God says: “When those who believe in Our signs come to you, o Muhammad, say: Peace be upon you.” God has committed Himself to mercy, and those who turn to Him with faith, even after making mistakes out of ignorance, are welcomed back through repentance. Because the domain of belief is the sanctuary of trust and optimism between God and His beings. Despair has no place here. And do not forget through whom this message of peace and reassurance is conveyed. Through His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In many instances in the Qur’an, God introduces Himself as the Kind Forgiver. But how can we be among those whose sins and wrongdoings He forgives?
Hello and welcome to this episode of “God in His Own Words”, where we will try to get better acquainted with God through the Holy Qur’an rather than the words of others.
This is the seventh day of the blessed month of Ramadan. Let’s recite verse 54 of Sūrah Al-An'ām:
وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
"And when those who believe in Our signs come to you, say, 'Peace be upon you (Salāmun ‘Alaykum). Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy, so any of you who commits an evil deed out of ignorance and then repents afterwards and makes amends — indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful.'"
We do not simply translate "Salāmun ‘Alaykum" as "greetings." "Salāmun ‘Alaykum" means: Peace, security, well-being, and health be upon you.
The domain of belief, is the domain of optimism toward God, the domain of trusting and accepting God. And once you are in this sacred precinct, God Almighty instructs His Prophet to tell you: "Salāmun ‘Alaykum" - peace be upon you.
As you know, what reaches people of God's kindness, His grace, or His mercy, comes to you through the Prophet: Security and well-being are bestowed upon you through him.
This message of peace is given to the group who have done two things: 1. They have believed, and 2. They have come to the Messenger of God.
However, in this very domain, being a human being, you are bound to commit error and to sin. If this is out of ignorance, and if you repent, then God is Ghafūr Raḥīm. Raḥīm means He is Very Merciful. Ghafūr means He is All-Forgiving, He removes the sin and all traces of the sin, restoring the person's dignity and honor.
In verse 12 of this same Sūrah, God again asks: "To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth?" Then He commands: "Say, 'To God,' and He has decreed mercy upon Himself."
The end of that verse, however, states that those who do not believe will harm themselves.
Look, the fact that God declares that He will forgive is not encouraging sin. What it is doing, is stopping a sinning believer, who has come to the Messenger of God, from returning in despair. Why? Because this is the domain of Hope and Salvation.
Tune in next time, and join us on our journey towards getting better acquainted with God through His own words. Inshā'Allāh, He Himself will lead us to the right path.