Message for Friday - Seek forgiveness and having the capacity to forgive

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
[7:23]

G'd says in the Qur'an:
They said [Adam & Eve], Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls. And if you do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, certainly we will be the losers.

In this second portion of Ramadan, the portion of gaining forgiveness, the primary lesson is that human beings are the biggest oppressors of themselves. Meaning that personal transgressions are the biggest threat to himself/herself.

Seeking forgiveness must start with the recognition of one's own flaws and errors, then demands the sincere intention of wishing to desist from recommitting the same errors.

Besides seeking forgiveness of the Creator, it is incumbent that a person who has harmed others seek their forgiveness. Likewise, the person(s) who have been wronged should have the capacity to forgive - "Whoever does not show mercy, shall not receive mercy and whoever does not forgive, shall not be forgiven."

And surely G'd knows best.