FORGIVENESS OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMADsa
After years of being oppressed and persecuted by non-Muslims, the Muslims defeated their oppressors and became rulers of Mecca. Here we present the extraordinary examples of forgiveness that the Holy Prophetsa showed even after he had overcome his enemies.
Of those who had been excepted from the general amnesty, some were forgiven on the recommendation of the Companions. Among those who were thus forgiven was ‘Ikrimara, a son of Abu Jahl. ‘Ikrima’sra wife was a Muslim at heart.
She requested the Prophetsa to forgive him. The Prophetsa forgave. At the time ‘Ikrimara was trying to escape to Abyssinia. His wife pursued him and found that he was about to embark. She reproved him, “Are you running away from a man as gentle and soft as the Prophetsa?” she said.
She requested the Prophetsa to forgive him. The Prophetsa forgave. At the time ‘Ikrimara was trying to escape to Abyssinia. His wife pursued him and found that he was about to embark. She reproved him, “Are you running away from a man as gentle and soft as the Prophetsa?” she said.
‘Ikrimara was astonished and asked whether she really thought the Prophetsa would forgive him. ‘Ikrima’sra wife assured him that even he would be forgiven by the Prophetsa. In fact she had had word from him already. ‘Ikrimara gave up his plan of escaping to Abyssinia and returned to see the Prophetsa. “I understand from my wife that you have forgiven even one like me,” he said.
“Your wife is right. I have really forgiven you,” said the Prophetsa.
‘Ikrimara decided that a person capable of forgiving his deadliest enemies could not be false. He, therefore, declared his faith in Islam…
Of the persons who had been ordered to be executed as exceptions to the general amnesty was one who had been responsible for the cruel murder of Zainabra, a daughter of the Prophetsa. This man was Habbarra. He had cut the girths of Zainab’sra camel, due to which Zainabra fell to the ground and, being with child, suffered a miscarriage. A little later she died. This was one of the inhumanities which he had committed and for which he deserved the penalty of death. This man now came to the Prophetsa and said, “Prophetsa of God, I ran away from you and went to Iran, but the thought came to me that God had rid us of our pagan beliefs and saved us from spiritual death. Instead of going to others and seeking shelter with them, why not go to the Prophetsa himself, acknowledge my faults and my sins and ask for his forgiveness?”
The Prophetsa was moved and said, “Habbarra, if God has planted in your heart the love of Islam, how can I refuse to forgive you? I forgive everything you have done before this.”
One cannot describe in detail the enormities these men had committed against Islam and Muslims. Yet how easily the Prophetsa forgave them! This spirit of forgiveness converted the most stone-hearted adversaries into devotees of the Prophetsa.[1]
The Prophetsa was moved and said, “Habbarra, if God has planted in your heart the love of Islam, how can I refuse to forgive you? I forgive everything you have done before this.”
One cannot describe in detail the enormities these men had committed against Islam and Muslims. Yet how easily the Prophetsa forgave them! This spirit of forgiveness converted the most stone-hearted adversaries into devotees of the Prophetsa.[1]
____________________________________________________________________
Endnotes
1. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, Life of Muhammadsa (Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 2013), 167-169.
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah;
i am a usual reader of the Review of religions magazine. and it is helping me much and I sometimes make my Friday sermons from it. I am an Ahmadi muslim