Al-Hajj · Madani · ayah 60 of 78

Al-Hajj 22:60

۞ ذَٰلِكَ وَمَنْ عَاقَبَ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبَ بِهِۦ ثُمَّ بُغِىَ عَلَيْهِ لَيَنصُرَنَّهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ

“That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that with which he was harmed and then is tyrannized - Allāh will surely aid him. Indeed, Allāh is Pardoning and Forgiving.[937]”

Saheeh International

Essence

Whoever answers a wrong in exact measure and is wronged again has Allah's sworn help, from the One who pardons and forgives.

A reflection

Only the strong can pardon

The ayah promises help to the wronged, then ends somewhere unexpected: 'Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving'. Why speak of pardon in an ayah about a justified reply?

One classical commentary gives a sharp answer among several. Only someone able to punish can be described as pardoning. A prisoner in chains cannot pardon his jailer; he can only endure him. Allah's pardon is the pardon of One who could do anything, and who chooses to leave the account.

The root paints this. One lexicon traces ʿafw to leaving a thing alone. Another says its core is erasing: the wind blows over tracks in the sand until no trace remains. An abandoned camp ʿafā as time wore it smooth. These are established senses. Pardon is not a debt written down and held over you. It is the tracks wiped flat.

A man has a screenshot on his phone that could end a former friend's career. The friend betrayed him badly, years ago. He has every reason to be angry, and the means to strike. He keeps the screenshot and never sends it. One evening he deletes it.

That is the ego's hardest moment. The ego wants the wrong to be seen, and wants itself seen as strong. Muslim records the Prophet ﷺ saying that Allah increases a servant who pardons only in honour. The world calls pardon weakness. The ayah shows pardon belonging first to the strongest Being there is.

Does Allah need to tell us He pardons, for the sake of praise? No. He loses nothing if no one praises Him. He tells us so that we, who have wronged and been wronged, know where to turn. He also shows us what strength looks like when it is fully in control.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.