Commentary on Tafsir al-Jalalayn: “And those who, when wronged, defend themselves” — that is, they take revenge on those who wronged them with the like of their wrongdoing.
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The Shaykh : Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: [Ash-Shuraa 42:39] The waw is a conjunction, and what is conjoined here is in terms of attributes; that is, among their attributes is that if someone wrongs them, they defend themselves. When wronged, meaning when aggression is inflicted upon them by someone, they defend themselves. They do not display the appearance of a weak, humiliated person, but rather he defends himself. Defending oneself in a position of dignity is a required matter, whereas in a position of humility, that is a different matter which will come, if Allah wills, in the future. He says: “ A group”. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that those who believe and put their trust in their Lord are two groups, but the correct view is that this is all a description of a single described entity, and there are no distinct groups. Accordingly, we say: Among the attributes of those who believe and put their trust in their Lord is that they defend themselves when wronged, “that is, they take revenge on those who wronged them with the like of their wrongdoing” without aggression. As for his statement: It does not imply that they must take what is rightfully theirs, but rather, if they defend themselves, they have the option to pardon, and if they pardon while having the ability, that is more perfect.