Khaled El-Gendy: Relationships Rest on Agreements, Apologies Leave the Decision to the Wronged

Sheikh Khaled El-Gendy, a member of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said the story of Prophet Moses and Al-Khidr offers important lessons about relationships and the responsibility to honour agreements.

El-Gendy linked those lessons to companionship, friendship and partnership, describing relationships as a form of contract. His remarks focused on the commitments that come with forming and maintaining ties with others.

He also addressed the etiquette of apologising, saying that a person seeking forgiveness should yield the decision to the person whose rights have been infringed, rather than seek to control the outcome.

His comments brought together two themes: respecting the terms on which a relationship is built and recognising the wronged person’s right to decide how to respond to an apology.