A verse to reflect on
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا﴾“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due.”
al-Nisa’ 4:58 · translation of the meaning · Quran.com
The trust in the verse includes every right of someone else that you hold: money, a debt, a promise, or a secret.
Allah’s right is built on forgiveness, but the rights of people are not dropped by repentance alone until they are returned or their owners forgive. That is why scholars listed among the manners of travel: writing down debts, making a will, and returning what was wrongly taken before setting out.
The hadith
“Whoever has wronged his brother in his honour or in anything, let him seek his pardon today, before there is no dinar and no dirham.”
al-Bukhari (2449), narrated by Abu Hurayrah
“Seek his pardon” means ask him to release you. The hadith mentions honour before money, so a hurtful word or backbiting is also a right owed.
The rest of the hadith: if he has good deeds, they are taken from him in proportion to the wrong; and if he has no good deeds, some of the other person’s bad deeds are taken and placed on him.
Story: Abu Bakr asks for forgiveness
An argument took place between Abu Bakr and Umar, and Abu Bakr angered Umar, who left in anger. Abu Bakr followed him, asking him to forgive him, but he did not, and closed his door on him.
Abu Bakr came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him. Then Umar regretted it, went to Abu Bakr’s house and did not find him, so he came to the Prophet ﷺ. The face of the Prophet ﷺ began to change, until Abu Bakr became worried, knelt down and said: O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, I was the one more in the wrong.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah sent me to you and you said: you lie, while Abu Bakr said: he speaks the truth, and he supported me with himself and his wealth. Will you not leave my companion alone for me?” (al-Bukhari 3661, narrated by Abu al-Darda’)
The lesson: the best of people after the prophets was the one who hurried to ask for forgiveness; his rank did not stop him from admitting his fault. One of the best things you can carry to Makkah is a heart with no quarrel left with anyone.
Practical step
Make a list of three things: a debt or money you have not paid back, a person whose forgiveness you need to ask, and a trust or promise you have not fulfilled.
Start with one of them today, even with a short message.
The dua
﴿رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾“Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put no resentment in our hearts toward those who believe. Our Lord, You are Kind and Merciful.”
al-Hashr 59:10 · translation of the meaning · Quran.com
A Quranic dua asking for a heart free of resentment toward the believers. Make it for everyone you have a disagreement with.
A question for self-reckoning
Who do you need to speak to before you travel, and what is holding you back?