How can one earn the forgiveness of Allah and be rewarded with His Paradise? There is a way for this – and that is to forgive others. Today people call it “the general forgiveness.” and that is for every night, to forgive and forget. Apply each night at bedtime; to pardon anyone who has insulted you and has spoken ill of you. In other words, cleanse this heart of anger, envy and hostility.

How much should you give way to feelings like envy, hatred, deceit, resentment, and hostility?

By Allah, how will peace be made with this heart? If you do not forgive and forget you will be the victim of this before the punishment of the Hereafter. You’ll be the one that suffers and not the one you’re upset with, or want to take revenge on…

A man once said: “Whoever carries hostilities with him, their toe furnaces the fire, and advances it to the chest. That oven than burns you.”

We therefore need to forgive people, in the hope that Allah forgives us. He saw) said: “And when you accompany rage, then forgive and Allah loves the righteous.”

Our life cannot bear to have a hostile attitude towards others. A life of hatred towards people results in living in a (created) prison, a punishment for man. I want us, if were lucky, to earn the forgiveness and Paradise of Allah (swt). So if there is someone who has wronged you, and has misbehaved in front of you then forgive! That you show mercy towards all Muslim men and women and that you remember the rights of others that you forgot and also the rights to others you meet. If you will do this, you will experience peace and tranquility.

The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was sitting with a group of the sahabah (RAA) in the masjid and he said “A man will now enter [who is] from the people of Paradise.” and a Sahabi (companion of Muhammad (saw) ) walked in. Later it happened again, and then a third time. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘aas (RAA) wanted to find out what was so special about this man, so he asked the man if he can stay over his house for 3 days. (He made up an excuse). The man allowed him to stay. ‘Abdullah noticed that the man didn’t do anything out of the ordinary: He didn’t fast all the time, he slept some of the night and prayed some of the night, and so on. So after the 3 days, ‘Abdullah told him the real reason why he requested to stay with him, and he asked him what it was that could be the reason why he was from the people of Jannah. The man (RA) couldn’t think of anything, but after a bit he said: “Every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart.”

One of the scholars said: “When you go to bed, clean your heart – so to forgive seven times, and the eighth time with mercy.” Then say: “May Allah forgive all men. May Allah forgive those who have wronged us. May Allah guide us, and forgive those who have misbehaved. May Allah be merciful to those who have spoken ill of us. May Allah forgive us, and every other Muslim.” In other words, know the rights, so that the reward of Allah will find you and Allah (swt) treats people the way they treat His servants.

The one who forgives others and shows mercy, Allah forgives him and gives him favors, and the one who does not do this, Allah (swt) makes it difficult and troublesome for him on the Day of Judgement.

In that he (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, the person who is entrusted of my community and shows mercy, be merciful to him. And the person who is entrusted of my community but makes it difficult for them, then make it difficult for him.”

You must therefore know that someone who does something, he is also met with it, so what you do here, you will also find there (i.e: Hereafter).

May Allah forgive us, and all Muslims. May Allah forgive us, and His servants. May Allah grant you and I the Gardens of paradise, and may He gather us together in His Paradise.

Ameen

By – Shaykh Aid al Qarni