Lesson video

Hello and welcome to this lesson on Muslim teachings about forgiveness.

My name's Mrs. Rawbone, and I'm going to be your RE teacher today.

Thank you so much for joining me.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain Muslim beliefs about forgiveness and how they're shown through repentance and restorative justice.

Key words that we'll be using today are "forgiveness," "repentance," and "restorative justice." Forgiveness is to grant pardon for wrongdoing, to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoing.

Repentance is the act of recognising that something you have done is wrong and choosing to turn away from it.

Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing through dialogue and understanding.

Today's lesson will take two parts.

We'll be looking at forgiveness and Muslim responses to forgiveness.

So let's get started looking at forgiveness.

Eva Kor was a Holocaust survivor who chose to forgive.

Forgiveness means to grant pardon for a wrongdoing, to give up resentment, and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoer.

Eva Kor was a Holocaust survivor who chose to forgive the Nazis, who experimented on her and her twin sister at Auschwitz.

Her decision was controversial, but she explained that forgiveness is not about excusing evil but about freeing oneself from pain.

Andeep, Sofia, Lucas, and Aisha are discussing whether they think we should always forgive.

Andeep says, "I think we should always forgive no matter what someone has done." Sofia says, "Forgiveness is important, but people still need to face consequences." Lucas says, "I try to forgive, but some things are just too serious to move past." Aisha says, "Some people don't deserve forgiveness, especially if they keep hurting others." A YouGov survey in 2021 asked British people whether they would be able to forgive someone who killed someone close to them in an accident.

We can see on the chart that we have 18% said yes, 39% no, and 42% said I don't know.

So what might influence people's views on whether they think they could forgive? Turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me.

Pause the video, come back when you're ready to move on.

So, what is forgiveness? Take a moment to think about a definition of that word.

Jot it down.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

You could have said: Granting pardon for a wrongdoing; to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoer.

So well done if you've put across the idea that you are pardoning someone, you are giving up that resentment.

Laura is talking to Ilham, who works for the Probation Service as a restorative justice practitioner.

Laura says, "Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm through dialogue.

Do you really think talking about a crime makes a difference? Ilham says, "Yes, I think it can.

I work with a young woman who had shoplifted from a small business.

In a restorative meeting, she listened as the owner explained how it had affected his staff.

She was clearly moved, wrote a letter of apology, and agreed to repay the cost and do voluntary work to rebuild trust." Laura continues, "Is restorative justice about forgiving the offender?" Ilham responds, "It can be, and in this case, the shop owner chose to forgive.

Hearing the young woman take responsibility and seeing her effort to make amends helped rebuild trust.

Restorative justice does not require forgiveness, but it can create the space for it.

So why might restorative justice make forgiveness possible? Take a moment, pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby, or you can talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Restorative justice can take a variety of forms. It could be a face-to-face meeting where you talk about the impact of what happened.

It can be indirect communication, a facilitator passing messages between the victim and the offender.

It can be some kind of community reparation, so the offender doing voluntary work in the community.

Or it can be a letter of apology, the offender writing to the victim to show understanding and to take responsibility.

A YouGov 2018 survey asked British people whether, if they were attacked by a stranger and left with bruises but not seriously injured, they would prefer restorative justice or pressing charges.

We had 20% say restorative justice, 61% said pressing charges, and 19% said they didn't know.

So what factors might make someone more or less prepared to agree to restorative justice? Take a moment, pause the video, turn and talk to me or to someone nearby if you can, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

Give one example of restorative justice.

Pause if you need to, jot down your answer, and come back when you're ready to check.

You could have said any one of the following: A face-to-face meeting between the victim and the offender, a letter of apology, indirect communication through a facilitator, or community reparation through voluntary work.

So, good work if you managed to give one of those examples.

Faye is debating the statement, "Forgiveness causes more harm than good," with Zoe.

Faye says, "I think forgiveness can cause more harm than good.

It can allow people to avoid facing the seriousness of the harm done, and it can let offenders escape justice.

Also, forgiveness is unrealistic in violent or repeated harmful situations where it could put victims at further risk." So what arguments does Faye present? Take a moment, pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can.

