Loving him is following him

Every now and then, some Western media outlets provoke Muslims by insulting the Prophet . The baiting often succeeds in eliciting Muslims' outrage and sporadic violence.

The latest incident started with a Danish newspaper's caricature portraying the Prophet Muhammad  as a terrorist. To add insult to injury, Norwegian, French, German, Dutch and a few other newspapers reprinted the defamatory cartoons to "defend"—they claimed—the freedom of expression.

The real issue is not the freedom of expression. Free speech is not and was never meant to be absolute. There are laws in the West that ban certain kinds of speech, including those that incite anti-Semitism, racism and violence. Moreover, some countries have laws against blasphemy and defamation. To Muslims, banning blasphemy against Allah and the Prophet Muhammad has a higher priority.

For the European newspapers to reprint the offensive      cartoons to show solidarity with their Danish counterpart seems akin to the plot the leaders of Quraysh had hatched to assassinate Prophet Muhammad .

The Quraysh masterminds had figured that including representatives from major tribes of Makkah in the heinous plot would make it impossible for the Prophet's clan, Banu Haashim, to avenge. But Allah willed that the Prophet  would migrate to Madeenah unscathed while the plotters laid siege to his house.

The West often underestimates the Muslims' reverence for their beloved Prophet, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam and is, therefore, startled by the fierce Islamic reaction to an insult against him. Few in the West know that for Muslims, loving their Prophet more than themselves is a matter of faith, not choice.

Further, the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad  as a terrorist is a falsification of history. He was considered "Al-Ameen," the trustworthy, by his people even before he received the Prophethood.

Once, when asked by some of his followers to invoke Allah's wrath on the enemies, he  refused saying he  had been sent as a mercy unto mankind.

Objective Western intellectuals have acknowledged the superior character of Prophet Muhammad . In his “The 100, a Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History," Michael H. Hart ranked Prophet Muhammad, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam No. 1 because "He was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.”

Alphonse de Lamartine, a renowned 19th Century French writer, had this to say about the Prophet Muhammad : "As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than him?”

Unfortunately, some Muslims forget that loving their Prophet, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam means following him. Burning Danish embassies, as they did in Damascus and Beirut, to avenge the insult to the Prophet Muhammad  is a complete disservice to him. Our violent reaction only plays into the hands of those who wish to reinforce the negative stereotypes about Muslims.

Do Muslims need reminding that Prophet Muhammad  forgave the people of Taa'if who had rejected his message of monotheism and pelted him with stones, bloodying him? Islamic tradition has it that when Jibreel (Archangel Gabriel) sought his permission to punish the perpetrators, the Prophet  instead prayed that some day the inhabitants of Taa'if would leave their idols and worship Allah alone. Within a few years they did.

Prophet Muhammad's, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam servant once noted his forgiving disposition, said, "I served the Prophet  for ten years, and he never said ‘uf’ (a word indicating impatience or discontent) to me and never blamed me by saying, `Why did you do so or why didn't you do so?"' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad's, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam archenemies hated his Message and hurled malicious insults at him, to which he responded with forbearance. Years later when he, sallallallahu alayhi wa sallam returned as victor to Makkah, his city of birth which he was forced to leave, he asked its awed citizens, "What do you think I'm going to do to you." They said, "You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother; we expect only good from you." The Prophet  responded with a general amnesty.

Let Muslims not forget that the Prophet  encouraged freedom of expression. In the Battle of Badr, he  changed the battlefield against his own opinion due to the passionate advice of some young soldiers.

Part of the West's success today is the freedom of expression, of thought, of religion—that draws Muslims to it from their oppressed societies. For that, Muslims should be thankful to the West. After all, freedom is an Islamic value that the West has embraced while Muslim societies have forsaken.

Defending Prophet Muhammad  requires allowing freedom and practicing compassion and forgiveness, like he did. In his lifetime he  bore insults with magnanimity and devoted his time to spreading the Message of Allah. In fact, he never avenged anyone for a personal offence. Can we really respect him by violent retaliation?

Muslims should turn this extremely painful incident into something positive, by teaching the world what the Prophet  means to us and what his life was like.

As for the West, there really is a need to reexamine the notion of free speech. Without safeguards, the exercise of this freedom can be lethal, as we have seen.

One may ask, is it morally defensible to provoke violence, cause death, and create a civilizational conflict for one cartoonist's freedom of expression?

The West already has laws to protect religious freedom, which Muslims and other peoples of faith admire. What it now needs to do is protect this freedom from being trampled by unbridled free speech. No one should have to insult Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, or Moses, may Allah exalt their mention to speak freely.

We can turn these negative, malicious cartoons into something positive by learning about the Prophet  by following him, and educating others about his teachings.

