Wallatheena sabaroo ibtighaa wajhi rabbihim waaqamoo assalata waanfaqoo mimma razaqnahum sirran waAAalaniyatan (surah Raad: 22)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(13:22) They show fortitude to win the approval of their Lord. *39 They establish Salat and expend openly and secretly out of what We have bestowed upon them and ward off evil with good. *40

Wallazeena sabarub tighaaa`a Wajhi Rabbihim wa aqaamus Salaata wa anfaqoo mimmaa razaqnaahum sirranw wa `alaaniyatanw wa yadra`oona bilhasanatis saiyi`ata ulaaa`ika lahum `uqbad daar

*39) "They show fortitude": they remain self-possessed and keep under control all their desires and lusts and do not transgress the bounds, and they do not yield to temptations to disobey their Lord in order to gain advantages and gratify their desires: nay, they bear with calm courage and endurance losses and afflictions that are inevitable in the obedience of AIIah. If we consider the life of a believer from this point of view, we shall find that the whole of his life is the life of endurance and fortitude, for he keeps himself under control in very trying circumstances in this world in the hope of winning the approval of his Lord and in the expectation of gaining permanent benefits in the Hereafter: so he fights with fortitude every temptation to sin.
*40) That is, "If others do evil to them, they do not do evil in return but do good instead: they do not fight mischief with mischief but with virtue. Howsoever unjust one may be to them, they do justice in every case. Likewise, they remain truthful and honest even in the cast of those who tell lies against them and show dishonesty towards them. "
There is a Tradition of the Holy Prophet to the same effect: "You should not imitate others in your conduct towards other people, for it is wrong to say, 'We will do goodness to others, if they do goodness to us and we will do injustice to them if they are unjust to us.' (On the other hand,) you should follow this principle: if others do goodness to you, you should do goodness to them, but if they do evil to you, you should not be unjust to them' . "
There is another Tradition, which begins with the words: "My Lord has bidden me to do nine things. Four of these things are, `I should behave justly towards everyone whether I am pleased or offended with him. I should render the right even of the one who violates my rights. I should pay the dues even of the one who depraves me of my due. I should forgive the one who has been unjust to me' . " There is yet another Tradition to the same effect: "Don't be faithless even to the one who has been faithless to you." There is also a saying of Hadrat 'Umar that amounts to the same thing. "The best way of punishing the one, who does not fear God in his dealings with you, is that you should fear God in your dealings with him. "