Lecture Lahore — Page 13
13 ungrateful to those who have been kind to you. This is further elaborated in the verse: 7 i. e. , when the truly righteous feed the poor, the orphan and the captive, they do so selflessly, only out of love for God, and say to them: "We only serve you for the sake of God, from you we require neither gratitude nor reward. " With regard to retribution or forgiveness, the Holy Quran teaches us: 8 The retribution for an injury is an injury to the same extent. Tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye, and abuse for an abuse, but whosoever forgives—and the forgiveness results in reformation rather than mischief, and he who has been forgiven rectifies his behaviour and desists from evil—his forgiveness is better than retribution, and the forgiver shall have his reward [with God]. It does not teach us that, having been struck on one cheek, we should in all circumstances turn the other cheek also, for this goes against true wisdom. Doing good to an evil-doer can be as unjust as doing evil to a good man. The Holy Quran further says: 9 i. e. , if someone is kind to you, show him even greater 7 Al-Dahr, 76:9-10 [Publishers] 8 Al-Sh u r a, 42:41 [Publishers] 9 Ha -M i m al-Sajdah, 41:35 [Publishers]