أقبل معاذيرَ من يأتيكَ معتذراً
إنْ يرَّ عندكَ فيما قال أو فجرا
لقد أطاعكَ منْ يرضيك ظاهره
وقد أجلَّكَ من يعصيكَ مستترا
Accept the apology of he who comes apologising to you
Regardless of what he said: if it was sinful or true
He whose outward character pleases you, has indeed obeyed you
And he who disobeyed you secretly, has in fact honoured you.
-Imam al-Shafi’ee (rahimahullah)








