Pardoning and Leniency

ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي الْمُفِيدُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أُسَامَةَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ هَارُونَ عَنِ ابْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ إِنَّ الْعَفْوَ يَزِيدُ صَاحِبَهُ عِزّاً فَاعْفُوا يُعِزَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الْخَبَرَ.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Al Mufeed, from Ahmad Bin Al-Husayn Bin Usama, from Ubeydullah Bin Muhammad Al Wasity, from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Haroun, from Ibn Sadaqah,

‘From Ja’far-asws, from his-asws father-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘The pardoning increases its owner in honour, therefore keep pardoning, Allah-azwj will Honour you’ – the Hadeeth’’.[1]

ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي عَنْ أَبِي قِلَابَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ كَظَمَ غَيْظاً مَلَأَ اللَّهُ‏ جَوْفَهُ إِيمَاناً وَ مَنْ عَفَا عَنْ مَظْلِمَةٍ أَبْدَلَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا عِزّاً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – ‘From Abu Qaladah who said,

‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘One who swallows anger, Allah-azwj will Fill his interior with Eman, and the one who pardons the one who is unjust to him, Allah-azwj will Replace him with what is honourable in the world and the Hereafter’’.[2]

ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ أَبِي الْمُفَضَّلِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْعَلَوِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَنِي بِهَا

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – a group, from Abu Al Mufazzal, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Ja’far Al Alawy, from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al-Husayn Bin Zayd,

‘From Al-Reza-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws, from Amir Al-Momineen-asws, may the Salawaat of Allah-azwj be upon them-asws, said, ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Upon you all is to be with honourable manners, for Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Sent me-saww with these.

وَ إِنَّ مِنْ مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ أَنْ يَعْفُوَ الرَّجُلُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَهُ وَ يُعْطِيَ مَنْ حَرَمَهُ وَ يَصِلَ مَنْ قَطَعَهُ وَ أَنْ يَعُودَ مَنْ لَا يَعُودُهُ‏.

And from the honourable manners is that the man pardons the one who is unjust to him, and he gives to the one who had deprived him, and he connects with the one who had cut him off, and he assists the one who had not assisted him’’.[3]

مع، معاني الأخبار ابْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنِ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْعَفْوِ أَقْدَرُهُمْ عَلَى الْعُقُوبَةِ وَ أَحْزَمُ النَّاسِ أَكْظَمُهُمْ لِلْغَيْظِ.

(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Ayoub Bin Nuh, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Sayf Bin Ameyra, from Al Sumali,

‘From Al-Sadiq-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘The foremost of the people with the pardoning is the one most powerful upon the punishing, and the most determined of the people is the one most restraining of the anger’’.[4]

مع‏، معاني الأخبار لي، الأمالي للصدوق الطَّالَقَانِيُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الرِّضَا ع‏ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ‏ قَالَ الْعَفْوُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِتَابٍ‏.

(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’, (and) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Al Talaqany, from Ahmad Al Hamdany, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Fazzal, from his father,

‘From Al-Reza-asws regarding Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: therefore, pardon with the beautiful pardoning [15:85]. He-asws said: ‘The pardoning from without reproach’’.[5]

Even Pardon an enemy:

الْأَرْبَعُمِائَةِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ صَافِحْ عَدُوَّكَ وَ إِنْ كَرِهَ فَإِنَّهُ مِمَّا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ عِبَادَهُ يَقُولُ‏ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُ عَداوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ وَ ما يُلَقَّاها إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَ ما يُلَقَّاها إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ‏.

