show even more mercy by changing our sins into good deeds. We should stay away from sins and fill our life with good deeds. If, due to human nature, any wrongdoing does occur, there should not be a delay in repenting. One should keep a positive opinion [regarding Allah] and expect to be forgiven.

The most generous

A Bedouin said to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who will bring creation to account?’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ The Bedouin asked, ‘Will Allah Himself?’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Yes.’ upon which the Bedouin smiled. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked him the reason behind him smiling, to which he answered: ‘When someone generous gets authority over someone, he forgives. When someone generous calls to account, he pardons.’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘The Bedouin has spoken the truth. Know that there is nobody more generous than Allah; He is the Most Generous of all.’ (Hikayatayn or Naseehatayn, p. 637)

The Bedouin then mentioned a few couplets in Arabic, the purport of which is as follows:

1.   When the right of the generous One is acknowledged, He forgives because of the respect shown to Him.

2.   He pardons the sinful and forgives his sins despite him being proven a sinner and perpetrator.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers, we should also keep a positive opinion of our Lord and expect good from Him: the One who nourishes us, is merciful to us, protects us from difficulties and forgives us.