In order to suppress and crush their adversaries some person’s resort to armour similar to their s and meet wickedness with wickedness.

However, Imam Ali (P) says:

“Punish your opponents with kindness and ward off the harm done by them by means of good reward.”

(Ref: Nahj al-Balagha, pp.115)

It means that to forgive a mistake is the best method of stopping its repetition. Hence the Qur’an says in connection with the qualities of the pious people:

“People who controls their anger and forgive the short comings of the people.”

(Ref: Sura Ale’Imran, verse 134).

And then orders that the Muslims:

“Should forgive and overlook. Don’t you wish Allah to forgive you? He is forgiving and merciful.”

(Ref: Sure al Nur, verse 22).

And again says:

“He that forgives and seeks reconcilement shall be rewarded by Allah.”

(Ref: Sure Al-Shura, verse 40).

Forgiveness and toleration are qualities, which ensure success and prosperity in this world as well as in the hereafter.

The Holy Prophet says:

“Should I lead you to goodness in this world as well as in the hereafter? Visit him who has abandoned intercourse with you. Do good to him who has deprived you. And forgive him who has oppressed you.”

(Ref: Al-Usul al-kafi, pp. 361)

However, it should be remembered that forgiveness carries value when one is in a position to take revenge and it behaves only that person to forgive who possess the necessary power.

Imam Ali (P) says:

“Forgive your enemy when you have the upper hand over him and consider it to be thanks giving for the power which you possess.”

(Ref: Nahj al-Balaghah, pp. 1082)

“The person most suited to forgive is he who possess more power to punish.”

(Ref: Nahj al-Balagha, pp. 1102)

We can understand the importance of forgiveness when we see that while mentioning the purity of the people of Holy Prophet’s house hold Imam al-Sadiq (P) says:”

We are the family whose habit it is forgive those who have oppressed us.”

(Ref: Al-Wasail al-Shi’ah, vol II. Pp. 224)

He also says:

“To forgive, while possessing power (to punish) is the way of the prophets and pious people.”

(Ref: Safina al-Bihar, vol. II, PP. 207)

Good Opinion About Others And Reliance on Them

It is evident that before everything else society needs ‘mutual trust and confidence of its members, because unless the people trust one another and look upon one another with confidence and respect they cannot continue their collective life, solve their problems by mutual help and maintain proper relations. The dangers of lack of mutual trust are so obvious that the need not be discussed in detail.

In order to expand and strengthen mutual trust among its followers Islam prohibits them from suspecting one another and considers it to be a sin. The Holy Qur’an says:

“Believers, avoid immoderate suspicion, for in some cases suspicion is a crime.”

(Ref: Sura al-Hujrat, verse 12).

Imam Ali (P) says:

“Bad opinion about a good person is one of the greatest crimes and worst kind of injustice.”

(Ref: Ghararal al-Hikam, vol. I, pp.433).

“It is unjust that one should decide about a reliable person according to his own supposition.”

(Ref: Nahj al-Balaghah, pp. 1174).

Islam orders that the words of a brother-in-faith should be taken in good part.

Imam Ali (P) says:

“Till such time that a sentence carries a good possibility do not attach a bad meaning to it.”

(Ref: Nahj al-Balagha, pp. 1244).

Islam has declared mutual good opinion to be the right of Muslims over one another.

Imam al-Sadiq (P) says:

“One of the rights of a believer over his brother is this that he should confirm what he sassy and should not contradict it.”

(Ref: al-Usul al-Kafi, pp. 394).

And Islam considers bad supposition to be peculiar to those who are themselves ill-bred and malicious.

Imam Ali (P) says:

“A malicious person does not hold a good opinion about his brother (and is always suspicious about him), because a human being judges, everyone according to his own mentality.”

(Ref: Gharar al-Hakam, vol I, pp. 80).

However, it should also be kept in mind that it is the duty of Muslims not to place themselves in a situation, which may invite calumny viz. They should not do anything, which may make others suspect them. And if such a situation does arise they should make the true position clear.

