Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 135
Lecture Ludhiana 135 revenge are so wonderful that no other religion can present their like. And it is that: 1 یۃ آ اْل ا یۃ آ اْل ا اُؤٰٓزَج ٍةَئِّيَس ٌةَئِّيَس اَهُلْثِّمْنَمَف اَفَع َو َحَلْصَا. . . اُؤٰٓزَج ٍةَئِّيَس ٌةَئِّيَس اَهُلْثِّمْنَمَف اَفَع َو َحَلْصَا. . . This means the punishment for an injury is an injury the like thereof, but the one who forgives is better, provided forgiveness is done at a time and in a situation where it leads to correction and reform. Thus, Islam teaches forgiveness without encourag- ing mischief. In short, after justice, the second stage is that of i h s a n — doing good without any recompense. But even in this behav- iour, there is a kind of selfishness for one may sooner or later hint at the good he had done. Therefore, Islam goes one step further and teaches us الْقُرْبٰى وَ اِيْتَآئِ ذِي الْقُرْبٰى وَ اِيْتَآئِ ذِي [give like the giving of kin to kin], quite like the mother who is kind to her baby and never expects any compensation or reward in return. The good she does for her child is done out of natural and spontaneous love. Even if the king orders her not to suckle the child and assures her that she will not be punished even if the child were to die as a result and promises to reward her in that consequence, even then, she would refuse to obey the king and would curse him for being the enemy of her child. This is because she is moti- vated by personal love. No self-interest is involved. Such is the excellent and lofty teaching of Islam that it presents. This verse covers our duties and obligations to Allah as well as to people. In the context of our obligations to Allah, the meaning of this verse is that in keeping with the requirements of justice, man should obey and worship Allah the Exalted, who has created him and nurtures him. But, anyone who rises higher than this state of obedience to God should obey Him 1. S u rah ash-Sh u r a , 42:41 [Publisher]