Muslims all over the world are extremely grieved over the publishing of insults against Allah’s best creation and the seal of the prophets and the messengers, Prophet Muhammad, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him (pbuh). Such defamatory remarks come only from the most sinful and despicable people.
By Dr Abdelhak Hamiche/Associate Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence Faculty of Islamic Studies-Hamad Bin Khalifa University
The question that must be asked here is what is the ideal way to respond to these insults? Shall we respond through abuse, attacks, stoning of western and American embassies and killing their employees? Or are there other more civilised ways that show the world the truth about this Holy Prophet who was sent by Allah as mercy to the world, and that do not bring bad name to Islam and Muslims
If we respond to insults with insults, we only give more value and fame to those insignificant people. We should not respond to the insult of the Holy Prophet with violence and destruction. Huthaifa, a Companion of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Do not be a flunky: when people do good we do good and when people do unjust we do unjust, but firmly establish yourselves, when people do good follow suit and when people do wrong follow them not.” (Reported by Al Tirmizi)
Let our initial response be disregard to such acts of insults, whereby we make them feel the insignificance of their deeds. Let our silence express our disregard to those who do not deserve fame at the expense of Islam and Muslims. Let us focus on work to spread the teachings of this great religion. Let us also focus on spreading the life story of the Prophet (pbuh) in various languages and through all forms of media, including publishing books, theses, and articles, TV, radio, newspapers, the internet, etc…
Muslims should avoid spreading pictures of the profane movie or its actors on the Internet and through the other available media. That is because by doing so the Muslims will directly or indirectly achieve the aims of this movie. Therefore, we may not give fame to those culprits through videos, publications or pictures, because they want to attain fame and they want to subjugate and insult the largest possible number of Muslims who have accessed the movie.
Muslims must lead a general and comprehensive movement to ensure that these people are held accountable for their crime, and must call for their trial, and work to prevent any further insult against the Prophet and Islam.
Muslims must also call on the countries fostering and sponsoring such insulting works to reconsider and prohibit publishing, marketing such movies and to ban other similar profane acts in fear of negative responses, which do not affect only one category of people, but affect nations and human societies at large.
Further we need to remind them that such provoking acts will not only increase Islam and Muslims in strength and solidarity, rather they will nourish and deepen the hatred between nations and encourage individual and collective extremist policies at all levels.
The second response should be the using of the same weapon, but following our ethics not theirs. That could be done by presenting the facts through various means of media in a refined manner that reaches the entire world. The westerners hardly know us, even if they learn anything about us; they learn it only through such cheap movies. Our media must spread our faith and highlight the ethics of Islam to the entire world. Therefore, we must use the internet and other means of media to spread the true life story of the Prophet (pbuh), and highlight his morals.
The third response is to avoid the sedition that these videos seek. Let our response not be through violent demonstrations and holding banners that show the west exactly what they think about us, which would mean that the producers of this movie succeeded in distortion of Islam and delivering their false message.
The fourth response is for the Muslim nation to be aware of their duty towards their Prophet (pbuh). All Muslim should do the following for their Prophet (pbuh):
lRevere and defend the Prophet’s Sunnah.
lBelieve in what he said, obey his orders and avoid what he forbade.
lLove the Prophet (pbuh) more than one’s self, parents, children and all people. That is shown by following and emulating him alone. Allah the Almighty says: “Say (O Muhammad): If ye do love Allah, follow me, then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” - Chapter 3 Verse 31 of Al-‘Imran (The family of ‘Imran)
lBeware mocking or rejecting any of his Sunnah.
l Love his family, wives and companions, and reach out to Allah through their love.
lRaising Muslim children on love and emulating Allah’s Prophet (pbuh), in addition to teaching our children their rights towards the nation.
lSeek acquiring the morals of the Prophet (pbuh) and follow his manners.
lBecome familiar with the way of life of the Prophet (pbuh), and his endeavours and strive to deliver the message of Allah.
The fifth response is that the Islamic nation must thwart the western and Jewish media and respond to the misconceptions they raise against Islam and its Prophet through modern technology. Allah the Almighty says: “Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” - Chapter 16 Verse 152 of Al-Nahl (The Bee). Therefore, the nation should highly consider the call to Islam in the ways that are best and most gracious, and support the preachers and propagators of Islam in their duty towards the religion and towards the Prophet of Islam and Muslims, without the responses that harm Islam and Muslims more than they benefit them.