Have a read again of what Faye has said, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might have noticed that Faye presents the arguments: Forgiveness can let offenders avoid accountability, and forgiveness may be unrealistic and unsafe.

Zoe is responding to Faye's arguments.

Zoe says, "Forgiveness can be very difficult to grant, but if someone does, it can help people heal emotionally.

Holding onto anger and resentment can cause more lasting damage to a person's well-being." So what arguments does Zoe present? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby again if you can, or talk to me and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you spotted that she says forgiveness helps people to heal emotionally, and that holding onto anger and resentment can cause lasting damage.

Which two statements are arguments to support forgiveness? A, forgiveness helps people heal emotionally.

B, holding onto anger and resentment causes more damage.

C, forgiveness allows offenders to avoid accountability.

And D, forgiveness can be unrealistic or unsafe in some situations.

So take a moment if you need to.

Pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

For part one of our task, Jacob has been asked to chair a debate on forgiveness.

He's made a start.

Use the points below to finish.

Forgiveness is something people talk about a lot, but not everyone agrees on what it involves or whether it's always the right thing to do.

So, continue by including what forgiveness means and an example of how restorative justice might support forgiveness.

Take your time.

Pause the video.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said: Forgiveness is something people talk about a lot, but not everyone agrees on what it involves or whether it's always the right thing to do.

It means letting go of blame or resentment towards someone who has caused harm.

Forgiveness is supported through restorative justice.

For example, a victim and offender might meet in a safe, structured setting.

The offender could listen to the impact of their actions, offer a letter of apology, and agree to do voluntary work.

This process might help the victim feel able to forgive.

So well done if you've made it clear that you understand what forgiveness means and that you can see its link with restorative justice.

For part two of the task, I'd like you to complete the table below to set out the positives and negatives of forgiveness.

So give yourself some time.

Pause the video.

Think really carefully about what the positives and negatives are, and then come back when you're ready to see some examples of what you could have written.

You could have said, for positives: It helps the person to heal emotionally, it can restore damaged relationships, it supports peace and moving forward.

But for the negatives: It may cause emotional harm if trust is broken after forgiving, the offender may avoid proper accountability, and it could lead to being taken advantage of.

So well done if you've got any of those points.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson: Muslim responses to forgiveness.

Muslim attitudes to forgiveness are informed by different sources of authority, including: The Qur'an, which is the direct word of Allah; the Hadith, the recorded words of the Prophet Muhammad; the Sunnah, the Prophet's example based on the Hadith; Shariah law, which is Islamic law based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; Islamic scholars, who might interpret and apply the sources in real-life situations; and personal conscience and reason, which is guided by Islamic teachings.

Muslims may interpret these sources differently or place greater emphasis on some over others, but all agree the Qur'an is a supreme authority.

Forgiveness is central to Islam.

Muslims believe that all humans make mistakes and need Allah's forgiveness.

One of Allah's names is Al-Ghaffar, the Forgiving.

The Qur'an teaches that Allah is always ready to forgive those who sincerely repent.

Forgiveness requires sincere repentance, taubah, feeling regret, stopping the sin, and resolving not to repeat it.

Muslims must forgive others because the Qur'an teaches that those who want Allah's mercy should show mercy to others.

The Qur'an is a source of wisdom and authority for Muslims on forgiveness.

Surah 39:53 says, "Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves by sinning, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.

Indeed, Allah forgives all sins." This verse offers hope to all who repent sincerely, no matter what they have done.

Surah 64:14: "O you who believe, indeed among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them.

But if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then indeed Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." So this verse directly links forgiving others with receiving forgiveness from Allah.

Surah 3:134: "Those who restrain anger and pardon people, Allah loves those who do good." So, forgiving others brings Allah's love.

The Prophet Muhammad's life is also a source of wisdom and authority for Muslims on forgiveness.

In the Hadith, Muhammad says, "He who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy." This Hadith reinforces the fact that if a Muslim wants Allah to show them mercy, they must first show mercy and forgiveness to others.

When the Prophet entered Makkah with a strong army, he had the power to punish those who had persecuted him and his followers, but instead, he chose to show mercy and to forgive them.

