It’s said that on the Day of Judgment, those that we have wronged will get our naikiyan. And we all hurt others knowingly and at other times unintentionally. So, I have sometimes thought that maybe a way to makeup for the hurt we’ve caused others and as a protective measure (inshaAllah) for ourselves…we can do nafli ibadat and ask Allah for the sawab of it to be sent to those we have hurt (as well as the entire ummah). But I wanted to know if such a concept exists in Islam and if it’s been discussed before. I HAVE heard of making dua for the ones whom you’ve gossiped about as compensation for that gunnah…but I have not heard of isaal e sawab being used as compensation. Any thoughts on this?
I do know that a simple way to do isaal e sawab for the whol ummah …including Muslims who have passed on and those that are alive…is to recite Fatiha once and surah Ikhlas 3 x. So, I’ve been thinking that this would be a good habit to get into. I’ve often heard of people doing isaal e sawab for loved ones after they’ve passed on…but to do when our loved ones are with us is probably one of the best things we can do for them. Or maybe I’m wrong. Any opinions, insight, etc?
Great thought!
I like the concept…and I think that it would work based on your neeyat.
But I think that there is a greater purpose involved in seeking forgiveness and mending relationships that have been damaged by something we have done, intentional or not.
For example…if in a fit of anger I decided to say something that hurt a relation of mine and then, due to this behaviour, we have grown apart then making dua and asking for the sawab from that to go to that person may help in one way. But the impact of the damage done is likely to affect many other relations in one way or another (e.g. we don’t mix, our families grow apart, cousins don’t remain connected and this snowballs into disunity in the community). I think that the recommended method (i.e. to actively seek forgiveness from the person we have hurt) will repair this damage while simply making dua will be less effective.
I don’t mean to discredit the concept but I think there is a greater purpose that needs attention.
First of all, the relationship between Khaaliq and Khalq is established with Ikhlaaq. The 3 have the same root linguistically as well, and essentially are really 1 and the same from 3 different perspectives.
There is NO replacement of hurt, harm, abuse other than replacing it with gentle, kind, charitable treatment - that would be justice. One cannot harm people all day, and beg forgiveness to God all night. That is not Islam. That is not God. That is escapism.
Islam reminds individual of accountability both in this world and in the hereafter. There is a strong emphasis on accountability that not only recognizes manifested actions, but also the intent.
So a rapist , pedophile, a murderer, slanderers can feel better about their actions as long as they make dua’ for their victims? The world suddenly becomes a righteous place to be in? Is that really our understanding of God’s world and His system of justice? our idea of the two worlds?? REALLY?? If so, then Unicorns would exists for Muslims too!
Make no mistake. Islam is about Islaah (making right/correcting wrong) of oneself. Islam is about accountability. Islam is about consequences. Islam is not escapism and euphamisms.
Yes, you are right in that we should try to repair the damage. However, sometimes the other person holds a grudge to such an extent that they’re not open to mending bridges. Or perhaps you’ve gossiped about someone whom you’re not close to, who is more of an acquaintance…or maybe you’ve hurt someone who lives far away and it’s hard to get in touch with them, etc etc.
When we die, we need sawab to remain safe from qabar ka azaab and even from hell on the day of Judgment. So, perhaps…if we can’t repair damage for various reasons…maybe one of the best things that we can do for that person is to provide them with a gift that will help them in the next world…but that can also hopefully be a means of mercy for us too?
I have heard that on Qayamat, Allah will try to mediate between two persons. He will try to get the wronged person to forgive the offender by offering things etc etc. Now whether the wronged person accepts or not is another issue. But perhaps it may appease them somewhat.
If on the Day of Judgment, Allah reveals our sins that are hidden from others…and let’s say that also includes the sin of gossiping about someone …and that person finds out on that day that you trash talked them. Maybe they would be somewhat appeased that you did isaal e sawab for them which can come to their use on that Day.
Again, I’m not dismissing the importance of actually repairing damage…but I wonder if people have thought about isaal e sawaab to that extent. And if it’s allowed in Islam to do this, then we can all inshaAllah benefit from it.
