The Holy War — Page 66
66 teachings of Prophet Moses as , a great deal of emphasis on punish- ment and retribution as we can tell from phrases like a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye. And in the teachings of the Messiah as there is great emphasis on forgiveness and pardoning. However, it is evident that both these teachings are deficient. Things cannot function if you always exact retribution, nor if you always forgive; but rather, at its proper occasion you must be lenient or strict, just as Allah, the Lord of Glory , states: 1 (Pt. 25, R. 5)— َو اُؤٰٓزَج ٍةَئِّيَس ٌةَئِّيَس اَهُلْثِّمْنَمَف اَفَع َو َحَلْصَا ٗهُرْجَاَف ىَلَع ِهّٰللا So the truth is that the recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof, but whoso forgives, and his act brings about some reformation and not some mischief—in other words, forgiveness is shown on its proper occasion and not on a wrong occasion—the reward thereof is with Allah. In other words, this is the most excellent way. Now, see what other teaching could be better than this that forgive- ness be practiced where forgiveness is merited and retribution where retribution is required. And then again, God Almighty states: 2 (Pt. 14, R. 19)— َّنِا َهّٰللا ُرُمْاَي ِلْدَعْلاِب َو ِناَسْحِاْلا َو ِئٓاَتْيِا يِذ ىٰبْرُقْلا Meaning that Allah Almighty commands that you observe justice, and greater than justice is that—despite having dispensed justice—you go beyond and show kindness, and even greater than kindness is that you show such consideration to others as if they are your loved ones and, indeed, as if they are your kindred. It is worth remembering that there are just these three levels. Firstly, man observes justice; that is to say, he asks for rights in lieu of grant- ing rights. Then, if he advances further, comes the stage of showing 1. S u rah ash-Sh u r a , 42:41 [Publisher] 2. S u rah an-Na h l, 16:91 [Publisher]