Forgiveness is a virtue strongly recommended in the Qur’an and practiced by believers. It is the best way to ensure peace of heart, mind and body, and to lead a healthy and happy life. Allah commands that we should forgive those who have wronged us, as He will forgive us when we seek His forgiveness.Forgiveness is essential to a healthy life, both physically and psychologically. Studies have found that religious people are less prone to depression, stress, and mental illness due to forgiveness being encouraged by their faith.
Anger, however, has been scientifically linked to a higher risk of heart disease, increased production of inflammatory proteins, and a greater chance of heart attack. Harvard Gazette and The Times have both published articles that further support this notion. Forgiveness is a positive virtue that eliminates the physical and psychological effects of anger and is pleasing to Allah.
Notes:
73. Jennifer Desai, "Stanford Forgiveness Project's Dr. Frederic Luskin studies why learning to forgive might be good for the body as well as the soul," Almanac, June 9, 1999;
www.almanacnews.com/morgue/1999/1999_06_09.forgive.html
74. Ibid.
75. Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., "Forgiveness," Healing Currents Magazine, September-October 1996;
www.stanford.edu/~alexsox/4_steps_to_forgiveness.htm
76. Ibid.
77. Claudia Kalb, "Faith & Healing," Newsweek, November 10, 2003;
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3339654/site/newsweek
78. William J. Cromie, "Anger is Hostile to Your Heart," Harvard Gazette;
www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/1996/11.07/AngerisHostileT.html
79. Ibid.
80. Peter Lavelle, "Anger trigger to heart disease found?," ABC Science Online, August 5, 2003;
www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s915243.htm
81. Ibid.
82. Ibid.
83. Mark Henderson, "Anger Raises Risk of Heart Attack," The Times, London, April 24, 2002;
www.rense.com/general24/anger.htm
84. Ibid.