Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is introduced in the Holy Qur'an in these words: “And We have not sent you forth but as a mercy to mankind. (Al-Anbiyaa': 107)” This shows that his distinctive quality was that he was a blessing incarnate in word and deed. According to a tradition recorded in the Sahih of Imam Muslim, when the Prophet's opponents greatly increased their persecution, his Companions asked him to curse them. At this the Prophet (pbuh) replied, “I have not been sent to lay a curse upon men but to be a blessing to them.” His opponents continued to treat him and his Companions unjustly and cruelly, but he always prayed for them. Once he was so badly stoned by his enemies that the blood began to spurt from all over his body. This happened when he went to Taif. Even at that point, when he was utterly exhausted and bleeding from head to foot, all he said was, “O my Lord, guide my people along the true path, as they are ignorant of the truth.” He prayed for their emancipation and refrained from retribution. He said, “The most virtuous behavior is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you”. There was an old woman who used to throw trash on him everyday. When one day she did not throw trash on him, he went to inquire about her. She was ill. He offered the ill woman help and served her until she recovered. Embarrassed at her behavior thus far and impressed with the Prophet's response, she embraced Islam. His heart was filled with intense love for all human kind irrespective of caste, creed, or color. He advised his Companions to regard all people as their brothers and sisters. “You are all Adam's offspring and Adam was born of clay,” he said. Therefore, being an Ummah of such a merciful, supremely kind, virtuous and forgiving man, how can we kill, destroy and create havoc, and do it in his name? Killing an innocent man is like killing the whole of humanity, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said. By this very yardstick, the death of the US ambassador to Libya, a man who served the people of Libya so well in their very difficult times, is indeed the death of humanity and decency. According to a Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) once said, “A true believer is one with whom others feel secure. One who returns love for hatred.” According to another Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) once said, “By God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, with whom his neighbors are not secure.” How safe Christopher Stevens and his people were and what happened to them in a Muslim country is indeed a shameful thought. Is it not naive of us to fall into the trap of wicked men like Sam Bacile (the imbecile), Terry “Terror” Jones, the Danish cartoonist Jylland Posten, Salman Rush(to)die, etc.? These people and their sympathizers and supporters will do everything they can to provoke us, stress us and humiliate us. Reacting the way we reacted in the past and recently in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, etc. only accomplishes their evil plans and underlines their accusations and allegations that we are an ignorant, violent and illiterate society. How long will we indulge in this crass behavior and prove these evil and sick men right? Let us ignore them, pity them and pray for them. Pray that they are cured of their sickness. Their denigration, blasphemy and desecration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will not hurt him or his reverence. What could hurt him, though, is the deviant and devilish ways we are leading our lives. The film “Innocence of Muslims” would have remained a disgusting nonentity if we had not reacted the way we did. We understand the revulsion, anger and hurt it caused us all. But we should react and respond in the way exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We have reacted, responded in our way long enough. It has only brought more misery, destruction and a bad name. It is high time we take a more wise, spiritual and civilized approach - the approach demonstrated time and again through the sayings and Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) whom the Almighty decreed upon mankind as a mercy and who has been declared as the most honest, virtuous and kindest of men even by his worst enemies. Philosophers, historians, statesmen of great stature, and intellectuals throughout the centuries and from across the entire fabric of human society have revered and respected him. So what if a handful of sick and sinister men try to blaspheme him. It does not change the reality. Michael H. Hart, in his excellent and well-researched book “The Hundred” declared Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Number One amongst the 100 most influential, wise and great people who ever walked on the face of the earth. Two ugly faces of a coin Remember that people of the ilk of Rushdie, Bacile, Jones, and Posten are not alone. The so-called civilized, educated, democratic and just people who justify, empathize, sympathize and support such people are the other ugly side of the coin. These people, when their religion, gods or society are ridiculed or shown in a bad light jump and scream and call it undemocratic and uncivilized. While, when Islam, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) or Muslims are blasphemed, denigrated or attacked, they defend and reward the perpetrators citing democracy and freedom of expression. What hypocrisy - what injustice - what unscrupulousness! Anyone with an iota of fairness, decency or conscience would reject such an attitude. What must we do ? Our responses and reactions, at being attacked, ridiculed or accused, in the light of the sayings (Hadith) and Sunnah (Traditions), should be the following : Stay calm and tolerant. Never become violent. Bombing and burning won't help. They never do. Never hurt the innocent. Converge and confer as a community. Appeal to the fair, civilized and just people of the world - trust me, you will find many. Appeal to internationals bodies and governments. Engage in dialogue and propagate the Truth (for the benefit of the innocently ignorant). Boycott the media which slander or promote slander (Google, YouTube, etc ). Form energetic, efficient and effective lobbies and pressure groups. Even if any or all of the above do not work, remain steadfast, tolerant, virtuous and dignified. Pity the insidious an insecure hate-mongers. I hail and salute the recent statement of the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia - Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh. He said, “It is forbidden in Islam to punish the innocent for the wicked crimes of the guilty, or to attack those who have been granted protection of their lives and property, or to expose public buildings to fire or destruction. The greatest victory to the Prophet (pbuh) is to follow his guidance and Sunnah and spread his virtues. Sinful and criminal endeavor cannot hurt the Prophet (pbuh) or his image. He stressed that Muslim condemnation of this criminal attempt should be by strengthening our unity and achieving progress with greater determination”. What sage advice! These are words of wisdom that we need to adhere to. We also need to live by the ideals envisaged in the inter-faith dialogues and peace initiatives of King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman. A lesson taught by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is to live among others like flowers, and not like thorns, without giving trouble to anyone. In another Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said, “If a believer is not able to benefit others, he must at least do them no harm.” This shows that to the Prophet (pbuh), the man who is useful to others leads his life on a higher plane. But if he fails to do so, he should at least create no trouble for his fellow men. For a man to be a really good servant of God, he must live in this world as a person who does not create problems. There is no other option. In conclusion, I would like to tell the world that our pain and hurt for the unfortunate killing of US Ambassador Stevens and his staff is no less than the pain Sam Bacile and his devils caused us. Our heart goes out to the families and friends of the honorable men killed at the hands of a few violent people in Libya. I take solace in the fact that they do not represent the vast majority of Muslims. I also take solace in the fact that Bacile and Jones do not represent the vast majority of the non-Muslims.
