Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
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As Salaamu Alaikum,
In our culture, forgiveness is often seen as a sign of weakness. Our movies, generally, perceive an individual in fear approaching an individual in power with cries of mercy and forgiveness. In almost every case forgiveness, in our society, is intended to release the offender from the feeling of guilt. We view forgiveness as a way for two people or two groups of people to settle disputes.
Some well versed followers of the Qur?an believe this
The law of Qisas in Al Quran allows you, if you so choose, to retaliate with equal or even greater force if someone has attacked you FIRST. You have the option to forgive and try to ask for peace, but it is also just as Quranic to attack with equal force if you didn't start the attacks. This Is intended to be a deterrent for those who transgress bounds and oppress others.Here are some of many Al Qur?an verses on this subject which are further explained by study on the Philosophy of Forgiveness
331 Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good;
4149 If ye do good openly or keep it secret, or forgive evil, lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Powerful
16126 And if you punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones..
In an article for Lifetime titled ?Forgive and Feel Better?, Jeanann Pannasch wrote, ?In a recent study, Charlotte Witvleit, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, found that when individuals were able to forgive, they experienced greater joy, a more profound sense of control over life and less depression. Sound appealing??. She goes on to quote Everett L. Worthington Jr., Ph.D., executive director of A Campaign for Forgiveness Research who said, ?But grudge-holding only gives us the illusion of power. If you hold on to that anger on a chronic basis, then it has power over you, eating away at your peace of mind and perhaps even your immune system. ?4241 And for any who demand action after being wronged, those are not committing any error
4242 The error is upon those who oppress the people, and they aggress in the land without cause. For these will be a painful retribution.
4243 But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.
425???.. But to have patience would be better for you. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
When we grant forgiveness, we release from within ourselves some form of fear, hate, anger, and guilt. We make room within us for more love to enter. Forgiveness is equally beneficial to the giver and to the receiver. But the giver has far more discretion on how forgiveness may be used in his or her life, and, that is where the power of forgiveness lies.
Without seeming to usurp the meaning in the words of Jeanann Pannasch, the key difference between our common attitude toward forgiveness and what she writes is in the place of emphasis. Our common attitude assumes that forgiveness is more beneficial to the person asking for forgiveness. Jeanann Pannasch places the emphasis on the person giving forgiveness. Her interpretation represents the most powerful use of forgiveness.Source http//www.were-one.com/Forgiveness.htm#Logo#2
AQ 747 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient.
4223 ??.And whosoever earns a good deed, We shall increase it for him in goodness. Surely, God is Forgiving, Appreciative.Best regards
farida -
Peace farida,
Nice topic!
Forgiving is, like all of the good actions in God's system, immediately rewarding. Peace, relief, love, warmth, etc, all come as a quick and prolonged effect of forgiving. The hardest thing I've found is to forgive onesself. Not enough attention is given to this, imo. When we forgive ourselves for our past and even current ways, we open the door for positive change and growth. Remembering that our forgiveness pales in comparison to the forgiveness and mercy of God, then forgiving ourselves is much easier.
Just a quick comment on this
The law of Qisas in Al Quran allows you, if you so choose, to retaliate with equal or even greater force if someone has attacked you FIRST.
Can you reference the highlighted part?
Thanks, and peace,
Tay -
Peace farida,
Nice topic!
Forgiving is, like all of the good actions in God's system, immediately rewarding. Peace, relief, love, warmth, etc, all come as a quick and prolonged effect of forgiving. The hardest thing I've found is to forgive onesself. Not enough attention is given to this, imo. When we forgive ourselves for our past and even current ways, we open the door for positive change and growth. Remembering that our forgiveness pales in comparison to the forgiveness and mercy of God, then forgiving ourselves is much easier.
Just a quick comment on this
Can you reference the highlighted part?Thanks, and peace,
TaySalaam Tay,
You are absolutely right; the most difficult thing is to lean towards forgiving yourself. Especially if you can not find the person/s that you harmed. Guilt may even make one feel like taking revenge on oneself. Forgiving one own self comes with a long struggle and asking Allah?s forgiveness. I believe that only when God forgives you, can you finally forgive yourself. But unfortunate are those who never really feel sorry for the harm they cause and never seek forgiveness.
Re or even greater force
This harsh interpretation of the law of Qisas in Al Quran, reflects the view of well versed people, not only on this forum but in mosques and Muslim gatherings where revenge which rules the mind and scant thought is given to forgiveness.
I believe that, although Allah swt does allow us to punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones. That is how the Quran, while allowing us to exercise human emotions, guides us towards even better options those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good. Should we not strive to attain the love of Allah?
Yes a believer?s first option will obviously be to do what Allah loves and, once you do that you would soon experience the peace that comes with those acts. I have myself experienced how, in forgiving, you free yourself from aggression and feel so much lighter, as there is no more anger eating away at you. It is difficult to exercise forgiveness when one is angry, but if one resists the temptation to react when provoked and then forgive, you will feel above those petty reactions revenge, hate anger etc.May we all give lot more thought to the concept of forgiveness
peace
farida -
I believe he wants a direct quranic reference, not an appeal to authority/majority.
So do I, if it's not too much to ask.
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I believe he wants a direct quranic reference, not an appeal to authority/majority.
So do I, if it's not too much to ask.
Salaam OPF
The quote above was from a former free minder. I asked him to further eloborate, but he declined and stopped me from further quoting him on this forum. Therefore I can not say much, but that this is how some people, even though well versed exxagerate their reactions because of anger, which is obviously not mentioned in the Quranic verses I quoted above for that reason.
I would prefer to nolonger discuss any particular person, but rather the general attitude of the followers of the Quran. This thread aims to emphasize the benefits and inportance of the spirit of forgiveness as a paramount feature of believers.
peace
farida -
Let us say, somebody has extorted you 100000 euros. The person has done it cleaverly in the sense that if you do not let him or her do it, in fat you risk loosing much more than that. Now, this person doesn't think there is anythign wrong with that. You want something, you pay for it... How do you forgive this person. I mean you are not going to accuse him of anything because legally there is no ground. You do not hate this person either or want to take revenge or anything. What is forgiveness in a case such as this?
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Peace huruf,
You stated
somebody has extorted you 100000 euros
this person doesn't think there is anythign wrong with that. You want something, you pay for it...
you are not going to accuse him of anything because legally there is no ground
The situation as described is very cloudy. Extorsion, by definition, is illegal and of course, wrong. I'm not sure how anyone can justify it with a statement like "you want something, you pay for it". That makes no sense.
In any case, getting past the details, the bottom line is someone stole from someone else.
you asked
What is forgiveness in a case such as this?
If you mean how does one person forgive the other person for stealing from them, you just do it. Some people are capable of looking past the loss and resentment and thus quite able to see that the thief is in fact crippled by greed. In this case, it is better if one can remain patient and forgive the evil of others.
Other people may be so hurt by the loss and resentment that the only reconcilation is getting their money back. In this case they should do eveything in their power to retrieve what was taken and rest assured that they are also justified according to the qur'an.
But if there's no forgiveness and all avenues of reconciliation have been exhausted, then the person is left with a choice
Either live in resentment, or live in forgiveness. Which would be better, in your opinion?peace
