Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Forgiveness is more beloved to Allah than vengeance, mercy is more beloved to Him than punishment, grace is more beloved to Him than justice, and giving is more beloved to Him than withholding.”
Source: Madārij al-Sālikīn 1/228
And Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Verily, the matter of benevolence and forgiveness towards people takes precedence over the matter of vengeance and revenge.”
Source: Minhāj al-Sunnah 4/327
عن ابن القيم رحمه الله قال وَالْعَفْوُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الِانْتِقَامِ وَالرَّحْمَةُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْعُقُوبَةِ وَالْفَضْلُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ وَالْعَطَاءُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَنْعِ
1/228 مدارج السالكين بين منازل إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين
وقال ابن تيمية رحمه الله فَإِنَّ بَابَ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَى النَّاسِ وَالْعَفْوِ عَنْهُمْ مُقَدَّمٌ عَلَى بَابِ الْإِسَاءَةِ وَالِانْتِقَامِ
4/327 منهاج السنة
