Editor’s Pick
Introduction
Periodic reported sad incidents of some people said to have denigrated the person of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) in various parts of the world resulting to violent retaliatory action being taken against them by some Muslims is an affront to Muslim-non-Muslim peaceful co-existence which constitutes an integral part of the very legacy of the same Prophet.
In our Ghana case scenario,the recent physical assault of a handcuffed Ghanaian pastor by a civilian while in police custody led to a swift intervention by the Ghana Police Service, resulting in multiple arrests, subsequent bails, and a peaceful resolution.
Whereas the Ghana Police Service deserves commendation for swift action the nagging question that pricks the critical mind is how did Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) himself respond to direct insults of his divine noble person during his days?
Down the Memory Lane
Over 1,400 years ago during his days, how did Allah’s Messenger (S, A.W.) himself respond to direct insults of his noble divine personality tends to be the nagging question in dealing with this issue.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) is on record to have consistently responded to personal insults, mockery, and abuse with patience, forbearance, and forgiveness rather than retaliation.
Historical accounts and traditional biographies record that he never took personal revenge for offenses directed at his own character, instead choosing restraint, turning away from detractors, or responding with gentleness and better deeds.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and Mischief Mongers
Patience and Silence: He frequently ignored verbal taunts or name-calling, choosing not to answer back or stoop to retaliatory insults.
Forgiveness over Retaliation: When given power over his former abusers—such as during the Conquest of Mecca—he famously declared no blame upon them and granted general amnesty.
The most powerful among humanity isn’t one who merely wields power but the one who possess it and is able to use it most responsibly and above all, is able to restrain one’s self from using it in situations when one could have used it if one had chosen to do so.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) demonstrated this during the conquest of Mecca by forgiving the idolators who were rendered powerless before him and his loyal followers.
Despite the decades long physical, mental, phycological, and emotional pain the Meccans had inflicted upon him and his followers, when he had the power to pay them back them back on that most historic day, he chose to forgiveness above retaliation.
Praying for Detractors: Rather than asking for divine punishment against those who mocked or physically harmed him (such as during his journey to Ta’if), he often expressed hope for their future guidance or prayed on their behalf.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) the “al amin” or the trustworthy.
Upholding Justice and Trusts: His trustworthiness even long before his divine call had made people in Mecca to entrust him with safe keeping of their treasures. Even people who didn’t like him for reasons best known to them alone, still appreciated him for his meekness and trustworthiness and didn’t mind giving him their treasures for safe keeping.
Even when persecuted by the Quraysh in Mecca, he maintained the safekeeping of their financial trusts, having Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A.) return them even during his perilous migration to Medina.
Guiding Principles: Islamic tradition notes that his reactions were aligned with Quranic guidance to repel evil with what is better:
“Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend” (Quran 41:34).
He actively instructed his companions not to repay insults with matching abuse, advising instead to practice restraint and leave matters to justice.
Peaceful co-existence with people of other faiths.
During the divine mission of Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) with Medina as his seat of governance, he ensured freedom of worship and respect for the personal liberties and inalienable rights of all others under his jurisdiction.
Under his administration he also had ensured mutual respect and peaceful co-existence between Muslims and their non-Muslims neighbours with particular reference to the “People of the Book or Scripture” the Holy Qur’anic accolade for the followers of Mosaic Judaism and Christianity.
The Task of Contemporary Day Muslims
There is the need for present day Muslims to protect and conserve Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) legacy and be guided by it at all times since that is the best tribute members of his contemporary day umma(following) owe him individually and collectively.
Contemporary Day Nasty Occurrences
Does retaliating physically against people who insult or speak about their Prophet in derogatory terms today, align with his legacy that he had left? No!!!.
Contemporary day Muslims ought to be guided by the original and true legacy of Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) and eschew providing ammunition for anti-Islam propagandists always seeking to use the actions of some Muslim(s) to smite the religion as a whole as one given to violence or was founded on violence.
