Respite or Destruction
The non-Muslims of Mecca once asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to turn a mountain in Mecca, Mount Safa, into gold for them and to move away the mountains so that they could grow crops. He was told by Allah, the Exalted, that it was up to him to decide whether to give respite and ignore their foolish request or if he desired Allah, the Exalted, would fulfill their request. But if they disbelieved in Islam after that they would be completely destroyed just like the previous nations who rejected the open signs of Allah, the Exalted, were completely destroyed. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, chose to give them respite and ignore their foolish requests as he knew that they would still disbelieve after. Allah, the Exalted, then revealed chapter 17 Al Isra, verse 59 of the Holy Quran:
“And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs [i.e., miracles] except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamūd the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning.”
This has been discussed in Imam Al Wahidi’s, Asbab Al Nuzul, 17:59, Page 104.
Allah, the Exalted, does not hasten the punishment for the one who deserves it out of leniency. Instead He gives them an opportunity to sincerely repent and rectify their behaviour. The Muslim who understands this will never give up hope in the mercy of Allah, the Exalted, but will not also cross the limits and adopt wishful thinking by believing Allah, the Exalted, will never punish them. They understand that punishment is only delayed not abandoned unless they sincerely repent. So this divine name creates hope and fear in a Muslim. A Muslim should use this delay in order to repent and hasten towards good deeds.
A Muslim should act on this divine attribute by being lenient with people especially, when they demonstrate bad character. They should show leniency towards others just as they desire Allah, the Exalted, to be lenient with them in their moments of heedlessness. But at the same time they should not be lenient with their own bad characteristics knowing that punishment for sins is delayed not permanently abandoned until they sincerely repent. They should also remain steadfast in leniency by replying evil with good according to the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Chapter 41 Fussilat, verse 34:
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”
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