How simple and relieving is this sentence!
But, of course, you wouldn’t grant it to others every now and then. Or would you?
Suppose, for example, you had a bully at school, or at your workplace, or even in your neighbourhood. After every disaster caused by this person, they put on a repentant mask, shed a few tears, apologised, and swore on the name of God to never repeat the awful deed, never cause any harm, never cheat or steal from you. Would you grant them your forgiveness?
Before you reply, please be honest and realistic, because unless you’re, God Forbid, another bully you’d have only three options:
In the first scenario, you might voice the words, but from the bottom of your heart, you’d pray that the ground would open and swallow them whole, delivering them straightaway to hell.
In the second scenario, you’d scream, “Never!” out loud, and be either a martyr of bravery or live with all its consequences.
As for the third, you’d play the diplomat and remind the forgiveness seeker, that genuine good deeds erase bad ones. That’s God’s law. The Most Merciful knows what lies deep in the heart, but of course there’d be no need to voice the final addition.
If you had the three options, which one would you choose?
And, finally, don’t forget that all can be forgiven but not forgotten.
With all the best wishes,
Nahla



