Tafsir of Ash-Shura 42:40

Forgiving or exacting Revenge on Wrongdoers Allah says,

وجزاء سيية سيية مثلها

The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof. This is like the Ayat:

فمن اعتدى عليكم فاعتدوا عليه بمثل ما اعتدى عليكم

Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. (2:194) and,

وإن عاقبتم فعاقبوا بمثل ما عوقبتم به

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:

والجروح قصاص فمن تصدق به فهو كفارة له

and wounds equal for equal. But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him expiation. (5:45) Allah says here:

فمن عفا وأصلح فٲجره على الله

but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah. means, that will not be wasted with Allah. As it is said in a Sahih Hadith:

وما زاد الله تعالى عبدا بعفو إﻻ عزا

Allah does not increase the person who forgives except in honor.

إنه ﻻ يحب الظالمين

Verily, He likes not the wrongdoers. means, the aggressors, i.e., those who initiate the evil actions

ولمن انتصر بعد ظلمه فٲوليك ما عليهم من سبيل