One who derives benefit from harming you will never be free...

One who derives benefit from harming you will never be free from his enmity for you in every situation. 19ـ مَنْ كانَ نَفْعُهُ في مَضَرَّتِكَ لَمْ يَخْلُ في كُلِّ حال مِنْ عَداوَتِكَ. Never do two people [or groups] quarrel but that the more foolish of the two wins the argument. 20ـ ما تَلاحى إثْنانِ فَظَهَرَ إلاّ أسْفَهُهُما. Acting courteously with the enemies of Allah in their domains is a safeguard from the chastisement of Allah and a caution from the raging tribulations of this world.

21ـ مُجامَلَةُ أعْداءِ اللّهِ في دَوْلَتِهِمْ تَقِيَّةٌ مِنْ عَذابِ اللّهِ، وحَذَرٌ مِنْ مَعارِكَ البَلاءِ فِي الدُّنيا. Struggling against the enemies in their dominions and fighting against them despite their power is abandoning the command of Allah and exposing oneself to the tribulations of this world. 22ـ مُجاهَدَةُ الأعْداءِ في دَوْلَتِهِمْ، ومُناضَلَتُهُمْ مَعَ قُدْرَتِهِمْ تَرْكٌ لأمْرِ اللّهِ وَتَعَرُّضٌ لِبَلاءِ الدُّنيا.

Do not be adversaries of the blessings of Allah upon you.[^1] 23ـ لاتَـكُونُوا لِنِعَمِ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ أضْداداً. Do not face your adversary before you are powerful enough [to defeat him]. 24ـ لاتُوقِعْ بِالعَدُوِّ قَبْلَ القُدْرَةِ. Do not be fooled by the courteousness of the enemy for indeed he is like water, even if its heating by fire is prolonged, it is not prevented from extinguishing it.

25ـ لاتَغْتَرَنَّ بِمُجامَلَةِ العَدُوِّ فَإنَّهُ كَالماءِ وإنْ أُطيلَ إسْخانُهُ بِالنّارِ لايَمْتَنِعُ مِنْ إطْفائِها. Do not confront your enemy while he is charging towards you, for indeed his charge will aid him to overcome you and do not confront him when he is fleeing away from you, for indeed his flight is sufficient for you in dealing with him.

26ـ لاتَعَرَّضْ لِعَدُوِّكَ وهُوَ مُقْبِلٌ، فَإنَّ إقْبالَهُ يُعْينُهُ عَلَيْكَ، ولاتَعَرَّضْ لَهُ وهُوَ مُدْبِرٌ، فَإنَّ إدْبارَهُ يَكْفيكَ أمْرُهُ. Do not declare your enmity to your enemy and do not rebuke your friend; and accept the excuse [you are given] even if it is a lie, and do not give [a forceful] response despite having the power to do so, even if it be your right.

27ـ لاتُنابِذْ عَدُوَّكَ، ولاتُقَرِّعْ صَديقَكَ، وأقْبَلِ العُذْرَ، وإنْ كانَ كِذْباً وَدَعِ الجَوابَ عَنْ قُدْرَة وإنْ كانَ لَكَ. When you have hatred [for someone] then do not disassociate yourself [completely – and leave some room for possible future friendship]. 28ـ إذا أبْغَضْتَ فَلا تَهْجُرْ. Let the most hated of people to you and the furthest of them from you be the one who always seeks out the faults of people.