Jurisprudential Analysis of Forgiving in Islamic Citizenship Rights

Forgiving is a noble virtue which has been cherished by moral schools. With this virtue in life one can be benefited from the worldly bounties and have psychological and physical health and included among the pious and in the otherworld be intermediated by the Prophet (peace is upon him). Citizenship rights both refers to the totality of the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the government according to internal laws for the nationals. Accordingly, whether Shia jurists endorse this virtue? What effect does forgiving have on Islamic citizenship rights? In Shia jurisprudence and jurisprudential documents (Quran, traditions, consensus and reason) this subject has been taken into earnest account and it is recommended. Thus, if the convict repents he can be forgiven by the victim. Moreover, the legislator of the Islamic society of Iran in this regard in the article 365 of Islamic penal code adopted in 2013 has succeeded to cover some cases of forgiving in the society. Now we can conclude that if the verses of Quran are taken as the citeria of Islamic ethics these moral norms will turn to a law for all domains of life and the positive effects resulted from it will be felt throughout the Islamic society. This study has been conducted by qualitative method and document analysis.