Forgiveness in Islam: Pardoning Others

Forgiveness in Islam has two dimensions: seeking Allah’s forgiveness for our sins and forgiving people who have wronged us. Both are deeply connected.

Allah says: “And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (An-Nur 24:22).

The believer who hopes for Allah’s forgiveness learns to extend forgiveness to others.

This guide explains Allah’s forgiveness and His names, how to seek forgiveness, the virtue of forgiving people, the examples of the Prophet ﷺ and the prophets before him, the balance between forgiveness and justice, and practical steps for letting go of resentment.

Allah, the Most Forgiving

Several of Allah’s names relate to forgiveness:

Scholars explain that maghfirah (from Al-Ghafur) means covering the sin and protecting the person from its consequences, while ‘afw (from Al-‘Afuw) means erasing it entirely, as if it never happened.

The vastness of Allah’s forgiveness

In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins reached the clouds of the sky and then you asked My forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, if you came to Me with sins nearly filling the earth and then met Me without associating anything with Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly filling it” (Tirmidhi).

“My mercy prevails over My wrath” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness

Istighfar

Saying “Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness) is among the easiest and most rewarding acts. The Prophet ﷺ sought forgiveness more than seventy times a day.

Benefits of istighfar

Prophet Nuh told his people: “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send rain from the sky upon you in continuing showers, and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and rivers” (Nuh 71:10-12).

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever persists in seeking forgiveness, Allah will make for him a way out of every distress, relief from every worry, and provide for him from where he does not expect” (Abu Dawud).

Laylat al-Qadr du’a

Aisha (RA) asked what to say on Laylat al-Qadr.

The Prophet ﷺ taught: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni” (O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me) (Tirmidhi).

Best times

• The last third of the night.
• Before dawn (sahar).
• After prayers: the Prophet ﷺ said “Astaghfirullah” three times after each obligatory prayer.
• On the Day of Arafah.
• In Ramadan, especially the last ten nights.

Forgiving People

The command to forgive

• “Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant” (Al-A’raf 7:199).
• “And those who restrain anger and pardon people, and Allah loves the doers of good” (Aal-Imran 3:134).
• “The recompense for an evil is an evil equal to it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah” (Ash-Shura 42:40).
• “But if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (At-Taghabun 64:14).

The verse about Abu Bakr

When Mistah, a poor relative whom Abu Bakr supported, took part in the slander against Aisha (RA), Abu Bakr swore he would no longer support him.

Allah revealed: “Let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you?” (24:22).

Abu Bakr said: “Yes, by Allah, I would love for Allah to forgive me,” and resumed his support.

Honour through forgiveness

“Allah increases a servant in honour when he forgives” (Muslim). People often think forgiving makes them look weak; the Prophet ﷺ taught that it raises them.

The Prophet’s Example of Forgiveness

• At Ta’if: The people of Ta’if stoned him until his feet bled. The angel of the mountains offered to crush them. He said: “Rather, I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who worship Allah alone” (Bukhari and Muslim).
• The conquest of Makkah: Standing before the people who had persecuted, boycotted and fought him for over twenty years, he said: “Go, for you are free,” echoing Yusuf: “No blame will there be upon you today.”
• Wahshi: The man who killed his beloved uncle Hamzah accepted Islam and was forgiven.
• Hind bint Utbah: who had mutilated Hamzah’s body, was also forgiven when she accepted Islam.
• The Bedouin who pulled his cloak: A Bedouin pulled his cloak roughly, leaving a mark on his neck, and demanded wealth. The Prophet ﷺ laughed and ordered that he be given something.
• The man who drew a sword: A man took the Prophet’s sword while he slept and asked: “Who will protect you from me?” He said: “Allah.” The sword fell, and the Prophet ﷺ forgave him.

Prophets Who Forgave

• Yusuf (AS) forgave his brothers who threw him into the well.
• Ya’qub (AS) forgave his sons and asked Allah to forgive them.
• Ibrahim (AS) sought forgiveness for his father until it became clear he was an enemy of Allah.

Forgiveness and Justice

Islam does not demand that victims ignore injustice. A person has the right to seek justice through proper means.

Forgiveness is encouraged and highly rewarded, but it is a choice, especially in serious harm.

The Quran balances both: “And if you punish, punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient, it is better for those who are patient” (An-Nahl 16:126).

Scholars also note that forgiveness should promote reconciliation and good.

If pardoning an oppressor would encourage him to continue harming others, seeking justice may be more appropriate.

Forgiving also does not always mean restoring full trust or closeness. One can forgive in the heart, release the desire for revenge and still keep healthy boundaries.

Forgiveness in Family and Marriage

Family relationships are where forgiveness is tested most.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one of her traits, he will be pleased with another” (Muslim).

Overlooking small faults, apologising quickly and not keeping a record of mistakes keep homes peaceful.

