الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله تعالى من شرور أنفسنا، وسيئات أعمالنا، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

The lesson from my talk today is related to the application of one short verse in the Quran, it is verse 199 of Surat Al-Araf:

خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِينَ (١٩٩(

“Hold to forgiveness; command what is customary good; and boycott the ignorant.” (Al-Araf 7:199)

Imam Jaafer Al-Sadq (جعفر الصادق) said regarding this verse:

ليس في القرآن آية أجمع لمكارم الأخلاق من هذه الآية.

There is no other verse in the Quran that is more comprehensive for the honorable manners than this verse. 

Imam Al-Qurtoby (القرطبي) said regarding this verse:

هذه الآية من ثلاث كلمات، تضمنت قواعدَ الشريعة في المأمورات والمنهيات.

This verse has three letters that contains the principles of “Sharia” regarding the commands and the prohibitions.

A big issue that is attracting a lot of attention among Muslims is the French Cartoons that appears to show derogatory picture of the Prophet (PBUH) and the crimes committed, apparently, in response to them.    

While it is hard these days to know the truth about who is really behind the killing of the teacher who showed the Cartoons and the murder of three innocent people at a church in Nice, France; one thing very clear is that these crimes of killing neither help Muslims nor honor the Prophet (PBUH).  But they surely help those who want to hurt Muslims in the West.  A simple rule in any criminal investigation is to look for the beneficiary.  Therefore, there are those in the middle east media who speculate that these crimes, though may have been committed by Muslim youth, are actually perpetrated and planned by the security organizations in France.  

What creates this doubt, first the background of those who supposedly committed these crimes and second some analysis of the 1993 kidnapping of the French consul, his wife and the French head of security in Algeria suggested that this kidnapping was planned by the French intelligence working with the Algerian intelligence to justify attacking Islamic organizations in Algeria and shutting down several Islamic organizations in France and arrest many French Muslims activists.  .  

But, let us ignore any conspiracy theory and assume that Muslim youth have actually committed these crimes as revenge for what they considered an insult to the Prophet (PBUH).  There is no doubt that the love of the Prophet (PBUH) is an essential part in our religion and thus it is expected that any derogatory comment made against him will hurt Muslims and can create strong emotional response.

What made the situation worst in the case is that the French president inflamed the matter by saying that they will continue to publish these cartoons because as he said: France has freedom of expression”.  Frankly, this is the ultimate hypocrisy of the French president by making such an absurd assertion because he knows that there are restrictions on some expressions in the French law.  As example, it is a crime in France and in almost all European contraries for anyone to express any form of denial of the Holocaust.  So, freedom of expression has restrictions and he knows it.

But the issue is actually far beyond the cartoons, it reflects how people in the west look at Muslims.  These cartoons don’t insult the Prophet (PBUH), they are made to insult and degrade Muslims.   The problem that Muslims is facing now is that they are like a body of billion and half without a head and therefore, actions that can have major negative impact on all Muslims are being taken by individuals. 

It is unfortunate that those individuals neither have wisdom nor understanding of the religion and thus act based on emotion. Those individuals may justify their action as removing an evil but in reality, they are creating a far worst evil.   Wisdom is not to differentiate between the good and the bad but wisdom is to differentiate between the good and the best and between the bad and the worst.

When the prophet (PBUH) was in Mecca, he was insulted with the worst names and his followers were so upset and eager to take revenge but the Prophet (PBUH) prevented them.   Also, in Medina, the hypocrites made many derogatory comments about the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions wanted to kill them but the Prophet (PBUH) prevented them. Why, while he was able to take revenge, because of wisdom, the Prophet (PBUH) did not want to be distracted by defending himself from his main mission of delivering the message of Islam.  

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) always taught his companions who were always eager to punish anyone who makes derogatory comment about the Prophet that they should assess the harm that will come as a result of punishing them.  The prophet (PBUH) was teaching them and us the valuable lesson which is to critically assess the consequence of our action before acting. 

One important point that we must realize is that ridiculing the Prophets is a sunnah that happened throughout history. Since Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the messenger for all mankind from the time of him receiving the first revelation until the end of time, one would expect that his ridicule will continue by the disbelievers because he remains alive even when he is physically dead.

