A Noteworthy Example of Forgiveness

“They said: Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves and if Thou forgive us not, and have {not} mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers.”—Surah Al A’raf Q7:23

Once, Maalik Ashtar was passing through the market of Kufah looking very indigent. He was dressed in coarse canvas apparel and had placed canvas on his head instead of a turban. 

One of the traders was sitting in his shop when his eyes fell upon Maalik. He looked at him with contempt and scornfully hurled a lump of earth towards him.

Maalik disregarded him and proceeded on his way. 

However, a person who had recognized Maalik and had witnessed the incident reprimanded the trader as follows:

“Shame on you! Do you know who you have just humiliated?”

“No” replied the trader.

“He was Maalik Ashtar, the companion of Ali {R}.” responded the witness.

A shiver ran through the body of the trader at the thought of the evil deed he had committed. He immediately set off after Malik in order to offer his apologies. 

He noticed that Maalik had entered a mosque where he was engaged in prayers and decided to wait for him. As soon as Maalik finished praying, the trader fell at his feet and began kissing them. Maalik raised him and asked him what he was doing.

“I am apologizing for the sin I have committed,” answered the trader….

Tolerate, Forgive and Payback with Mercy

….Maalik explained, “There is no sin upon you. By God, I came to the mosque especially to seek forgiveness for you.”

I hope you and I can demonstrate that level of sublime ethics towards another person who clearly wronged us without right. 

I pray for the grace to tolerate, forgive and payback an attacker with mercy all the days of our lives. Aameen

PS: The story was culled from Muntahal Aa’maal volume one.