The guidance of the faithful Prophet on dealing with offenders and mockers
How the Prophet Muhammad treated those who insulted him
One of the most accurate criteria to judge a Man is totrack and read into his or her attitudetowards aggressive behaviors that target him.
If the Creator, Glorified and Sublime be He, had described the final Prophet,peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he is on an exalted standard of character, and if the Almighty also spoke about him saying: {We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds}, then tracking and reading into the attitude of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, towards those who insulted and mocked him results in apragmatic and definitive proof of that Quranic fact.
This fact led foreigners to convert to Islam and to love and follow the Prophet, peace be upon him. Some even had a wrong perception before. But when they studied the Prophet’s biography and examinedhis morals, they repented and had sincere penitence. Exactly like what happened to the Dutchman Arnoud van Doorn who directed a film titled “Fitna” about the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but later regretted and apologized for offending the prophet’seminentstatus and announced his conversion to Islam (the video is available online).
I have completed a 150-page study on this prophetic behavior; and I have summarized it in this article. This study is centered around texts from the Noble Qur’an and the Prophetic biography (Seerah) that will be presented in what follows.
The first text:
Allah, exalted be He, says in the Qur’an: {You will certainly be tested in your wealth and your own selves, and you will certainly hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate partners with Allah much abusive words. But if you observe patience and fear Allah, that is a matter of firm resolve.} [Al-Imran: 186]
Al-Hafiz Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “There are five statementsregarding the reasons of revelation of this verse {You will certainly be tested in your wealth and your own selves}”.
The first one: is that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,passed by a gathering where there was `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul and Abdullah bin Rawaha. The dust raised by the donkey covered the place of the gathering, so `Abdullah bin Ubai covered his nose with his upper garment and said: “Do not trouble us with dust.”. Then the Prophet peace be upon himdismounted, invited them to Allah (i.e., to embrace Islam) and recited to them some verses of the Holy Qur’an. On that, `Abdullah bin Ubai said, “There is nothing better than what you said.And if it is true, thendo not trouble us in our gathering, but return to your house, and if somebody comes to you, teach him there.” On that, `Abdullah bin Rawaha said: Bring your teachings to our gatherings, O Allah’s Messenger!, for we love that.” So, the Muslims, the pagans and the Jews started insulting each other till they were about to fight. So this verse has come down. Narrated by ‘Urwah from Usama bin Zaid.
The second one: is that the polytheists and the Jews were harming the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his companions a lot, and so this verse was revealed. Narrated by Ka’ab bin Malik Al Ansari.
The third one: is that it was revealed regarding what happened between Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and the Jewish Fenhas.
The fourth one: is that it was revealed concerning the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq. Narrated by Abu Saleh from Ibn Abbas. Chosen by Muqatil.
And the fifth one: is that it was revealed regardingKa’ab ibn Al-Ashraf as he was instigatingpolytheists against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his companions in his poetry, and this is in the Al-Zuhri’sview.
God Almighty said: {And you will certainly hear from those who were given the Scripture before you}.
Ibn Abbas said: they’re the Jews and the Christians. {And from those who associate partners with Allah} are the Arab polytheists.
{But if you observepatience} against harm {And fear Allah} by avoiding sins, {that is a matter of firm resolve} i.e.: what you are determined to do, due to its apparent rationality.
He said in Al-Tahrir and Al-Tanwir (4/190): “Harm is hurting by words; like what Allah says: {They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance} [Al-Imran: 111]. That is why he described it here as a lot, i.e. beyond what souls can often bear.”
The second text:
Allah, exalted be He, says in the Qur’an: {Then proclaim what you are commanded, and turn away from those who associate partners with Allah (94) We will suffice for you against such scoffers (95) who set up (other) gods with Allah. They will soon come to know.(96) We certainly know that your heart is truly distressed by what they say. (97) So exalt your Lord with praise and be of those who prostrate,(98) and worship your Lord until the certainty [of death] comes to you. (99)}
Allah Almighty says: {And turn away from those who associate partners with Allah} i.e. from caring about their mockery and frombeing concerned with their words, for Allah has exonerated you of what they say.