So this example from the life of the Prophet shows Muslims that they should choose mercy over revenge, as he did.

Is this statement true or false? Islam teaches that Allah can forgive any sin, but Muslims are strongly encourage to forgive others if they want to receive Allah's mercy.

Take a moment, have a think as well about why it might be true or false.

Pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Well done if you spotted that it is true, but did you get why it's true? Well, it's true because Allah's forgiveness is not limited, and he can forgive any sin.

However, the Qur'an and Hadith emphasise that Muslims should forgive others if they hope for Allah's mercy too.

Tareeq, who is a Sunni Muslim and an imam, is talking about the importance of repentance in Islam.

"Repentance, or taubah, is an important teaching in Islam because it's the path to Allah's forgiveness.

This was a theme in my recent khutbah during Ramadan, when Muslims are especially encouraged to make sincere taubah.

I taught that taubah involves four key steps: feeling sincere regret for the sin, stopping the wrong action straight away, making a promise to Allah not to return to it, and if anyone was harmed, doing your best to put things right." So repentance begins with regret for the sin.

You must then stop the wrong action, and make a promise or show your intention to Allah not to return to the action, and finally, make amends or put things right.

Tareeq goes into more detail on repentance.

He says, "The first step of taubah is sincere regret.

The Qur'an says, 'And those who, when they commit a moral act or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins.

It is they whose reward is forgiveness from their Lord." That's in Surah 3:135-136.

He goes into more detail on the second step.

"The second step of taubah is to stop the sin.

The Qur'an says, 'And do not persist in what they have done while they know.

'" Surah 3:135.

So this is saying that someone who keeps sinning knowingly has not truly repented.

And explaining the third step, Tareeq says, "The third step of taubah is making a sincere intention never to return to the sin.

The Qur'an says, 'O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance.

'" Surah 66:8.

"This sincerity means firmly deciding in your heart not to repeat the wrong." And finally, "The Prophet said, 'Whoever has wronged his brother in anything, let him seek his pardon.

'" So, on the Day of Judgement , we won't be able to use money to fix the wrongs we have done to people.

We must fix the harm now.

In Islam, repentance, taubah, means feeling regret, stopping the sin, making a firm intention not to return to it, and _____ any harm done.

So take a moment to think about the missing word.

Think about what word best fills the gap.

Is it A, forgetting; B, avoiding; C, fixing; or D, denying? Pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to check.

Excellent work if you managed to spot that it should be fixing the harm done.

Abdi is a Sunni Muslim and a prison chaplain.

He's describing how his work relates to forgiveness.

Abdi says, "As a member of the Muslim Chaplains Association, I deliver sessions in prison focused on taubah, repentance.

I act as a mentor, listening without judgement and helping people reflect on their future in light of Islamic teachings.

I also refer offenders to organisations like St.

Giles Trust or Mosaic for help with housing, employment, and mentoring after release." So what faith-based support does Abdi provide? Take a moment.

Pause if you need to.

Have a good look at what he said.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you spotted that Abdi runs sessions on taubah, repentance, and he helps people to reflect in the light of Islamic teachings.

Let's check your understanding.

Give one way in which Muslim prison chaplains support Islamic teachings about forgiveness and repentance.

Pause if you need to jot down your answer.

Come back when you're ready to check.

You could have said any one of the following: They teach prisoners about taubah, repentance, and seeking Allah's forgiveness.

They offer one-to-one pastoral support to help individuals take responsibility for their actions.

They support programmes that encourage restorative justice.

Or they help prisoners reflect on forgiveness as part of personal change.

Now, remember, you only needed one of those points, so well done if you managed to get one of them.

Ilham is a Sunni Muslim who works in restorative justice for the Probation Service.

She says, "In my role, I act with the right niyyah to please Allah and support justice with mercy.

I arranged a meeting between a victim and an offender because one wanted answers and the other wanted to apologise.

My aim was to help them both begin to heal, as Islam teaches that justice should also bring compassion." So what does Ilham say, which shows she was trying to act with the right niyyah? Take a moment.

Pause the video.

Reread what she said.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

Ilham said her aim was to help the victim and offender begin to heal in line with Islamic teaching on justice and compassion.