Cutting family ties is a serious sin.

“It is not permissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother for more than three days… and the better of them is the one who initiates the greeting” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Practical Steps for Forgiving Someone

1. Remember your own need for Allah’s forgiveness.
2. Restrain anger first: sit down, make wudu, seek refuge from Shaytan.
3. Find excuses: the early Muslims said, “Look for seventy excuses for your brother.”
4. Make du’a for the person who hurt you.
5. Speak with them to clear misunderstandings if appropriate.
6. Let go of replaying the hurt.
7. Set healthy boundaries if needed.
8. Seek reward from Allah: “his reward is with Allah.”
9. Forgive before sleep: a companion was promised Paradise because he slept each night with no ill feeling toward any Muslim (Ahmad).

Seeking Forgiveness From People

When we wrong others, Islam requires us to make amends: return rights, apologise sincerely and seek their pardon.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever has wronged his brother in his honour or anything else, let him seek his pardon today, before there is no dinar or dirham” (Bukhari).

Forgiveness and the Heart’s Health

Holding grudges hurts the person who holds them. Anger and resentment occupy the mind, disturb sleep and weaken worship.

Islam teaches that a heart free of ill feeling (salamat as-sadr) is one of the greatest blessings.

Allah describes the people of Paradise: “And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, brothers on thrones facing each other” (Al-Hijr 15:47).

Believers ask Allah for this in the world as well: “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed” (Al-Hashr 59:10).

The man promised Paradise

Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said three times: “A man from the people of Paradise will now come to you.” Each time the same man appeared.

Abdullah ibn Amr stayed with him for three nights to see his special deeds but found nothing unusual.

When he asked, the man said: “It is only what you have seen, except that I do not find in myself any ill will toward any Muslim, nor do I envy anyone for good that Allah has given him.”

Abdullah said: “This is what has brought you to that level” (Ahmad).

Allah Forgives Through Small Deeds

The Prophet ﷺ described many simple acts that bring forgiveness:

• Wudu: sins fall away with the water.
• Walking to the mosque: each step erases a sin and raises a degree.
• Saying “Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi” 100 times: sins are forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea (Bukhari).
• Fasting Arafah and Ashura.
• Removing harm from the road: a man was forgiven for moving a thorny branch from the path (Bukhari).
• Giving water to a thirsty animal: a man was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog (Bukhari).
• Saying Amin with the imam in harmony with the angels.
• Shaking hands: “No two Muslims meet and shake hands except that they are forgiven before they part” (Abu Dawud).

These show that Allah’s forgiveness is close and easy to seek, and that the believer should never despair of it.

Teaching Children to Forgive

• Model apologising and forgiving at home.
• Teach them to say “I forgive you” and “Sorry” sincerely.
• Tell the stories of Yusuf and his brothers and of the conquest of Makkah.
• Praise them when they let go of a quarrel.
• Teach the du’a “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun” as a nightly habit.

A Four-Week Plan to Apply What You Learned About forgiveness in islam

Knowledge sticks when it is turned into a routine. Here is a simple four-week plan to build on this guide.

• Week one: Re-read this article slowly and write down the three points that were newest to you. Share one of them with a family member, because explaining an idea is one of the best ways to understand it.
• Week two: Connect the topic to your daily Quran reading. Each day, look for one verse or phrase in your portion that relates to forgiveness in islam, and note it in a small notebook.
• Week three: Ask questions. Bring anything that is still unclear to a qualified teacher, and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes a habit.
• Week four: Review your notebook, choose one practical change and commit to it for the next month. Small, consistent actions are more beloved to Allah than large efforts that do not last.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.”

Apply that principle here, and this topic will become part of your life rather than something you read once and forgot.

A Nightly Forgiveness Routine

Before sleeping, say “Astaghfirullah” a hundred times, recite Sayyid al-Istighfar, and forgive everyone who wronged you that day. This simple routine cleanses the heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is forgiveness in Islam?

It includes seeking Allah’s forgiveness through repentance and istighfar, and forgiving people who wrong us.

Is forgiving others required?

It is strongly encouraged and highly rewarded, though a victim retains the right to seek justice.

What du’a asks for forgiveness?

“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni” and “Astaghfirullah.”

Does forgiving mean forgetting?

Not necessarily. It means releasing resentment and revenge, while one may keep wise boundaries.

What are the benefits of istighfar?

Forgiveness, relief from worry, a way out of difficulty, provision, rain and blessings.

Final Thoughts

Forgiveness in Islam is a gift we receive from Allah and a gift we give to others. The more we forgive, the more we hope for Allah’s forgiveness, and the lighter our hearts become.

Tonight, before you sleep, say “Astaghfirullah” from your heart, and forgive anyone who hurt you, for “would you not like that Allah should forgive you?”