Questioner:

There is a group of people in my country who have colluded to harm me. Now, and all thanks and praise are due to Allah ﷻ, Allah ﷻ has relieved me from my concern, and I want to forgive them due to my consideration that what happened was something already decreed by Allah. Thus, what is the exemplary method that you would advise me with [in this regard]?

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz:

۞ وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّا أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ عُقْدَةُ النِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ

“If they have harmed you and you desire to forgive them, then you will be rewarded and you will get a great good and a big merit. Because Allah, the Most High, says: “And to forego it is nearer to righteousness.” (Q 2:237)

And the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah ﷻ does not increase the servant when he pardons someone except in honor.” [Muslim] And Allah says;

۞وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

“but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation – his reward is [due] from Allah” (Q 42:40)

Therefore, you are doing a great good, and if they have harmed you through backbiting, or wealth, or insults, or whatever else and you forgive them, then, you are rewarded. May Allah ﷻ reward you with good.

Questioner:

So, the method, if you do not mind? (i.e. what is the method to follow in such case?)

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz:

The method is that he inform them [of this pardon] in order to be more complete. This means that he forgives them without demanding anything [in return].

If they harmed him, as he mentioned, and he does not inform them. Then, this is good as well because the intent is to forgive. So if he forgives them, his reward is hence due from Allah ﷻ.

If they harmed him, or took something from his wealth, or beat him, or insulted him, or whatever that is similar to such harms and he then forgives them, his reward is thus due from Allah ﷻ.

Questioner:

May Allah reward you.