So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 44
WHEN FORGNENESS IS EXPEDIENT Forgiveness is a moral quality. One has to see whether the other person deserves to be forgiven or not. The offenders are of two types. Some are such that their offence annoys the person but they des. erve to be pardoned. There are others who when they are pardoned become still more offensive and might do some harm. For example, there is a servant who is very pious and obedient. He brings tea and it so happens that he stumbles against something and the cup of tea breaks into pieces; the tea is also spilt on the master. If this master gets up to beat the servant and scolds him bitterly, it would be nothing less than foolishness. This is the occasion when the master should pardon the servant, for, he has not broken the cup (and thrown the tea on the master) by mischief. If the servant is pardoned he would be ashamed of what he did and he would be niore careful in future. But if there is a servant who breaks the cups everyday and causes IOss to his master, he should be punished and that would be an act of mercy for him. That is the significance of Mimma razaq naahum yunfiqoon. Every Believer has to decide himself~as to what the occasion demands. He has to spend what he thinks is expedient. (Malfoozat Vol. 1, p. 418) CONTROL YOURSELF Who has told our friends that they have a long life to live? Nobody knows when the death would approach. It is,. therefore, expedient that whatever the tim~ a man is granted, should be utilised in the best possible manner. This time would not come back; it is only the stories that will be left behind. As for myself I have so much of control over myself and God the Alniighty has made my self such a Muslim that 44