GOD’S GUARANTEE
The distortion of the Prophet’s character and teachings was initially started by contemporary Jews residing in Arabia. Subsequently, during the Crusades, Christian scholars and Orientalists in Europe continued these efforts for centuries. Individuals like Salman Rushdie from India and others follow the same path and utilize the available resources.
The question arises: what should Muslims do in response to such incidents? Typically, Muslims react with anger and frustration, engaging in protests against these books. This has been the prevalent response from Muslim writers and speakers thus far. However, there is another crucial aspect to consider, one that, unfortunately, many Muslims have failed to comprehend due to their adverse reactions.
History demonstrates that throughout the centuries, numerous individuals have persistently attempted to tarnish the image of Prophet Muhammad, ranging from Ka’b bin al-Ashraf in the 7th century AD to Salman Rushdie in the 20th century. However, their efforts have proven futile, achieving minimal, if any, success in their objectives.
Contrastingly, similar malicious attempts were made against the prophets who preceded Muhammad, but with vastly different outcomes. In the cases of the former prophets, their adversaries succeeded in distorting their character and teachings. From Noah to Jesus, those who opposed these prophets sought to distort their image, and unfortunately, they were successful.
Notably, the records of human history do not mention the previous prophets. For instance, while ancient Egyptian history documents the Pharaoh, there is no mention of Prophet Moses. Similarly, the history of Palestine omits Christ while highlighting his contemporaneous Roman rulers. Besides the Quran, the Bible serves as the only source of information about the previous prophets, but it presents a distorted portrayal of their lives since it has not been preserved in its original form as revealed to the Prophet Jesus.
The Bible includes certain accounts and incidents involving the prophets that may seem irrelevant or inappropriate when considering their mission of calling people to God. For example, the story of Prophet Noah in the Bible states that Noah began farming, planted a vineyard, drank its wine, and became intoxicated (Genesis, 9:20-21).
Similarly, the story of Prophet Lot in the Bible includes the account of his daughters giving him wine to drink and engaging in incestuous relationships with him (Genesis 19:33).
In contrast, the Quran focuses on the message and mission of the Prophets, emphasizing their role in guiding people towards God. For instance, in the case of Prophet Moses, the Quran highlights the divine sign of the radiance of his hand (20:22; 27:12). This differs from the account in the Bible, which describes Moses placing his hand on his chest and revealing it to be leprous as a sign (Exodus, 4:6).
The example of Prophet Solomon in the Bible highlights a situation where he fell in love with many foreign women despite God’s warning not to intermarry with them as they would turn his heart away to their gods (1 Kings, 11:1- 2). The Bible states that Solomon’s heart was not entirely devoted to God, and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, unlike his father, David, who followed the Lord faithfully.
These are just a few references cited here as examples, not as an exhaustive list. Those seeking further detail can study the Bible to understand it better.
However, there have been no attempts to tarnish the image of Prophet Muhammad in recorded history. The preservation of his life and teachings in the form of the Quran and Hadith literature has played a significant role in maintaining the integrity of his character. The records of his life provide a comprehensive understanding of his mission and teachings, offering a reliable source of information for those who wish to study it.
This is not merely a coincidence or the result of the efforts of Muslims; instead, it is a direct intervention by God Himself. The obstacles and aggressive actions of those who oppose Islam have been thwarted by divine intervention. In essence, this means that the anti-Islam books and materials aimed at tarnishing the image of the Prophet and his mission have been rendered useless and ineffective on a larger scale by the Creator. While individuals are granted freedom of speech and expression as part of their test in this world, God has ensured that the impact and influence of such speeches and writings are prevented from achieving their desired effects. Despite the opponents’ relentless efforts, they have not succeeded in tarnishing the image of the Prophet as they did in the case of the previous Prophets.
The Quran repeatedly acknowledges the ridicule and mockery faced by the Prophet of Islam from his opponents. However, it does not command immediate seizure and execution of those who mock and hurt him. Instead, the Quran emphasizes the importance of calling people to God and leaving the punishment of mockers to Himself.
The Quran states, “Proclaim openly what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists. We will surely suffice you against the mockers, those who associate others with God. They will soon know. We know indeed that your heart is distressed at what they say. But glorify the praises of your Lord, and be of those who prostrate themselves, and worship your Lord until the certainty [of death] comes to you.” (15:94-99)
According to Ibn Kathir’s interpretation, the Commentators explain that the Prophet of Islam is commanded to convey the revelations from his Lord to the people and to avoid those polytheists who aim to hinder his communication. God reassures the Prophet, saying, “Do not be afraid of them. God is sufficient for you, and He will protect you from them” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 4, p. 473).
In summary, the Quran encourages the Prophet and his followers to continue conveying the message of Islam despite the mockery and opposition they face, trusting in God’s sufficiency and protection. The focus should be on worshipping and glorifying God, leaving the punishment of mockers to God’s wisdom and judgment.
The Quran makes it clear that in such situations, the method of the caller to God (dayee) should be one of avoidance rather than responding similarly. The caller should focus solely on conveying the message, and if the invitee reacts negatively or mocks, the dayee should not engage in retaliatory behaviour. It is the responsibility of the dayee to leave the matter of such individuals to God alone.
In the mentioned Quranic verse, God assures His messenger that He is sufficient to deal with the ridiculers. Since the Prophet of Islam is a Prophet for all times, this guarantee from God is also eternal. It applies not only to the early period during the Prophet’s life but also to later times when the Prophet is present through his message, which his followers continuously convey to people worldwide.
