Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuhu.
Dear friends, I hope you are all well and healthy by the great mercy and grace of Allah. I am also well and healthy by your prayers and the endless mercy of Allah Almighty.
Forgiving without asking for forgiveness is a great virtue.
Humans are social creatures. To move around in this world, we have to build relationships with each other. Family, relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues - in all areas, people have relationships with people. And where there is a relationship, misunderstanding, suffering, arrogance or injustice sometimes occur. Someone hurts us, insults us, does us wrong or treats us badly. Then naturally, anger and a desire for revenge arise in our minds. But even in that situation, if someone suppresses their pride and forgives the other party even if they do not ask for forgiveness, then that is undoubtedly a great virtue.
Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness; rather, the mental strength and self-control required to forgive are often greater than those required to take revenge. When a person forgives despite having the opportunity to take revenge, he reveals the greatness of his character.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness is letting go of someone's wrongdoing or crime without taking revenge and reducing hatred towards them from the heart. Forgiveness does not mean accepting wrongdoing as good. Rather, forgiveness is freeing one's heart from the burden of hatred, anger, and revenge.
Many times we think, "He will apologize to me first, and then I will forgive him." This is a natural human expectation. But a higher moral position than this is to forgive the other person's mistake even if he does not apologize. Because this keeps one's heart at peace and opens a door to rebuilding the relationship.
Why is forgiveness noble even if one does not ask for forgiveness?
First, it can control pride. When a person is hurt, his pride tells him, “Why did you forgive first? He didn’t ask for forgiveness from you.” But a great person listens to his conscience instead of his pride. He thinks, what is the use of revenge? Rather, if I forgive, my mind will be at peace.
Secondly, forgiveness soothes the heart of a person. If a person holds anger and revenge in his heart, he himself suffers from unrest. A person who repeatedly thinks of the mistakes of others destroys his own peace. But if he can forgive, the burden on his heart is greatly reduced.
Thirdly, forgiveness helps to save relationships. Sometimes a small mistake can ruin a relationship for years. The relationship between brother and brother, the relationship between friend and friend, the relationship between husband and wife, or the relationship between neighbors—all can be broken due to pride. If one takes the initiative to forgive, then the relationship gets a chance to become beautiful again.
May Allah grant us a heart that can respond to injustice not with injustice, but with justice, patience, kindness and forgiveness. Because true victory is not in defeating others; true victory is in defeating one's own anger, pride and revenge. And that victory is what truly makes a person great.
2734.710 SRY