Enemies of Prophet Muhammad: How Did He Treat Them?
25 October, 2020
QSome people say that it was the custom of Prophet Muhammad to torture his enemies. Could you please explain to me how Prophet Muhammad treated his enemies?
ANSWER
Ask the Scholar Editor
25 October, 2020
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
He was the most merciful person. Allah called him as “a mercy to the worlds” (Al-Anbiya’ 21: 107). He was merciful to his family, followers, friends, even enemies. He was merciful to young and old, to humans and to animals.
On how Prophet Muhammad treated his enemies, we would like to cite for you the following:
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was not only a Prophet sent with a special message to be delivered to the whole mankind, but he was, still is, and will continue illuminating the minds of people, unlocking their hearts to the truth through the pearls of wisdom with which he guided the baffled humanity to the right path along the course of centuries.
Prophet Muhammad was a matchless leader, a veteran statesman in the full sense of the word, a father to the fatherless, a source of solace to the hopeless, a beaming light to the oppressed, an illumination to those who lost their way inside the dark tunnel of ignorance.
Bleeding from head to toe, battered and exhausted, Prophet Muhammad was faced with a choice. Should he or should he not seek to destroy the people who had just humiliated him by having their children chase him out of town while throwing stones at him? And what was his crime?
Discovering the Personality of Aisha bint Abu Bakr
Stories of Prophet Muhammad's Mercy (10+ Hadiths)
All he wanted to do was to share his message and seek to benefit his people.
Prophet Muhammad was in At-Taif, a lush town of green palm trees, fruit and vegetables, about 50 miles southeast of his arid hometown Makkah.
He was hoping that perhaps the people of this town would be receptive to his message, which had been rejected by most of the Makkans for more than a decade.
However, the people of At-Taif proved just as cruel and intolerant as his own people.
Not only did they scorn his message of Allah’s Oneness, but they turned their youth against him as well.
In the face of this misery, the Angel Gabriel was sent and presented him with an option: the whole town could be destroyed, by Allah’s Will, for their arrogance and hatefulness.
He could have done it. He could have asked that those children who pelted him with stones be finished off along with their intolerant parents, but he didn’t!
No, the Prophet told the Angel not to destroy the people of At-Taif. Instead of cursing the children of this town, he prayed for their salvation. That is just one example of how this man, whom Allah describes as a “mercy to mankind” (Al-Anbiya’ 21:107) dealt with those who opposed him.
It is just one of the many examples in the life of a person who faced constant death threats, actual attempts on his life, and abuse and humiliation at the hands of those threatened by his simple yet profound message: there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.
The people of At-Taif were not the only ones who tasted this mercy. It was his habit to pray for his enemies all the time. Two of his most bitter enemies, Abu Jahl and Umar were also the objects of his prayers.
The Prophet made similar supplications for his people on a regular basis: “O Allah! Guide my people, for they know not,” he would pray, as he and his followers were beaten, humiliated, scorned and ridiculed.
On another occasion, some Companions came to Prophet Muhammad and said: “O Messenger of Allah! The tribe of Daws have committed disbelief and disobeyed (your commands). Supplicate Allah against them!”
Contrary to the people’s expectations, the Prophet said: “O Allah! Guide Daws and let them come to us.” (Al-Bukhari)
These are just a few glimpses at how the Prophet dealt with those who opposed him. His opponents were not just people who fought his message on an intellectual level, they were individuals bent on destroying him, his family, his followers and Islam itself.
Contrast this nobility with some ignorant believers today who are found cursing others and praying for the destruction of the world.
We do not know the aims of individuals. We do not even know ourselves. So let’s keep making duaa that we stay on the right path and that Allah will guide others to it as well.
When Allah tells us in the Quran about the kind of behavior which leads to receiving a good reward and the character which takes people to the Hellfire, He is saying this so that people may adopt the correct behavior and avoid Hellfire by abandoning what He forbade for our own good.
Those verses are not meant to be a criterion for us to determine where others will end up. That knowledge is only with Allah, the Lord of the universe.
Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to all human beings. Any person may turn to Islam regardless of his original religious background. We, as his followers, must live and spread this message today at a time when hatefulness and ugliness towards each other has become the norm.
AboutIslam Interviews UK Muslim Honored with MBE
Farrukh Younus
26 October, 2020
British Muslim convert, community activist, and women’s rights advocate, Julie Siddiqi, is one of those awarded an MBE in the Queen Birthday honor list.
MBE is an honorary award in the British system; it recognizes outstanding achievements or remarkable community services.
AboutIslam speaks with Julie to learn more about her recognition and what it means to her.
📚 Read Also: Exclusive Interview with British Muslim Honored With MBE
Q. Where were you when you found out about being awarded an MBE and how did it feel?
A. I found out from a letter out of the blue in the post a few months ago. You are asked if you would accept an award and give some personal info and then you send it back and are not allowed to tell anyone. So I just pushed it to the back of my mind so I didn’t get tempted to tell the kids or my mum!