Now, let us address the question: Why does a mocker engage in mockery? The purpose of mockery is to discredit the person being ridiculed. This was the intention behind the mockery of the Prophet during ancient times, and the same remains the purpose of mockery today.
Remembering this, the most effective way to respond to ridicule is not by eliminating the insult itself but rather by elevating the stature of the person being ridiculed and making their arguments so compelling that the ridicule loses its impact.
If someone were to mock the Himalayas by calling it a small mound, such mockery would hold no weight because the grandeur of the Himalayas itself disproves such a mockery. Similarly, if someone were to mock an elephant by calling it an ant, the mockery would be rendered meaningless by the sheer physical presence of the elephant. Such ridicule becomes so absurd that it does not require a direct rebuttal—it is a self-refutation.
The same principle applies to the Prophet of Islam on a grander scale. The abundance of extraordinary historical evidence has established his noble character as a factual reality. He is no longer a subject of controversy but rather a historical figure whose greatness is universally recognized, regardless of one’s personal beliefs.
Therefore, in modern times, numerous non-Muslim authors have written books acknowledging the Prophet’s exceptional greatness. For instance, Thomas Carlyle referred to him as “the diamond of all the prophets,” while Michael Hart ranked him as the most outstanding individual in his list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Through such recognition, God Almighty has elevated the Prophet of Islam to a position where the mockery of a mocker holds no significance and becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people. The insults directed at him do not diminish his stature in any way. The Prophet had foretold his ummah about this divine decree in advance.
In the tradition, it is mentioned that the Quraysh of Makkah used to insult the Prophet by calling him “Mudhammam” (condemned, rebuked). However, the Prophet did not retaliate against them. Instead, he expressed his surprise at their persecution, stating, “Are you not amazed at the persecution of the Quraysh. They insult and call me ‘Mudhamman,’ whereas I am Muhammad (praised one).” (Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah, Vol. 1, p. 356) In this tradition, the Prophet conveyed that the Lord of the universe has destined him to have a place in world history as Muhammad (praised one), rendering their insults baseless and meaningless.
The miracle of this divine guarantee is evident in the fact that despite the high-quality printing and extensive publicity of Salman Rushdie’s book, there is not a single individual in the world who has been influenced by reading this nonsensical book or whose perception of the Prophet of Islam has been negatively affected. Since the publication of this book, numerous letters from readers have been published in international newspapers, and none of them stated that the book succeeded in tarnishing the image of Islam or the Prophet of Islam in their eyes. In reality, this book has only tarnished the author’s image rather than that of the Prophet of Islam.
Negligence Towards the Real Responsibility
Numerous Quranic verses emphasize the primary responsibility of Muslims to convey the teachings of the Prophet to the people rather than engaging in confrontations with those who insult him. God Almighty has entrusted the task of inviting people to God to the Muslims while taking it upon Himself to deal with the mockers. However, the current state of Muslims reflects a negligence towards their true responsibility. They have taken it upon themselves to react fervently to any insult or antagonistic publication against the Prophet of Islam while showing little enthusiasm for the task assigned to them by God, which is to convey the divine message to people. This lack of inclination and motivation to fulfil their entrusted duty is a form of rebellion against God rather than obedience to His command.
Present-day Muslims often neglect their responsibility of conveying the divine message brought by the Prophet of Islam and instead, focus their energy on creating an uproar and agitation in response to absurd statements or antagonistic articles. This signifies a significant dereliction of duty on the part of Muslims. In other words, they exhibit restlessness in carrying out the task that God has taken upon Himself, but they lack the urge to actively engage in the work they are required to do through their own efforts, as guided by Shariah.
According to the Quran, Muslims are duty-bound to support their Prophet, but this support entails calling people to God and not engaging in a negative campaign against those who criticize him. Muslims need to understand that they cannot earn merit for assisting the final Prophet by launching campaigns against his critics. The credit will be given to them when they effectively communicate the message of the final Prophet to all nations through love, goodwill, and well-wishing, using appropriate etiquette.
There is a significant psychological factor behind the current attitude of Muslims. For various reasons, present- day Muslims have developed a mindset of hatred towards other nations, lacking feelings of goodwill towards them. Consequently, they react with anger and violence whenever there is an opportunity to become enraged against other nations. Conversely, they show little interest in demonstrating love, goodwill, and well- wishing towards others.
The presence of hate alone is sufficient to ignite their response to an “insulting attitude towards the Prophet.” Hatred is prevalent among Muslims, but spreading the message of the Prophet requires a spirit of love and goodwill toward humanity, which is lacking in today’s Muslims. As a result, they are active in addressing the issue of blasphemy while remaining inactive in spreading the message of the Prophet, regardless of the latter’s importance. This situation is deeply concerning, and Muslims must reconsider their approach and align it with God’s plan.
The Primary Task: Conclusive Communication of the Truth
The Prophet of Islam, along with his Companions, administered punishment to only a few individuals, and in all those cases, the reason for the punishment was rebellion against the state. The Prophet and his Companions never executed anyone solely for blasphemy.
The primary responsibility of Muslims is not to punish others but rather to invite people to the truth and diligently carry out this task while fulfilling all its requirements. A crucial aspect of this responsibility is to endure any excesses or insolence from those being addressed unconditionally. Muslims of present times must understand this and focus on their primary task of communicating the Truth to all humanity. God will judge us based on our carrying out this responsibility.