(The Hadeeth) ‘Al Arbamiya’ –

‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Pardon (shake hands with) your enemy, and even if it is abhorrent, for it is from what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Commanded His-azwj servants with. He-azwj Says: Repel (evil) by that which is best, So if there is enmity between you and him, he would be like your intimate friend [41:34] And none would receive it except those who are patient, and none would receive it except one with a mighty share [41:35]’’.[6]

وَ قَابِلِ السَّفِيهَ بِالْإِعْرَاضِ عَنْهُ وَ تَرْكِ الْجَوَابِ يَكُنِ النَّاسُ أَنْصَارَكَ لِأَنَّ مَنْ جَاوَبَ السَّفِيهَ وَ كَافَأَهُ قَدْ وَضَعَ الْحَطَبَ عَلَى النَّارِ

And he meets the foolish by turning away from him, and neglecting the answer, the people will be your helpers, because the one who answers the foolish and suffices him has placed the firewood upon the fire.[7]

Pardoning is from the Sunnah of the Prophets-as

مص، مصباح الشريعة قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ الْعَفْوُ عِنْدَ الْقُدْرَةِ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَ تَفْسِيرُ الْعَفْوِ أَنْ لَا تَلْزَمَ صَاحِبَكَ فِيمَا أَجْرَمَ ظَاهِراً وَ تَنْسَى مِنَ الْأَصْلِ مَا أُصِبْتَ مِنْهُ بَاطِناً

(The book) ‘Misbah Al Sharia’ –

‘Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘The Pardoning during the power is from the conduct of the Messengers-as and the pious; and the interpretation of the pardon is that you do not bind your companion regarding an apparent crime, and you forget from the beginning of what you had been hurt from him in the hidden.

وَ تَزِيدَ عَلَى الِاخْتِيَارَاتِ إِحْسَاناً وَ لَنْ يَجِدَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ غَفَرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ وَ زَيَّنَهُ بِكَرَامَتِهِ وَ أَلْبَسَهُ مِنْ نُورِ بَهَائِهِ لِأَنَّ الْعَفْوَ وَ الْغُفْرَانِ صِفَتَانِ مِنْ صِفَاتِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

And you increase the favours upon the choices, and you will never find any way to that, except the one whom Allah-azwj has Pardoned from and had Forgiven him for whatever had preceded from his sins and what had been delayed and Adorned him with His-azwj Prestige and Clothed him from the Noor of His-azwj Glory, because the Pardon and the Forgiveness are two attributes from the Attributes of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic.

أَوْدَعَهُمَا فِي أَسْرَارِ أَصْفِيَائِهِ لِيَتَخَلَّقُوا مَعَ الْخَلْقِ بِأَخْلَاقِ خَالِقِهِمْ وَ جَعَلَهُمْ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لْيَعْفُوا وَ لْيَصْفَحُوا أَ لا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَ اللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ‏ وَ مَنْ لَا يَعْفُو عَنْ بَشَرٍ مِثْلِهِ كَيْفَ يَرْجُو عَفْوَ مَلِكٍ جَبَّارٍ

He-azwj has Deposited in the secrets of His-azwj elites for them to conduct with the people with the morals of their Creator, and He-azwj Made them like that. and let them be pardoning and let them be excusing. Do you not love that Allah should Forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful [24:22]. And the one not pardoning from a mortal like him, how can he hope for the Pardon of the Subduing King.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص حَاكِياً عَنْ رَبِّهِ يَأْمُرُهُ بِهَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ قَالَ صِلْ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ اعْفُ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ أَعْطِ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ وَ أَحْسِنْ إِلَى مَنْ أَسَاءَ إِلَيْكَ وَ قَدْ أُمِرْنَا بِمُتَابَعَتِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا

The Prophet-saww said narrating on behalf of his-saww Lord-azwj having Commanded him-saww with these characteristics. He-saww said: ‘Connect (with) the one who cuts you off, and pardon the one who is unjust to you, and give to the who deprives you, and do a favour to the one who offends you’. and we have been Commanded to follow him-saww.

Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says: And whatever the Rasool gives you, so take it, and whatever he forbids you from, then refrain; and fear Allah, surely Allah is severe of the Punishment [59:7].

وَ الْعَفْوُ سِرُّ اللَّهِ فِي الْقُلُوبِ قُلُوبِ خَوَاصِّهِ مِمَّنْ يُسِرُّ لَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ أَ يَعْجِزُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ كَأَبِي ضَمْضَمٍ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا أَبُو ضَمْضَمٍ قَالَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ مِمَّنْ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَصَدَّقُ بِعِرْضِي عَلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً.