I have been working in the community for 25 years now. My work has always been with people, so I feel humbled and touched to have been recognized but really feel it’s for those people too, who have been on my journey with me.
They are all part of the award in my eyes, from the first committee members I had in our local women’s group to the person who recently set up my website and hundreds of people in between, we are in this together.
Q. You’ve been involved in the charity sector for some time, what are the main causes you have been looking to address? And what challenges have you faced?
A. I see myself as a community organizer, a campaigner, a mentor, an educator, and a student. We are all learning and life is a journey. I love working with people of other faiths and have particularly focused on work with the Jewish community in the last 10 years or so including being co-founder of Nisa-Nashim, the largest network of Jewish and Muslim women in Europe.
I also established Sadaqa Day which is promoting social action, seeing charity as about time and service, not just about money. Also The Big Iftar encouraging Muslims to open up Ramadan more and invite people in to share the blessings which has seen hundreds of events taking place over the last few Ramadans.
I also co-founded Open My Mosque to challenge the status quo in Muslim communities around gender and leadership. My latest social enterprise, Together We Thrive, is bringing together all of that and also focusing on creating better links and support networks for Muslim women across the UK. I’m excited, here’s to the next 25 years!
Q. As a white convert to Islam, have you ever felt that you have been subjected to bias/abuse/mistreatment from those raised as Muslims? If so, how has that inspired you to carry on forward?
AboutIslam Interviews UK Muslim Honored with MBE - About Islam
Queen Honors UK’s First Hijabi Football Coach
A. To be honest, I’ve been lucky in the way I have been respected and welcomed in different Muslim communities and my family who are not Muslim have always been really supportive too, I am very grateful for that. But yes, among Muslim communities there is racism and prejudice that needs to be spoken about and exposed more to be dealt with.
It’s not enough to keep saying “Islam does not allow racism” and then allow anti-black and other prejudice to permeate through our families and communities. I don’t like it when converts are put on a pedestal or when they are made to feel they are not really proper Muslims. Neither view is OK!
Q. As a mother how do you manage your time between family, work, and your charity work?
A. I have 4 children who are now teens/young adults. I get asked this a lot and my main answer is always to say that if anyone gets the impression I have everything worked out and organized….they are wrong! For all of us there are a certain amount of hours in the day. We all have different energy levels and ways of working.
Every now and again, we must make sure we look at our life and where we are spending time and re-balance where necessary. It helps to be passionate and love what you do.
I am someone who tries not to over-worry and focus on small details that can weigh us down and generally, I am an optimistic person. I love walking and need to make sure I get outside and do that wherever I am in the world!
Q. Do you think having an MBE will open more doors for you? If so, how do you plan to use this recognition of your hard work to do even more positive things for society?
A. It has certainly given me an energy boost to continue, mainly because I have honestly been overwhelmed and inundated by messages and kind words by so many different people. My house has been literally full of flowers which has been so lovely.
Some of my favorite messages have been from Muslim women, appreciating the award and feeling it is a ‘win’ for them too. This is an acknowledgement that as Muslim women we have difficult spaces to navigate and that we can and must keep going. Together, we thrive.
How Prophet Muhammad Corrected Mistakes (7 Strategies)
Maha Ezzeddine
26 October, 2020
Part 1 | Part 2
Mistakes are the consequences of life and being human. They help us repent, learn and grow wiser. Mistakes can be catalysts of self-improvement and reminders of our imperfections. Still, we tend to interpret mistakes more as disaster than opportunity.
Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of God and the most brilliant educator of humanity, approached mistakes not as cause for shame, but as teachable moments.
Even though the Prophet taught his companions to strive for excellence and conquer their flaws, mistakes were inevitably made, some minor and some very serious. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) corrected people’s missteps with gentleness, empathy, and creativity.
He used mistakes as opportunities to empower people, not break them.
Studying Prophet Muhammad’s example gives us insight on how to help people in their moments of error. In this part we discuss four lessons that highlight some aspects of how Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) mended mistakes:
1. Address the mistakes
How the Prophet Treated New Muslims
How the Prophet (PBUH) Treated New Muslims
Because mistakes make us uncomfortable, we may ignore them or think they are not our business. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave mistakes to stand on their own without guiding people towards a solution.
He was sincere toward his companions, and at the center of his attitude toward mistakes was a deep love and compassion. He may have chosen to correct a mistake discreetly, delay his reaction, or withhold a response, but he did so with the individual’s best interest in mind.
Sometimes, the Prophet did not even have to use words to correct a mistake. He once left the company of his companions to express disapproval of an action. A change in his posture would indicate to his companions that something was not right. When a mistake was truly grave, he would emphasize his words and repeat them several times.
The young Usamah ibn Zaid was narrating to the Prophet the events of an armed conflict with their enemy. He described one soldier who had cried out, “There is no God but Allah!” out of hope that he would be spared. Usamah told the Prophet that he then killed the soldier with his sword.
