فَضيلَةُ العَفوِ The Virtue of Pardon

1ـ رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إذا عَنَّت لَكُم غَضبَةٌ فَادرَؤوها بِالعَفوِ ؛ إنَّهُ يُنادي مُنادٍ يَومَ القِيامَةِ: مَن كانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللّه‏ِ أجرٌ فَلْيَقُمْ ، فَلا يَقومُ إلّا العافُونَ ، ألَم تَسمَعوا قَولَهُ تَعالى: «فَمَن‏عَفا وأصلَحَ فَأجرُهُ‏ عَلَى اللّه‏ِ»؟!

1– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘If you are faced by anger, avert it through pardon, for verily a caller will call out on the Day of Resurrection ‘Whoever has a claim for a reward from Allah should stand up’ , and none will stand except the pardoners. Have you not heard the verse of Allah, most High, “So whoever pardons and conciliates, his reward lies with Allah”! [A`alam al-Din, no. 337]
 

2ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنَّ اللّه‏َ عَفُوٌّ يُحِبُّ العَفوَ.

2– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily Allah is all-pardoning and loves pardon.’[Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 7005]

 

3ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): عَلَيكُم بِالعَفوِ ؛ فَإنَّ العَفوَ لا يَزيدُ العَبدَ إلّا عِزّاً ، فَتَعافَوا يُعِزَّكُمُ اللّه‏ُ.

3– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Pardoning is incumbent upon you, for verily pardoning [others] only increases the servant’ s honour, so pardon each other’ s faults and Allah will grant you honour.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 108, no. 5]

 

4ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): مَن كَثُرَ عَفوُهُ مُدَّ في عُمرِهِ.

4– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who pardons much is given an increase in his lifespan.’[A`alam al-Din, no. 315]

 

5ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): تَجاوَزوا عَن عَثَراتِ الخاطِئينَ يَقيكُمُ اللّه‏ُ بِذلكَ سُوءَ الأقدارِ .

5– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Excuse the lapses of those who make mistakes frequently and Allah will protect you against misfortunes.’[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 120]

 

6ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): النَّدامَةُ عَلَى العَفوِ أفضَلُ وأيسَرُ مِنَ النَّدامَةِ عَلَى العُقوبَةِ .

6– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Regret for having pardoned someone is better and easier to bear than regret for having punished them.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 108, no. 6]

 

7ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): ثَلاثٌ مِن مَكارِمِ الدّنيا والآخِرَةِ: تَعفو عَمَّن ظَلَمَكَ ، وتَصِلُ مَن قَطَعَكَ ، وتَحلِمُ إذا جُهِلَ عَلَيكَ.

7– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Three of the noble characteristics in this world and in the Hereafter are to pardon one who has wronged you, to reconcile with one who has cut you off, and to be clement with one who has been rash towards you.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 107, no. 3]