Ibn Ishaq, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “When they persisted in their evil and increased their mockery of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Allah Almighty has revealed: {Then proclaim what you are commanded, and turn away from those who associate partners with Allah (94) We will suffice for you against such scoffers (95) who set up (other) gods with Allah. They will soon come to know. (96)}. What it means is: do what you are commanded and do not fear anyone but Allah, for Allah is sufficient for you from those who hurt you like He did with those who mocked you; and they were five of the chiefs of Makkah: Al-Walid Bin Al-Mughaira, who is their leader, Al-‘Aass Bin Wael, Al-Aswad Bin Al-Muttalib Bin Asad Abu Zam’ah, Al-Aswad Bin Abed Yaghouth, and Al-Harith bin Al-Talatla. Allahannihilated them in the same day in the battle of Uhud, for mocking the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him”.
The third text:
God Almighty says: {So, because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them.1 And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. But forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (good-doers)} [Al Ma’idah: 13]
The scholar Al-Taher bin Ashur, may Allah Almighty have mercy on him, said: “The origin of betrayal is failing to honor the covenant.
The Jews of Medina broke their covenant with the Messenger of God and the Muslims; by allying with thedisbelievers(associators) in the battle of Al-Ahzab. Allah says: {And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers), Allâh brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives.} [Al-Ahzab: 26].
He said: “The fact that He ordered him to pardon and spare them; is an adoption the honorable manners, as a response to their mistreatment of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
This is not a position for mentioning national or religious rivalries. As it does not contradict Allah’s words in the chapter of At-Tawbah: {Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.} [At-Tawbah: 29]; Because these are rulings of general behavior, and there is no need to say that the before-mentioned verse was abrogated with this verse of At-Tawbah.
Sheikh Ibn Ashur means that the verses ordering to pardon are not abrogated;As it concerns personal behavior. As for the verse of At-Tawbah, it concerns public affairs and confronts the behaviors that target the state and society as a whole.
The fourth text:
Allah says in the Qur’an: {Among the Jews are those who distort the words taking them out of the context, and say, “We hear and disobey,” and “Hear! May you never hear,” and “Rā‘ina” [hearken to us] – twisting their tongues and insulting the religion. If they had said, “We hear and obey,” and “Hear,” and “Wait for us,” it would have been better for them and more proper. But Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so only a few of them will believe.}.
Qatada and others say: The Jews used to say to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “Listen to us”as a way to mock the Prophet. Some of the commentators mentioned that that expression was a Jewish insult.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may God Almighty have mercy on him, said: “These people, insulted the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, with these words, they twisted their tongues mocking him, and slandered the religion (of Islam). However, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not kill them”.
The fifth Text:
He says: {The hypocrites worry lest a chapter may be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, “Go on mocking; God will bring out what you fear.”. If you ask them, they will say, “We were just joking and playing.” Say, “Were you making jokes about God, His revelations, and His Messenger?” Do not apologize. You have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others, because they are guilty}.
Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “It was narrated that some scholars, including Ibn Omar, Muhammad bin Kab, Zaid bin Aslam and Qatada; said that hypocrite man said in the Battle of Tabuk: “I have never seen such liar and coward readers like ours”. He means the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and his companions. Auf bin Malik answered him saying: “You lied, but you are a hypocrite and I will tell the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.” Auf went to the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, to tell him, and he found the Qur’an have preceded him. So, that man came to the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and he had traveled and rode on his camel and said: O Messenger of God, we were only playing and talking to ease the trouble of the road.
Ibn Omar said: “he is lying when he says that we were only talking and playing.”
Then the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “Were you mocking God, His miracles, and His Messenger.”
Mujahid said: “A man of the hypocrites said: Muhammad tells us about the camel of such-and-such in the valley of such-and-such, and he knows what is unseen, so God Almighty revealed this verse.”
Muammar said on Qatada: “During the battle of Tabuk, the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, rode along with the hypocrites walk between his hands and said: Does this think that he opens the palaces and fortresses of the Romans? So, God informed His Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, on what they said, and the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, called them and said: Did you say such and such? So they swore, we would only joke and play.”
So when those mocked and underestimated his knowledge the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions and, God said that they are disbelievers, and if they said it as a joke, how could it be more serious than that? Their punishment was not established because the jihad of the hypocrites was not commanded at that time, but rather he was commanded to not harm them, and pardon those who underestimate and hurt him. The Prophet, peace be upon him was inclined to create forgiveness and mercy.
