126 Preface وَإِن عاقَبتُم فَعاقِبوا بِمِثلِ ما عوقِبتُم بِهِ ۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرتُم لَهُوَ خَيرٌ لِلصّابِرينَYusuf AliAnd if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course)1 for those who are patient.In the context this passage refers to controversies and discussions, but the words are wide enough to cover all human struggles, disputes, and fights. In strictest equity you are not entitled to give a worse blow than is given to you. But those who have reached a higher spiritual standard do not even do that. They restrain themselves, and are patient. Lest you should think that such patience only gives an advantage to the adversary, you are told that the contrary is the case: the advantage is with the patient, the self-possessed, those who do not lose their temper or forget their own principles of conduct.