It has been recorded in a hadith that Qanbar was insulted by...

It has been recorded in a hadith that Qanbar was insulted by an ignorant man and he wanted to respond when Imam ‘Ali ( ‘a ) stated: “O Qanbar! Ignore your defamer so that you may please Allah, the Merciful, and so that you may anger the devil and thus punish your enemy because retribution for him is not worse than ignoring and turning a blind eye to him.

I swear upon the Allah who split the seed and created human beings that a believer does not please his Lord more than by having patience and forbearance and he does not annoy the devil more than by repressing anger and he does not punish a fool more than with silence.”[^1] Elsewhere, Imam ‘Ali ( ‘a ) states: “No honor is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance.”[^2] With regard to the loftiness of the quality of forbearance and its invaluable role in preserving proper social relations and reciprocal respect, it is necessary for every individual in the society to be endowed with it and to strive to attain it, especially religious scholars who occupy the role of reforming and training people.

When a religious scholar, who is a reformer and a guide of the people, retaliates vis-à-vis the unbecoming conduct of the ignorant, he renders his work ineffective. Therefore, we must accompany our knowledge with forbearance in order to have a desirable outcome and be patient and enthusiastic when explaining religious truths.

In regard to the fact that the viability of knowledge is not feasible without forbearance, the Noble Prophet (S) states: “I swear upon Allah in whose hands my life lies, no two things have joined and supplemented one another better than forbearance and knowledge.”[^3] Truly, forbearance is in the highest category of personal perfection after knowledge and, as we have already stated, knowledge without forbearance is not beneficial.

It is for this reason that in some instances when knowledge is praised, forbearance too is praised and in reality forbearance and knowledge are mentioned as two invaluable elements which are conjoined and supplementary. The Noble Prophet (S) states: “O my Lord!

Free me from want on account of knowledge and beautify me with forbearance.”[^4] Without the least doubt a person who beautifies himself with patience and forbearance has adopted the most merciful and compassionate method in critical circumstances when enmity and hatred become inflamed in people’s hearts.