Forgiveness

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Ghirrah ibn Dinar al-Riqqi from ibn Ishaq al-Subay’i in a marfu’ manner from the Messenger of Allah عليه السلام who has said the following: “I must teach you what is the best moral behavior in this world and in the next world. You must establish relations with those who disassociate with you, give to those who deprive you and forgive those who do injustice to you.”

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from abu ‘Abd Allah Nashib al- Lafa’ifi from Humran ibn ‘A’Yun who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام has said, ‘Three things are of the noble qualities of this world and of the next world: to forgive those who do injustice to you, to establish relations with those who abandon you and to exercise forbearance when you are ignored.”’

4. Ali has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from abu Hamza al-Thumali from Ali ibn al-Husayn عليه السلام who said: “I heard him saying, “When the Day of Judgment comes, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, will gather the first and the last in a single plain. Then a caller will call out: 'Where are the people of virtue?' A group of people will rise, and the angels will meet them and say, 'What was your virtue?' They will reply, 'We used to maintain relations with those who cut us off, give to those who deprived us, and forgive those who wronged us.' It will be said to them, 'You have spoken the truth, enter Paradise.”

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Jahm ibn al-Hakam al-Mada’ini from Isma’il ibn abu Ziyad al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah عليه السلام who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘You must forgive. Forgiving increases one’s respect, therefore, forgive so Allah may respect you.’”

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Khalid al-Qammat from Humran from abu Ja’far عليه السلام who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far عليه السلام has said, ‘Regret for forgiving is better and easier than regret for being subjected to punishment.’”

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Sa’dan from Mu’attib who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa عليه السلام once was in his compound that had palm-trees. 1 looked at one of his slaves who had picked up a certain amount of dates. He threw it on the other side of the wall. I went and picked up what he had thrown and I brought it to the Imam. I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, 1 found him and this amount of dates.’ The Imam called the slave, ‘O so and so.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ the slave replied. ‘Are you hungry?’ asked the Imam. ‘No, sir,’ replied the slave. ‘Do you need clothes?’ asked the Imam. ‘No, sir,’ replied the slave. ‘What for did then you take this many dates?’ inquired the Imam. ‘I just wanted,’ said the slave. ‘Take them. They are for you. Let him go,’ the Imam said to others.’”

8. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan عليه السلام saying, ‘Whenever two hostile parties face each other, the one who forgives to a greater degree comes out victorious.’”

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurara from abu Ja’far عليه السلام who has said the following: “The Jewish woman who had poisoned the sheep to also poison the Holy Prophet was brought before him. He asked her, ‘What made you do this?’ She said, ‘I thought that if he is a prophet it will not harm him and if he is a king people will be relieved of his troubles.’ The Messenger of Allah forgave her.’”

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from abu Ja’far عليه السلام who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far عليه السلام has said, ‘There are three qualities with which Allah increases the respect of a Muslim: To be lenient to those who do injustice to him, to give to those who deprive him and to establish relations with those who neglect him.’”