Returning to the Truth Is a Virtue. Man is a human being, intrinsically vulnerable to error and forgetfulness, and swings between weakness and strength. He errs and sins, but this is not a shame; rather, to persist in error and sin is shameful. If one recognizes the truth and returns to it, then this is a virtuous attribute of him. Hadhrat Anas narrated that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) said: "All the children of Adam oft sin, and the best of those who oft sin are those who oft repent.” (Ibne Maajah and Ad-Daarimi)
On reviewing the biographies of the righteous predecessors, one finds that they rarely committed sins; however, they are the worthiest of people to be included in the statement of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted (which means):
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْصِرُونَ [الأعراف: 201]
“Surely when the Allah-fearing are touched by any instigation from Shaitaan (Satan), they become conscious (of Allah), and at once they discern (the reality).” (Al-A’raaf 7:201)
Such hastening to repentance and swift returning to the truth are undoubtedly better than persisting in doing what is wrong in response to the inclinations of Nafs (carnal desires) and the suggestions of Shaitaan (devil), and being arrogant on admitting the mistake, especially in disputes.
People Are of Divergent Natures:
Undisciplined human natures are often the reason behind slips and involvement in disputes and arguments. It is known that people’s natures and characters are evidently and dramatically different. Some of them are easy while others are tough, some are humble while others are arrogant. There are among them those who are bad-tempered (quickly angered) yet return to the truth quickly as well, so this compensates that, and there are those who are not easily angered yet are not swift in returning to the truth. It goes without saying that the best of all those is the one who is not quick to anger and is swift in returning to the truth, whereas the worst is the one who is quickly angered and slow in returning to the truth. Such a person can hardly admit his mistake or acknowledge his error so that he would apologize or express his regret. Instead, he has an evil-enjoining self that overpowers him, leaving for him no opportunity for a swift return to the truth.
So, control your emotions, and be swift in returning to the truth. The means to goodness are in your hand! You only have to control your emotions so that you do not get angry or do wrong. If you fail to control yourself, then let this state not take a long time, but return quickly to the truth and be back on the right track as swiftly as you can.
There is scarcely any community that is free of disagreements, disputes and quarrels with others who maybe one’s family, wife, children or neighbors. In such a situation, one should adhere to forbearance and forgiving, for they are two great qualities. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted, praises those who pardon others as He Says (what means):
الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ [آل عمران: 134]
“__the ones who spend (for Allah‘s sake) in prosperity and adversity, and those who control anger and forgive people. And Allah loves those who are good in their deeds.” (Aale ‘Imraan 3:134)
He also Says (what means):
وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ [الشورى: 40]
"The recompense of evil is evil like it. Then the one who forgives and opts for compromise has his reward undertaken by Allah. Surely, He does not like the unjust.” (Ash-Shooraa 42:40)
The deeds of the people are presented to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted on Mondays and Thursdays; He forgives every believer except those who are in disagreement. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) said:
تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَيُغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِلَّا رَجُلًا كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ فَيُقَالُ أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا
"The gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened on Mondays and Thursdays. Every slave who does not associate anything with Allah in worship is forgiven except for a man who has enmity between him and his brother. It will be said: ‘Leave these two until they reconcile. Leave these two until they reconcile. Leave these two until they reconcile.'” (Muslim)
A truthful believer is expected to swiftly return to normal, forgive, pardon and hasten to reconciliation. As for the one who is harsh in dispute and goes far in his persistence, it is authentically reported that Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah said that the Prophet said:
إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الرِّجَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ الأَلَدُّ الْخَصِمُ
“Verily, the most hated man to Allah is the one who is fiercest in argument (extremely quarrelsome).” (Muslim)
The dispraised argumentation here refers to that used for rebutting the truth or proving falsehood as explained by An-Nawawi. On the other hand, it is among the qualities of a hypocrite that when he disputes, he transgresses. It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet said:
أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا إِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وَإِذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ
"Four traits, whoever possesses them is a hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who, when he is entrusted, betrays the trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he disputes, he transgresses.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Transgression means deviation from the truth and resorting to trickery in denying it. How great is the one who humbles himself to the believers, returns to his senses, and hastens to his Lord and back down to earn His pleasure.
(Continued)