Ash-Shura 42:41

<h2>Forgiving or exacting Revenge on Wrongdoers</h2><div class="arabic uthmani">وَجَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا</div><p>(The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof). This is like the Ayat:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ</div><p>(Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him) (2:194), and</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ</div><p>(And if you punish, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted) (16:126). Justice, has been prescribed, in the form of the prescribed laws of equality in punishment (Al-Qisas), but the better way, which means forgiving, is recommended, as Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ</div><p>(and wounds equal for equal. But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation) (5:45). Allah says here:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ</div><p>(but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah. ) means, that will not be wasted with Allah. As it says in a Sahih Hadith:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">«وَمَا زَادَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا»</div><p>(Allah does not increase the person who forgives except in honor.)"</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّـلِمِينَ</div><p>(Verily, He likes not the wrongdoers.) means, the aggressors, …

And whoso defendeth himself after he hath suffered wrong - for such, there is no way (of blame) against them.

But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame.

And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.

As for those who retaliate after being wronged, there is no blame on them.