The sixth Text:
Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: After the battle of Hunain, Messenger of Allah peace be upon him favoured some people in the distribution of spoils (for consolation). He gave Al-Aqra’ bin Habis and ‘Uyainah bin Hisn a hundred camels each and showed favour also to some more honourable persons among the Arabs. Someone said: “This division is not based on justice and it was not intended to win the Pleasure of Allah.” I said to myself: “By Allah! I will inform Messenger of Allah peace be upon him of this.” I went to him and informed him. His face became red and he said, “Who will do justice if Allah and His Messenger do not?” Then he said, “May Allah have mercy on (Prophet) Musa (Moses); he was caused more distress than this but he remained patient.” Having heard this, I said to myself: “I shall never convey anything of this kind to him in future”.
The seventh text:
Urwa bin Zubayr reported that Aisha, may God be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: A group of Jews came to Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him and said, “As-samu ‘Alaika ” (Death be on you), and I understood it and said to them, “AlaikumAsSamuwa-l-la’na (Death and curse be on you).” Allah’s Apostle said, “Be calm! O `Aisha, for Allah loves that one should be kind and lenient in all matters.” I said. “O Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him, haven’t you heard what they have said?” Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him said, “I have (already) said (to them), ‘Alaikum (upon you).’ “
The eighth text:
Bahz ibn Hakim reported from his grandfather: (Ibn Qudamah’s version has: His grandfather’s brother or uncle reported:) – the narrator Mu’ammal said: – He (his grandfather Mu’awiyah) got up before the Holy Prophet peace be upon him who was giving sermon: and he said: Why have your companions arrested my neighbours? He turned away from him twice. He (his grandfather Mu’awiyah) then mentioned something. The Holy Prophet peace be upon him then said: Let his neighbours go.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may God Almighty have mercy on him, said: “If he narrated these insults on someone else, he intended to mock and harm them by that, not respond to whoever said it. And this is a type of insulting.
Ibn Saad also narrated on Akramah that he did not kill him, and it was reported from al-Waqidi that this is more correct than the narration of the one who said that he killed him.
Then Ayyad narrated two sayings in al-Shifaa: Was he killed or not?
Gifted Mercy:
This was his gift, peace be upon him, with offenders and mockers; Although it was his legal and natural right to punish them. However, he did it only in a few cases. The certain number of them does not exceed four cases in which the right of the state and society is taken into account. And as I demonstrated it in my study, which is the origin of this article.
This great prophetic guidance in forgiving those who insulted him or mocked him is among the images of his mercy, peace be upon him, to people, which God Almighty described when saying: {We did not send you except as mercy to mankind} [Al-Anbiya`: 107]
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him said: “I am a gifted mercy”.
This highlights the way he, peace be upon him, create mercy and love of goodness in people through his morals. And this includes those who harm him.
It has been narrated on the authority of `A’isha, the wife of the Prophet peace be upon him, who said to the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him): Messenger of Allah, has there come upon you a day more terrible than the day of Uhud. He said: I have experienced from thy people and the hardest treatment I met from them was what I received from them on the day of `Aqaba. I betook myself to Ibn `Abd Yalil b. `Abd Kulal with the purpose of inviting him to Islam, but he did not respond to me as I desired. So I departed with signs of (deep) distress on my face. I did not recover until I reached Qarn al-Tha`alib. Where I raised my head, lo! near me was a cloud which had cast its shadow on me. I looked and lo! there was in it the angel Jibril who called out to me and said: God, the Honoured and Glorious, has heard what thy people have said to thee, and how they have reacted to thy call. And He has sent to thee the angel in charge of the mountains so that thou mayest order him what thou wishest (him to do) with regard to them. The angel in charge of the mountains (then) called out to me, greeted me and said: Muhammad, God has listened to what thy people have said to thee. I am the angel in charge of the mountains, and thy Lord has sent me to thee so that thou mayest order me what thou wishest. If thou wishest that I should bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Mecca to crush them in between, (I would do that). But the Messenger of Allah may peace he upon him said to him: I rather hope that God will produce from their descendants such persons as will worship Allah, the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him.
The prophets are the first people with perfect morals:
Kadi Ayyad said in a statement concerning his gift, may God bless him and grant him peace, against those who insult him: Despite that, he always hoped for their return to Islam and their repentance. So he, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, was patient with their subjugation, as the most resolute of the messengers were, until many of them fulfilled inwardly, outwardly and secretly. And God benefited many of them and made them helpers, protectors, and heroes.
And Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may God have mercy on him, said:
“The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and other prophets, peace be upon them, used to pardon and spare those who insult or mock them in compliance with the verse: {Be tolerant, and command decency, and avoid the ignorant.} and as His saying Almighty: {Repel evil with good}, and His saying: {Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend.
But none will attain it except those who persevere, and none will attain it except the very fortunate}, and His saying: {It is by of grace from God that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh, hardhearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the conduct of affairs. And when you make a decision, put your trust in God; God loves the trusting}, and His saying: {And do not obey the blasphemers and the hypocrites, and ignore their insults, and rely on God. God is a sufficient protector}.
This is because the degree of forgiveness and patience on harm and injustice is one of the best morals of people of this world and the hereafter. Through it, a man can reach what he does not reach by the use of praying and fasting. The Almighty said: {Those who give in prosperity and adversity, and those who restrain anger, and those who forgive people. God loves the doers of good.}, and the Almighty said: {The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward lies with God. He does not love the unjust}, and the Almighty said: {If you let a good deed be shown, or conceal it, or pardon an offense—God is Pardoning and Capable} And He Almighty said: {If you were to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you resort to patience—it is better for the patient}.
There are many hadiths on this topic that are well known.
And prophets are the most deserving people to this matter for their virtue. They are also the neediest people of it for their deeds and treatments with people.
And changing their habits is something that no one should do. The words that harm them make the Man a disbeliever, so he becomes an enemy and a hypocrite if he is someone who claims to be a Muslim.
God gave them the right to pardon such a kind of people and also the right to pard the murderer. It is well known that insulting the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, is a great sin. But when his right is included in the matter, He, peace be upon him either had to choose to pardon or take revenge. And he chooses to pardon. He, peace be upon him, may have been ordered to kill only if he sees the interest in doing so. For instance, it is done in cases related to fornication, theft, or injustice to others.
And if his companions witnessed someone who would harm him, they wanted to kill him; Knowing that he deserves to be killed. However, the Prophet peace be upon him, pardons him and shows them that his pardon is more appropriate, while admitting that it is permissible to kill him.
Accustoming hearts:
Kadi Ayyad also said, in the explanation of the Prophet’s guidance and pardon: “The first in all of this, and the clearest of these aspects is the intention of appropriation and moderation with religion, so that they might believe.
Sheikh Al-Islam said: “He, used to forgive them for accustom hearts, so that people would not say that Muhammad kills his people, and this was explained in this story or something similar to it.
Jabir b. Abdullah reported that a person came to the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him at Jirana on his way back from Hunain, and there was in the clothes of Bilal some silver. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him took a handful out of that and bestowed it upon the people. He (the person who had met the Prophet at Ji’rana) said to him:
Muhammad, do justice. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Woe be upon thee, who would do justice if I do not do justice, and you would be very unfortunate and a loser if I do not do justice. Upon this Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: Permit me to kill this hypocrite. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: May there be protection of Allah! People would say that I kill my companions. This man and his companions would recite the Qur’an but it would not go beyond their throat, and they swerve from it just as the arrow goes through the prey.
Is the judgement of obedience corrupted?
Some jurists believed that the judgement of obedience and pardon is corrupted through the verses of jihad:
Al-Qurtubi said: “It was said: This was before the fighting began, and God called upon His servants to be patient and preform good deeds. Al-Bukhari also spoke in the same context of this hadith as in before the fight began. And apparently, this was not corrupted
For arguing for a good cause and politeness is always encouraged.
And even though the Prophet peace be upon him was commanded to fight, it is evident that he bid farewell to the Jews, administered them, and pardoned the hypocrites.
He said in Al-Tahrir and At-Tanweer (4/190):
As for patience on harm in times of war and peace, this verse is not concerned with not permitting fights, but it instructed them to be patient on the harm caused by of the infidels until it was abrogated by the verses of the sword, because it appears that the verse was revealed after the incident of Uhud, and it is after the command to fight. Said by Al-Qaffal.
Ibn Al-Jawzi said, when interpreting the words of God Almighty: {But if you persevere and lead a righteous life—that indeed is a mark of great determination}
The Almighty described it patience as a great determination and that indicates that the forgiveness and pardon is a Sharia judgement that is not abrogated.
Al-Zamakhsharisaid:{The greatest determination} means from what it is necessary focus on, or from what God intended it to be, meaning: that this is a determination of God, and you must be patient and pious.
Oh God, blessings, bless and send Your mercy on the Prophet peace be upon the one.