One verse says do not show compassion and another verse says forgive. Is it not a contradiction?

- Regarding forgiveness in matters among believers, my question is this:
- Allah states the following in verse 2 of chapter 24:
“The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment..”
- Allah states that we should not show any sign of mercy when carrying out capital punishment in the Islamic state; on the other hand, He states the following in verse 24 (in fact verse 22) of the same chapter:
“Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in Allah’s cause: let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
- As you can see, Allah says that we Muslims should forgive and pardon our Muslim brothers.
- I am confused that in verse 2, Allah says not show any sign of forgiveness or compassion to your Muslim brother, but in verse 22 Allah commands Muslims to forgive and pardon.
- Please help me understand those verses.

Dear Brother / Sister,

The first verse draws attention to the general application of punishments. That is, when you apply a punishment of Allah, do not let your compassion and pity prevent you from applying it because the most important characteristic of punishment is that it is a deterrent.

And if the people who carry out the punishment do not enact such a punishment by law, there is no difference between not enacting a law and not enforcing a law that is in effect.

In the other verse (verse 22), a personal - not general - method of education is presented from a specific perspective.

Verse 22 refers to a warning to Abu Bakr (ra), who swore that he would never again help a poor relative named Mistah who was involved in the gossip in the “Incident of Ifk”.

It means that we have no right to forgive someone who, according to Islamic law, needs to be punished; we cannot prevent the punishment from being carried out even if we feel compassion; that is what the first verse is about. However, what is essential related to our personal rights is to forgive. That is what the other verse is about.

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