ভূমিকা

’In-nahuu Huwal - Ghafuurur - Rahim. 53: “ Say (Thus speaks Allah (swt)): ‘O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of Allah’s mercy: behold, Allah forgives all sins - for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!” The first Holy Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) says that there is no greater verse of God’s grace and His mercy than this verse in the whole of the Qur’an.

It is Islam and no other religion in the world which introduces God to His creation, not as a mere merciless just judge whose decisions are based only on law and facts without any concern of any grace or mercy in it, but as the Independent - the Beneficent - the Oft-Pardoning - the most Gracious - the Dispenser of Grace, who deals with His creation as He pleases, and whose justice is ever tempered with mercy. His infinite mercy is ever in the waiting to receive repentance from his offenders.

He has made mercy incumbent on Himself ( Surah al-An’aam, 6:12 and 6:54 ). He Himself enjoins upon the sinners to seek His pardon ( Surah an-Nisaa, 4:106 ). He bestows His mercy on whomsoever He pleases, and also entitles him to rewards. He is such a merciful judge that He does not wait to punish but to pardon. Hence before the matter comes to be tried, He invites repentance and even encourages the sinners to make haste in seeking His pardon.

He never wants any sinner to be dejected and go hopeless of His mercy. But, the pardon is granted only when it is asked in time. It is said that ‘Wahshi’ the assassin of Hazrat Hamza (p) at the Battle of Ohad, got hopeless of being forgiven by God and hence did not embrace Islam but when he came to know of this verse, he joined the ranks of the faithful.

In Hadith al-Qudsi, Allah (swt) says: “It were not for ‘Ruku’ (kneeling) of elders, suckling babies, grazing animals, humble youths, indeed I would have made the sky of steel, the earth of copper and the mud of pebbles.