Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 223
223 reasonably expected, forgive the wrongdoer, but he should go further and exercise benevolence toward the latter (3:135). Where the person who has committed the wrong is powerful and is in a position of authority, and the person wronged or aggrieved is unable to obtain redress or recompense, he might be tempted to descend to faultfinding and even to abuse. The Quran forbids indulgence in either. Abuse is prohibited because it is both false and immodest, and faultfinding is prohibited because it is likely to injure rather than to reform the conduct of the wrongdoer; for when a person’s faults and shortcomings are publicly proclaimed, he begins to indulge in them openly (49:12). An injured person unable to obtain redress for the wrong suffered by him might entertain spite and enmity in his heart toward the person who has wronged him, but this is also incompatible with right thinking and righteous conduct (15:48). Thus, the proper regulation of the natural instinct of revenge or retribution narrows down its operation within very strict limits. A penalty proportionate to the wrong committed is permissible, but it is better to forgive where forgiveness may be reasonably expected to help the offender improve himself ⎯ and it is even better to add benevolence to forgiveness. To endure wrong