Exploring the divine nature: Is forgiveness an act of God?
Daily, we encounter contradictory events that may not be palatable. What should be our reaction to this turn of events? To sum up, forgiveness is the attribute of Allah, who forgives despite having the most power. It shows the strong character of a person who exercises it. Daily, we encounter contradictory events that may not be palatable. What should be our reaction to this turn of events?
If you go through the pages of the Holy Quran and read the words of the beloved prophet, you will get your answer.
The message has been made very clear to all believers. The injunctions of Islam command its believers to practice forgiveness in their daily lives. The message is apparent in the Holy Quran.
But forgive and overlook until Allah accomplishes his purpose, for Allah has power over everything. If anyone does evil or wrongs his soul but seeks Allah’s forgiveness afterward, he will find Allah often forgiving and merciful.
What is Forgiveness?
The real meaning of forgiveness implies that a person who has been wronged exercises the act of forgiveness despite having the power to take revenge.
If a person forgives his enemy because he does not have the power, he is not forgiving but inviting the evils of malice and spite into his heart.
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How Can It Be Claimed? Is Forgiveness an Act of God?
The Holy Quran mentions the traits of Allah as the most merciful, the most benevolent, and the one who often forgives His believers for their wrongs.
We see in our daily lives that a man who spends his whole life in sinful acts is forgiven at once because he turns to Allah and repents. The sayings of our beloved prophet have proved that the trait of Allah that has been mentioned most in the Holy Quran is that He is Ghafoor and Raheem.
Here, we will discuss a few examples that show that forgiving is a divine act.
How A Wrongdoer Is Forgiven Instantly?
It has been repeated in the Holy Quran, but seek the forgiveness of Allah (106).
Muhammad (SAW) emphasized that forgiveness is a specific trait of Allah Almighty. He likes to forgive even those who have chosen the path of evil. Allah commands humanity to seek forgiveness and will convert your evil deeds into blessings.
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Allah has the Power to Forgive Despite Being Omnipotent.
As we have discussed earlier, if you like things to pass by just because you have no power over them, it is not a trait of forgiveness in the true sense. The power of revenge and forgiveness. The power of gloving with each other.
The characteristics of Allah Almighty, who is the most powerful and enjoys forgiving wrongdoers because it is His trait, have demonstrated this.
Allah Likes Those Who are Forgivers
Once, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said that those people would be under the protection of Allah on the day of judgment and forgive their wrongdoers despite having the power to take revenge.
Allah’s Commandments to Muhammad(SAW) About Practising Forgiveness
The life of beloved Muhammad (SAW) is also full of instances in which he opted to despite having the upper hand.
At the event of Makkah, He said to Jibrael:
Do not punish them. They don’t know me, but great Muslims will come out of their race.
When Makkah had been conquered, he asked His enemies what they expected from Him, and they all said they expected forgiveness.
Muhammad (SAW) pardoned even the murderers of His beloved uncle and daughter, Hindah and Wahshi. He forgave the Jewish women who tried to poison him.
All the avenge and retaliation were for Allah only. He didn’t let His spite and animosity take control. Hazrat Ayesha (Ra) said:
He would treat even his enemies with kindness. All his anger and frustration were for the sake of Islam only.
Hazrat Ali freed a non-Muslim in a battle just because he spat him in the face. He did this because it would turn into revenge instead of avenging the cause of Islam.
To Gain the Forgiveness Of Allah
As Muslims, we know that we have committed an immense number of sins, and the only way to compensate for these sins is to forgive others. It takes work to do so. But we all know that Allah is all-forgiving, so if we want to gain the pleasure of Allah, we have to build the habit of forgiving. In the Quran, Allah the Exalted said:
“Whoever spends in the way of Allah, both in plenty and hardship, restrains their anger, and forgives others, Allah loves such good-doers.”
Surat Al Imran 3:134
Benefits of The Trait of Forgiveness
The following are the benefits if we inculcate the divine attribute of forgiveness in us:
Malicious Vices Will Evaporate
Practicing the divine attribute of forgiveness in your daily life will free your heart from many vices like envy, hate, and spitefulness. It will create harmony in the Muslim Brotherhood.
Allah’s Blessings will Shower on you.
Forgiveness has been described as a divine attribute; it will accrue great blessings in your daily life if you practice it despite having the upper hand.
Strength of Character is Shown
As pointed out earlier, only a strong man can inculcate and practice the divine attribute of teachers; it makes your character even more potent.
Make Du’a For Yourself
The experience of forgiveness in Islam is selfless. If someone hurts you terribly, no words can explain the pain you are going through, so it is better to make Dua for yourself. Also, make dua for those who harm you. Never make dua against the person who hurts you; work on beautifying your character.
Conclusion
To sum up, forgiveness is a more vital attribute of Allah, who forgives despite having the most power. It shows the strong character of a person who exercises it.