What is required from man is that when he is granted power he should not suffer from the psychology of pride and arrogance. And when man finds himself in a state of subjugation, he should not fall prey to negative psychology.
If the recipient of a favour fails to acknowledge it for fear of belittling himself in the eyes of his benefactor, he only harms himself. It is more a question of being belittled in the eyes of his own conscience than falling down in others’ eyes–a course by far more injurious.
‘Uqbah ibn Amr reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me about virtuous deeds.” The Prophet replied, “O ‘Uqbah, reconcile with whoever cuts you off, give to whoever deprives you, and turn away from whoever wrongs you.” (Musnad Aḥmad, Hadith No. 17334)
One who does not differentiate between his own people and others is a man of principle. His is a contradiction-free personality. This trait, when developed properly, will turn him into a person who has principled and unilateral ethics.
