76 – Chapter: Enduring Harm

Allah the Exalted says: “Those who restrain their anger and pardon people—Allah loves those who excel in doing good.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:134)

He also says: “But whoever is patient and forgives—indeed, that is from the matters that require firm resolve.” (Ash-Shūrā 42:43)

The hadiths cited in the previous chapter also apply here.

1/648 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man once said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives with whom I maintain ties while they cut me off; I treat them well and they treat me badly; I forbear their insults while they behave ignorantly toward me!” He replied, “If you are as you have said, it is as though you are feeding them hot ashes, and you will continue to have a supporter from Allah against them as long as you remain on that.” Related by Muslim. Its explanation has already appeared in the “Chapter on Maintaining Family Ties.”

[Commentary]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—says: Chapter on patience in the face of harm. Harm is anything that causes a person pain, whether through words, deeds, or other means, and it can relate to religious or worldly matters. When a person is harmed for the sake of his religion, his endurance follows the example set by the noble messengers, peace and blessings be upon them all, for Allah says: “Messengers before you were certainly denied…” (Al-Anʿām 6:34).