Page 266
wa-mā khalaqnā s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa wa-mā baynahumā ʾillā bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-ʾinna s-sāʿata la-ʾātiyatun fa-ṣfaḥi ṣ-ṣafḥa l-jamīla
We did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except with consummate wisdom, and indeed the Hour is bound to come. So forbear with a graceful forbearance.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Hijr – Verses 85 - 86
85. “And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but with truth; and verily the Hour (of resurrection) is surely coming; then pardon you, with a gracious pardoning.”
86. “Verily your Lord, He is the Creator, the All-Knowing.”
The Arabic term /safh/ is derived from /safhah/ which means ‘face’. The Arabic phrase /fasfah-is-safh/ signifies ‘turning one’s face away from someone but not out of one’s outrage but to do that for forgiving and overlooking in case of one’s compassion and out of one’s affections’. Imam Rida (as) has commented upon the Qur’anic phrase /safh-in-jamil/ as ‘forgiving without inquisition, or with no taking to task’.
As man’s everlasting troubles and entanglements have their roots in his lack of ideology and correct system of beliefs and, briefly speaking, in his disbelief in the origin of existence and in the Resurrection Day, the Qur’an returns to the issues of ‘monotheism’ and of ‘resurrection’ after describing the situation of nations such as the people of Lot and the people of Shu‘ayb and that of Salih, those who were entangled in all of those afflictions.
It has referred to the issues of monotheism and resurrection both in a single verse, saying:
“And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but with truth…”
This, He has said about monotheism; then He proclaims in connection with resurrection that everybody will be given his reward therein. The verse says:
“…and verily the Hour (of resurrection) is surely coming…”
In pursuit of this goal, He commands His prophet to be lenient towards them when facing their obstinacies, ignorance, fanaticism, meddling and their intensive oppositions, and to overlook their sins and forgive them with a beautiful forgiveness which is not even coupled with any blame. As you will not be in any need or require any violence in spite of the fact that you have got clear evidence for your call and messengership to which you are given mission to accomplish. Moreover, violence against the ignorant people will usually lead to further violence and their further fanatic behavior. Therefore, leniency and forgiveness is the best.
The verse continues saying:
“…then pardon you, with a gracious pardoning.”
In the end, in the following verse the Qur’an proclaims that He Who commands as to the forgiving, is the Lord Who is Educator, creative, and knowing. He is aware that amnesty and forgiveness have a very great impact on the soul of the individuals and of the society, and have a tremendous impact on the attraction as well as on the development of the people. Therefore, putting into practice the commandment of /safh/ (remittal) should not appear as a burden to you.
It says:
“Verily your Lord, He is the Creator, the All-Knowing.”