How to Explain That Allah Forgives, and So Should We? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children often struggle with the concept of forgiveness because it can feel like they are letting the other person ‘get away’ with what they did. The key is to help them see that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but is instead a beautiful reflection of Allah’s mercy. Just as Allah forgives us even when we fall short, we are encouraged to forgive others, especially after they have apologised. This gives children a profound spiritual reason to practise forgiveness, while still acknowledging the hurt they may have felt. 

Link Forgiveness to Allah’s Mercy 

You can tell your child, “Allah forgives us again and again, even when we make mistakes. He loves it when we try to forgive other people too, because it shows that our hearts are trying to be kind, just like His mercy is kind.” This helps them to see the act of forgiving as an attempt to follow the beautiful example of Allah. 

Explain That Forgiving Brings Inner Peace 

Let your child know that forgiveness benefits them as well. You could say, “When you hold on to feeling angry, it can feel heavy in your heart. When you forgive, you start to feel lighter and more peaceful inside. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened, but it does mean choosing peace instead of anger.” 

Use Parent-Child Examples to Illustrate 

When your own child makes a mistake and you forgive them, make that forgiveness explicit. You could say, “I was feeling upset, but I forgive you now because I love you. It is just like how Allah forgives us when we are sorry.” This makes the lofty concept of forgiveness a practical and relatable part of their daily life. 

By making this connection clear, you can show your child that forgiveness is not only about mending their relationships but is also about living by the same beautiful principle of mercy that Allah Almighty shows to us every single day. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, the act of forgiving is central to our faith. We are taught that the mercy of Allah Almighty is always greater than His wrath, and as believers, we are called to reflect that boundless mercy in how we treat others. Forgiving other people becomes a direct means of earning Allah’s forgiveness for ourselves. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verses 22: 

‘…And forgive (their mistakes) and overlook (their weaknesses); do you not love the fact that Allah (Almighty) may forgive you? And Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.’ 

This powerful question reminds us that the act of forgiving others is directly tied to our own hope of being forgiven by Allah Almighty. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught this beautiful, reciprocal principle. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1924, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.’ 

This teaches us that when we show forgiveness to others, we are opening the door to receiving the forgiveness of Allah Almighty in our own lives. By showing your child that forgiving others is both an act of kindness and an act of worship, you help them to see that they are imitating the mercy of Allah in their own small but beautiful way. They learn from your guidance that forgiveness is not about letting someone ‘off the hook’, but is instead a noble act that makes them beloved to Allah Almighty and allows them to live with a peaceful heart.