Allah stated this sunnah of ridiculing and mocking His messengers in several verses by saying:

وَلَقَدِ ٱسۡتُہۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِٱلَّذِينَ سَخِرُواْ مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ (١٠)

“And indeed, Messengers before you were mocked, but their scoffers were  besieged by what they used to ridicule.” (Al-An’am, 6:10 and Al-Anbiya 21:41)

وَلَقَدِ ٱسۡتُہۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَأَمۡلَيۡتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُہُمۡ‌ۖ فَكَيۡفَ ڪَانَ عِقَابِ (٣٢)

“And indeed, Messengers before you were mocked, but I granted respite to those who disbelieved, and then I seized them and how (terrible) was My Punishment!” (Al-Rad 13:32)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

Surely, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger are cursed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter, and He has prepared for them a humiliating punishment. (Al-Ahzab 33:57)

If we reflect on these verses, we realize that Allah is the One who took the responsibility to punish those who ridicule His messengers not only in the hereafter but also in this life. To find out what was the punishment of all those who mocked Allah’s messengers, you need to study and analyze history as Allah commands by saying:

وَلَقَدِ ٱسۡتُہۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِٱلَّذِينَ سَخِرُواْ مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَہۡزِءُونَ (١٠) قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ (١١)

“And indeed, Messengers before you were mocked, but their scoffers were  besieged by what they used to ridicule. (10) Say, “Travel in the land, and then see what was the fate of the rejecters!” (Al-An’am, 6:10-11)  

Allah is saying, travel in the land and study the history to know the fate of those who ridiculed the messengers and rejected Allah’s message.   As a side note, the discovery of the fate of those people will not be obvious until you take time to study and analyze the information you collected.  This is understood because Allah uses the article (ثُمَّ) between the command of traveling in the land (سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ) to collecting the data and realizing the fate of the rejectors who insults the messengers since Allah said (ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ).   The article (ثُمَّ) implies time delay between the action and the outcome and this means that it will take you sometime to see this result. 

When you examine the Quran, you see the same command (سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ) (travel in the land) came 5 more times but in all of them the article (ثُمَّ) is replaced with the letter (فَ) (فَٱنظُرُواْ) and not (ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُواْ).  The use of the letter (فَ) instead of the article (ثُمَّ) implies that you will see the outcome immediately after travelling the earth to collect the data because it will be very obvious.  These five verses refer to the fate of the disbelievers who rejects the message. Their fate is easy to recognize by studying history but the fate of those who mocked the messengers requires some time to analyze the information.  The reason may be that Allah gave them respite and many of them repented and became good believers.   

قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ سُنَنٌ۬ فَسِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ (١٣٧)

“Many patterns have passed before you. So, travel in the land and see what was the fate of the rejectors.” (Al-Emran 3:137)

وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ‌ۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ‌ۚ فَسِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ (٣٦)

“Indeed, We have raised in every nation a messenger (proclaiming) “Worship Allah and stay away from false gods.” Then, there were some among them whom Allah guided, and there were others against whom deviation (from the right path) was established. So, travel in the land and see what was the fate of the rejectors!” (Al-Nahl 16:36)

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٲبً۬ا وَءَابَآؤُنَآ أَٮِٕنَّا لَمُخۡرَجُونَ (٦٧) لَقَدۡ وُعِدۡنَا هَـٰذَا نَحۡنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا مِن قَبۡلُ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (٦٨) قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ (٦٩)

“And those who disbelieve say: “When we and our fathers have become dust – shall we really be brought forth (again)? (67) “We were promised this, we and our forefathers before (us), This is nothing but the tales of the ancients.” (68) Say “Travel in the land and see the fate of the criminals!” (Al-Naml 27:67-69)

قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ بَدَأَ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ‌ۚ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ يُنشِئُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (٢٠)

“Say: Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah will create the subsequent creation. Surely, Allah is Able to do everything.” (Al-Ankaboot 29:20)

ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ (٤١) قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلُ‌ۚ كَانَ أَڪۡثَرُهُم مُّشۡرِكِينَ (٤٢)

“Evil has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, that He (Allah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (to the right way). (41) Say: “Travel in the land and see what was the fate of those before (you)! Most of them were idolaters.” (Al-Rome 30:41-42)

As much as the insults hurt the Prophet (PBUH), it hurts us too, but we have to follow the commands of Allah and the example of the Prophet (PBUH) regarding how to respond. Allah gave the method of response which is patience and His glorification as He said:

قَدۡ  نَعۡلَمُ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَيَحۡزُنُكَ ٱلَّذِى يَقُولُونَ‌ۖ فَإِنَّہُمۡ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجۡحَدُونَ (٣٣)

