Islamophobia Past & Present - How Prophet's (ﷺ) Life Teachings can help Stop Islamophobia
Islamophobia Past & Present - How Prophet Muhammed’s (Pbuh) Life Teachings can help Stop Islamophobia
All Muslims today feel under a strain due to a rise in Islamophobia. The made up fear and hatred for Islam is not just related to, or manufactured by only the Western elements. Rather, some deem it as a threat for national interest, others use it to fuel their bigotry for political gains in the name of nationalism etc. These irrational fears are not just restricted to the western countries but many eastern nations too.
The origins of this hatred: The hatred for Islam is nothing new. More than 1400 years ago, when Prophet Muhammed ﷺ came with his revolutionary message of oneness of Creator, human rights, women’s rights, justice, good character, love and patience, he received severe opposition from his own people. Few accepted his message, but the majority of his people in Makkah became his sworn enemies, imposed social, political and financial sanctions on him and his followers, and as far as killing the sahaba and plots to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ too. However, the way Prophet Muhammed ﷺ dealt with Islamophobia then, definitely serves as an everlasting example and guide to Muslims.
How the pagans tried to discredit the Prophet ﷺ: The best way that the pagans of Makkah thought to stop Prophet Muhammed ﷺ from preaching was to discredit him. The prophetic call towards Islam created a havoc among the leaders of Makkah, most of whom were the Prophet’s ﷺ immediate or distant relatives. They started a fierce resistance of the Prophet ﷺ. These were the very people who, before the declaration of prophethood, called Prophet Muhammed ﷺ al-Saadiq (the truthful) and al-Ameen (the trustworthy). The root cause for their fear was that the revolutionary Islamic message would threaten their leadership, riches, power, glory and influence; because Islam was against slavery, adultery, usury, women and female-child killing, and all the social illness which existed and exists; the Quraishi leaders came up with spreading lies about the Prophet ﷺ. They called him a magician, a person possessed, and a mere poet. Allah defended the Prophet ﷺ against all of these slanders and said that Quran is not a poetry.
The Prophetic response: The Messenger of peace, equality and love did everything possible to avoid a confrontation with Quraish – so that they use their sanity to understand the simple message of Islam. Without saying anything to anyone, he used to recite the then revealed verses of the Quran – the holy book was revealed in the language of the Quraish and when they heard its powerful words - filled with wisdom and God’s mercy, the leaders of Quraish ordered their people to cotton their ears or to scream, in order to make the Prophet’s ﷺ holy voice unheard. The noble Prophet Muhammed ﷺ had to, at these times, raise his voice so that the Quranic verses could’ve been heard. Can there be more peaceful way to propagate? In reply to this, Almighty Allah revealed 28th verse of Surah Surah al-Mumin (40th chapter).
There are innumerable other instances wherein Prophet Muhammed ﷺ replied with love and mercy, despite when he was thrown filth at every day in Makkah, stoned to bleed profusely in Taif, ridiculed and mocked at in the bitterest way by his people, plotted against for assassination, and his kith and kin were tortured mercilessly to wounds and deaths; though during some of these instances, the Prophet ﷺ had gained significant and powerful followers in Sayyiduna Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (Allah is pleased with them). But we do not see a retaliation from Prophet Muhammed ﷺ - then was patience shown.
Dealing Islamophobia today: We must let the Seerah of Prophet Muhammed ﷺ guide us today. Islamophobia is an old problem in a new form. No Jew or Christian, in particular, would fail to notice the nobility of the Prophet’s ﷺ character, the holiness of his mission, and the affirmations of their scriptures about the Prophet ﷺ. They just have to be non-partial and unbiased to be able to observe it. And so is the case with other rational being on earth with any other religious affiliation.
In majority of the cases, Islamophobia stems out of ignorance. It is the duty of every Muslim to speak about Islam and the Prophet of Islam ﷺ. Surveys, research and experiences over and over show that a Muslim’s reach out to his non-Muslim neighbor, co-worker, classmate or peer makes him less hostile towards Islam. Bridges can be filled in this way. Didn’t Prophet Muhammed ﷺ bridge gaps despite hostilities? Didn’t he forgive everyone when Makkah was liberated? As a Muslim one must understand that Allah will not ask him/her what others chose as their way of life, but probably He may ask if we delivered goodness from our character or not.
If you are a Muslim reading this, do this activity by yourself and email us your thoughts: What are the methods described in Quran and Seerah that are very much applicable today to extinguish hatred and prejudice against Islam and Muslims.
And if you are a non-Muslim reading this article, write to us, after reading a little on Islam: 1. Why do you feel Islam should not be something to be feared of? 2. Send us two aspects you learnt about Islam recently, and liked it.
Share this message and help others join WhatsApp group on Prophet Muhammed ﷺ: https://chat.whatsapp.com/J14FpM5kWL0IABAtM0SnRW
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*Seerah of Rasoolullah ﷺ*
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