Page 193 - Seekers Guide Book

The Seeker’s Guide
option at all. It is so difficult that no sincere person will
take this option. There is no available measurement that
may tell you that your retaliation was completely equal
to the action you have received from the other.

So, this option is only a hypothetical option. Any sincere
person will decide not to take this option, because if
during retaliation he exceeds the limit he will become
an offender. The Prophet and his Companions never
avenged anything. It is narrated on the authority of
Hazrat Ayesha:

The Prophet never avenged for his own self.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 6853)

Practically, there is only one option, which is forgiveness.
While revenge may open a new chapter that is revenge
after revenge, but forgiveness ends this chain. Forgiveness
means that you have put a full stop, while revenge in this
case means that you have put commas. Forgiveness in
such cases is a rewardable action. Forgiveness is a highly
valuable deed.

The Quran enjoins a believer to return every bad action
with a good one. It says:

Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel
evil with what is better; then you will see
that one who was once your enemy has
become your dearest friend. (Quran 41:34)

This is the true spirit of Islam.

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