The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 65
deride another, haply the last may be better than the first. Defame not your people nor call them names. Eschew too much suspicion; Also spy not, nor backbite one another. Do not charge anyone with anything of which you have no proof, and remember that the ear and the eye and the heart will all be called to account. Moral Qualities Related to the Doing of Good 59 The [discussion of moral qualities related to discarding evil have now concluded. We now set forth the qualities related to the doing of good, i. e. the second type of moral qualities which are related to doing good. The first of these is forbearance or forgiveness. He who commits an offence against another causes him pain or harm and deserves to be punished either through the process of the law, with imprisonment or fine, or directly by the person offended. To forgive him, if forgiveness should be appropriate, would be to do him good. In this context the teaching of the Holy Quran is: وَالْكُظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ 74 جَزْؤُا سَيِّئَةِ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُهَا ۚ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ا 74. And those who suppress anger and pardon men; (The Holy Quran, Āl-e- Imran 3:135)