Surah At-Taubah, Ayat 117

Ayat 117. Allah has forgiven the Prophet ( [SAWW](PBUH), the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition, etc.), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful. 

Hazrat Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Allah is Forbearer and He loves forbearance, and rewards for forbearance while He does not reward severity, and does not give for any thing besides it (forbearance).'' [Muslim Hadith # 6273]  

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah At-Taubah Ayat 117. "He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful". Mildness is the opposite of harshness. Allah enjoins softness and dislikes stiffness in human rations. Allah assures of reward for gentle behaviour in society, not for unkindness or anything like that. However, inflexibility is preferred to flexibility when there arises a question of religious matters and the limits set by Allah.