Concerning forgiveness

December 2020

Hadith’s Concerning Pilgrimage and the Forgiveness of Sins

The Christian in order to receive forgiveness of sins does not visit a special place nor perform a ritual action. The Christian has no place to go but the cross of Christ and does not receive forgiveness as a result of any action: “In whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”(Colossians 1:14)

Th e two hadith’s below expressly claim that forgiveness is obtained for those who perform the pilgrimage ritual.

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “(The performance of) ‘Umra is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the p revious one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 27, Number 1)

> “It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Shamasa Mahri that he said ……………………. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)? Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily the pilgrimage wipes out all the (previous) misdeeds. And then no one as or dear to me than the Messenger of Allah and none was more sublime in my eyes than he, Never could I, pluck courage to catch a full glimpse of his face due to its splendour. So if I am asked to describe his features, I cannot do that for I have not eyed him fully. Had I died in this state had every reason to hope that I would have bee among the dwellers of Paradise ……………………… (Muslim Book 1, Number 220)

Hadith’s Concerning Ramadan Fasting and Forgiveness

“Fasting like prayer is a facet of worship. It is an aspect of humility and brokenness before God, but it cannot bring man back into a state of righteousness. It has no power to compensate for the offence of sin against a Holy God” (Iskander Jadeed).

The English translator of Sahih Muslim, Abdul Hamid Siddiqi, commentating on the following hadith states: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained. (Book 6, Number 2361) “Ramadan is the ninth month of the Arabian year. It is so called because when the Arabs changed the names of the months from the ancient language, they named them according to the season in which they fell. And this month, the old name of which was Natiq, coincided with the days of intense heat. This is the reason why ramd is said of a man who is fasting, i.e. he is undergoing the sensation of burning in his stomach or his sins are burned or annulled.”

We list below a number of hadith’s which link the ritual fasting closely with the forgiveness of sins.

> “Narrated Sahl:The Prophet said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter throug h it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120)

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 125)

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 22)

> ” Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: My mother has died, and fasts of a month are due from her. Thereupon he said: Don’t you see that if debt was due from her, would you not pay it? She said: Yes (I would pay on her behalf). Thereupon he said: The debt of Allah deserves its payment more than (the payment of anyone else) (Muslim Book 6, Number 2554)

Hadith’s Concerning Good Works, Trials and the Forgiveness of Sins

Good works are moral obligations and must be done but they do not compensate for sins committed. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The good works we do are not able to wipe out the insult and affront we have made against a Holy God.

We list below a number of hadiths which illustrate the belief in Islam that a Muslim’s character, good works and bearing of trials are the basis for the forgiveness of sins.

< “Narrated Abu Wail: Hudhaifa said, “‘Umar said, ‘Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) about afflictions’?’ I said, ‘I know it as the Prophet had said it.’ ‘Umar said, ‘No doubt, you are bold. How did he say it?’ I said, ‘A man’s afflictions (wrong deeds) concerning his wife, children and neighbours are expiated by (his) prayers, charity, and enjoining good.’ (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 24, Number 516)

> “Allah’s Apostle said, “While a man was on the way, he found a thorny branch of a tree there on the way and removed it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him.”

> “Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:Once I went to Medina where there was an outbreak of disease and the people were dying rapidly. I was sitting with ‘Umar and a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ‘Umar said, “It has been affirmed” (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ‘Umar said, “It has been affirmed.” (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ‘Umar said, “It has been affirmed (Paradise).” Then a third funeral procession passed by and the people talked badly of the deceased. ‘Umar said, “It has been affirmed (Hell).” I asked Umar, “O chief of the believers! What has been affirmed?” He said, “I have said what the Prophet said. He said, ‘Allah will admit into paradise any Muslim whose good character is attested by four persons.’ We asked the Prophet, ‘If there were three witnesses only?’ He said, ‘Even three.’ We asked, ‘If there were two only?’ He said, ‘Even two.’ But we did not ask him about one witness.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 48, Number 811)

> “Narrated ‘Aisha: (The wife of the Prophet) Allah’s Apostle said, “No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn.” (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 70, Number 544)

> “Narrated ‘Abdullah: I visited the Prophet during his ailments and he was suffering from a high fever. I said, “You have a high fever. Is it because you will have a double reward for it?” He said, “Yes, for no Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall down.” (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 70, Number 550)

> “I heard the Prophet saying, “If somebody commits a sin and then says, ‘O my Lord! I have sinned, please forgive me!’ and his Lord says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sins).’ Then he remains without committing any sin for a while and then again commits another sin and says, ‘O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,’ and Allah says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sin). Then he remains without committing any another sin for a while and then commits another sin (for the third time) and says, ‘O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,’ and Allah says, ‘My slave has known that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for it I therefore have forgiven My slave (his sin), he can do whatever he likes.” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 598)