Forgiveness Quote by Charles Glass
““When he did not answer, his enemies took their revenge. On October 2, 2011, his twenty-two-year-old son Sariya and one of his professors were driving from their university in the countryside to Aleppo when armed men fired on their car and killed both men. When the mufti recalled the murder in our conversation, he wiped tears from his cheeks: “He was twenty-two years old, a student at the university. What did he do to be killed? At his funeral, I said I forgive you all. I expected them to show remorse. They said we don’t need your forgiveness. We are going to kill you. They say this on television in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Britain. They say the mufti of Syria speaks of Christianity in a positive way. He believes in dialogue, even with Israelis and non-believers. He goes to churches.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Syrian Mufti, Charles Glass, 2012
A tragic story showing that even innocent lives can be caught in cycles of violence, and that forgiveness may be met with further hostility.
In simple terms: Violence be innocent people; forgiveness can be rejected.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of forgiveness in hostile contexts.
Themes
conflict
forgiveness
religion
violence
dialogue
Mood
sorrowful
reflective
serious
Type
narrative
testimonial
political
When to use this quote
- war zones
- peace negotiations
- personal loss
- interfaith work
- media reporting
Key Concepts
human rights
moral courage
interfaith dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect innocent civilians in conflict?
- What role does dialogue play when parties are hostile?
A Different Perspective
Forgiveness alone cannot stop ongoing threats; safety may require other strategies.
