وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّـٰبِرِينَ 126
Translations
And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient.
Transliteration
Wa in 'aqabtum fa'aqiboo bimithli maa 'uqibtum bih, wa la-in sabartum lahuwa khayrun li-as-saabireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the permissibility of proportionate retaliation while simultaneously emphasizing that patience is superior. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as allowing the wronged party to respond in kind to aggression, while simultaneously encouraging restraint and forbearance as the more praiseworthy path. The ayah balances justice with mercy, establishing boundaries on retaliation while promoting the virtue of sabr (patience).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan surah that addresses various aspects of divine guidance and social conduct. The passage occurs within a section discussing proper behavior in adversity and conflict, reflecting the early Muslim community's need for guidance on responding to persecution during the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet never took revenge for personal wrongs but would only take action when Allah's limits were transgressed (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
While justice permits proportionate response to wrongdoing, spiritual maturity lies in choosing patience and restraint, which brings greater reward and wisdom. This teaches believers to balance their right to justice with the higher virtue of forbearance, recognizing that forgiveness and patience are ultimately more beneficial for personal and communal well-being.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
And Allāh knows what you conceal and what you declare.
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.