Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 157
23 February 1907 157 Observe that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had to suffer oppression and transgression for thirteen years, and only then was the command to defend given. It is apparent from: 1 َنِذُا َنْيِذَّلِل َنْوُلَتٰقُي ْمُهَّنَاِب اْوُمِلُظ َنِذُا َنْيِذَّلِل َنْوُلَتٰقُي ْمُهَّنَاِب اْوُمِلُظ that even retaliation was not permitted earlier. It is precisely for this reason that two principles were set forth. Firstly: 2 ْضِرْعَا ِنَع َنْيِلِهٰجْلا ْضِرْعَا ِنَع َنْيِلِهٰجْلا One should avoid people who have the substance of ignorance within them, who are disputants filled with arrogance; their statements should not be even responded to. Secondly: 3 ْعَفْدِا ْيِتَّلاِب َيِه ُنَسْحَا ْعَفْدِا ْيِتَّلاِب َيِه ُنَسْحَا Meaning, do good in response to evil, the result of which is he becomes a friend—and a friend even of the calibre that: 5,4. ٗهَّنَاَك ٌّيِلَو ٌمْيِمَح۰۰ ٗهَّنَاَك ٌّيِلَو ٌمْيِمَح۰۰ 1. Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged ( S u rah al- H ajj , 22:40). [Publisher] 2. Turn away from the ignorant ( S u rah al-‘Ar a f, 7:200). [Publisher] 3. Repel evil with that which is best ( S u rah Ha M i m as-Sajdah, 41:35). [Publisher] 4. Will become as though he were a warm friend ( S u rah Ha M i m as-Sajdah, 41:35). [Publisher] 5. Badr, vol. 6, no. 15, p. 6, dated 11 April 1907