وَلَقَدۡ كُذِّبَتۡ رُسُلٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَصَبَرُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُواْ وَأُوذُواْ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَٮٰهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا‌ۚ

“Surely, We know that what they say makes you sad, but it is not you whom they reject, the transgressors actually deny the signs of Allah. (33) Indeed, many messengers have been rejected before you, but they were patient against their rejection, and they were persecuted until Our help came to them.” (Al-Anaam 6:33-34)

فَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ قَبۡلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَقَبۡلَ غُرُوبِہَا‌ۖ وَمِنۡ ءَانَآىِٕ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡ وَأَطۡرَافَ ٱلنَّہَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرۡضَىٰ (١٣٠)

“Endure with patience what they say, and celebrate the praises of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset, and some hours of the night and at glorify Him at the two ends of the day, so that you may be well pleased.” (Taha 20:130)

Allah commands that Muslims responds to insults and propaganda by patience and Taqwa as Hhe said:

لَتُبۡلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِڪُمۡ وَأَنفُسِڪُمۡ وَلَتَسۡمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشۡرَكُوٓاْ أَذً۬ى كَثِيرً۬ا‌ۚ وَإِن تَصۡبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ

“You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear a lot that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you and from the idolaters, but if you persevere and have Taqwa, that is of the determining factor in all matters”. (Al-Imran 3:186)

Yes, it hurts when we hear that someone is insulting the prophet (PBUH) but Allah’s command is to focus on our own worship through Dhikr, and prayers, and ensuring that we remain steadfast and consistent in our actions as Allah instructed us by saying:

وَلَقَدۡ نَعۡلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدۡرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ (٩٧) فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ (٩٨) وَٱعۡبُدۡ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَكَ ٱلۡيَقِينُ (٩٩)

Indeed, We know that your chest is distressed by what they say. (97) So, glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him). And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death). (Al-Hijr 15:97-99)

Why the Prophet (PBUH) and we are not required to punish those who mock the Prophet (PBUH), the reason is that Allah declared that He will take care of them.  Therefore, we must be confident that Allah is sufficient to take care of those who mock the prophet (PBUH) as He said:

فَٱصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٩٤) إِنَّا كَفَيۡنَـٰكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَہۡزِءِينَ (٩٥)

Proclaim openly that which you are commanded, and turn away from the polytheists. Truly, We will suffice you against those who mock (you and your religion). (Al-Hijr 15:94-96)

This does not mean that we should be so passive by accepting the insults, but our reaction should be measured and according to the teaching of our religion. Our best reaction will be by ignoring those who demonstrate their ignorance about the Prophet (PBUH) and about Islam.  We should make them aware of the evil they are doing by boycotting them as we were commanded treat the ignorant:

خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِينَ (١٩٩(

“Hold to forgiveness; command what is customary good; and boycott the ignorant.” (Al-Araf 7:199)

However, we should also expand our effort to teach people about the Prophet (PBUH) and about Islam.   We should never lose sight that our primary goal is to invite people to Islam and we should never react to their ignorance in a way that inhibits us from delivering the true message to them.  Who knows, those who may be the worst enemy to Islam today become best believers tomorrow. 

We must have full trust that Allah is sufficient to take care of those who mock the Prophet (PBUH) or the religion of Islam (إِنَّا كَفَيۡنَـٰكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَہۡزِءِينَ).  The best proof that Allah is sufficient protector is how many people throughout history who made insulting and derogatory statement against the Prophet (PBUH) became Muslims and served Islam beyond expectations.  

One of the recent examples is the Dutch politician Arnoud Van Doorn who produced an anti-Islam Film entitled ‘Fitna’ (sedition) in which Islam is portrayed as a religion of violence and terrorism and depicted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with a bomb on his head.  The same Arnoud Van Doorn declared his Islam after reading more about Islam and said that he bitterly regrets his actions and wants to make amends by producing a film showing Islam as it should in a positive light.

During his Hajj, he told the Saudi Gazette:”I felt ashamed standing in front of the Prophet’s grave. I thought of the grave mistake which I had made by producing that sacrilegious film. I hope that my tears of regret will wash out all my sins. I hope that Allah will forgive me and accept my repentance.” 

Can you imagine what a great loss would have been if a foolish Muslim killed him before his repentance!

Another example that may explain why Allah’s punishment to those who mocks the Prophet (PBUH) is not swift and thus we should not react to them and let Allah takes care of them.  During the Prophet (PBUH) time, there was Suhayl ibn ‘Amr (سهيل بن عمرو) who was the most eloquent orator in Mecca and a man whose opinion carried weight among his people. 

