The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once picked up a dead goat with chopped ears from the road and asked his companions: “Who would buy this for even a single coin?” They said no one would want it even for free. He replied: “This world is more worthless to Allah than this dead goat is to you.” This powerful lecture uses this hadith as a springboard to explore one of the most essential qualities for entering Paradise: the ability to forgive and let go of grudges, hatred, and envy, even when you have every right to be angry.
The Man Promised Paradise Three Consecutive Days
In a famous narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) announced three days in a row that a man from Paradise was about to enter the mosque. Each time, it was the same ordinary-looking companion. Abdullah bin Amr was so curious that he arranged to stay at the man’s house to discover his secret. After three days of observation, he found nothing extraordinary: no extra prayers, no unusual worship. When confronted, the man revealed his secret: every night before sleeping, he emptied his heart of all hatred, grudges, envy, jealousy, and ill feelings toward every human being.
Every day before the day ends, I empty my heart from any hate, any grudge, any envy, any jealousy, any ill feelings. My heart is empty of all of it. That is what earned him Paradise while he was still alive.
Who You Must Forgive
- Your parents above all: the Quran commands that you do not even say “uff” to them, no matter how difficult they become in old age
- Your siblings, children, spouse, and extended family, because if everyone holds grudges, no family can flourish
- Your friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even those who have wronged you, following the prophetic example of forgiving even those who tried to poison him
- Seeking your legal rights is permissible, but it must be done without carrying hatred or ill feelings in your heart
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was offered to have his enemies destroyed, but he chose forgiveness. When the Jewish woman who poisoned his food was brought before him, his companions wanted her punished, but the Prophet forgave her. He was the best of all creation in character.
Forgiveness is not weakness; it is the quality that elevates a person to the ranks of Paradise. Allah told Abu Bakr to forgive the man who slandered his daughter Aisha, and Abu Bakr obeyed. The Prophet forgave the people of Makkah who had tortured and expelled him for thirteen years. If these giants of faith could forgive under the most extreme circumstances, then surely we can find it in our hearts to forgive the comparatively small offenses we hold onto. Let go of the poison in your heart, and watch how Allah transforms your life, your relationships, and your standing on the Day of Judgment.
