The Nature of Revenge According to Islam and How to Overcome it

Muslimkaffah - In Islam, the subject of revenge has had several different rulings based on the context. The most important of these rulings is to avoid taking revenge unless it is absolutely necessary to preserve our own rights or to maintain justice in the world. This article discusses the different rulings regarding revenge in Islam, and how Muslims should deal with it as part of their daily lives.

 

An Overview

Is revenge permissible in Islam? Muslims generally believe in the principle of Live and let live - meaning you should only take revenge if you are attacked first. Therefore, on the one hand, it is usually discouraged for someone who was wronged to take revenge against their oppressor. On the other hand, it can be permissible or necessary to take revenge when there is a higher purpose such as to uphold justice or a sacred cause like that of defending your family, property or honour.

An example in Hadith literature tells us that as Muhammad was delivering Khutbah (a sermon) on his way from Tabuk region, he remarked: Certainly!

The one who takes revenge will be rewarded with paradise while being pardoned. However, someone who pardons without seeking revenge will have his sins forgiven. Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Indeed there is no better deed than that he forgives when he is in a position of power over someone and does not do so. [Muslim]

 

Controlling Emotions

Muslims do not feel satisfied when they inflict injury on the one who wronged them. Feeling a sense of revenge does not bring tranquility or peace. This can only be obtained by believing in and following Allah’s messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). Acting with a sense of injustice, such as taking revenge, only leads people astray from the true path. Allah tells us: We commanded humankind to do what is good and avoid what is evil, but if a person commits an evil deed, he will be ordered to commit another, which he must keep committing so long as he lives.

Ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) related that Allah’s messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: There is no Muslim who is stricken by calamity, injury or illness and says what pleases Allah and His messenger more than these words: ‘We belong to Allah, and we are returning to Him. O Allah! Forgive me for my sin, what I have done in my past; for it is for You that I have acted.

 

Anger Management

Emotions that occur as a result of injustice, unfairness, or another kind of negative stimulus are typically called irritation or anger. Irritation and anger tend to have both an active and passive form. A common cause for this type of emotion is the case where somebody is made angry by something somebody else has done, like when someone cuts in front of you at the supermarket checkout.

In cases like these, the passive form can be what occurs internally: annoyance at having been inconvenienced; while the active form might be continuing one's irritation into doing something unpleasant or harmfully retaliatory in response: flipping off the offender; shouting insults; perhaps even going so far as to physically assault them.

 

Striking a Balance

Humans have an innate desire for revenge. At the same time, there are many restrictions on how we can seek our revenge according to Islam. The Koran forbids anyone from taking the law into their own hands and instead recommends forgiveness and prayer. However, if someone does take the law into their own hands then this person has committed a crime that warrants punishment. Generally speaking, taking revenge is permissible as long as it's not excessive and done without faultiness.

When looking at revenge and forgiveness, it's important to note that Islam has a more narrow definition of personal vengeance than most religions. Most people take revenge out on anyone who is associated with their attacker in some way, but in Islam you can only take revenge out on someone who actually harmed you. For example, if a bank robbed a family, it wouldn't be permissible for other members of their religion or ethnicity to retaliate because they had nothing to do with what happened.

Wallohua'lam.

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