God’s Forgiveness is a Vast Garden – Abdur Rahman’s Corner

Peace, one and all…

We are now in the last ten days of Ramadan, a time of more intense worship, as we search for Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is also a time to focus on the state of our own souls, to deepen our understanding of our unhelpful behaviours, so that we might let go of them. It is strange, yet true, that we are often able to see more clearly at night. When we are awake late at night, we are often able to remember things that we forget during the busy-ness of the day. So there is a sense of beautiful release in reading these words of Allah:

‘And hasten unto forgiveness from your Lord, and for a garden whose breadth is the heavens and the earth—prepared for the reverent who spend in ease and hardship, and curb their rage, and pardon others—and God loves the virtuous’
(Quran 3:133, The Study Quran)

God’s forgiveness is a vast garden of verdant growth, of expansive freedom, and that garden is tended by acts of charity, by foregoing anger (regardless of whether it is justified or not) and by pardoning wrongdoing (in direct imitation of Divine grace). God’s forgiveness is His beautiful acceptance. God’s forgiveness is His love.

Allah! The Quran is not just a book of admonition but also a means by which our Lord prompts us to action. As I was typing, my children woke up and needed breakfast and other things. And then, as I sat down once more, our cat appeared at the back door, also needing food. I found a moment of frustration within and then remembered what I had just been typing, and laughed at myself.

And praise be to God who maketh it so.