Remembering Forgiveness – Abdur Rahman’s Corner
Peace, one and all…
Ramadan is a time of introspection, of interruption, of exploring the deeper recesses of our inner selves. Ramadan can also be a very busy time, filled with extra prayers, Qur’anic recitation and special adhkar. Amidst all this busy-ness, the act of fasting, of interrupting our everyday behaviours brings forth a much-needed opportunity for self-examination. Whilst necessary, introspection is hard work. Looking within and asking ourselves difficult questions is not easy. It can be exhausting and can also make us feel deeply uneasy. This process can also make us forget an important truth: the Divine is with us in our trials. We have been given this blessed month as a means of growth, and all that God does flows from overwhelming love. Thus, we are held in Hu’s compassionate embrace.
It is important to remember forgiveness. It is important to remember Divine mercy. It is a reminder this one especially needs.
As such, I wanted to share a beautiful extract from a sermon by Ustadh Abdur Rashid. He offers an emotionally charged exploration of the following Quranic verses, ayat that we could all do with holding onto tightly.
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Whoever has done a good deed will have it ten times to his credit, but whoever has done a bad deed will be repaid only with its equivalent- they will not be wronged’ (Quran 6:160)
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًۭا صَـٰلِحًۭا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ حَسَنَـٰتٍۢ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
‘… except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds: God will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones. He is most forgiving, most merciful’ (Quran 25:70)
فَمَن تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ
‘But if anyone repents after his wrongdoing and makes amends, God will accept his repentance: God is most forgiving, most merciful’ (Quran 5:39)
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
‘Yet anyone who does evil or wrongs his own soul and then asks God for forgiveness will find Him most forgiving and merciful’ (Quran 4:110)
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ
‘that the final goal is your Lord’ (Quran 53:42)
Remember hope. Remember forgiveness. Remember compassion. Remember love. Remember Allah.
And our final prayer is praise of God, Lord of all the worlds.
May the hearts of the lovers be opened
