A Message of Peace — Page 44
M ESSAGE OF P EACE 44 love was highly stressed to the same degree. Hence the moral teaching found in the Gospels is specifically for the Jews and not for the whole world as Jesus as had no concern with other people. The teaching which Jesus as brought did not only have the drawback of not being addressed to all mankind, but it also had another shortcoming. As Torah overemphasises revenge to one extreme, the Gospels, turn to the other extreme as regards the teaching of forgiveness. Both these scriptures fail to bring into focus all the possible branches of human nature. As for Torah, it remains concerned with only one branch, while the Gospels hold fast to the other exclusively. Both teachings lack balance. As it is evident that to punish on every occasion is not appropriate nor is it in accordance with the dictates of justice, likewise to forgive and to overlook faults indiscriminately is contrary to the spirit of human reform. In view of this the Holy Qur’an does not entirely agree with either, but instead proposes the following: 29 So an injury can only be avenged to the extent of the injury received, as is taught by the Torah. But whoever prefers to forgive, as is taught by the Gospels, then such forgiveness is only permitted when the person forgiven is likely to respond with reform and the final outcome is positive and healthy and the whole episode ends up well. Otherwise, the routine teaching remains the same as that of the Torah. 29. The recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof; but whoso forgives and his act brings about reformation, his reward is with Allah. ( al-Sh u r a , 42:41) [Publisher]. . .