A Gift for the Queen — Page 29
29 is full of wisdom. It teaches us that a real good deed is that which fits the circumstances. God does not like mercy which does not accompany justice, and does not like justice if it does not result in assuring mercy. There is no doubt that the Quran has considered the fine points ignored by the Gospels. The teaching of the Gospel is that being slapped on one cheek, the other be presented 3 but the Quran says: 4 In other words, the principle of justice is that the one who is injured has a right only to impart an equivalent injury. But if one forgives, provided that his forgiving is not out of place and brings about reformation, such a person will be rewarded by God. Similarly, the Gospel says, do not look at someone with desire 5 but the Quran says, do not look at the forbidden neither with desire nor without 6 because there is no better way to attain the purity of the heart. 3. The author refers to ‘But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but who- soever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ’ Matthew 5:39, and to ‘And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. ’ Luke 6:29. [Publishers] 4. S u rah ash-Sh u r a , 42:41 [Publishers] 5. The author is referring here to ‘But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ’ Matthew, 5:28 [Publishers] 6. The author refers to ‘Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts, and that they disclose not their