The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recommended forgiving their mistakes, even if they were recurring

Under category: How He treated them?

`Abdullaah ibn `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (a Companion) reported that a

man went to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have a servant who acts badly and is unjust, should I hit him?” (In another narration, “How much should we pardon the servant?”) The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, remained silent, and the man repeated his question, but the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, remained silent again. The third time he repeated it, the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Forgive them seventy times a day.”

In this narration, perhaps the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, remained silent while he was waiting for revelation, and it was said that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was silent because he disliked thequestion, because it is recommended to pardon the servant at all times,and it is not necessary to specify any number of times that it should bedone.

Al-Mubaarakpoori (a scholar) said: “When the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Seventy times a day,” it means to forgive them alot, it does not necessitate specifying a particular number.”