Between these two extremes are two further categories: “one category” becomes angry for both their Lord’s sake and their own, while “another category” inclines towards pardon concerning both Allah’s rights and their own. When Moses became angry with his people for worshipping the calf, his anger was for Allah’s sake. Regarding Allah’s rights, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, likened Abū Bakr and ʿUmar to Abraham, Jesus, Noah, and Moses, saying:

“Allah softens some men’s hearts for His sake until they become softer than milk, and makes other men’s hearts firm for His sake until they become harder than stone. You, Abū Bakr, are like Abraham and Jesus; and you, ʿUmar, are like Noah and Moses.”

As for pardoning violations of one’s own rights, that is better, although exacting retribution is permissible. Likewise, it is better to refrain from anger on one’s own behalf, although exacting retribution is permissible. As for calamities that occur by Allah’s decree, where there is no longer an offender to be punished, nothing remains but patience and submission to the decree.

The account of Adam and Moses belongs to this category. Moses reproached him for what had befallen him and his descendants. But Adam had already repented of his sin and been forgiven, and the calamity had been decreed. Thus Adam prevailed over Moses in argument.

Likewise, people may suffer calamities through the actions of sinners who have repented: for example, a disbeliever who kills a Muslim, then embraces Islam and whose repentance Allah accepts; or someone who adopts an innovation on the basis of an interpretation, then repents of that innovation; or someone who errs in exercising independent scholarly judgment or in following another’s judgment. When a person suffers harm through the actions of such people, it is akin to calamities sent from heaven, for which no retribution is sought from any human being.