Retribution, also known as “Mukaafat-e-amal” in Urdu, is an undeniable reality of life. Some also call it karma, the result of our own actions that come back to us.

At one time or the other, we all become aware that as we sow, so shall we reap. But despite being aware of this fact, people do not take it seriously or care about what the repercussions of their actions will be.

And, this is the biggest reason why deception and injustice are so common these days. Innocent people do not get justice, children disrespect their parents, people easily play with other people’s emotions and hurt their feelings, but why do such people forget that what they are doing to others today can happen to them tomorrow. And when that happens, there is nothing left except for remorse.

Those who do not believe in retribution do not actually believe in God’s justice. Retribution may take some time, but it does happen, because Allah loves his creations a lot and definitely takes account of people’s actions. It is said that a person’s sin is like a debt, a debt that has to be paid and in double. Unfortunately, people do not understand this and make the lives of others hell and ask heaven for themselves in prostrations.

Whenever any problem comes in life, we consider it a test, but have you ever thought that it could also be the result of retribution, because when someone is hurt, his pain becomes a curse. We should be afraid of this and think twice before taking any action, otherwise time will explain the meaning of retribution and there will be nothing that we can do to mend our wrong act.

Time that passes never returns, but the good or evil done to someone definitely does. And, if a person remains silent after seeing, hearing and tolerating pain from others, understand that the matter has reached the court of Allah and justice will be done by the Almighty. Related to this I will share a short story.

There was a fisherman who finally caught a fresh fish after much difficulty, but just then another man came and snatched his fish. The fisher asked him to return the fish but that man overpowered him and started to move away. The fish was still alive and swerving. It bit his thumb and the man threw it away in pain.

The man went to a doctor to show his injured thumb. The doctor put a bandage and told him to come after three days. When the man returned to the doctor, the wound looked worst and the doctor told him that his thumb would have to be cut as the infection was spreading and he could lose his hand.

But this did not help as the infection now spread to his hand and after a few days of futile treatment, the doctor told him that his hand would have to be cut off to save his arm. The wound and the resulting infection continued to spread and the man was in great pain. Eventually the doctor had to amputate his whole arm to prevent further spread of the infection to the whole body.

Seeing this man’s agony, an elder in his family asked, “Did you do any mistake due to which you are facing so much pain and suffering?”

This made the man remember how he had snatched the fish which gave him the wound that led to this infection. The man confessed his deed and the elderly man advised him to go and look for that fisherman and seek forgiveness.

After some effort, the fisherman was finally found and the injured man cried and said, “Please forgive me for snatching your fish. I have suffered a lot since that day. Have you done magic on me or have you cursed me? Please tell what have you done to me.”

The fisher replied, “I just looked up and said, ‘O my lord, he has shown me his power now you show him your power.”

This is a very meaningful story for those who really want to understand, and those who do not want to understand, time will everything to them, but then it will be too late.

If someone has made you cry, ruined your peace and is still making you cry, then whenever you have tears in your eyes, wipe away your tears as at some point in time, that person will cry and suffer even more than you, because retribution is real.

If you are right, you don’t have to prove anything, time will prove everything. And if you take revenge yourself, you are taking things in your own hands and you cannot hope for God to help you. Then you will have to face retribution for the revenge you will take. Patience is required to have God at your side.

If we have the fear of retribution in our hearts, we will think twice before doing anything wrong, and then with time this will become our habit. And because of this habit, we will be kind to others and we will lead a happy life.

We need to not just make sure that we do not hurt others, but also apologise for our wrong acts or any hurt that we may have caused others.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 2nd, 2021