it is among the manners of the happy king that he does not punish while he is angry because in this state he is not safe from transgression and exceeding the limit of punishment. so when his anger subsides and he returns to his natural state he orders him to be punished according to the limit prescribed by the sharia and transmitted by the religion. if the sharia does not mention the punishment for his sin then it is just to make the punishment for that sin a middle ground between the gravest and the lenient sins and to make the judgment against him in it while his soul is at peace and to mention the retribution for him in mind. as for punishment it is not permissible if its matter is brought before the king.
ومن أخلاق الملك السعيد أن لا يعاقب، وهو غضبان، لأن هذه حال لا يسلم معها من التعدي والتجاوز لحد العقوبة. فإذا سكن غضبه، ورجع إلى طبعه، أمر بعقوبته على الحد الذي سنته الشريعة، ونقلته الملة فإن لم يكن في الشريعة ذكر عقوبة ذنبه، فمن العدل أن يجعل عقوبة ذلك الذنب واسطة بين غليظ الذنوب ولينها، وأن يجعل الحكم عليه فيه، ونفسه طيبة، وذكر القصاص منه على بال. فأما العقوبة فلا تجوز إذا رفع أمرها إلى الملك.