And the pardon is a Secret of Allah-azwj in the hearts, the hearts of His-azwj special ones, from the one He-azwj has Divulged to of His-azwj Secrets; and Rasool-Allah-saww had said: ‘Is one of you unable from being like Abu Zamzam?’ They said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! And who is Abu Zamzam?’ He-saww said: ‘A man who was from the ones before you all. Whenever it was morning, he says, ‘O Allah-azwj! I shall give in charity with my honour to the people generally’’.[8]

Allah-azwj is on the Side of the one who is prepared to Pardon:

جا، المجالس للمفيد أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ: مَا الْتَقَتْ فِئَتَانِ قَطُّ إِلَّا نَصَرَ اللَّهُ أَعْظَمَهُمَا عَفْواً.

(The book) ‘Al Majalis’ of Al Mufeed – Ahmad Bin Al Waleed, from his father, from Al Saffar, from Ibn MArouf, from Ibn MAhziyar, from Ibn Fazzal,

‘From Abu Al-Hassan-asws having said: ‘No two parties will meet (in confrontation) except Allah‑azwj will Help the mightiest of the two in pardoning’’.[9]

Pardoning upon being presented with an excuse or justification:

كشف، كشف الغمة قَالَ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ الْجَنَابِذِيُ‏ رُوِيَ أَنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع أَحْضَرَ وُلْدَهُ يَوْماً فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنِّي مُوصِيكُمْ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَمَنْ حَفِظَهَا لَمْ يَضَعْ مَعَهَا إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ آتٍ فَأَسْمَعَكُمْ فِي الْأُذُنِ الْيُمْنَى مَكْرُوهاً ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلَ إِلَى الْأُذُنِ الْيُسْرَى فَاعْتَذَرَ وَ قَالَ لَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئاً فَاقْبَلُوا عُذْرَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Kashf Al Ghumma’ – Abdul Aziz Al Janabizy said,

‘It is reported that Musa-asws Bin Ja’far-asws presented his-asws sons (to his-asws companions) one day. He-asws said to them: ‘O my-asws sons! I-asws am bequeathing you all with a bequest, so the one who preserves it would not stray being with it. A comer will come to you all making you hear in the right ear an abhorrence (an ill talk). Then he will transfer to the left ear, and then he will apologise and say, ‘I did not say anything (from that)’. So, accept his excuse’’.[10]

Rewards of Being Lenient (in Pardoning):

– وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‏ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ عِوَضِ الْحَلِيمِ مِنْ خَصْلَتِهِ أَنَّ النَّاسَ أَعْوَانُهُ عَلَى الْجَاهِلِ.

And Ali-asws said: ‘The first compensation of the lenient one from his quality is that the people would assist him against the ignorant one’’.[11]

– وَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ‏ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ مَنْ كَانَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَدْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ فَيُقَالُ مَنْ هُمْ فَيُقَالُ الْعَافُونَ عَنِ النَّاسِ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِلَا حِسَابٍ.

And in the Hadeeth: ‘When it will be the Day of Qiyamah, a caller will call out: ‘The one whose Recompense is upon Allah-azwj, let him enter the Paradise!’ It will be said, ‘Who are they?’ It will be said, ‘The pardoners of the people can enter the Paradise without any Reckoning’’.[12]

تَفْسِيرُ النُّعْمَانِيِّ، بِالْإِسْنَادِ الْمَذْكُورِ فِي كِتَابِ الْقُرْآنِ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ: وَ أَمَّا الرُّخْصَةُ الَّتِي صَاحِبُهَا فِيهَا بِالْخِيَارِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رَخَّصَ أَنْ يُعَاقَبَ الْعَبْدُ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ جَزاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُها فَمَنْ‏ عَفا وَ أَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ‏ وَ هَذَا هُوَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ عَفَا وَ إِنْ شَاءَ عَاقَبَ.

