Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!bes
From: uunet!plains!umn-cs!LOCAL!meuer@ncar.ucar.edu (Mark V. Meuer)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Excerpt from USRA Family Magazine: (Forgiveness)
Message-ID: <1990Nov29.175853.9591@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 29 Nov 90 17:58:53 GMT
Sender: bes@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi)
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 35
Approved: bes@tybalt.caltech.edu

In <1990Nov27.154800.28589@nntp-server.caltech.edu> bes@tybalt.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi) writes:

>Mark writes:

>   I am somewhat confused.  I am not a Muslim, but in other postings to
>   this group I have seen several instances where people have said that
>   Islam specifically endorses the idea of "An eye for an eye, a tooth
>   for a tooth", since to do otherwise would be unjust.  Doesn't this
>   call for forgiveness then go against a precept of Islam?

>The relevant verse in the Quran states that "an eye for an eye, a tooth
>for a tooth" is permissible but forgiveness is preferrable.

Thanks for your reply.  That does make more sense.

>My understanding is that the verse is about crimes committed by one
>individual against another like murder, physical attack, etc.  (I could
>be wrong).

Could anyone else expand on this?  What about crimes committed by a
nation?  And also, what about the other question in my original post
regarding the teaching of Jesus (PBUH) that we are to love our enemies
and pray for those who persecute us?  Does Islam accept this teaching?
If not, when exactly should one forgive, both as individuals, groups
and nations?

>Behnam Sadeghi

Thanks again.

-mark
-- 
Mark Meuer |  Geometry Supercomputer Project  |   meuer@geom.umn.edu
"Scientists have determined that the world's fastest animal, with a top speed
 of 120 ft/sec, is a cow that has been dropped from a helicopter." - Dave Barry