It was on this account that while the Holy Prophet of Islam was once sitting with one of his wives named, Safia and a man from among he Ansar chanced to pass by, the Holy Prophet made it known to him that the woman was his wife.

The man said, “O prophet of Allah !Is it possible that I should entertain any suspicion about you?” The holy Prophet then said, “o man ! Satan penetrates into human body like blood. I therefore feared lest it may also make you entertain a bad opinion.”

(Ref:al-jame al-Sa’adat, vol. I pp. 283)

Islam has strictly prohibited all such things as may possibly cause mutual suspicion among the Muslims e.g. back-biting, hearing a person slandering others, prying into the secrets of others etc etc.

Companionship and Association

Islam has attached great importance to the subject of association and companionship and always instructed its followers to associate with good and pious men.

The Holy Prophet said:

“Whenever you see one of the gardens of Paradise open before you benefit from it.”

The people asked:

“O Prophet (P) of Allah ! Where is the garden of Paradise?”

The Holy Prophet replied:

“I mean association with the believers and those who have faith in their lord.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 51).

The Almighty Allah instructs His Prophet (P):

“Restrain yourself, together with those who pray to their lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Do not turn your eyes away from them in quest of the good things of this life, nor obey him whose heart we have made headless of our remembrance; who follows his appetite and gives a loose rein to his desires.”

(Ref: Sura al-Kahf, verse 28)

The Holy Prophet says:

“A good companion is better then solitude, but solitude is better then association with the bad people.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp.52)

“The most lucky person is he who associates with nobleminded people.”

(Ref: Ibid, pp. 168)

“One always absorbs the thoughts and beliefs of his associate and companion.”

(Ref: Safina al-behar vol, I. Pp. 168)

And then the holy Prophet introduces a good companion in these words:

“It is one to see whom makes you remember Allah, whose talk increase your knowledge and whose action remind you of the world to come.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 51).

Imam says that two companions should act as preachers for each other and each one of them should point out the shortcomings of the other. The best companion is he who performs this duty in a better way.

Imam al-Sadiq (P) says:

“My most beloved friend is he who point out my shortcomings to me.”

(Ref: al-Wasail al-Shi’ah, vol II. Pp. 205).

“When a person finds his companion in error and can prevent him from it but does not do so he commits breach of trust with him.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 52).

Imam has encouraged the Muslims so much to associate with pious people that Imam al-Sadiq (P) says:

“The enemy (or Satan) rides on the back of a person whose heart is not preacher and who has none to restrain him from committing sin and who does not possess a pious companion and friend.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar. Vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 51).

Islam similarly prohibits association with mean and ignorant persons.

The Holy Prophet says:

“The wisest person is he who shuns the company of ignorant people.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol 15, Kitab alAshrat, pp. 52).

The commander of the faithful says:

“Association with bad people becomes the cause of pessimism about good people.”

(Ref: Bahr al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 52).

“A bad companions is one who displays sins committed against Allah before the eyes of the people.”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol. 15, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 52).

The leader of Islam prohibited association and companionship wit the persons who are devoid of good qualities and moral attainments. Imam al-Baqir (P) says:

“Do not associate with a fool, a miser, a timid person and a liar, because a foolish comrade, while thinking that he is doing you good, will cause you harm and a miserly friend will take from you but will not give anything. (At the time of danger) the timid companion will run away from you and from his own parents and a liar (who tells too many lies) says much which cannot be accepted (and it is not, therefore, possible to benefit form his ideas and thoughts).”

(Ref: Bahar al-Anwar, vol 15,, Kitab al-Ashrat, pp. 52).

Imam al Sadiq(P) says:

“Test your friends in respect of two qualities and in case they possess these two associate with them, otherwise shun their company: Offering obligatory prayers at their proper time and doing good to their brethren-in-faith, in weal as well as in woe.” (Ref: al-Wasail al-Shi’ah, vol II, pp. 220).