The key to pardon:
Scholars said that the dearest among people in the sight of Allah Almighty are those who act in accordance with His names and attributes. Indeed, He is merciful and loves the merciful and pardoning and loves those who pardon others. Allah Almighty treats a person the way he treats other people. Allah Almighty says:
{So by mercy from Allah, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you...}
[Surat Ᾱl-‘Imrān: 159]
Pardon from a position of strength is one of the highest levels of piety. Out of His generosity, Allah Almighty rewards pardon on people’s side with greater pardon. He says:
{If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense -indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Omnipotent.}
[Surat an-Nisā’: 149]
When Abu Bakr al-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) swore not to spend on Mistah, one of his relatives, after he slandered the Prophet’s wife ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), as part of what came to be known as the Incident of Slander, Allah Almighty revealed:
{And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Al lah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}
[Surat an-Nūr: 22]
If a person pardons others in pursuit of reward from his Lord, Allah Almighty will give him beyond what he expects, in this world and in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“Allah increases the one who pardons in honor.”
[Narrated by Muslim]
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “A person who is known for his pardon and forgiveness grows in respect, prestige, and honor among people.”
As the Umayyad Caliph ‘Abdul-Malik ibn Marawān was delivering a profound sermon, he stopped and cried hard. Then, he said: “O Lord, my sins are great, and only a small part of Your pardon is greater than them. So, remove with a little of Your pardon my great sins.
”News of this reached Al-Hasan al-Basri, who wept and said: “If there were words to be written in gold, it would be these words.”
A Bedouin once supplicated: “O Allah, You commanded us to pardon those who wrong us, and we have wronged ourselves, so pardon us.” And we supplicate You:
{...Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.}
[Surat al-A‘rāf: 23]
O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love pardon, sopard on us, O the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!
