Forgiveness of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

After years of being oppressed and persecuted by non-Muslims, the Muslims defeated their oppressors and became rulers of Mecca. Here we present the extraordinary examples of forgiveness that the Holy Prophet^sa showed even after he had overcome his enemies.

Of those who had been excepted from the general amnesty, some were forgiven on the recommendation of the Companions. Among those who were thus forgiven was ‘Ikrima^ra, a son of Abu Jahl. ‘Ikrima’s^ra wife was a Muslim at heart.
She requested the Prophet^sa to forgive him. The Prophet^sa forgave. At the time ‘Ikrima^ra was trying to escape to Abyssinia. His wife pursued him and found that he was about to embark. She reproved him, “Are you running away from a man as gentle and soft as the Prophet^sa?” she said.

‘Ikrima^ra was astonished and asked whether she really thought the Prophet^sa would forgive him. ‘Ikrima’s^ra wife assured him that even he would be forgiven by the Prophet^sa. In fact she had had word from him already. ‘Ikrima^ra gave up his plan of escaping to Abyssinia and returned to see the Prophet^sa. “I understand from my wife that you have forgiven even one like me,” he said.

“Your wife is right. I have really forgiven you,” said the Prophet^sa.

‘Ikrima^ra decided that a person capable of forgiving his deadliest enemies could not be false. He, therefore, declared his faith in Islam…

Of the persons who had been ordered to be executed as exceptions to the general amnesty was one who had been responsible for the cruel murder of Zainab^ra, a daughter of the Prophet^sa. This man was Habbar^ra. He had cut the girths of Zainab’s^ra camel, due to which Zainab^ra fell to the ground and, being with child, suffered a miscarriage. A little later she died. This was one of the inhumanities which he had committed and for which he deserved the penalty of death. This man now came to the Prophet^sa and said, “Prophet^sa of God, I ran away from you and went to Iran, but the thought came to me that God had rid us of our pagan beliefs and saved us from spiritual death. Instead of going to others and seeking shelter with them, why not go to the Prophet^sa himself, acknowledge my faults and my sins and ask for his forgiveness?”
The Prophet^sa was moved and said, “Habbar^ra, if God has planted in your heart the love of Islam, how can I refuse to forgive you? I forgive everything you have done before this.”
One cannot describe in detail the enormities these men had committed against Islam and Muslims. Yet how easily the Prophet^sa forgave them! This spirit of forgiveness converted the most stone-hearted adversaries into devotees of the Prophet^sa.[1]