This is a guest blog post by Tayyibah Taylor, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Azizah Magazine
The murders, violence and anarchy caused by Muslims protesting a film last week revealed a blatant disregard for values and traditions of the prophet whose honor demonstrators claimed to be defending. Islam, like the world’s other major religions teaches its followers to inculcate serenity, selflessness and self discipline. None of those characteristics were illustrated by the protesters.
While it is difficult for me, a practicing Muslim, to reconcile the incongruence of the protesters’ behavior with the peace that Islam espouses, I imagine it is exponentially more puzzling for those who are unfamiliar with Islam. It may be helpful to note the five main Islamic religious rituals – worshipping nothing but the Creator, praying five times a day, fasting for a month during the sunlit hours, giving regular charity and making the pilgrimage – all require heightened levels of God Consciousnesses and self-mastery. Consequently, that spiritual understanding and control should translate into our daily acts of living and be evident in our relations with others.
How a person reacts to insults, as well as to praise, discloses their core principles. When Prophet Muhammad was extolled, he deflected the praise to the Creator. When he was insulted, he exhibited patience, never anger. The compilations of his sayings and actions report he advised his followers to remain silent if they become angry and asserted, “The strong person is not one who can throw another down. The strong person is one who can keep control of himself/herself when angry.”
Prophet Muhammad did more than exert control; he demonstrated forgiveness. A woman made it her part of her daily routine to spit on him and assailed with him rocks and garbage as he walked in front of her house. After months of daily insults, one morning the woman was silent. The Prophet knocked on the door and inquired about her health.
Forgiveness and understanding is the directive of God in the Qur’an. In Chapter Al Shura, it says, “…And what is with God is better and more enduring for those who believe and who rely on their Lord. And those who avoid major sins and indecencies, and when they become angry, they forgive.”
There is no Islamic rationalization for “righteous anger” and violence when Muslims perceive an insult to our religion, our prophet or to our own selves. The reactions of those who truly consider themselves servants of God, those for whom religious rituals are more than rote actions, are quite different. In Chapter Al Furqan, we read, “The servants of God, Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’”
Meeting ignorance, hatred and insults with greetings of peace and forgiveness is the Muslim way, not violence and arrogance. This is what Chapter Fussilat tells us: “…Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel evil with what is better: Then the one, between you and whom was hatred, will become as your close friend.”
As salaamu alaykum, When I read this warm and compassionate message coming from our beloved sister it brought to mind the saying of our beloved Prophet, “paradise lies at the feet of the woman”. It is absolutely essential that we women of Islam study and learn the life of Prophet Muhammad and, begin througj these teachings, speak out to rid our Ummah of this incorrect practice. We know that Aisha (RA) spoke against incorrect practices after the death of our Prophet. Thank you sister Tayyibah for your words of wisdom.