How to Master The Art of Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is an attribute that Islam has immensely emphasized upon. That is to say, Allah has talked about forgiving people several times in the Holy Quran. To clarify, Allah advises us to overlook the mistakes and wrongdoings of others. In other words, we continuously meet people who disappoint and hurt us. Some sadden us a little. On the other hand, some severely hurt us. As a result, we feel disheartened and distressed. People at times hurt us unintentionally and mistakenly. Therefore, Allah guides us towards being the bigger person. Hence, He asks us to forgive everyone no matter how severely they have hurt us. As a result, he compares this forgiveness with the forgiveness of Allah. That is to say, just as we expect Allah to forgive us, similarly, we must also forgive His people.
…and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful (24:22)
Is Learning the Art of Forgiveness really that Easy?
Having said that, we cannot deny the fact that forgiving people at times becomes difficult. That is to say, we are not ready to forgive people who have hurt us. Forgiveness is an art that requires effort and strength of character. There is no harm in feeling that way. To clarify, we are humans first and our emotions control and affect us. Therefore, if you feel like not forgiving anyone, do not feel guilty and burdened because it is a natural trait. However, because Allah wants us to forgive people, therefore we can and we must try to succeed in forgiving others.
Ways to Master the Art of Forgiveness
In this article, we shall discuss ways that can help us forgive people even when we do not want to do so.
1. Empathizing makes Forgiveness easy
There are times when people react in anger because they are facing difficult and unpleasant situations. That is to say, people become aggressive and unintentionally hurt others in the process. To clarify, when we empathize with others, we become patient and our anger subsides. Therefore, no matter how hurt you are, you should be able to deal with the situation calmly. To attain this level of patience, we can follow our Prophet’s life. For example, the way he used to forgive his enemies no matter how harsh and brutal they were, explains enough how merciful he was. Reaching that level of patience and forgiveness is not easy, but we can at least try and strive towards it.
2. Master the art of Forgiveness by putting yourself in others’ Shoes
We are all humans. That is to say, we are meant to make mistakes. Angel is the only being that has been created perfect and faultless. We all are striving to become better. Therefore, we should keep this in mind and try to forgive others when they make mistakes. Further, we do not have the right to judge others and their characters. We are all in need of forgiveness and we should treat others keeping this in mind. Try to do your best and leave the rest to Allah.
3. Give Forgiveness for the sake of Allah
We do not forgive people because they deserve it. That is to say, if we forgive people for their sake, we might not be able to forgive them entirely. In other words, there can be such situations in which we shall feel we might not have forgiven the person. But, if we forgive people for the sake of Allah, we shall forgive them entirely. Consequently, we shall be able to free our minds and souls of the ill feelings and grudges.
Significance of Forgiveness
When we forgive others, we suppress our ego. That is to say, we forgive people for the sake of Allah. Generally, we think of seeking forgiveness from Allah. Moreover, we expect that He shall forgive us. But, we must also think of others the same way. When we shall suppress our ego, we shall be able to be closer to Allah. In addition, forgiveness helps lightens our heart and makes us blessed and special. Similarly, the sadness and pain of this world is temporary. Likewise, our grudges and vengeance hold no significance at all. Therefore, we should try to focus on this part and keep all thoughts away from our minds.
Conclusion
We cannot change people and their habits. However, we can soften our hearts towards our fellow beings. Further, we can change ourselves and our thinking. As a result, we shall be able to deal with negative and unfortunate situations in life. In order to attain the tolerance level required, we must follow the path of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Moreover, we should focus on Allah’s words and His teachings. A very important tip is to recite the Quran with translation and Quran with Tafseer (explanation). In other words, we shall be able to gain peace and light. As a result, that light helps soften our hearts and consequently, helps forgive others.
Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good (3:134)