| In the Name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful Forgiveness and Tolerance |
| In order to suppress and crush their adversaries some persons resort to armour similar to theirs and meet wickedness with wickedness. However, Imam Ali (as) says: "Punish your opponents with kindness and ward off the harm done by them by means of good reward." It means that to forgive a mistake is the best method of stopping its repetition. Hence, the Qur'an says in connection with the qualities of the pious people. "People who control their anger and forgive the shortcomings of the people." Sura ale-Imran, verse 22 And then orders that the Muslims: "Should forgive and overlook. Don't you wish Allah to forgive you? He is forgiving and merciful." Sura al Nur, verse 22 And again says: "He that forgives and seeks reconcilement shall be rewarded by Allah." Sura al Shura, verse 40 Forgiveness and toleration are qualities which ensure success and prosperity in this world as well as in the hereafter. The holy Prophet (saw) says: "Should I lead you to goodness in this world as well as in the hearafter? Visit him who has abandoned interaction with you. Do good to him who has deprived you. And forgive him who has oppressed you." It is necessary for you to be forgiving because forgiveness and toleration increase the honour of man. Forgive so that Allah (swt) may make you respectable. However, it should be remembered that forgiveness carries value when one is in a position to take revenge and it behaves only that person to forgive who possesses the necessary power. Imam Ali (as) says: "Forgive your enemy when you have the upper hand over him and consider it to be thanks giving for the power which you possess." "The person most suited to forgive is he who possesses more power to punish." Whe can understand the importance of forgiveness when we see that which mentioning the purity of the people of holy Prophet's household Imam al Sadiq (as) says: "We are the family whose habit it is to forgive those who have oppressed us." He also says: "To forgive, while possessing power (to punish) is the way of the prophets and pious people." Islam: a code of social life ISLAMIC SEMINARY PAKISTAN |