Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates this statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "The Imam is a guarantor, and the Mu’adhdhin is trustworthy. May Allah guide the Imams and forgive the Mu’adhdhins." (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) There is a difference between pardon (‘afw) and forgiveness (maghfirah). Pardon from the Lord can be for such a person upon whom Hell has become obligatory, so this can occur even before He punishes His servant—may Allah protect us from this. And sometimes it can occur after He has punished him for some time. Then Allah will bestow His grace upon those people and pardon them, either due to His grace or because of an intercessor. And by forgiveness is meant His being pleased, and forgiveness from Allah will be for that person upon whom Hell has become obligatory, and this will only be due to His grace—except that He, by His grace and power, does not admit them into it at all.