MUSLIM STUDENTS SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (MSSN)
AIR FORCE GIRLS COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, ABUJA CHAPTER
WEEK NINE (9) ASSEMBLY PRESENTATION BY MSSN CLUB ON:
TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS
The literal meaning of tolerance is “to bear.” Tolerance is a basic principle of life. It is a religious and moral duty. It does not mean compromise. It does not mean lack of principles or lack of seriousness about one’s principles. Remember, tolerance toward falsehood is intolerance. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally distinct in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, it means to have the right to live in peace and it also means that one’s views are not to be imposed on others. We have to tolerate others. Tolerance is the gracious knot which binds the family, community, society and keeps the nation intact. The strongest among the servants of God are those who not only have the strength to suppress their anger when they are tested but also possess capacity to forgive.
Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense. If we can sincerely seek forgiveness inwardly and outwardly and forgive those who anger us then will have a peaceful society. Tolerance and forgiveness cleanses our souls from the Satan and his negative thoughts. It is important to disregard vain criticisms and this is the first step toward being tolerant.
Forgiving people does not mean allowing ourselves of being victims of oppression, nor unreflecting on injustice committed against us. Otherwise, by allowing oppression to take place while possessing the means of stopping it, the non-reactive one may be as bad as the oppressor, if not worse, because he had the ability to stop the evil, yet decided to let it be. Lessons should be learned and preventative causes should take place in order for one to remain immune from the harms. However, one should not result in resentfulness feeling, nor in thinking of taking negative revenge.
Of course, this is not done without difficulty because it is hard to understand why those who have caused us grievances do so in the first place. But this is where the battle with our inner self can take a positive turn and allow us to elevate our iman (faith). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to his followers:
God had ordered me to maintain ties with those who breakup ties with me, and to give to those who deprive me, and to forgive those who oppress me (and seek my forgiveness). (Reported by Bukhari)
When we open our hearts and pardon others, we are granting ourselves an inner peace. This is how we can prevent malice from suffocating our hearts, which is crucial because hatred has the ability to make us internally ill. We think that hatred is a means of revenge against those who have harmed us, but by begrudging them we are only harming ourselves. This is because our enemies will never feel our anger, and they live contently as we suffer. When we forgive others, it brings relief to our souls.
The word ‘religion’ is from the Latin word ‘religio’ meaning ‘to link’, ‘to tie’ or ‘to bind’. Therefore, religion is about linking and binding people together in love, harmony and sharing. It is not about dividing them. Religion is about love, forgiveness, tolerance, giving and taking.
Life is short. Let us not waste our energy on keeping malice. If we can progressively minimize our malice every day, then soon we will bear no hatred in our hearts. This is how we can end conflict amongst ourselves, since it is a day to day issue we face.
After all, sometimes our own actions can provoke another person and we may not be aware of how we contributed to the conflict. Naturally we tend to judge the faults of others, while being blind to our own faults. We forget how we have wronged others and we only remember how others have wronged us. In the same manner, we forget the good things that others have done for us and remember only the good that we have done for them. It is an innate human error. But let us try to remember our own shortcomings before we reflect on the shortcomings of others. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
Whoever does not show mercy (on this Earth) will not be shown mercy (in the Hereafter). (Reported by Bukhari).
And we must keep in mind that however we treat others is how God will treat us. So when someone hurts us, let us try to meet their oppression with kindness and forgive them, even if they are not sorry.
May the Almighty help us to be of the best character and manners for our families, friends and all people around us. May He continue to protect us from evil and immorality. May He also protect us from the evils of those who commit evil; men and women, the ones we know and the ones we don’t know, from among the humans and the Jinn.

That is how some of you were shouting about Fayose, even the efcc that borders should be close and under surveillance to prevent him from fleeing, as if he had already been condemned waiting execution.

Myhusband:
if Lyon and poly bag win, he's surely going to jail

netpro:
The other time he said he was going into farming. Today he going into law.

Don't be surprised on Sunday he will be going into evangelism.

For Dickson, it is anything for votes.

I guess you can say he is going back to practice agricultural law?

netpro:
The other time he said he was going into farming. Today he going into law.

Don't be surprised on Sunday he will be going into evangelism.

For Dickson, it is anything for votes.

contigiency:
Is he confused? Last time he said he will go into farming after governance, and today we are hearing this. What has changed?

Na wa o. Can't you be a Lawyer and be a Farmer at the same time?