Fatwa #3161125 December 2014South Africa
Revenge is sweet
Question
In a recent discussion, someone mentioned that “REVENGE IS SWEET”
My response to that was that while revenge may be sweet in the duniya it will be the means of punishment in the aakhirah. This statement was based from what little knowledge I could remember. Obviously, the person disagreed with me stating that there is no quraanic injunctions as such.
Could you please advise me if my understanding is correct and if there is references for this from quraan and hadith
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In general, a person is allowed to take revenge for a right which was usurped from him whether tangible or intangible. However, there are conditions and laws governing the method of re-claiming one’s right(s). Some rights may only be claimed under the rule of the Islamic Qādi (judge), whilst others may be claimed on a personal level.
Shariah emphasizes forgiving and pardoning:
وَلَمَنْ صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ (الشورى:٤٣)
Surely the one who remains patient and forgives, (doing that) Indeed that is from the most resolute of matters (Al Shura: 43)
وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ (النور: ٢٢)
And they (men of affluence and grace) should overlook and pardon. Do you not love that Allah forgives you? (Al Noor: 22)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hisham Dawood
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
Daruliftaa.net