 a man may prefer a brother to a generous gift over a calamity he has suffered so that his value increases to the point that he may be content to give his money and blood for him. if he gives more to someone who has suffered as much as he has and who has the same status as him then everything praiseworthy in that becomes blameworthy and everything good becomes bad. the same is true of punishment they are the same.
وربما آثر الرجل المرء من إخوانه بالعطية السنية على بلاء أبلاه، فيعظم قدرها عنده حتى لعله تطيب نفسه ببذل ماله ودمه دونه. فإن أعطى من أبلى كبلائه وكانت له مثل دالته، أكثر مما أعطاه، انتقل كل محمود من ذلك مذموما، وكل مستحسن مستقبحا. وكذلك الأمر في العقوبة، يجريان مجرى واحدا.