CORRELLATION BETWEEN QUARRELLING AND FORGIVENESS OF ALLAH

By: 

Ustadh Qudus Oritola 

(Imam Dallas, USA)

All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, The Most Beneficent, The Most Compassionate. May His peace and mercy be upon His noble Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and all the noble Prophets before him from Adam to Issa عليهم السلام جميعا. We bear witness that none can be guided except with the guidance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and whosoever is misguided, finds no guidance except by His Mercy and Guidance.

Today on our contemporary issues segment, we shall be focusing on “The Correlation Between Quarreling and Forgiveness of Allah”

عن ابي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "تفتح أبواب الجنة  في كل اثنين وخميس فيغفر الله عز وجل لكل عبد لا يشرك به شيئا الا المتشاحنين يقول الله للملائكة ذروهما حتى يصطلحا"

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): Allah’s Messenger (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Every Monday and Thursday, the gates of Paradise are open. Allah (The Most Esteem) forgives every slave who associates no partner in worship with Him (meaning: abstains from engaging in Shirk), except those who quarreled with one another. Allah (The Most Esteem) says to the angels: Leave them until they reconcile.” - This Hadith is reported by Imam Ahmad رحمه الله in his Musnad.

In the above Hadith, we see that Shirk (associating partners in worship with Allah) is a no go area with Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Likewise, we learn that the opportunities of mercy and forgiveness from Allah سبحانه وتعالى are unlimited, for the gates of Paradise to be open twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays). In the customary traditions of our noble Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, it was documented that he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, when he was asked for the reasons behind these fasting, he said he fasted on Mondays because it coincides with the day he was born, to show gratitude to Allah سبحانه وتعالى for His bounties on him. Also he fasted on Thursdays because the record of our deeds for the week are taking to Allah سبحانه وتعالى on Thursdays, and he would like to be engaging in a good deed while his record is being taken to Allah (The Most Esteem). This is one of the evidences while Muslims fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Fasting as we know has many benefits for the mind (restricts one from thinking or wishing negatively for oneself and others)and the body (it replenishes one’s health by cleansing the organs and giving the digestive tracts a needed break).

A major lesson in the Hadith above is that, anyone who stays away from shirk, and engage in upholding the commands of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (praying five times daily, speaking the truth, seeking forgiveness for our mistakes and sin, being kind to the family members, being accommodating of others despite their flaws etc), and staying away from keeping malice, such a person is eligible for the forgiveness of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. However, if one is adamant on not forgiving the other and engaging in quarrel, this can prevent one from being rewarded for all the good that one does, until they reconcile with those they have kept at arms length. In life, many people will throw undeserving rocks at you, build bridges with them not a wall (bridges will make you travel while walls will restrict you both). The first step is to pray to Allah سبحانه وتعالى to grant you a forgiving heart, then you pray He grants you the resources not to feel the pinch of their intended hurt, and you ask Allah سبحانه وتعالى not to allow the arrows they throw your way to reach you or impact you negatively. Last but not the least, repay evil with good deeds. Paying evil with good deeds is the release of the chains that shackles your heart. As a caution not all relationships can return to how they used to be, but at least guarantee that you are doing your part, to make sure your good deeds are being recorded and you are worthy of the forgiveness of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.

Please forgive me for not being able to write last week. All mistakes are mine and the whispers of the accursed Shaytan, and any benefit is to the credit of Allah سبحانه وتعالى who has made it possible. Kindly send all comments, criticism and concerns to kudus_oritola@hotmail.com. We should all make an effort to reconcile with those we’ve been quarreling with for long, and seek forgiveness from one another. May Allah bless us all and forgive our excesses. I leave you in the mercy of Allah (The Most Esteem) till next time.