3. Islam's teaching on response to abuse and mockery
According to the religion of Islam, Muslims can only respond to verbal abuse, mockery and lampooning of their faith and its sacred figures in the following forms.
1. Any criticism of Islam, or allegations against it, which underlie the abuse must be refuted and answered by means of words and speech.
2. Apart from answering specific criticism, all possible efforts must be made to present the true and accurate picture of Islam in general. With more enlightenment and less ignorance prevailing about Islam and its Holy Prophet Muhammad, the instances of abuse, vituperation and mockery will decrease.
3. As regards the offence or hurt that Muslims naturally feel as a result of such abuse, they are taught to respond by:
a) bearing the provocation with resolute patience,
b) ignoring the abuse,
c) separating themselves temporarily from the company of the abusers while the abuse continues,
d) exercising forgiveness in view of the ignorance of the abusers.
All this is stated plainly and categorically in the Holy Quran and is evident from the actions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. It is not allowed by Islam to respond intemperately with fury and rage, call for physical retribution and punishment, or threaten or attack anyone with physical violence. It is entirely false and totally unfounded to allege that Islam teaches Muslims to attack or seek to murder anyone who verbally abuses their religion, mocks it, or offends their feelings towards their faith.
As a general point, it may first be noted that the Holy Quran itself records the many accusations made against, and the insults heaped upon, the Holy Prophet Muhammad by his opponents during his life (for example, that he was insane, or that he fabricated his revelation), and it answers these charges, but nowhere does it require Muslims to inflict any kind of punishment on the accusers. If such abuse or criticism requires to be silenced by force, then why should the Quran itself have quoted so much of it from its opponents' mouths and thus preserved it forever?
Quran teaches patience in response to verbal abuse
The Holy Quran tells Muslims:
1. "You will certainly hear much abuse from the followers of previous books and from the idol-worshipping people. And if you are patient and keep your duty — this is surely a matter of great resolution." — 3:185
2. "Many of the followers of previous books wish that they could turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed, but you should pardon and forgive." — 2:109
In connection with these verses, it is recorded in the Hadith collection Bukhari: "The Messenger of Allah and his Companions used to forgive the idolators and the followers of previous books, as Allah had commanded them, and they used to show patience on hearing hurtful words." (1)
We may consider three more sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad commending patience in the face of verbal abuse:
"The Muslim who mixes with the people and bears patiently their hurtful words, is better than one who does not mix with people and does not show patience under their abuse."(2)
What a noble and wonderful piece of guidance, which is so applicable in the modern world in which people of widely differing faiths and opposing views have to mix and come into contact so much!
2. "No one and no thing has greater patience than Allah upon hearing hurtful words. People call for a son for Him, and He grants them safety and sustenance." (3)
This tells us that God Himself sets the highest example of showing patience upon hearing something that is displeasing in this case that God has a son or progeny. Not only does He display patience and restraint, but He continues to be merciful and generous towards those who utter things He does not like.
3. "Once the Messenger of Allah distributed some battle gains among people. A man of the Ansar said, 'By Allah! Muhammad, by this division did not intend to please Allah'. So I (the narrator of this report) came to the Messenger of Allah and informed him about it, whereupon his faced changed colour with anger and he said: May Allah bestow His mercy on Moses, for he was hurt with more than this, yet he remained patient." (4)
(1) Bukhari, book: 'Commentary on the Quran'. ch. 16 under Sura 3. In the Muhsin Khan translation see the report 6:60:89
(2) Mishkat-ul-Masabih, book: 'Good Manners' (Adab), ch. 'Gentleness modestly and good behaviour', reported from Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja.
(3) Bukhari, book: 'Good Manners' (Adab), ch. 71. In the Muhsin Khan translation see the report 8:73:121.
(4) Bukhari, book: 'Good Manners', ch. 53. In the Muhsin Khan translation see 8:73:85.