Tafseer Al Numany – By the mentioned chain in ‘Kitab Al Quran’ –

‘From Amir Al-Momineen-asws having said: ‘And as for the allowance for which the owner has a choice in the matter, Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted will Allow him to punish the servant upon his injustice. Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: And a Recompense of an evil is an evil similar to it. But one who pardons and amends, so his Recompense is upon Allah. [42:40] – and this one, he has a choice in it. If he so desires, he can pardon, and if he so desires, he can punish’’.[13]

A Lenient Enemy better than a foolish friend:

– وَ قَالَ لُقْمَانَ‏ عَدُوٌّ حَلِيمٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدِيقٍ سَفِيهٍ.

And Luqman-as said: ‘A lenient enemy is better than a foolish friend’’.[14]

– وَ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ‏ ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُعْرَفُونَ إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثَةِ مَوَاضِعَ لَا يُعْرَفُ الْحَلِيمُ إِلَّا عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ وَ لَا يُعْرَفُ الشُّجَاعُ إِلَّا فِي الْحَرْبِ وَ لَا تَعْرِفُ أَخَاكَ إِلَّا عِنْدَ حَاجَتِكَ إِلَيْهِ‏.

And Luqman-as said: ‘Three are not recognised except in three places – the lenient is not recognised except during the anger, nor is the brave recognised except during the war, nor is your brother recognised except during your need to him’’.[15]

Advice on Pardoning in Holy Quran:

ما، الأمالي للشيخ الطوسي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ التَّلَّعُكْبَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْمَرٍ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ الْمُعَافَا عَنْ حَمَّوَيْهِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع‏ إِنَّهُ لَيَعْرِضُ لِي صَاحِبُ الْحَاجَةِ فَأُبَادِرُ إِلَى قَضَائِهَا مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْهَا صَاحِبُهَا

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Al-Husayn Bin Ubeydullah, from Al Tal’albary, from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Ma’mar, from Humran Bin Muafa, from Hamawiya Bin Ahmad, from Ahmad Bin Isa who said,

‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws said: ‘A person of need presents to me-asws, so I-asws rush to fulfil it fearing that its owner would become needless from it.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ مَكَارِمَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْرُفٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ‏ خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَ أْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَ أَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجاهِلِينَ‏ وَ تَفْسِيرُهُ أَنْ تَصِلَ مَنْ قَطَعَكَ وَ تَعْفُوَ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَ تُعْطِيَ مَنْ حَرَمَكَ‏.

Indeed! And the honourable manners of the world and the Hereafter are in three words from the Book of Allah-azwj: Take to the pardoning and instruct with the act of kindness and turn away from the ignorant ones [7:199], and its interpretation is that you should connect the one who cuts you off, and pardon the one who is unjust to you, and give to the one who deprives you’’.[16]

الدُّرَّةُ الْبَاهِرَةُ، قَالَ الرِّضَا ع‏ فِي تَفْسِيرِ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ‏ عَفْوٌ بِغَيْرِ عِتَابٍ.

(The book) ‘Al Durr Al Bahira’ –

‘Al-Reza-asws said in interpretation of Words of the Exalted:  therefore, pardon with the beautiful pardoning [15:85]: ‘Pardon without reproach (without giving a hard time before pardoning)’’.[17]

76- نهج، نهج البلاغة أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْعَفْوِ أَقْدَرُهُمْ عَلَى الْعُقُوبَةِ.

(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ –

‘The foremost of the people with the pardoning is their most powerful upon the punishing’’.[18]

Leniency and Silence

جا، المجالس للمفيد مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُظَفَّرِ الْبَزَّازُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الدَّهَّانِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ بِشْرٍ عَنْ أَسَدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رَجُلًا يَشْتِمُ قَنْبَراً وَ قَدْ رَامَ قَنْبَرٌ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَاهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَهْلًا يَا قَنْبَرُ دَعْ شَاتِمَكَ مُهَانًا تُرْضِي الرَّحْمَنَ وَ تُسْخِطُ الشَّيْطَانَ وَ تُعَاقِبُ عَدُوَّكَ

(The book) ‘Al Majalis’ of Al Mufeed – Muhammad Bin Al Muzaffar Al Bazzaz, from Abdul Malik Bin Ali Al Dahhan, from Ali Bin Al Hassan, from Al Hassan Bin Bishr, from Asad Bin Saeed, from Jabir who said,

‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws heard a man insulting Qanbar, and Qanbar had wanted to respond to him. Amir Al-Momineen-asws called out to him: ‘Shh, no, O Qanbar! Leave your insulter as humiliated, you will please the Beneficent-azwj and annoy the Satan-la, and have your enemy Punished.

فَوَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَرْضَى الْمُؤْمِنُ رَبَّهُ بِمِثْلِ الْحِلْمِ وَ لَا أَسْخَطَ الشَّيْطَانَ بِمِثْلِ الصَّمْتِ وَ لَا عُوقِبَ الْأَحْمَقُ بِمِثْلِ السُّكُوتِ عَنْهُ‏.

By the One-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! The Momin will not please the Lord-azwj like (they would with) the leniency, nor annoy the Satan-la like with the silence, nor will the idiot be punished like with the silence against him’’.[19]

Showing Forbearance (Tolerance):

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَلِيماً فَتَحَلَّمْ فَإِنَّهُ قَلَّ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ إِلَّا أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ‏.

And he-asws said: ‘If you cannot become forbearing, then pretend to be so, for scarcely does a man resemble a (group of) people except he almost becomes one of them’’.[20]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ الْحِلْمُ عَشِيرَةٌ.

And he-asws said: ‘The forbearance is a clan’’.[21]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ الْحِلْمُ غِطَاءٌ سَاتِرٌ وَ الْعَقْلُ حُسَامٌ بَاتِرٌ فَاسْتُرْ خَلَلَ خُلُقِكَ بِحِلْمِكَ وَ قَاتِلْ هَوَاكَ بِعَقْلِكَ‏.

And he-asws said: ‘The forbearance is a covering curtain, and the intellect is a sharp sword, therefore conceal the weakness in your manners with your forbearance and fight your whims with your intellect’’.[22]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ الْحِلْمُ وَ الْأَنَاةُ تَوْأَمَانِ تُنْتِجُهَما عُلُوُّ الْهِمَّةِ.

And he-asws said: ‘The forbearance and the tolerance are twins. They are a product of high courage’’.[23]

كَنْزُ الْكَرَاجُكِيِّ، قَالَ لُقْمَانُ‏ مَنْ لَا يَكْظِمْ غَيْظَهُ يُشْمِتْ عَدُوَّهُ.

(The book) ‘Kanz’ of Al Karajaky’ –

‘Luqman-as said: ‘One who does not swallow his anger, his enemies will gloat (over him)’’.[24]

كَنْزُ الْكَرَاجُكِيِّ، قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ الْحِلْمُ سَجِيَّةٌ فَاضِلَةٌ.

(The book) ‘Kanz’ of Al Karajaky –

‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The forbearance is a meritorious quality’’.[25]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ مَنْ حَلُمَ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ ظَفِرَ بِهِ.

And he-asws said: ‘One who forbears from his enemy will be victorious with him’’.[26]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ شِدَّةُ الْغَضَبِ تُغَيِّرُ الْمَنْطِقَ وَ تَقْطَعُ مَادَّةَ الْحُجَّةِ وَ تُفَرِّقُ الْفَهْمَ.

And he-asws said: ‘The severity of anger alters the logic, and cuts the substance of the argument, and scatters the understanding’’.[27]

– وَ قَالَ ع‏ لَا عِزَّ أَنْفَعُ مِنَ الْحِلْمِ وَ لَا حَسَبَ أَنْفَعُ مِنَ الْأَدَبِ وَ لَا نَسَبَ أَوْضَعُ مِنَ الْغَضَبِ.

And he-asws said: ‘There is no honour more beneficial than the forbearance, nor any pedigree more beneficial than the etiquettes, nor any lineage lower than the anger’’.[28]

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 49

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 51

[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 53

[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 55

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 56

[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 58 a

[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 61

[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 62

[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 65

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 67

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 68 b

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 68 c

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 69

[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 70 b

[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 70 c

[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 72

[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 74

[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 76 a

[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 64

[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 76 g

[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 76 h

[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 76 i

[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 76 j

[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 77

[25] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 78 a

[26] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 78 b

[27] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 78 c

[28] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 68 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 93 H 78 d