EXAMPLES OF ALLAH’S MERCY: HOW SMALL VIRTUES LEAD TO FORGIVENESS

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is All-Independent

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you see how immensely Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is merciful to those who honour the month of Ramadan (by worshipping and avoiding sins), and how He عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgave the man who disobeyed Him throughout the year but worshipped Him only in Ramadan. It is important that no one should misunderstand this parable. No one should be under the impression that (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid) it is now allowed to miss Ṣalāh throughout the year and keep fast and offer Ṣalāh only in Ramadan and then walk straight into the Heaven.

Dear Islamic brothers! Forgiveness and punishment all depend upon the will of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He is All-Independent. If He عَزَّوَجَلَّ wants He عَزَّوَجَلَّ can be pleased with a Muslim for the smallest of virtues due to His mercy; and if He عَزَّوَجَلَّ wants He عَزَّوَجَلَّ can punish anyone despite great, virtuous deeds, for the smallest of sins, due to His justice. It is stated in Sūrah Baqarah, verse 284:

He عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgives whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ wants and punishes whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ wants. (Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)) (Part 3, Sūrah Baqarah, verse 284)

Three are concealed in three

Dear Islamic brothers! We should neither miss any virtuous deed nor commit any sin no matter how minor it seems to be because we don’t know which deed will please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and which sin will bring about His displeasure. The caliph of A’lā Ḥaḍrat, Sayyidunā Abū Yūsuf Muhammad Sharif Muḥaddiš Kotlavī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated: ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has concealed three things in three other things:

1. His pleasure in His obedience

2. His displeasure in His disobedience

3. His Auliyā among His servants.’

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has further stated, ‘Therefore, we should do each and every good deed because we do not know which deed would please Him. Similarly, we should avoid each and every sin because we do not know which sin would displease Him, no matter how minor it seems to be. For example, using someone else’s toothpick (without permission) or using one’s neighbour’s soil without permission, don’t seem to be the matters of concern, but it is possible that the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ be concealed in them. Therefore, one should take care even in such minor matters.’ (Akhlāq-uṣ-Ṣāliḥīn, pp. 56)

Forgiveness for giving water to dog

O seekers of mercy! If Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ wants to forgive, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ does so even for the smallest of virtuous deeds. There are many narrations in this regard. For example, ‘A woman was forgiven just because she gave water to a thirsty dog.’ (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 409, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 3321)

Another Ḥadīš of the Beloved Rasūl صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم says that a man removed a tree from the path so that it would not cause difficulty to pedestrians. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ became pleased with him and forgave him. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1410, Ḥadīš 1914)

Another Ḥadīš says a man got absolution for being lenient in demanding debt from debtor. (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 12, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 2078) The stories of the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ are too many to be counted.

Deeds leading to relief from torment

Dear Islamic brothers! When Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ showers His mercy on someone, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ accepts even a minor deed and forgives him.

A Ḥadīš mentions several different people who were blessed by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and were saved from torment due to certain deeds.

Sayyidunā ‘Abdur Raḥmān Bin Samurah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has narrated that once the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came (to us) and said, ‘Last night I had a dream in which I saw that:

1.  The angel of death عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ came to seize a person’s soul but his obedience to his parents appeared in front of him and saved him.

2.      A man was being punished in his grave but his virtue of performing Wuḍū saved him.

3.      A man was surrounded by devils but his act of making the Ẕikr of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ saved him.

4.      A man was surrounded by the angels of retribution but his Ṣalāḥ saved him.

5.      A man’s tongue was hanging due to thirst, he would approach a pond to drink water but was not permitted to drink, then his fasts arrived and quenched his thirst.

6.      A man was trying to get closer to the Prophets عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ but was not permitted, his Ghusl (ritual bath) arrived and sat him beside me (i.e. next to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ).

7.      A man was frightened due to be surrounded by intense darkness, but his Hajj and ‘Umrah came and brought him out of darkness and took him to light.

8.      A man wanted to talk to the Muslims but they did not pay him any attention, then his virtue of behaving relatives well asked the Muslims to speak to him, so they began to converse with him.

9.      Fire was approaching the face and body of a man who was trying to protect himself by using his arms, but then his charity arrived and served as a shield for him.

10.  A man was surrounded by the angels of retribution but his virtue of calling people towards righteousness and preventing them from evil saved him and took him to the angels of mercy.

11.  A man was sitting on his knees but there was a veil between him and Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ, then his good character arrived and made him meet Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

12.  The book of the deeds of a man was about to be given to his left hand, but then his fear of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ arrived and he was given his book of deeds in his right hand.

13.  The weight of a person’s good deeds was less (than that of his bad deeds) but his generosity arrived, increasing the weight of his good deeds.

14.  A man was standing at the edge of Hell but his fear of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ arrived and saved him.

15.  A man fell into Hell but the tears he had shed out of the fear of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ came and saved him.

16.  A man was standing on the bridge of Ṣirāṭ and was shaking like a branch but then his hope that Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ will have mercy arrived and saved him, and he passed the bridge.

17.  A man was crawling across the bridge of Ṣirāṭ, but then his recitation of Ṣalāt upon me stood him up and helped him pass it.

18.  One of my followers reached the portals of Heaven but they were closed, then his witness ‘There is none worthy to be worshipped except Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ’ came and the portals opened, allowing him to enter.

Excruciating punishment for telling tales

19.  The lips of some people were being cut; I asked Jibrāīl عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ ‘Who are these people?’ He replied, ‘They used to tell tales.’

Horrific punishment for accusing others of sins

20.  Some people were hanging by their tongues, I asked Jibrāīl عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ as to who they were, he replied, ‘They used to falsely accuse others of committing sins.’ (Sharḥ-uṣ-Ṣudūr, pp. 182)