Surah Ash Shura Tafseer

Forgiving or exacting Revenge on Wrongdoers

Allah says,

وَجَزَاء سَيِّيَةٍ سَيِّيَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا

The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.

This is like the Ayat:

فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ

Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. (2:194)

and,

وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ

And if you punish, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. (16:126)

Justice, has been prescribed, in the form of the prescribed laws of equality in punishment (Al-Qisas), but the better way, which means forgiving, is recommended, as Allah says:

وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ

and wounds equal for equal. But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him expiation. (5:45)

Allah says here:

فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ

but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah.

means, that will not be wasted with Allah. As it is said in a Sahih Hadith:

وَمَا زَادَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلاَّ عِزًّا

Allah does not increase the person who forgives except in honor.

إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

Verily, He likes not the wrongdoers.

means, the aggressors, i.e., those who initiate the evil actions.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُوْلَيِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