MAS’ALA ON ASKING FORGIVENESS FROM FRIENDS ON SHABE BARA’AH (THE NIGHT OF SALVATION)
By Shaykh Abdul Raheem hafizahullah
There are texts going around asking people for forgiveness. Here are four points to take into account:
1) The tongue should always be kept under control. Dont hurt anyone. Keep the heart clean. If it’s clean then there’s no need to ask forgiveness from people.
Hadith 1: ‘Dont say something for which you would have to apologise the next day.
Remember! The heart is the king of the body. If the heart is under control, then the tongue, the eyes and ears etc will also be under control. The heart is the engine which drives the whole body.
Hadith 2: ‘A Jannati is he who’s heart is cleansed and who’s tongue is truthful.’
Hadith 3: ‘A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands other Muslims feel safe.’
2) We are human beings. If we were to hurt someone’s feelings, we should ask for forgiveness immediately. We should not wait for Shabe Bara’ah!
STORY:
The father of Abdullah ibn Mubarak Rahmatullahi Alayhi was once travelling. He passed by a garden where he saw an apple lying around. He picked it up and ate it as he was hungry. He immediately realised that he ate the apple without the owners permission. So he quickly went to the owner of the garden to ask for forgiveness. The owner owner noticed his piety and said: “I will only forgive you if you marry my daughter who is deaf, dumb, and blind.” He tried to wriggle his way out. But then he realised there is no other option so he agreed in order to get the forgiveness. He married her. She turned out to be perfectly healthy and Allah Taala granted them a pious child who we today remember as Abdullah Bin Mubarak Rahmatullahi Alayhi.
Imam Bukhari Rahmatullahi Alayhi was once practicing archery. He mistakenly hit someone’s small bridge and damaged it. He sat there and sent students to find the owner so he could pay for the damage. However, the owner forgave him. Imam Bukhari got so happy that he sat with the students and taught them extra lessons.
So if any mistake happens, apologise there and then immediately.
3) One should fulfil ‘Huqooqul Ibaad’ (the rights of the people) i.e the debts, inheritance matters, stolen goods, those taken by mistake, etc should be returned to the rightful owner.
Hadith: ‘Whoever owes some rights, whether monetary or to do with honour, should have them sorted out before a day comes in which there is no Dinaar or Dirham. If one has good deeds the person will be given, if not their sins will be taken and loaded on him’
4) People say our actions are closed on this blessed night.
This is a misconception. Books close at the time of death. The truth is that during Sha’baan, the guidelines for the following year are handed over to the angels. E.g Rains, crops, births, deaths, etc.. are finalised. Meaning that the guardians of Lawhe Mahfooz pass on the decisions for the following year to the angels of the lower level. This noting down and passing on continues until Laylatul Qadr, when everything is completed.
SUMMARY:
1) Heart should be clean at all times.
2) Don’t wait for Shabe Bara’ah to ask for forgiveness from friends.
3) Major huqooqul ibaad such as debts, meerath, etc should be returned swiftly.
4) Book of deeds is not closed on Shabe Bara’ah, but decisions are noted down from Lawhe mahfooz and matters are finalised.
Finally, Hadhrat Shaykh Zakariyyah Rahmatullahi alayhi says one should be really fearful on this night. Similar to the condition of a person in who’s name a warrant has been issued and is scared of the police who are after him. Our death warrant has been issued and the angel of death is after us. So we should be on our best behaviour to seek pardon from Allah swt.
May Allah note our names among the pious when He decides to take back our souls.
May Allah forgive us and be pleased with us.
May Allah make the best decisions for us and for the whole Muslim Ummah.
Ameen