He dedicated his gift of eloquence to insulting the Prophet (PBUH) and mocking Islam. In the battle of Badr, he was taken as prisoner and Syedana Omar suggested to the Prophet (PBUH) that they should pull out his front teeth to disable him from speaking, but the Prophet (PBUH) refused Omar’s suggestion and told Omar:

 “I would not mutilate anyone lest Allah mutilate me even though I am His Messenger.”  He also told Omar: “Omar, perhaps Suhayl will do something in the future that will make you pleased.”  

As you know Suhayl ibn ‘Amr was the man representing Quraysh in negotiating with the Prophet (PBUH) the treaty of Hudaybiyyah in which he imposed terms that Muslims felt were too grievous, but nevertheless the Prophet (PBUH) accepted.   

When the Prophet (PBUH) entered Mecca victorious and in a voice full of compassion and tenderness asked: (يا معشر قريش، ما تظنون أني فاعل بكم؟) “O people of the Quraysh! What do you think I will do with you?” 

It was Suhayl ibn Amr who replied: (نظن خيراً، أخ كريم وابن أخ كريم) “We think well, noble brother, son of a noble brother”. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Go, for you are free (اذهبوا فأنتم الطلقاء).”  

Moved by the Prophet’s compassion and nobility Suhayl ibn Amr announced his Islam and submission to Allah.  His acceptance of Islam at that time was not of a defeated man passively giving himself up to his fate, but rather of a man who was extremely committed to Islam as his later life demonstrated. 

In spite of his late acceptance of Islam, he became selfless worshipper and a great fighter in the path of Allah.  When the Prophet (PBUH) passed away, the Muslims everywhere were plunged into a state of confusion and dismay.  In Madinah, Sayedna Abu Bakr quelled the confusion with his decisive words: “Whoever worships Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. And whoever worships Allah; Allah is indeed Living and will never die.”

In Makkah Suhayl performed the same role. He called the Muslims together and in his brilliant and salutary style, he affirmed to them that Muhammad (PBUH) was indeed the Messenger of Allah and that he did not die until he had discharged his trust and propagated the message and that was the duty of all believers after his death is to apply themselves persistently by following his example and way of life.

He ended his speech to the people of Quraysh by saying: 

يا معشر قريش، لا تكونوا آخر من أسلم وأول من ارتد. والله إن هذا الدين ليمتدن امتداد الشمس والقمر من طلوعهما إلى غروبهما.

“O people of Quraysh, do not be the last to become Muslims and the first to recoil By Allah, this religion will extend as far as the sun and the moon from their rise to their setting. 

When the news of Suhayl’s stand in Makkah and of his persuasive speech reached the Muslims of Madinah, Omar ibn al-Khattab remembered the words of the Prophet (PBUH) and said: The day had come when Islam benefitted from the two middle teeth of Suhayl which Omar wanted to pull out.

Truly Allah is sufficient to stand against those who mock the Prophet (PBUH) and the religion of Islam. 

فَٱصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٩٤) إِنَّا كَفَيۡنَـٰكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَہۡزِءِينَ (٩٥)

Proclaim openly that which you are commanded, and turn away from the polytheists. Truly, We will suffice you against those who mock (you and your religion). (Al-Hijr 15:94-96)

Therefore, we should not be afraid or overwhelmed by the power and influence of those who want to do us harm.  Also, we should not get distracted or distressed by the verbal attacks and ridicule that we hear or read but we should persevere and stay on the straight path focusing our efforts on delivering the true message of Allah and let Allah takes care of those people.

The assurance that Allah will take care of punishing those who insult the Prophet (PBUH) is in one the last verses in Surat al-Hijr.  When you study this Surat, you note that In addition to assuring Allah’s protection, Allah gave us comfort that there are six things that Allah also took responsibility for their preservation and protection and these are the essential elements for human survival in this life and success in the Hereafter.  These six things are:  

1. Allah preserved the Qur’an from any form of corruption
2. Allah is protecting the believers from Satan
3. Allah is protecting the believers from the Hellfire and is preserving for them paradise
4. Allah is preserving the beauty of heaven for mankind to enjoy
5. Allah is maintaining the stability of earth to make it suitable for mankind.
6. Allah is protecting the rizq (sustenance) in this earth

We pray to Allah to increase our Taqwa and give us the wisdom and commitment to honor the Prophet (PBUH) by our actions and following his footsteps and not merely by our emotions.    

DUA