Preparing For The Merciful's Gaze

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Baihaqi relates,

“When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever.”

The place to which Allah looks is the heart. So the scholars of Islam encouraged us to prepare our hearts for Allah's gaze.

We can purify our hearts in preparation for the Merciful's gaze by pardoning His servants.

Allah says:

وَجَزَٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (Qur'an Ash-Shura 42:40)

If someone have wronged you, you must not seek a compensation greater than the injury suffered. The most you can do is to demand equal redress. But the ideal mode is not to slake your thirst for vengeance, but to follow better ways leading to the reform of the offender or his reconciliation. You can take steps to prevent repetition, by physical or moral means. The best moral means would be to turn hatred into friendship by forgiveness and love. In that case the compensation or reward is infinitely greater, for it wins the good pleasure of Allah.

Tabarani relates that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said,

"A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter Paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter Paradise without reckoning."

One of the qualities that would prevent us from Allah's gaze is malice. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat parents, sever bonds of kinship or drink are prevented from Allah’s merciful gaze.

There is nothing greater than winning Allah's good pleasure. So, let us now remove all malice in our hearts and pardon everybody and seek forgiveness from our parents and those we have wronged. Please forgive me for all my shortcomings.

May Allah bless us with His Merciful gaze on the first night of Ramadhan. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam