LESSONS FROM JESUS CHRIST — To Forgive and Forbear

And good deeds and evil deeds are not alike. Repel evil with good and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend. (THE QURAN 41: 34) This is a practical code of conduct for us, showing us the way to live in peace and harmony. Duty Consciousness When some people asked Jesus what they should do in the face of the oppression of the Romans ruling over them, he said: Give to king what is due to the king. And give to God what is due to God. Similarly, a Hadith cited by Al-Bukhari says: Give the ruler his rights. Ask for your rights from God. Peace under all circumstances Jesus said: To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back.” What Jesus Christ meant here was to put an end to the root cause of all conflicts. Thus paving the way for the other person to realize and make amends for his behaviour. o Awaken the man within By forgiving someone for his ill-treatment of you, you awaken in him a sense of shame, whereas by returning evil for evil, a reaction of revenge and retaliation is set aflame.