Gems of the Promised Messiah & Imam Mahdi (as) – The Use of Faculties in their Proper Time and Place

The Use of Faculties in their Proper Time and Place

It is reported with relation to Hazrat Umar (ra), Allah be pleased with him, that someone asked him about his anger and remarked that he was a man of fiery disposition prior to his acceptance of Islam. Hazrat Umar (ra) responded by saying that the anger is just as before, albeit, in the past it would manifest itself inappropriately, but now it is exercised at the appropriate occasion. Islam enjoins the use of every faculty at its proper place. Therefore, one should never allow one’s faculties to wither away, instead, learn their proper use. Those who abide by the teaching of turning the cheek after being slapped on the other, adhere to flawed and idealistic tenets. It is possible that this teaching was earlier a law specific to time and place. However, this law can neither be for all times, nor can it be applied successfully. For a human being is like a tree with branches that spread in all directions. If only one branch were tended to, the others would be ruined and destroyed. The flaw in this teaching of Christianity is clearly evident. How can it nurture all the faculties of man? If forgiveness had been the only trait of merit, why then was man endowed with the faculty of retribution, along with others? Moreover, why then is this teaching of forgiveness not being practised? Islam, on the other hand, has presented the perfect teaching, which we have received through the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and that is:

جَزَـٰٓؤُاْ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثۡلُهَا ۖ فَمَنۡ عَفَا وَأَصۡلَحَ فَأَجۡرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ [1]

That is, the recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof, but whoso forgives sin…[2] when it is likely to bring about reformation and does not lead to any form of disorder, their reward is with Allah Almighty.

This clearly demonstrates that the Holy Qur’an does not at all advocate useless forbearance and resistance from exacting retribution in all circumstances. Instead, divine will teaches one to judge the situation and determine whether an occasion calls for wrongdoing to be pardoned and forgiven, or punished. If punishment is prudent on the occasion, it ought to be administered in proportion to the wrongdoing. However, if the occasion calls for forgiveness, the thought of punishment ought to be abandoned.

ENDNOTES

[1] The Holy Qur’an, 42:41.

[2] Word(s) omitted due to scribal error. [Publisher]

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), The Advent of the Promised Messiah (Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 2016), 45-47.