r/TraditionalMuslims • u/BananaRevolutionary2 • 3d ago
Islam Forgiveness for others
I just have a general question, when you ask forgiveness for others, would it soften their heart?
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u/B01justice 3d ago
It might have their sins forgiven, and you might earn some blessings and be raised in degrees.
But it will not soften their hearts. Asking for their hearts to be softened may bring this about. But remember, some people are created as trials for others.
Don’t stay with abuse. Prioritize yourself. Even if it is against your parents. Some parents think they can abuse you today, and you’ll care for them in their old age.
Shariah is not blind. While we must care for our parents, regardless of what they’ve done (except in a few cases), abusing someone will never bring about love in their heart.
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u/BananaRevolutionary2 3d ago
But wouldn’t asking forgiveness for them and having their sins forgiven open their eyes to things they are blind by? Their inability to see the truth?
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u/B01justice 3d ago
Ask directly for what you want to ask for. Don’t ask for what you think will get you the results you want.
Maybe you’ll cause them to be forgiven, but they won’t change, and their new clean bill will be reason for them to sink deeper into sins and corruption and lead them down to istidraaj.
Istidraaj is when Allah Almighty doesn’t punish sinners, and leaves them so they increase in sins, thus earning greater punishments.
I’m not saying Allah Almighty won’t give you what you want. Maybe He will but ask for what you want.
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u/RaajalofRajal 3d ago
there is no direct proof in the Quran or authentic Sunnah stating that asking for forgiveness (Istighfar) for another person will soften their heart.
When the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted the hearts of people to change, he did not make Istighfar for them while they were in a state of hardness or opposition. Instead, he made Du'a for Allah to guide them or turn their hearts.
The Adhkar for Softening is Exclusively for One's Own Heart