So a rapist , pedophile, a murderer, slanderers can feel better about their actions as long as they make dua’ for their victims? The world suddenly becomes a righteous place to be in? Is that really our understanding of God’s world and His system of justice? our idea of the two worlds?? REALLY?? If so, then Unicorns would exists for Muslims too!
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Watch your tone; I don’t care for the condescension or sarcasm. I haven’t imposed my views on anyone, I came here to get clarification. Even the ulema can manage to answer with more humility.
There are Islamic penalties in place for crimes like rape ect. When I asked this question, it was based on lesser things we do that hurt/offend people. I am not advocating that people become careless in their treatment of others, nor am I dismissing the importance of physically making amends such as restoring the money stolen from someone etc etc.
What I mean is that we ALL have committed sins such as speaking rudely to someone, making fun of them, mocking them, gossiping about them, maybe we hurt someone with our body language. We may not even know or remember which persons we’ve hurt and we may not be able to reach them for various reasons. And in that case, perhaps doing isaal e sawaab may be a way of compensation.
It’s said that Allah doesn’t forgive unless the wronged person forgives you first. Let’s say you did someone’s gheebat. You go to that person and you apologize and seek their forgiveness, but they are so angry that they refuse to forgive. Ir maybe the relationship is a delicate one where you fear that if you told them about it…it will create tension. And some people will even suggest that if Allah has placed a purdah over your gunnah, then you should do tawbah and not reveal it. So, in such a situation perhaps…doing isaal e sawab for those you’ve wronged can serve as a compensation for both the wronged and the offender in the next world, if Allah wills.
Take it easy. Its not a condescending tone. And the reference to rape, murder, slander are examples that demonstrate pitfalls and failure of such an attitude towards dua’. Sometime grey is hard to differentiate until its contrasted with black and/or white.
Minor, major, moderate, extreme hurt is all relative. If it falls under Ikhlaaq, i.e dealing amongst each other then utmost care should be practiced.
You mention punishment. If you look at legal punishment in whatever country you are you will understand that punishments work by :
Deterrence for others (mass scare tactic)
Deterrence for individual (future repition)
Teaching corrective action
Teaching accountability and Consequences
Ikhlaaq, prevent the crime at the root level by replacing it with what is best even before it is potentially committed or comes into existence.
As you can see, both are NOT mutually exclusive. You cannot have one over the other. Punishment depend on ikhlaaq standards because failure of ikhlaaq must be identified before punishment can be administered. You cannot view one as a replacement of the other.
This is my own understanding of Islam. Take it if it benefits you or give me something better juzbaaati musalmaanon!
You can always pray for the forgiveness and rehem of Allah set for everyone who is alive, whether you have hurt the person or not, but I guess I am not understanding the gist of your question. Are you saying that we should do eesal e sawab ( aka transfer some of our naikiyaan) to our victims while alive, so they don’t ask for our naikiyaan on the day of judgment?
I have at times done nafli ibadat and done isaal e sawab for those that I’ve hurt. I don’t know if my intention was to not have my naikian taken away nor do I know if the practice is permissible…but overal
I did it as an attempt of compensation. Of course I fear…as we all do…Allah’s punishment. And it is only natural to not want to be punished. So I did it as an attempt that hopefully would benefit the other person and maybe help me as well. I don’t know if such a view is wrong and by no means am I trying to dismiss the importance of avoiding hurting people in the first place and making efforts at reparation. One should make physically attempt to repair relationships as well and that can be through apologizing and doing acts of kindness for them…but perhaps the above could be a way to supplement.
What I know that a ‘Muslim shouldn’t be remain angry from another Muslim for more then three (3) days’. That mean either one of them must come forward and make things right by apologizing for the sake of Almighty Allah. Another person in return should make dua to Almighty Allah that he may be forgiven and in return of that your sins may also be forgiven’.
agreed…the same question comes to my mind.
because of what LK quoted…you have to make an effort to correct the situation first and then, I suppose, if that doesn’t work or if there is no means available to accomplish that, then this sort of nafli ibadat would apply.
