“And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 24:22)
Who spend In the cause of Allah during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Qur’an 3:134)
And We have not created the heavens and earth and that between them except in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming; so forgive with gracious forgiveness. (Qur’an 15:85)
O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 64:14)
Furthermore, it is found implicitly in the passages of the Old Testament where God promises to forgive sin:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.“(Jeremiah 31:34)
Additionally, it is found implicitly in the passages of the Old Testament where men ask God for forgiveness of sin:
- Your yes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. (Psalm 25:15-18)
- (To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.)
LORD, you have been favourable in your land: you have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of your people, You have covered all their sin. Selah. You have taken away all your wrath: You have turned yourself from the fierceness of your anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause your anger toward us to cease. (Psalm 85:1-4)
What becomes very evident is that none of these passages state that God alone forgives sins. It would be appropriate for a Christian to prove to us that Allah (swt) alone pardons, and overlooks sins.
“Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
Christians tell us that Jesus must be God because he ‘forgave sins’ and that ‘only God’ can forgive sins.
The text that immediately comes to mind is the following:
“But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7)
“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21)
I find it very peculiar that Christians would take the statement of the people who accused Jesus of wrong doing and than agree with them! Basically the Christian logic is these people were right but Jesus was entitled to do as such since he is God.
Comments:
Now here are some food for thought. Notice that the scribes and the Pharisses began toreason with themselves. Notice that there was absolutelyno appeal to scripture.
Christians argue that the scribes and Pharisses are wrong based upon their reasoning. Muslims argue that the scribes and Pharisses are wrong based upon their reason.
So then this would raise some an obvious question:
Are there any scriptures that the scribes or Pharisees might appeal to that say that God alone forgives sins or do they simply use their own reason?
I have noted that when Christians try to prove that Jesus is God based upon his ability to forgive sins: they always appeal to Mark chapter 2 and Luke chapter 5.
I have also found it very peculiar that they tend to stay away from Matthew chapter 9. Why don’t they use Matthew chapter 9 verse 8 to prove Jesus forgiving sins makes him divine? Well, because Matthew chapter 9 verse 8 does not help their case.
In fact, its’ a proof text that can be argued effectively against that claim!
“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven you.”
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Wherefore think you evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the sick of the palsy,) ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go into your house’.”
And he arose and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God,
which had given such power unto MEN.” (Matthew 9:2-8)
*Note* Men plural. Not just a man. I also would like to bring the following passage to your attention: ‘Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.”
(John 20:23) No one is making an argument that the disciples are divine.
The Most Famous Prayer in Christianity.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
“He said to them, “When you pray, say: ” ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” (Luke 11:2-4)
- Forgive us our debts AS we we also have forgiven our debtors.
The Greek word there for ‘as‘ is ‘hosper‘ which means: ‘just as‘ and ‘exactly like‘.
Source: https://biblehub.com/greek/5618.htm
Comments:
Jesus himself taught his followers to ask God to pardon their debts to him exactly like they pardon the debts of others to them. No one is asked to sacrifice their children or animals. Simply to pardon people for their offenses.
So the only way any of us, including Jesus, are ‘divine‘ in that sense would be like the saying,
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.” ― Alexander Pople, An Essay on Criticism
A few more text to reflect upon.
“Jesus increased in wisdom and in favour with God and man”.(Luke 2:52)
We know that God doesn’t increase in wisdom.
“Of that day and hour no man knows, not the angels nor the son but the father”. (Mark 13:32)
We know that God doesn’t lack in knowledge.
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)
A very powerful example of forgiveness. Forgiveness can be a powerful transformative act for the human soul.
Muslim man forgives the man who killed his son in a brutal murder. May Allah (swt) grant him paradise and may Allah (swt) open the heart of the other man to the message of Islam.
“When they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.”(Qur’an 5:83)
Prima Quran 