عَنْ عائشةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْها قالتْ: مَا خُيِّرَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ بَينَ أَمْرينِ قَطُّ إِلّا أَخذَ أَيْسَرَهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ إِثمًا، فإنْ كانَ إِثمًا كَانَ أَبعدَ النَّاسِ مِنْهُ، ومَا انتَقَمَ رسولُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم لِنَفْسِهِ في شَيءٍ قَطُّ، إِلّا أَن تُنتَهكَ حُرْمَةُ اللهِ، فَينتَقِمَ للَّهِ تعالى.
A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was never given a choice between two matters but that he chose the easier of the two, as long as it was not a sin. If it was a sin, he was the furthest of people from it. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never took revenge for his own sake in anything, unless the sanctity of Allah was violated, in which case he would take retribution for the sake of Allah the Exalted.
الشرح · explanation
بين أمرين: دينيين أو دنيويين. أيسرهما: أسهلهما، مثل أن يخير بين عقوبتين، فإنه يختار الأخف منهما، أو يخير بين فريضتين، فيختار الأخف منهما، أو يخير بين الحرب والصلح، فيختار الصلح. ما لم يكن إثمًا: ما لم يكن الأيسر معصية لله. انتقم: عاقب وانتصر لنفسه. إلّا أن تُنتهك حرمة الله: إلا أن ترتكب المحرمات.
Between two matters: whether religious or worldly. The easier of the two: the lighter of them — such as when he was given a choice between two penalties, he would choose the lighter; or between two obligations, he would choose the lighter; or between war and peace, he would choose peace. As long as it was not a sin: as long as the easier option was not an act of disobedience to Allah. Took revenge: he punished and avenged himself. Unless the sanctity of Allah was violated: unless forbidden things were committed.
الدروس · lessons
يسر الإسلام الذي هو أحد جوانب كماله. رحمة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بأمته. مشروعية الغضب لله تعالى بشرط أن يكون من عالم بالشرع وحدوده حتى لا يغضب لنفسه ويدَّعي أنه يغضب لله. اتخاذ الأسهل بين الأمور التي تعترض المرء في حياته الخاصة أو العامة. أخذ الأمر الأسهل مقيَّد بما لم يترتب عليه محظور شرعي، وطريق معرفة المحظور الشرعي هو الدليل الصحيح وليس مجرد الذوق. بيان ما كان عليه الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من الخلق العظيم في عدم الانتقام لنفسه وإنما كان ينتقم لله تعالى، وهذا من خلق الأنبياء. أهمية العلم الشرعي إذ به يميِّز الإنسان الحلال من الحرام فلا يقع في الحرام ولو كان ظاهره أنه أيسر.
The ease of Islam, which is one aspect of its perfection. The mercy of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) toward his community. The legitimacy of becoming angry for the sake of Allah the Exalted, on the condition that it comes from one who knows the Sacred Law and its limits, so that he does not become angry for his own sake while claiming he is angry for Allah's sake. Choosing the easier of the matters that confront a person in his private or public life. Taking the easier matter is restricted to cases where it does not entail something forbidden by the Sacred Law; and the way to know what is forbidden by the Sacred Law is sound evidence, not mere personal taste. A demonstration of the sublime character the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) possessed in not avenging himself but rather avenging for the sake of Allah the Exalted — and this is from the character of the prophets. The importance of religious knowledge, for by it a person distinguishes the lawful from the forbidden and so does not fall into the forbidden, even if it appears to be the easier course.