Forgiveness as an interhuman ethic is a mandatory value and an important virtue. Common sense tells us that the more people are guided by their forgiving nature the happier they are, whether at the individual, familial, social, national or international level. Islam emphasizes forgiveness and enjoins on its followers to be forgiving for as much as they yearn to be forgiven.

Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, had a relative called Mistah whom he used to support financially by way of charity. A sad incident happened when a group of hypocrites, including Mistah, plotted to spread rumors to tarnish the reputation and honor of Ayesha, daughter of Abu Bakr and wife of" Prophet Muhammad. A psychological crisis afflicted the Prophet, his wife, her father and the Muslim community. Some six weeks later a Quranic verse was revealed exonerating Ayesha to the relief of all concerned. A "natural" response of Abu Bakr was to suspend his financial support to Mistah in view of the latter’s evil action. Yet a while later the Prophet called Abu Bakr to tell him that a verse was revealed against his punitive attitude, as God said in the Quran: "Let not those among you who are endowed with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in God’s cause. Let them forgive and overlook.... Do you not wish that God should forgive you? ‘For God is Oft—Forgiving, Most—Merciful." Quran (24:22)

Abu Bakr immediately resumed his favor upon Mistah.