hatred for the imam’s father, Sayyiduna ꜤAlī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, and began speaking ill of him in front of the imam himself. Instead of reacting, the imam did not respond or do anything to retaliate. He recited اَعُوْذُ بِاللہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ and بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم, and then these verses of the holy Quran:

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَ اْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَ اَعْرِضْ عَنِ  الْجٰہِلِیْنَ (۱۹۹)وَ اِمَّا یَنْزَغَنَّکَ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ  بِاللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ  سَمِیْعٌ  عَلِیْمٌ (۲۰۰)اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا اِذَا مَسَّہُمْ طٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ تَذَکَّرُوْا فَاِذَا ھُمْ مُّبْصِرُوْنَ (۲۰۱)ۚ

˹Dear Beloved Prophet,˺ adopt forgiveness and enjoin righteousness and turn away from the ignorant. And ˹O listener,˺ If you are tempted by a whisper from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah; indeed He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Indeed, when the pious are affected by a thought from Satan, they recollect (Divine command) thereupon they see clearly.”^[1]

Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ then said to ʿIṣām bin Muṣṭaliq, “Do not burden yourself. I ask Allah Almighty to forgive you and I.”^[2]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه Dear Islamic brothers! Look at the amazing character and manners on display here. Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was faced with somebody speaking ill of his own father, and in response, he made dua for that person’s forgiveness. This is a wondrous way to increase mutual love and remove hatred.

The holy Quran declares: