The Qur’an (3:134) states: “….(They) restrain their anger, and forgive their fellow men; verily, Allah loves the benevolent (Al-Muhsinun, the Good-Doers).”
Anger is a human reaction which is normally followed by a fit of temper. It is both natural and essential to man. However, it can only be overcome by that higher perception made possible by the positive effects of fearing Allah and the spiritual strength which man achieves by looking up to horizons which are far superior and more sublime than man’s own needs and interests. Restraining anger is only the first stage; it is not sufficient on its own. We may restrain our anger but harbour a grudge. Our outward fury becomes a deeply-seated, inward resentment.
Undoubtedly, anger and fury are preferable to harbouring grudges and bitterness. The Qur’anic Ayah emphasises that the Allah-fearing do not allow their anger to become a grudge. They forgive others and do not harbour any ill feelings. When anger is deliberately restrained, it becomes a burden and a fire which burns internally, enveloping its smoke over man’s conscience to blur his vision. Forgiveness, however, ensures a release from that burden. It gives peace of heart and conscience, as well as ready relief in a more sublime world.
This leads us to the next hallmark of a true Muslim. If someone hurts us, we should not flare up in anger and should not lose our self-control. We should not submit to the dictates of our anger and bay for revenge. Instead, we should actually forgive the wrongdoer from the depths of our heart. Moving beyond this moral achievement, we should rise still higher by doing good to the person who had caused pain to us. This one noble quality is a combination of almost three qualities to subdue anger, to forgive the offender, and then, being good to him. All these three things have been so persuasively identified in the present ayah 134: “Restrain their anger, and forgive their fellow men; verily, Allah loves the benevolent.”
While explaining this ayah, Imam al-Baihaqi has narrated an amazing episode from the life of Ali (Zainul Abideen) ibn Sayyidna Husain. The report says that his maid was helping him in his wudu (ablution) when, all of a sudden, the water-pitcher slipped out of her hands spilling water all over Ali. His clothes got wet. It was natural that he would be angry. The maid sensed the impending danger and lost no time in reciting the following Ayah of the Qur’an: “…and those who suppress anger and forgive people”. Hearing this, he lost whatever rash of anger he might have felt. He became totally silent. The maid then recited the second sentence of the Ayah: “And Allah loves those who do good.” Since this sentence implicitly instructs people to be good to others and thus be loved by Allah, so Ali having heard it, said: “All right, go. I give you your freedom.” (Ruh al-Ma’ni with reference to Baihaqi)
In a Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has been reported to have said: “On the Day of Resurrection, a proclamation will go forth from Allah Almighty asking if anyone had any rights due to Him. If so, let him stand. Those who shall rise on that occasion will be the ones who would have forgiven the injustices done to them by people in their life on earth.”
The guideline given to the Noble Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be to him) of Allah was: “Join with him who severs relations with you and forgive him who does injustice to you and do good to him who is bad to you.” The moral grandeur of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is unique and eminent. We can only think of the blessing of his teachings which is so successfully ingrained even in his servants’ morals and traits of character similar to his own. Being the distinctive feature of a true Islamic society, there are hundreds and thousands of models visible in the lives of the Companions, their successors and among the recognised elders of the Muslim community.
There is a pertinent incident in the life of the great Imam Abu Hanifah. Someone confronted him in a busy marketplace and heaped all sorts of insults and invectives on him. The great Imam controlled his anger and said nothing to him. He went home, took out a considerable quantity of gold and silver coins, put them in a gift-wrapped tray and went out to the home of his confronter. He knocked at his door. When this person came out, he presented this tray full of coins before him saying: “Today, you did something very good to me. You gave me (something) of your good deeds (that you had done). It is in gratitude of this great favour of yours that I am presenting this gift to you.” The Imam’s unusual conduct naturally affected the man. He repented and got rid of his bad habit forever. After asking for Imam’s forgiveness, he entered into his circle as a disciple and finally became a great scholar.
“Allah loves the benevolent.” Those who spend their money at times of prosperity and hardship are benevolent. Similarly, those who do not hesitate to forgive others after having been angered by them are also benevolent. The Qur’anic Ayah tells us that Allah loves all who are benevolent. Use of the term “love” here is significant. Its pleasant, friendly, bright and compassionate shades are in perfect harmony with the pleasant and honourable atmosphere of help and forgiveness. Because Allah loves the benevolent and the good turns they do, those who love Allah also love to be benevolent. They have the best of all motives. The community which enjoys Allah’s love and, in turn, loves Allah and in which forgiveness replaces anger and rancour is a strong, brotherly and closely-knit community. We see here how this directive is clearly relevant to both the military battle and to the battle of life.