Countering Evil with a Better Deed

Interacting with others inlife is necessary, as a person is surrounded
by neighbors, relatives and colleagues in institutions of study and
workplaces. Due to this dealing with different types of people,it is
natural to be made susceptible to harm from some of them. Suppose that
every such act one is subjected to, is met by anevil one in its like,
in return; regardless of whether this harm is slight or great, or
intentional or not, the communities would turn into a jungle. People
will abandon good traits and live without regulations or rules. To
prevent the Muslim community from this detestable scenario, Allaah The
Almighty commanded His believingslaves to resist evil with something
good, when He Says (what means): {And not equal are the good deed and
the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon
the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he
was a devoted friend.} [Quran 41:34]
Undoubtedly, the ultimate act that is superior to countering evil with
its like, is to pardon and be compassionate, or at the least, to turn
away and avoid further embroiling oneself. Dear brother andsister! By
adopting this noble moral, you are safeguarding your own self-respect
and rationality. Therefore, you have to keep yourself away from the
provocation of foul people in order to be oneof the true servants of
Allaah The Almighty. He describes them Saying (what means):
· {And they who turn away from laghw (anything from falsehood, and
that includes association, other minor sins and all useless speech,
actions and concerns; furthermore, busying oneself with that which
does not concern him is included).} [Quran 23:3]
· {And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say: "For
us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you;
we seek not the ignorant."} [Quran 28:55]
· {And when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of]
peace.} [Quran 25:63]
When one treats an abuser in a wholesome manner, he or she would
suppress his or her anger, thereby becomingone of those whom the
Prophet, , referred to when he said: "He who stifles his rage while he
isable to give vent to it, Allaah will summon him in front of all
people on the Day of Resurrection and let him choose from the Hoor
(maidens of Paradise) as he pleases."
Furthermore, one of the greatest benefits of repelling evil with a
better deed is that the enemy who wants to inflict harm and evil,
often converts into a defending supporter anda devoted friend. There
isa wondrous magic in good manners that it can be more influential
than physical force and vengeful will. Thus, antagonism changes intoa
different sentiment, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Repel
[evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom
between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted
friend.} [Quran 41:34] That is whyIbn 'Abbaas advised: "Use your
forbearance to ward off the ignorance of those who harm you with [that
trait of theirs]."
We have observed the best of all creatures, Muhammad, , not only
tolerating the maltreatment of the violent, but also overlooking that
and pardoning them. 'Aa'ishah described him, saying: "He does not
counter evil with evil, rather he absolves and forgives." This was
also the example of the righteous people who followed the methodology
of the Prophet, . One of them was insulted by someone once, so he said
to him: "If you are mistaken, I ask Allaah to pardon you;and if you
are correct, I ask Him to forgive me."
Although we are all required to adopt this trait, a person in a
position of power is worthier of doing so more than others. That is
why among the final instructions of the Prophet, , before his death,
was: "Whoever is given authority over something in the Ummah of
Muhammad and has the power to harm or bring benefit to anyone, then he
should reward those who do good and pardon those who commit evil." In
his, , life, a man once came to him complaining about his servant,
saying: "I have a servant who is a wrongdoer and an oppressor. Should
I beat him?" The Prophet, , said: "Forgive him as much as seventy
times per day."
Also, a person whose relatives treat him unjustly is particularly in
need of this quality. He orshe should not meet theirill behavior with
evil in return; rather, he or she has to pardon, forgive and increase
in compassion. It was narrated that a man came to the Prophet, , and
said: "O Messenger ofAllaah, I have some relatives with whom I
maintain ties of kinship and they sever them; I pardon them and they
oppress me; I treat them kindly and they harm me.Should I then treat
them in the same way?" The Messenger of Allaah, , replied: "No, then
you would all be sinners; rather, you should be better and maintain
the ties of kinship and as long as you are in that state, you will
have a protector and supporter appointed from Allaah with you.'"
Repelling vice with a better deed is the remedy that restores damaged
social relations.It reforms what has been corrupted and renews that
which is effaced. With this treatment, the manifestations of goodness
are revived, people race each other invirtuous acts, the gates
ofiniquity are blocked to Satan and evil does not find any means to
spread. Instead, beneficence will prevail and the motives and
consequences of vice willbe eradicated. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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