What is the virtue of pardoning others

THE VIRTUE OF PARDONING OTHERS

ALLĀH stated:

وَأَن تَعْفُواْ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَنسَوُاْ ٱلۡفَضۡلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡۚ

And to forego it is nearer to piety. And do not forget graciousness between you.

ALLĀH states that the one who forgoes it is closer to piety, because it is an act of kindness that leads to people feeling at ease, and because the individual should not neglect to do acts of kindness or forget graciousness which is the pinnacle of interaction, because interactions between people occur on two levels: either justice and fairness, which is obligatory and is the basis on which people give and take what is due, or graciousness and kindness, which means giving what is not due and being easygoing with regard to one’s own rights, suppressing any feelings of annoyance. No one should forget this level, even if that is only on some occasions, especially with regard to those with whom one has to interact or mix with. ALLĀH will reward those who do good by His grace and generosity.

{Tafsir As-Sa'di}

Anas ibn Malik (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) reported: We were sitting with the Messenger of ALLĀH ﷺ and he said,

“A man from the people of Paradise is coming to you.”

A man from the Ansar came whose beard was disheveled by the water of ablution, and he was carrying both of his shoes with his left hand. The next day the Prophet repeated the same words, and the man came in the same condition. On the third day, the Prophet repeated the same again, and the man came in the same condition.

When the Prophet stood up to leave, Abdullah ibn Amr followed the man and said to him, “I am in an argument with my father, and I have sworn not to enter my home for three days. May I stay with you?” The man said yes. Abdullah stayed three nights with the man, but he never saw him praying at night. Whenever he went to bed, the man would remember ALLĀH and rest until he woke up for morning prayer. Abdullah said that he had never heard anything but good words coming from his mouth.

When three nights had passed, and he did not see anything special about his actions, Abdullah asked him, “O servant of ALLĀH, I have not been in an argument with my father, nor have I cut off relations with him. 

I heard the Prophet say three times that a man from the people of Paradise was coming to us and then you came. I thought I would stay with you to see what you are doing that I could follow, but I did not see you do many good deeds. Why did the Prophet convey this about you?”

The man said, “It is not but as you see, except that I find no malice within myself towards the Muslims, nor do I envy anyone for the good that ALLĀH has given them.”

Abdullah said, “This is what was conveyed about you, for we have been unable to do so.”

{Musnad Ah‌mad #12697}

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