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Forgiving people who treat you badly

Question

I want to know that if its Haraam not forgive someone who done to you a big mistake because my in-laws are treating me badly talking behind my back and calling me some kind of freak. Please help me if you can.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

It is permissible for a Muslim not to forgive those who wronged him, and he can take his right back from them but it is better for him to forgive them. Allaah urged us immensely to forgive each other as He says (which means): {… Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allaah should forgive you?}[Qur'an 24:22]. Moreover, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) also said: "Indeed Allaah does not increase the one who pardons except by more honour…" [Muslim] So we advise you to be patient about the mistreatment of your in-laws. Being patient towards them is a sign of being kind to your husband. Your husband has to prevent them as much as possible from harming you. If you live with your in-laws in the same house, your husband is obliged to provide you with a separate accommodation according to his ability. This is in order to avoid disputes.

Finally, it should be noted that you should not listen to those who bring information that might break your relationship with them. If you do so, you are supporting their backbiting, and it is confirmed that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "A tale-bearer will not enter paradise." [Muslim]

Allaah knows best.

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