On Forgiveness

It's that time of year that when we're supposed to forgive while hoping others forgive us too. Our sins aren't completely erased until those we wronged on purpose or not have truly forgiven us. Mass messages asking forgiveness are sent, and  mass messages claiming forgiveness to all are sent too.

We try to forgive others hoping they too will forgive. But is it enough?

I don't think people really understand the concept of forgiving everyone. To tell you the truth, it is hard! Forgiving everyone means:
- Forgiving the people who talk about you behind your back.
- Forgiving that person who refused to give you way on the road.
- Forgiving those who didn't explain the assignment you missed.
- Forgiving that person who rudely shoved you rushing by in the mall.
- Forgiving that one person who always seems to have something mean to say.
- Forgiving that other person that deliberately tries to offend you.
- Forgiving every malicious thing said about you to you and behind your back.
- Forgiving those evil glances and snide remarks.
- Forgiving those close to you for not understanding.
- Forgiving all for how they made you feel.

It is HARD! I'm not the one to hold a grudge, but if you think about it have you really forgiven people or did you merely just forget.

Forgiving and Forgetting are too different things.

Test yourself: try and remember an encounter where someone had hurt you're feeling. Is there a tiny bit of hurt still there?? If so, you may have forgotten about it but you didn't forgive at least not completely.

I once heard that the stupid neither forgive nor forget, the naive forgive and forget, but the wise forgive but do not forget. And that forgiving is not forgetting, it's letting go of the hurt.

How can I achieve that? As I always I looked for hints in the words of wise people.

"You will know forgiveness has begun when you recall those who have hurt you and feel the power to wish them well." - Lewis B. Smuedes.

I think I am powerful enough.


To all those who have hurt me in a small or large way; now or in the past; knowingly or not... I FORGIVE YOU.

I forgive all of those I recall (and those who I don't) in every way, and I truly wish they all are leading a good healthy life.

I hope they get to read this. I also hope people who I've hurt intentionally and unintentionally find it in their heart to forgive me.

On a lighter note, if you're not motivated enough to forgive people:

"Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde

Anyways. there' still one more day to Ramadan by then Inshallah all our sins are to be erased by our newly acquired good deeds.