Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 171
171 'The recompense of evil should be in proportion thereto; but if a man forgives a trespasser, under circumstances which are calculated to effect a ref- ormation in his conduct and which do not lead to disorder or disturbance, his reward is with God. Verily He loves not the transgressors. ' 73 A man who inflicts punishment severer than that warranted by the offence, or punishes an offender merely out of revenge in a case where he knows that punishment would harden him and injure his morals still further, or forgives an offender knowing that if he is not punished he will become more daring and embark upon a fresh career of wrong-doing, is a 'transgressor' within the meaning of the above verse, and God will not ap- prove of his conduct. Let us consider the true significance of the rule laid down in this verse. The rule laid down with refer- ence to the natural instincts of man is that an offender should be punished in proportion to his offence. But it is pointed out that high morals demand that in meting out punishment a man should consider whether the wrong-doer would be reformed by punishment or by forgiveness. If there is hope of reforming him by for- giveness, he should be forgiven and should not be 73 Al-Sh u r a , 42:41.