When the Prophet heard this, his face changed. He said,
“(How could) you kill him when he said, ‘La ilaha illa Allah’? (How could) you kill him when he said, ‘La ilaha illa Allah’?…”
The Prophet kept repeating these words, until Usamah wished that he could erase all his deeds. He said that he wished he could embrace Islam all over again that day, so that he could start his life afresh. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
2. Be gentle
Umar's Message Gets Two Companions Back on Track
Two Companions Failed to Immigrate to Madinah... How Umar Saved Them
The Prophet was extremely perceptive toward the people around him. He knew when someone was sensitive or vulnerable, and he often approached mistakes with utmost gentleness.
Bedouins were known at the time of the Prophet for being gruff and somewhat uncivilized. Once a bedouin entered the Prophet’s mosque for the first time. He raised his voice in supplication, “O Allah, forgive me and Muhammad, but don’t forgive anyone else!”
The Prophet smiled at him and remarked gently, “You are limiting something that is vast.”
Later, to everyone’s horror, the man urinated on the masjid floor. The Prophet calmed the dismayed onlookers, and told them to leave the man alone.
He reminded his companions that they were sent to make things easy on people, not difficult. The bedouin later recounted his experience with the Prophet:
May my mother and father be sacrificed for him. He did not scold or insult me. He just said,
‘We do not urinate in these mosques-they were built for prayer and remembrance of Allah.’
Then he called for a bucket of water to be poured on the ground. (Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani)
So deep was the empathy the Prophet had for his people that he did everything possible to make things easy for them. He removed every obstacle that stood between the people and Allah’s forgiveness, and he searched out solutions to individual’s unique circumstances. A man once confessed he was doomed because he slept with his wife while fasting in Ramadan. The Prophet asked if he was able to free a slave. The man said no.
– “Can you fast two consecutive months?”
– “No.”
– “Can you feed sixty poor people?”
– “No.”
The Prophet stayed quiet. Soon, a basket of dates was presented to him. The Prophet took the dates, and looked for the man.
“Take these dates and give them in charity.”
The man said dejectedly, “No one is poorer than me, Messenger of Allah. By Allah, there is no family in all of Madinah poorer than mine.”
At this, the Prophet’s face broke into a smile.
“Take it and feed your family,” he said. (Al-Bukhari)
3. Connect people with Allah.
From Rabbi to Sheikh (Story)
From Rabbi to Sheikh (Story)
Sometimes, we are mortified by the social embarrassment mistakes cause when they really may not be so serious in the sight of Allah. Other times, we overlook mistakes because we’ve gotten used to them and have made so many excuses. But it might be that those mistakes turn out to be mountains in the hereafter. With the remembrance of Allah, we gain a better perspective on our mistakes.
When Abu Bakr had spoken roughly to Salman Al-Farisi, Bilal ibn Rabah, and Suhaib Ar-Rumi, the Prophet reminded him that his action may have angered Allah: “Perhaps you have made them angry. By the One in whose Hands lies my soul, if you have made them angry you would have angered your Lord.” Abu Bakr rushed to his three brothers, who assured him that they had not been angry. (Muslim)
Once the Prophet came across Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari beating a slave. The Prophet said only one sentence: “Allah has more power over you than you have over him (the slave).” Abu Mas`ud freed the slave immediately. (Muslim)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would use the power of supplication to help people overcome their faults. He placed his hands on the chest of his companion, or made a special du`aa’ for them in their absence. A distressed boy came before the Prophet and requested permission to commit adultery. The companions were shocked at this bluntness, but the Prophet beckoned the boy to come closer. Instead of responding harshly, the Prophet asked him if he would like to see someone in an adulterous relationship with his mother, aunt, or daughter. After the boy responded no to each question, the Prophet simply put his hand on the boy’s head and prayed for him, “O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart and make him chaste.” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)
4. Don’t go looking for mistakes.
The Art of Giving Advice (15+ Tips)
The Art of Giving Advice (15+ Tips)
The Prophet often used his role as leader and community educator to correct mistakes for the benefit of all listeners, but in a discreet way that hid the identities of involved parties.
He would say, “What of people who commit such an action…” This way, he generally warned people of pitfalls while discreetly alerting the people involved in the mistake to repent and rectify their wrongdoing.
Prophet Muhammad forbade gossip and backbiting, and rejected any broadcast of people’s mistakes. He asked people not to report anything negative about the companions to him.
The Prophet accepted people’s words for what they were, and did not probe to uncover hidden flaws. He did not put people under a magnifying glass and guess at their motives.
We should avoid searching out people’s mistakes in order to uncover more and greater faults. Prophet Muhammad said (peace and blessings be upon him),
“Whoever searches out the shortcomings of a brother, Allah will search out his shortcomings.” (At-tirmizi and authenticated by Al-Albani)
Although there were many hypocrites in Madinah—people pretending to be Muslim but secretly undermining the community—the Prophet did not confront or accuse them. On the other hand, when a companion who had fought in the Battle of Badr, Hatib ibn Abi Balta`ah, committed an act of outright treason against the Muslims, the Prophet refused to condemn the man without speaking to him first.
Hatib admitted that he made a terrible mistake, but professed a heart full of belief. That was good enough for the Prophet, peace be upon him.
