Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, forswears recompense from or punishment of the offender, however legally or morally justified it might be, and with an increased ability to wish the offender well. Forgiveness is different from condoning (failing to see the action as wrong and in need of forgiveness), excusing (not holding the offender as responsible for the action), forgetting (removing awareness of the offense from consciousness), pardoning (granted for an acknowledged offense by a representative of society, such as a judge), and reconciliation (restoration of a relationship).

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Forgiveness . Repentance (Tawbah) . God (Allah) . Gheebah . Backbiting

How do I repent from Ghibah? Do I need to ask forgiveness of the people I have backbitten even if they do not know about it, or just seek forgiveness from Allah?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 years ago

You need to seek forgiveness and pardon from them. If you are unable to do that then seek forgiveness from Allah to forgive you and them and keep praying for them.

Wassalam.

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Backbiting . Adolescence . Forgiveness

I am a teenager and when I was young I did not know much about Gheebat. At times I have done backbiting of a person who is very much older than me in age. Is it required for me to go and ask him to forgive me?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 4 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Although you might have been young, but you must have known that talking ill about someone is a bad thing. If this person is still alive, and you do see him, greet him, and just say 'forgive me if I have wronged you', without going into details.

I am sure he wont comment on anything, and answer in a positive way, and your conscience will be clear, in shaa Allah.

With prayers for your success.

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God (Allah) . Forgiveness

How can you apologize to Allah if you had done a promise to him many times and broke it?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 4 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Even when we repeatedly promise and break our promises we can only keep seeking forgiveness from Allah, with renewed intention of not repeating that action. Sometimes it is hard to do something and we repeatedly fall back into the same mistakes. But just keep trying and begging for help and forgiveness. As long as we don't take our promises lightly and truly mean them, there is always a chance for us to not break them the next time.

May you always be successful

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Forgiveness

If someone who was upset with you passes away, how can one seek forgiveness from him or her?

Bismihi ta'ala

After you have repented to God, if you have somehow wronged them, intentionally or unintentionally, then pray for them with doing dua for their soul.

If you can, visit their grave, and read some Quran over their grave. Pay some sadaqah on their behalf, or do some good deeds, and gift it to their soul.

Recite fatiha for them, whenever you remember them. Give out some food on their behalf, and gift its reward to them.

Be kind to their family members who are alive.

These are some of the things that are recommended to do. As you are sincere, in shaa Allah, the Almighty and the marhoom/marhoomah will forgive you.

And Allah knows best.

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Woman . Forgiveness . Sexual

If a woman has an orgasm by accident, such as during exercise or Yoga, should she pray for forgiveness?

Bismihi ta'ala

If this was accidental, and not in her control or on purpose, in that she was not "masturbating", then there is no sin and she does not need to pray for forgiveness.

Of course, if she knows that doing certain things while exercising, or some kind of friction, etc, would sexually arouse her and lead her to reaching climax, then she must avoid that.

And Allah knows best.

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Shirk . Forgiveness . Prophet Yusuf . Zulaikha

Did Zulaikha, from the time of Prophet Yusuf (a), commit Shirk? If so, was she forgiven for worshipping other gods later in her life?

We do not have an evidence that Zulaikha or her husband were Mushriks. Many scholars say that if the Azeez (King) of Egypt was a Mushrik, he would have never behaved with Yousuf in the way he behaved and he would have never given him the charge in the treasury of Egypt. Zulaikha tried to do wrong against Yousuf but she could not because of the firm faith and strong will power if Yousuf. Later in she has repented and become a good person. Allah (SWT) forgives every sincere person who repents and seeks forgiveness.

Wassalam.

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Forgiveness . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

I have been unable to pray for a long time. I have been sinning and, although I repented a lot, but I keep doing them again to a point where I am too ashamed to ask for forgiveness. Is there a way out?

Forgiveness Gate is open for all the believers in Allah who committed sinful acts as far as they did not reach to dying situation. Allah (SWT) loves those who repent and sincerely decide not to continue sinning and seek forgiveness. The Hadeeth Qudsi reported the Allah says: I love those who repent their sins and leave and my love is more to the young person who sincerely repents his sins and decides not to commit is again.

There is no question of feeling ashamed as far as you are really repenting and sincerely doing your best to make up what you have missed.

Do your best to fulfill the obligatory worship and trust the Allah is The Most Merciful and The Best Forgiver.

Those who are not sure and don't care for leaving the sinful acts and making up the missed worship should feel ashamed.

May Allah (SWT) protect all of us from any sinful act.

'Wassalam.

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Zina . Forgiveness . Future . Spouse . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

I have committed Zina in the past and have repented and asked for forgiveness. Is there anything else I can do to ensure I am forgiven? Am I also required to tell my future spouse about my sin?

Bishimi ta'ala

I will not lecture you about God's comparison and mercy, as you must be well aware of how the Almighty forgives all sins, and cleans our slates once we turn to Him with sincere repentance.

It is forgetting the past that you must be focusing on, and how you are able to develop a level of piety that you will enter into a new phase in your life, based on religious devotion and spiritual growth. That will not just ensure you've been forgiven, but also keep you on the straight path.

Your sin is between you and Allah ta'ala, and you must not reveal it to anybody. From a shar'i perspective, you do not need to tell your future spouse your previous sin.

Once you have changed your ways and sincerely forgiven, and became more religiously active and aware, then you live your life normally, and think positively for the future, not allowing the past to define who you are.

With prayers for your success.

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Murder . Sin . Forgiveness

I was told at a young age that the victim of murder has all his sins forgiven. Is this true? If so, does it also apply to non-Muslims who may get murdered such as while resisting a robbery?

Every victim will be compensated by Allah, The Most Merciful. We do not have details of how much he will be compensated. It depends on many factors which are best known to Allah. A pious believer who was victimised because of his true faith will be compensated much more than a person who was victimised for a worldly reason or a non believer who spent his life in sins. After all, Allah is The absolute Just and The most Merciful.

'Wassalam.

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Forgiveness . Sin . God (Allah)

Is my understanding correct that the Prophet (PBUH) per se cannot forgive sins but can only pray to Allah (SWT) to grant forgiveness?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 5 years ago

Yes, although it is possible to seek intercession through the Prophet (S) and have hope that Allah would accept his intercession or his prayers for seek them from him. But the actual forgiveness is from Allah and the will of Allah.

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Qunut . Forgiveness . Salah (Prayers) . Non-Muslims . Salatul Layl

During the Qunut of Salat al-Witr, when asking forgiveness for 40 people, can I include Christians and disbelievers in my family and amongst my friends?

We can pray for non Muslim parents, relatives and friends who are still alive, to Allah (SWT) to guide them to The Right Path and enlighten their hearts and minds with the light of the Truth.

For those who passed away as non Muslims, we can pray to Allah (SWT) to deal with them with His Mercy.

We are not allowed to seek forgiveness for those who insisted and died on Shirk (polytheism) as we read in Quran, Sura Tawbah, verse 113: It is not proper for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the Mushriks, even though they be of kin.

Wassalam.

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Parents . Silat al-Rahm . Marriage . Forgiveness

Is it permissible for my parents to cut off ties with my cousin if she ran away and got married against her family's wishes over a decade ago and the rest of her family has since forgiven her and re-established ties with her?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 5 years ago

We should strive to maintain our family relationships and not break them off.