Imam Mohamed El-Sharkawy, a Muslim chaplain, helped offenders find forgiveness, responsibility, and a path back to the community.

Let's hear some more about his story.

Imam Mohamed El-Sharkawy worked as a Muslim chaplain at HMP The Mount, a men's prison in Hertfordshire.

There, he developed a restorative justice course based on the story of the Prophet Yusuf, Joseph, a powerful example from the Qur'an of patience, betrayal, and forgiveness.

The course invited prisoners to explore the themes remorse, accountability, and healing through Islamic teachings.

By reflecting on the story of Prophet Yusuf, who forgave his brothers after years of betrayal, the men were encouraged to think honestly about their own actions and relationships.

In one session, a prisoner explained that he was full of emotion and regret for what he had done.

This marked a turning point in his journey towards repentance and change.

The success of the programme showed that when offenders are given the chance to reflect, express remorse, and change, they can be supported not only by chaplains but also by the wider community.

Support from families, local mosques, and community members plays a vital role in welcoming people back and helping them stay on the right path.

Forgiveness in this context is not about ignoring the past, but about helping someone take responsibility and rebuild their life.

This kind of support is needed so that people leaving prison can return to their families, communities, and faith with hope and purpose.

Izzy is studying Islam and has been asked to respond to the statement: "Forgiveness is essential for justice." She decides to talk to her friend, Nadia.

Izzy says, "Nadia, we've been discussing the statement 'Forgiveness is essential for justice.

' I want to use the story of Mohamed El-Sharkawy to support my evaluation of the statement.

Can you help?" Nadia responds, "Imam Mohamed El-Sharkawy's work shows that forgiveness is essential for justice because it helps people move forward.

Prisoners were not just punished but given a chance to take responsibility for their actions through restorative justice." So what does Mohamed El-Sharkawy's work reveal about the role of forgiveness in achieving justice? Take a moment.

Pause the video.

Think about his story.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you spotted that Nadia explained it helps people move forward.

Let's check your understanding.

Give one way in which restorative justice reflects Islamic beliefs about justice.

So pause the video.

Take a moment.

Think about your answer.

Come back when you're ready to check.

You could have said any one of the following: It reflects the belief that justice should include mercy and help people to change.

It supports healing between victim and offender, which aligns with Islamic teachings on reconciliation.

It allows Muslims to act with the right niyyah, intention, to please Allah by promoting justice and compassion.

So well done if you got something along those lines.

For task B, here's an evaluation statement about forgiveness: "Forgiveness is essential for justice." Discuss this statement, showing that you've considered more than one point of view.

You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.

I'd like you to write a paragraph of reasoned arguments in support of this statement from a Muslim point of view.

So take the time to think back through what we've been learning today.

Pause the video, and when you're finished, come back to see what you could have written.

Let's have a look at what you could have said: Many Muslims agree that forgiveness is essential for justice because it reflects Allah's mercy and helps to rebuild lives.

Surah 64:14 teaches, "But if you pardon, overlook, and forgive, then indeed, Allah is forgiving and merciful," showing that justice includes mercy and that forgiving others is a valued act.

Muslim prison chaplains often support offenders in making taubah, repentance, by helping them reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness, and take responsibility.

Some also lead restorative justice programmes, which bring victims and offenders together to encourage understanding and healing.

This process helps achieve justice not just through punishment, but by restoring relationships and guiding people towards change.

So the key points to include will be that for many Muslims, forgiveness is central; it helps to achieve justice; and of course, Allah himself is forgiving, but that this does require sincere repentance.

Well done if you got any of those points in your answer.

In today's lesson, we have learned that forgiveness means letting go of blame or resentment towards someone who has caused harm.

There are differing views on forgiveness.

Some argue it may allow people to avoid taking full responsibility, while others believe it is essential for healing after harm.

Forgiveness is a core Islamic value taught in the Qur'an and Hadith and closely linked to receiving Allah's mercy.

Muslim prison chaplains support offenders through reflection, repentance, and spiritual care.

And Islamic teachings support restorative justice, which creates opportunities for victims and offenders to communicate because it encourages responsibility.

Thank you so much for your hard work today and for being with me for this lesson.