Checkout

Friday Talks
faheemfb@gmail.com

189

      

 

      
 

     

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

Forgiveness

 

Written by:  Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

 

28 April 2017

1 Sha’ban 1438.

 

Dearly beloved,

 

Allah the Almighty commanded us to have great morals. The prophet ppbu encouraged us to enhance ourselves with the best of deeds and best morals, he said: {I was sent to bring about the ultimate of good morals}. One of the morals or characters that our prophet ppbu had, and had encouraged us to have, in order to seek out Allah’s satisfaction and Allah’s redemption or absolution, is the character of forgiveness or pardoning. That is to be a forgiving person.

This great moral or character could only come from pure souls and generous hearts; who love Allah and the next life. The individual would forgive and pardon in this life just as Allah the Almighty would pardon the individual and pardons him/her on a day when no money or child would be of any benefit to them. The only thing that can of benefit to the person is if he/she comes to Allah with a good heart. A Muslim should train him or herself or strive to adopt and accomplish or have this moral or character of forgiveness. Because it is one of the characters, that Allah Has. Indeed, Allah’s forgiveness towards us is so magnificent. That is because a soul has a nature that encourages evil deeds, and it carries the weight of sin and is heavily loaded with bad deeds. This is the general state of son of Adam since Adam himself ate from the forbidden tree, and since he was brought down to earth. His descendants came after him with many more deeds of disobedience and many more sins. But, Allah the Almighty with His tremendous mercy and grace; and His favor upon His slaves; is that He does not take them to count or does not punish them for everything they do. He says in His book: {If Allah takes mankind to task by what they do or by that which they deserve, then He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth} 35:45.

One example of Allah’s great pardons and forgiveness and mercies is the covering up for us our mistakes and sins in this life and in the next. This mercy is for everyone who repents, and has faith and does a good deed. The messenger ppbu said: {A believer is brought so close to His God on the day of resurrection; to the point that God covers him with his mercy and grace. God says to the slave: Do you know that sin you did? Do you remember that bad deed you committed? On such and such day? With absolute shame and disgrace of what he did against Allah; the slave says: Yes, I know, I do. But the Most forgiving, the Most Merciful says: But in the first life; I covered up for you. Now, I grant you pardon}. Allah the Almighty; covers up for us in this life and covers up for us in the next life. This is the grace of pardon from Allah. This is sensibility, forbearing and leniency of Allah towards us. This is the mercy of Allah towards His creations and slaves.

Accordingly, Allah encouraged His worshipers to adopt this moral and this character. He want them to forgive and pardon those who wrong against them. Allah says: {Let them forgive and show clemency. Would you not like it; that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. } 24:22. Allah shows that forgiving people is a closer act of being a God fearing person. Allah says: {To forgive and pardon is nearer to piety. And do not forget kindness amongst yourselves.}2:237.

Pardoning and forgiving is one of the characters of God fearing believers who will enter Paradise. Forgiving others brings and earns the love of Allah. If you are one of those who forgive and pardon people then Allah will love you. And He will make you amongst the people of kindness, who are of the highest level of faith. Allah says: {Those who control their wrath or rage and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loves kind people} 3:134.

If you forgive and pardon; then Allah will forgive you and pardon you. You should forgive this who does wrong towards you. There may be this who breaks ties with you, and denies you, and transgress against you, while on the contrary, you forgive him, and not do evil back to him and yet you are able to do so. You are able to do them evil and you are able to take revenge against them but; you forgive and pardon. Not for the sake of being complemented and admired by people, but for the sake of Allah. In order to gain and win His forgiveness and His reward. Also, for the consequence that your heart will relax in this life and be free of hate, animosity and envy towards your other fellow Muslims. And in order to have a better status and glory with Allah. The messenger ppbu said: {There are three I could make an oath with. I will tell you something; do learn it: No money of a slave shall be reduced if charity was paid out of it. And if a slave was wronged but he was patient and put up with it; then Allah will give him more glory and a better status for it. And if a slave starts falsely asking for support then Allah will open up the gate of deprivation and need on to him}. Allah says: {Whosoever forgives and pardons and amends then his/her reward is the affair of Allah. Allah does not love aggressors and wrong-doers.} 42:40.

I say this and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and I and for all Muslims from all sins. Do ask His forgiveness, He is the most Forgiving, the most Merciful.

 

 

Notes:

  1. Adhan - The call to prayer.

  2. Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

  3. Allah - The Arabic word for "god."  It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

  4. Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

  5. Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

  6. Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

  7. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

  8. Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  

  9. Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa) 

  10. Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

  11. Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.  

  12. Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life. 

  13. Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

  14. Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

  15. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

  16. Fiqh - Religious law.

  17. Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

  18. Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

  19. Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.

  20. Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

  21. Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.

  22. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

  23. Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

    24.

  24. Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

  25. Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

  26. Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

  27. Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  

  28. Iman: belief or faith

    29.

  29. Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

  30. Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

  31. Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

  32. Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

  33. Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels.  They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

  34. Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

  35. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

    36.

  36. Khutbah  - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

  37. Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

  38. Koran - Also spelled Qur'an.  The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel.  Koran literally means "the recital."  It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

  39. Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

  40. Masjid - A center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque.

  41. Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

  42. Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

    43.

  43. Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

  44. Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

  45. Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations.  He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

  46. Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

  47. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

  48. Nasara - Christians.  Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

  49. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

  50. Paradise - Another word for heaven.  A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live  in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

  51. PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

  52. Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

  53. Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

  54. Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

  55. Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

  56. Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

  57. Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

  58. Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

  59. Shirk - Associating another god with Allah.  Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.  

  60. Siam  or Soam- Fasting

  61. Sunni: is a the title of  those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

  62. Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

  63. Surah - A chapter of the Koran.  

  64. Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

    65.

  65. Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

  66. Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

  67. Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

  68. Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

  69. Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

  70. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

    71.

  71. Zaboor - The Psalms

  72. Zakat - The third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

    73.

 

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com

      

 

      
 

     

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.