Iffat Mirza, Raynes Park
As it is the second Ashra, or ten days, of Ramadan, it is time to consider the Forgiveness. The concept of forgiveness is one of the most fascinating ideas to ponder over. The act of forgiveness implies not only so much about the forgiver but also the forgiven. As such, I find it most interesting that one of God’s ninety-nine divine attributes is Al Ghafur, the Most Forgiving. Not only does it tell us that it is in His nature to forgive each and every one of us for countless sins and mistakes, but it also necessarily implies the fallibility of mankind. For if we weren’t so fallible, prone to temptation, and sin-ridden, there would be no need for this attribute. And indeed, it is an attribute which is God’s love manifest.
I think it is fair to say that everyone has been in a position where they have asked another for forgiveness, and also been in a position where they are the ones needing to forgive. Neither is necessarily easy. To swallow one’s pride, admit that you have hurt, disappointed, or upset someone is not always easy. Likewise, to admit that someone has had, and abused, the power to hurt you also takes a lot of humility. But in both cases, to ask for and to grant forgiveness is an act of love. Ultimately we only ever do either because we know that we want to keep the other person in our lives, and on good terms.
And then I wonder if this translates to one’s relationship with God at all? As believers, we beg God for forgiveness because we know that we need Him but surely He does not need us – so why does he forgive us so? It is not the same as the human interaction of forgiveness where there is a mutual understanding that two people or parties need one another in their existence. Instead, it truly is proof of God’s unlimited love for His creation, and indeed He is a Living Being, as His other attribute Al-Hayy tells us. On begging for forgiveness as a means to build a relationship with God, the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stated:
“You ought to recite the prayer for God’s forgiveness. There are only two states of man: either that he does not sin or that Allah Almighty saves him from the bad outcome of that sin. Hence, when a person invokes the forgiveness of God, they ought to keep both these concepts in mind. Firstly, one ought to beg God Almighty so that He covers and hides one’s past sins and secondly, one ought to seek from God the ability so that one may be saved from committing sin in the future. However, seeking forgiveness through a mere verbal recitation will not suffice; rather, one should seek forgiveness from their heart. One ought to supplicate in the Prayer in their own tongue as well; this too is necessary.”[1]
Indeed, this notion of needing to supplicate from the heart reminds us just how important sincerity is in all aspects of life. How shameful it is, I suppose, that a Being Who owes us nothing forgives us but we find it so difficult to forgive others. Asking for and granting forgiveness, as I say, are both incredibly difficult, but perhaps not so much for those who are truly humble at heart. The humility and sincerity that true forgiveness requires cannot be understated.
Indeed, the greatest example of this that I have ever heard of was that of the Holy Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). I have a clear memory of a storm raging on one night; I was perhaps seven or eight years of age. Personally, I have always liked the rain and storms never really bothered me but I remember my mother telling me I should occupy this time in Istighfar and prayer, as this is how the Holy Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) spent any stormy nights, lest the storm be a manifestation of God’s ire. And I remember being so confused as to how the most perfect human being, the one for whom the entire universe was created, indeed The Mercy for Mankind, could need to ask for forgiveness. Surely one only does so if they have made a mistake or committed some sort of error? Since that moment, to this day, whenever I hear thunder crash I think of how if this flawless man was asking for forgiveness, I should be begging. If he were begging, I should be weeping. Every crash of thunder since has reminded me of my own fallibility.
But God has not created us fallible and then abandoned us. Indeed, the second Ashra of Ramadan is dedicated to forgiveness and we are reminded of God’s willingness to forgive, if only we know to humble ourselves before Him and meekly ask for it. How little we must do for so much in return. Further, if we can take such a lesson and apply it to our humanly relations, again, we will see how love can persist and exist despite all the tribulations we put it through.
[1] The Promised Messiah, Malfuzat Vol III, Page 275-276
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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