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
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ
And they assign to what they do not know [i.e., false deities] a portion of that which We have provided them. By Allāh, you will surely be questioned about what you used to invent.
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And if Allāh had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ سُلْطَـٰنٌ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Indeed, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and rely upon their Lord.