Tafseer: Repelling Bad with Good

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Allaah, the Most High, says;

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

"The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character)."

[Fussilat 41:34-35]

Haafidh Ismaa'eel bin 'Umar Ibn al-Katheer [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his Tafseer of these Aayaat:

There is a huge difference between the two mentioned here (good and evil).

Repelling bad with good means to do good to those who do bad to you, repelling them in a better way. As 'Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, 'Do not respond to the one who wrongs you by disobeying Allaah, in a way that he ends up obeying Allaah by you.'

 'As though he was a close friend,' meaning if you do good to the one who does bad to you, then this goodness will blossom into love, mercy and empathy between as though you were very close friends.

No one accepts this incitement and acts upon it except those who have patience as one needs to program himself to repel harm with good.

Those who do this will have a great reward, attaining happiness in both worlds. 

[Tafseer Quraan al-'Atheem (7/181)]

Imaam Abu Ja'far at-Tabaree [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his Tafseer about this Ayaah;

Allaah, the Most High, is telling us that good deeds are the deeds of those who say, 'Our Lord is Allaah' and then remain steadfast. They are good in their speech and they have responding to the call of their Lord in their actions by obeying Him. Then, they also call others and give Da'wah to others to respond to the call of Allaah (cf. 41:33).

As for those who do evil, then say, 'Do not listen to this Quraan, lest that it may overcome you' (cf. 41:26)

For this reason, good and evil cannot be equal with Allaah, in their status or in their ranks, rather their rows and ranks are divided by Allaah, Gloried is His Mention, as he splits and separates them.

Allaah, the Most High, is telling His Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], 'Repel, Oh Muhammad, in a better manner.' Do not behave ignorantly towards those who are ignorant, pardon and forgive those who do wrong upon you, be patient with things that people may do that cause your dislike. Receive everyone that comes before you in the nicest of ways, this was all mentioned by the likes of 'Alee and Ibn 'Abbaas.

So by repelling evil in the best way is a form of goodness that Allaah, the Most High, has commanded us to follow. So if one does bad towards you and wrongs you, this could harbor into enmity, however if you are pious towards him and treat him with goodness, this will cause a friendship to develop, so the enmity before you has been replaced with a very close bond of friendship. 

[Adapted from Tafseer at-Tabaree 21/470-473]