God says
Hold to forgiveness,* and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave who choose to remain ignorant.** -- Q.7:199 *
i.e., making due allowance for human nature. In accordance with the Qur’anic statements that “man has been created weak” (4:28) and that “God does not burden any human being with more that he is well able to bear” (2:286, 6:152, 7:42, 23:62), the believer is being advised to make due allowance for human nature and not to be too harsh with those who err.
** I.e., those who wilfully remain deaf to moral truths, and not those who are simply unaware of them.
…. let them pardon and forbear [the erring ones]. [For,] do you not desire that God should forgive you your sins God is much- forgiving, most gracious. -- Q.7:199
But (since) good and evil cannot be equal, you repel evil with something that is better – and then, he between whom and you was enmity (may become) as though he had (always) been close (unto you), a true friend! …. Q.41:34,35
But [remember that an attempt at] requiting evil may, too, become an evil: hence, whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God – for, verily, He does not love evildoers. -- Q.42:40
Prophet said
1. “The best of you is he who gets angry slowly, and becomes appeased very soon, and the worst of you is he who gets suddenly angry and becomes appeased very slowly” – Fragment of a Hadis quoted by Tirmizi on the authority of Abu Sayeed al Khodri.
2. Bibi Ayesha said: The Apostle of God did never take revenge for any wrong done to him… – H: Bukhari and Muslim.
3. “Moses, son of Imran, had asked : O my Lord! of Thy servants who is most honorable to Thee? God said: he who pardons when he is in a position of power (to punish)”-- H: Baihaqi. N: Abu Hurairah.
4. When asked to invoke against the polytheists, the Prophet said, “Verily I have not been sent to curse. I have been sent as mercy ”-- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
