Jesus (as) taught that if someone strikes you on one cheek, you should turn the other. Can this be a general principle for today’s world, given that violence breeds violence?

Not as a rigid rule for every situation, as the history of the Christian world itself shows. Islam teaches that a wrong may only be answered in equal measure, but whoever forgives and thereby brings about reform does what is best.

Jesus (as) is one of the most misunderstood people in history. His words about the other cheek answered a particular situation and taught a lesson for one’s own heart. As a general law for states and societies they have never worked. Christian history, with its many wars, is itself the proof.

The Holy Qur’an takes another path. It allows a wrong to be answered in equal measure, and not one step further. In this way it sets a firm limit on revenge. At the same time it says that forgiveness is better when it reforms the other person. Forgiving someone who then repents is a great gain. But giving in again and again to someone violent only encourages him.

The second verse goes even higher: repel evil with what is best. Often an enemy then becomes a friend. Yet this only works when a person controls his anger, and that is exactly what the hadith above urges.

Where does violence in the world come from? Often from people who hold power and feel answerable to no one. Whoever does not believe in a supreme justice easily follows only the justice of his own ego. A political system alone cannot change this, because it is run by people. Without inner morality every system becomes a tool for the interests of those in power, and in the end it needs force to survive.

That is why peace begins in the heart of the individual who knows he is answerable to God. Justice sets the limit, forgiveness heals, and together they can break the cycle of violence.