have good to say, Muhammad, If you kill me, you would have killed a man of precious blood, if you treat me with bounty, you would have treated a grateful man with bounty, and if you want money, ask of it as much as you wish." He (Peace be upon him) left him until the following day then asked, "What do you have to say, Thumamah?" He replied, "What I told you; if you treat me with bounty, you would have treated a grateful man with bounty." Again, he left him till the following day then asked, "What do you have to say Thumamah?" He replied, "What I have to say is what I have already told you." So, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Release Thumamah." The man then went to some palms near the mosque, washed, then entered the mosque and said, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah, O Muhammad, by Allah, there was no one on the surface of the earth whose face I abhorred more than yours, and now your face has become the most beloved face to me. By Allah, there was no religion that I abhorred more than your religion, arid now your religion has become the most beloved religion lo me. By Allah, there was no town that I abhorred more than your town, and now your town is the most beloved town to me. Now your mounted force has taken me and I would like to perform ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage), so what do you think? The Prophet (Peace be upon him) gave him glad tidings and ordered him to perform 'Umrah. When he arrived in Makkah, someone asked him, "Have you deviated?" He replied, "No, by Allah, but I have entered Islam with Muhammad (Peace be upon him). By Allah, you will not receive a single seed of barley from Yamamah unless the Prophet allows it."[3]

It is also narrated that Abu Mas’ud Al-Badri was severely lashing a boy he owned with a whip. He was totally overcome by rage; barely lifting his arm from one lashing before striking the next. The boy was crying out for help, but no one would help him. While he was doing so repetitively, a voice called out from behind saying, "Be informed Abu Mas'ud." Abu Mas’ud could hear the voice, but was unable to recognize the voice of the speaker, as rage had blocked all access to his hearing and recognition. However, the voice kept coming closer and louder, saying, "Be informed Abu Mas'ud." Abu Mas'ud turned around when the voice became very near, and was immediately taken by fear and reverence. The whip fell out of his hand, and his head dropped in humility, for the voice was that of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He was saying, "Be informed, Abu Mas'ud, that the Power of Allah over you is more than your power upon that boy." Abu Mas’ud Felt ashamed and wanted to atone for his sin. He said, "O Messenger of Allah, he is free for the Sake of Almighty Allah." The Prophet (Peace be upon him) then said, "Had you not done so, you would have suffered a stroke of Hell."[4] Hence, reward is of the same type as its deed. When you forgive the offence of a person who has offended you, Allah forgives you as well.

The examples of the forgiveness and pardon of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) are uncountable. His qualities were the embodiment of the Holy Quran, and he was always inclined to leniency. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Leniency makes anything good, and the lack of it makes anything bad."[5] -' He used to like leniency in everything. In this context, we relate an incident that happened with a Bedouin who asked for permission to enter into the presence of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in a rough manner. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Allow him to enter. What bad company he is!" When the man entered, the Prophet talked to mm with ease. ‘A'ishah said, "O Messenger of Allah. You said what you said, then talked to him with ease!" The Prophet (Peace he upon him) said, "O 'A'ishah a person of I lie worst standard before Allah is one who people avoid in fear of his obscenity or for protection from his evil."[6]

We also relate the story of the young man who went to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) saying, "Give me permission to commit adultery." The people approached him and scolded him saying, "Stop! Stop!" Yet, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Bring him close to me." When he approached, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked him, "Would you like it (to commit adultery) for your mother?" He answered, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you!" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) responded, "And other people do not like it for their mothers either. Would you like it for your daughter?" He replied, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you!" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) responded, "And others do not like it for their daughters either. Would you like it for your sister?" He answered, "No, by Allah, may I he ransomed for you!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded, "And others do not like it for their sisters either. Would you like it for your paternal aunt?" He replied, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you!" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "And others do not like it for their paternal aunts either. Would you like it for your maternal aunt?" He answered, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you!" He said, "And others do not like it for their maternal aunts either." He then placed his hand on the young man and said, "O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart, and make him chaste." Henceforth, the young man was never tempted by anything.[7]

What a splendid example of dealing with ignorant people with leniency and avoiding roughness and cruelty with them, while speaking to them gently! This is particularly important if the situation involves prohibiting what is wrong. Such lenient treatment is extremely effective, facilitating direction, and stirring feelings of regret for the roughness and disregard, as in this case, with which he dealt with the greatest teacher of humanity. Indeed he is the mercy and blessing granted to all creatures. Allah, the Exalted, says, “And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for all of creation.”[8]

The forgiveness of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was demonstrated in another situation when Quraysh rejected the mission of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). "He then went to At-Ta'if seeking support and help from Thaqif. He spent test days with them in At-Ta'if calling their dignitaries to Islam but the leaders of Thaqif disappointed him, encouraging their slaves and children to curse him and pelt him with stones, until his feet and the soles of his shoes were soaked with blood. His servant, Zaid ibn Harithah tried to drive [he irresponsible attackers away and defend him with his body until his own head was injured."[9] On his return from At-Ta'if, sad and depressed from the treatment with which he was met, Gabriel called him and informed him that Allah had heard the words of the people and their response to him. Moreover, ho informed the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that Allah had sent the Angel of the Mountains and told the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to order him whatever he desired. The Angel of the Mountains addressed him saying, "If you like, I will cause the mountains to crush them." However, the noble Messenger answered:

"No, rather I hope that Allah will bring forth from their progeny those who will worship Allah, and worship none other with Him."[10] Thus, despite all of their bad treatment, he pardoned them and felt sympathy towards them, and even more, he prayed for them and their progeny.

Similarly, in the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was injured, his tooth was broken, and be was bleeding. His Companions asked him, "Do you not pray against them?" His response is an indication of the most sublime standard of pardoning and forgiveness, for he said, "I was not sent to damn, rather I was sent as a mercy." [11]

One of the greatest of such situations happened the day that Makkah was opened, when it submitted to the most noble of conquerors. Did he demonstrate brutality and take revenge against those who drove him away? No! Allah forbid that such behavior could come from the Messenger of Allah. When the people came to him, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked them, "What do you think I will do to you?" They said, "[You are] a noble brother, and a noble nephew." So he said, "I say to you as Joseph said to his brothers, 'No blame falls on you today. May Allah forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful.' Go, for you are all free.”[12]

(Continued)