tolerating and forgiving others make the hereafter better. This is the reason that our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه would make it a habit of never leaving tolerance and forgiveness, no matter how big the loss was.

For persuasion, let’s listen to 3 parables relating to the tolerance and forgiveness of our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه:

1. Forgiving someone is after being capable of taking revenge!

Sayyiduna Ma’mar Bin Rashid رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه narrates: ‘A person slapped the son of Sayyiduna Qatada Bin Di’amah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه very powerfully. Sayyiduna Qatada Bin Di’amah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه requested the help of Bilal Bin Abi Burdah against him, so Bilal Bin Abi Burdah called upon the person who had slapped and also the leaders of Basra. They began to propose a course of action but Sayyiduna Qatada Bin Di’amah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه did not accept it and told his son: ‘You also slap him just like he slapped you’ and then said: ‘Son! Roll up your sleeves and give him a powerful slap by raising your hand.’ Therefore, the son rolled up his sleeves and raised his hand to slap him. Right at that time, Sayyiduna Qatadah Bin Di’amah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه grabbed his hand and said: ‘We have forgiven him for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ because it is said that forgiving someone is after being capable of taking revenge.’ (Allah waloun ki baatayn, vol. 2, pp. 519)

2. Gave Du’a even to the one who was oppressive

It is written in ‘Ihya-ul-‘Uloom’, Volume 3, page 216: ‘Once, Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه travelled to a desert where he came across a soldier.

The soldier asked him: ‘Are you a slave?’

He replied: ‘Yes.’

He then asked: ‘Which way is the town?’

Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه pointed towards the graveyard.

The soldier said: ‘I am asking about the town.’

Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه then said: ‘That (very place) is the graveyard.’