5/647 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The strong man is not the one who can wrestle others down; the truly strong man is the one who masters himself when anger overtakes him.” Agreed upon.

[Explanation]
Among the narrations that Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) cites in Riyad al-Salihin, in the chapter entitled “Pardoning and Turning Away from the Ignorant,” is the afore-mentioned report from Ibn Masʿud (may Allah be pleased with him): “It is as though I can still see the Prophet ﷺ describing one of the earlier prophets. His people struck him until his face bled, and he kept wiping the blood from his face while saying, ‘O Allah, forgive my people, for they do not know.’”

This showcases the forbearance of the prophets and their endurance in the face of their people’s abuse. How often were the prophets harmed by their own communities! Allah the Exalted says, “Messengers before you were surely rejected, but they endured with patience their rejection and persecution until Our help reached them” (Q 6:34). Thus that prophet—peace and blessings be upon them all—was beaten by his people until his face bled, yet he still said, “O Allah, forgive my people, for they do not know.”

Apparently those people were Muslims, but a dispute had arisen between them and their prophet, so they went so far as to treat him in that way and he prayed that they be forgiven. Had they been unbelievers, he would have prayed for their guidance instead, saying, “O Allah, guide my people.” This indicates that they were, outwardly at least, believers.

As one’s personal right is his own, he may pardon and waive it, or he may insist upon it. Hence the stronger opinion is that