Sahih MuslimBook: Book of Virtue№ 2588Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic)Graded by Muslim
“No one forgives except that Allah increases him in honour.”
Context: Narrated by Abu Hurayra.
Source: Sahih Muslim.
introductory ~9 minSources added — scholar review pending
Forgiveness
Pardon and forbearance were the Prophet's ﷺ defaults
The Prophet ﷺ was offered vengeance and consistently chose pardon. He also taught that human forgiveness of others is directly tied to divine forgiveness of oneself.
Overview
The Prophet ﷺ made forgiveness one of the highest virtues in Islam — not because wrongs did not matter, but because the alternative to forgiveness is a slow spiritual death.
Sahih al-BukhariBook: Book of the Prophets№ 3477Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic)Graded by al-Bukhari
“It is as if I can see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recounting what happened to one of the prophets whose people beat him until he bled. He wiped the blood from his face and said: 'My Lord, forgive my people, for they do not know.'”
Context: Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd. The Prophet ﷺ applied the same words to himself at Ṭāʾif.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari.
Jami at-TirmidhiBook: Chapters on Righteousness№ 2004Ḥasan (good)Graded by al-Tirmidhi
“Shall I not tell you of something better than the degree of fasting, prayer and charity? They said: Of course. He said: Reconciling between people. And spoiling relations between people is what shaves — I do not say it shaves the hair, but it shaves the religion.”
Context: Narrated by Abu al-Dardāʾ. Also in Abu Dawud (no. 4919).
Source: Jami' at-Tirmidhi.
What this means
The Prophet ﷺ was poisoned, hunted, defamed, and physically attacked. When he entered Makkah at the head of an army in 8 AH, holding legal power of life and death over the Quraysh, he pardoned nearly all of them (see the Prophet-collection lesson on the Conquest). His pattern in personal matters was the same: he never took revenge for himself, only for the boundaries of Allah being violated.
Forgiveness is not the abolition of justice
Islamic teaching preserves the right of the wronged. The victim of theft, assault or slander is entitled to redress. The Qur'an (42:40) says the recompense for a wrong is a like wrong — then adds: 'but whoever pardons and reconciles, his reward is with Allah.' The invitation to forgive is offered to the wronged; the wrongdoer cannot demand it.
Application today
Bring to mind one specific person who wronged you and whom you have not forgiven. You are not required to trust them again, restore proximity, or pretend the wrong did not happen. You are invited to release the grip. Try — even once — saying quietly, 'For You, I let this go.' Repeat when the resentment returns.
Reflection
The Prophet ﷺ said forgiving increases a person in honour. What resentment are you carrying that is quietly making you smaller?