(96–98) “Repel evil with that which is best. We know best what they say. And say, ‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me.’”
This is among the noble qualities of character that Allah commanded His Messenger to adopt. He said: “Repel evil with that which is best.” That is, if your enemies mistreat you in word or deed, do not respond by mistreating them in return. Although it is permissible to requite an offender in kind, repel their mistreatment with kindness toward them. This is graciousness on your part toward the offender. Among its benefits are that it lessens the harm done to you, both at present and in the future; it is more likely to draw the offender toward the truth; and it is more conducive to his feeling remorse and regret and repenting of what he has done. It also enables the one who pardons to embody excellence in conduct, thereby vanquish his enemy Satan, and merit reward from the Lord. The Exalted said: “Whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward rests with Allah.” He also said: “Repel evil with that which is best, and behold, the one between whom and you there was enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend. Yet none is granted it”—that is, none is enabled to adopt this beautiful character—“except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one possessing a great share of goodness.”
⦗559⦘
His words, “We know best what they say,” mean: We have full knowledge of the statements they make that contain disbelief and denial of the truth. Yet We have shown forbearance toward them, granted them respite, and borne patiently with them. The truth belongs to Us, and it is Us they deny. You, O Muhammad, should therefore remain patient in the face of what they say and respond to them with kindness. This is the servant’s duty when dealing with an offender from among humankind.
As for an offender from among the devils, kindness is of no benefit in dealing with him, for he calls his followers only so that they may become inhabitants of the Blaze. One’s duty when confronting him is therefore to seek guidance in what Allah instructed His Messenger to do. He said: “And say, ‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You’”—that is, I seek protection through Your might and power, renouncing all might and power of my own—“from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me.” That is: I seek refuge in You from the evil that may befall me through their assaults, incitements, and touch, and from the evil caused by their presence and whispering. This is a plea for refuge from the source and root of every evil. It includes seeking refuge from every provocation, touch, and whispering of Satan. Thus, when Allah protects His servant from this evil and answers his supplication, he is delivered from every evil and enabled to attain every good.