Allah described the Prophet  in the verse (which means): "And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character." [Quran 68:4]

And (what means): "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah there is a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much." [Quran 33:21]

By a divine decision, the status of Muhammad  was raised forever, as in the verse (which means): "And (has Allah not) raised high your fame?" [Quran 94:4]

Muslims were commanded to lower their voices low in the presence of the Prophet  out of respect, as in the verse (which means): "O you who believe, raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him as you speak aloud to one another lest your deeds be rendered fruitless while you perceive not. Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah's Messenger, they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for piety. For them there is forgiveness and a great reward." [Quran 49:2-3]

While other prophets were sent to their own people, Muhammad  was appointed as the Messenger to all mankind. And such he was asked to declare (what means): "Say (O Muhammad): `O mankind, verily I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the earth."' [Quran 7:158]

On the Day of Judgment he  will be the only Messenger to intercede with Allah to seek forgiveness for the wrongdoers.

As blasphemous as the drawings are, we believe that behind all events there is Allah's pre-decree and wisdom that mortal beings fully understand only in hindsight. In the end, this deeply hurtful incident would be seen as benefiting the image of the Prophet .

A case in point is the verse (which means): "Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory." [Quran 48:1 ] When this verse was revealed, even some of the most exemplary Muslims could not understand how being prevented from performing pilgrimage by the enemies could be a manifest victory. Prophet Muhammad  had just signed a treaty with non-Muslims of Makkah that imposed unfair restrictions on Muslims.

The Prophet  swore by Allah that no matter how restrictive this treaty seemed, it was a clear victory for Muslims. Within a few years, the victory became abundantly clear when Muslims marched into Makkah, not just as pilgrims but as victors.

Our love for the Prophet Muhammad  cannot be expressed except by following him. If we did that, we will see how Allah can change this painful incident into a great opportunity for the Islamic cause.

Towards Children

 would have fun with the children who had come back from  was especially fond of children and used to get into the spirit of childish games in their company. He He Abyssinia and tried to speak in Abyssinian with them. It was his practice to give lifts on his camel to children when he returned from journeys. [Al-Bukhari]

He  would pick up children in his arms, play with them, and kiss them. A companion, recalling his childhood, said: "In my childhood I used to fell dates by throwing stones at palm trees. Somebody took me to the Prophet  who advised me to pick up the dates lying on the ground but not to fell them with stones. He  then patted me and blessed me." [Abu Daawood]

Towards the Poor

 The Prophet  enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, zakat, and in other ways. He  said: "He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry."

He  asked: "Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first."

Monopoly is unlawful in Islam and he  preached that: "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path that leads to bliss."

He  did not prohibit or discourage the acquisition of wealth but insisted that it be lawfully acquired by honest means and that a portion of it would go to the poor. He  advised his followers: "To give the laborer his wages before his perspiration dried up."

He  did not encourage beggary either and stated that: "Allah is gracious to him who earns his living by his own labor, and that if a man begs to increase his property, Allah will diminish it and whoever has food for the day, it is prohibited for him to beg."

To his wife he  said: "O 'Aa'ishah, love the poor and let them come to you and Allah will draw you near to Himself." [Al-Bukhari]

One or two instances of the Prophet's concern for the poor may be given here. A man from Madeenah, Ibaad Ibn Sharjil, was once starving. He entered an orchard and picked some fruit. The owner of the orchard gave him a sound beating and stripped off his clothes. The poor man appealed to the Prophet  who remonstrated the owner thus: "This man was ignorant, you should have dispelled his ignorance; he was hungry, you should have fed him."

His clothes were restored and, in addition, some grain was given to him. [Abu Daawood]

A debtor, Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, was being harassed by his creditor as he could not clear his debt owing to the failure of his date crop. The Prophet  went with Jaabir to the house of the creditor and pleaded with him to give Jaabir some more time but the creditor was not prepared to oblige. The Prophet  then went to the oasis and having seen for himself that the crop was really poor, he again approached the creditor with no better result. He  then rested for some time and approached the creditor for a third time but the latter was adamant. The Prophet  went again to the orchard and asked Jaabir to pluck the dates. As Allah would have it, the collection not only sufficed to clear the dues but left something to spare. [Al-Bukhari]

His love for the poor was so deep that he  used to pray: "O Allah, keep me poor in my life and at my death and raise me at resurrection among those who are poor." [An-Nasaa'ee]

Towards Animals

The Prophet  not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all living souls. He  forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. [Muslim]

If he saw any animal over-loaded or ill-fed he  would pull up the owner and say: "Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." [Abu Daawood]

A companion came to him  with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed by the Prophet  to replace her offspring in the same bush. [Abu Daawood]

During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird's painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet  who asked the man to replace the eggs. [Al-Bukhari]

As his army marched towards Makkah to conquer it, they passed a female dog with puppies. The Prophet  not only gave orders that they should not be disturbed, but posted a man to see that this was done.

He  stated: "Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal."