more on this theme     |     more from this text

Single Idea 6823

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 1. Contractarianism ]

Full Idea

Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend; but none will attain this save those who endure with fortitude and are greatly favoured by Allah.

Gist of Idea

Repay evil with good and your enemies will become friends (though this is hard)

Source

Mohammed (The Koran [c.622], Ch.41)

Book Ref

Mohammed: 'The Koran', ed/tr. Dawood,N.J. [Penguin 1968], p.158

A Reaction

This seems opposed to some of the more vengeful remarks in the Koran. It strikes me as good common sense, since vengeance only seems to breed counter-vengeance. It doesn't carry the full altruistic commitment, though, of unrewarded love.

Related Idea

Idea 6828 You may break off a treaty if you fear treachery from your ally [Mohammed]

The 23 ideas from Mohammed

6829 There shall be no compulsion in religion [Mohammed]
6834 Unbelievers try to interpret the ambiguous parts of the Koran, simply to create dissension [Mohammed]
6831 He that kills a believer by design shall burn in Hell for ever [Mohammed]
6830 Unbelievers will have their skin repeatedly burned off in hell [Mohammed]
6833 Punish theft in men or women by cutting off their hands [Mohammed]
6832 Killing a human, except as just punishment, is like killing all mankind [Mohammed]
6828 You may break off a treaty if you fear treachery from your ally [Mohammed]
6827 Make war on the unbelievers until Allah's religion reigns supreme [Mohammed]
6818 Allah cannot have begotten a son, as He is self-sufficient [Mohammed]
6817 The Koran is certainly composed by Allah; no one could compose a chapter like it [Mohammed]
6816 The unbelievers shall drink boiling water [Mohammed]
6825 Do not kill except for a just cause [Mohammed]
6819 True believers see that Allah made the night for rest and the day to give light [Mohammed]
6824 Do not split into sects, exulting in separate beliefs [Mohammed]
6826 Allah rewards those who are devout, sincere, patient, humble, charitable, chaste, and who fast [Mohammed]
6823 Repay evil with good and your enemies will become friends (though this is hard) [Mohammed]
6822 Those who avenge themselves when wronged incur no guilt [Mohammed]
6821 I created mankind that it might worship Me [Mohammed]
6820 The righteous shall dwell on couches in gardens, wedded to dark-eyed houris [Mohammed]
6812 Heaven will be reclining on couches, eating fruit, attended by virgins [Mohammed]
6815 Be patient with unbelievers, and leave them to the judgement of Allah [Mohammed]
6814 Instead of prayer and charity, sinners pursue vain disputes and want their own personal scripture [Mohammed]
6811 Allah is lord of creation, compassionate, merciful, king of judgement-day [Mohammed]