No Aggression

described as political forbearance (al-hilm al-siyasi). He had the ability to listen patiently even to the harshest criticisms. Ibn Qutaybah recounts an incident in these words: “A man spoke harshly to Muawiyah, but Muawiyah remained patient. Someone said to him, ‘Are you going to let a man like that get away so easily?’ He replied, ‘I do not stand between people and their tongues, as long as they do not stand between us and our authority.’” (‘Uyun al-Akhbar by Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari, Volume 1, Page 397) This kind of patience does not only apply to political authority; it is relevant in all areas of life. Every individual has their own personal world, whether in political matters or otherwise. One should not invade someone’s personal space. Instead, any disagreement should be strictly limited to presenting arguments. If approached this way, social harmony will remain undisturbed. Problems arise when disagreement becomes personal and confrontational. The correct and natural principle of disagreement is this: Keep it within the limits of respectful exchange; never allow it to escalate into conflict or aggression. For a person in power, practical aggression occurs when someone goes beyond intellectual disagreement and begins to challenge their authority directly—not by addressing their ideas, but by trying to bring down their political standing. For an ordinary person, practical aggression occurs when someone does not just engage in respectful disagreement but goes further to insult the individual personally, defame