A portrait of tolerance

When you experience transgression or are wronged, it is a normal human response to react. How you react varies from person to person, and from religion to religion. Christianity teaches us to turn the other cheek. Judaism teaches revenge in the form of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Both of these reactions are extremes, and not practical in all settings. It is no surprise therefore, that even the followers of these religions do not act upon these teachings.

   The teachings of Islam are balanced, rational and practical. They look at the greater good and promotion of peace and harmony in society. ‘Islam’ is the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures.  Islam looks after the rights of all human beings, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. It is a religion of TOLERANCE. When a few senseless people use the name of religion to commit evil deeds, they do not represent that religion. If you look at the history of the world, such people have been present in all major religions.

   Allah says in the Holy Quran, chapter 3:135, ‘that Allah loves those who supress anger and pardon man.’ And then in chapter 42:41 ‘and the recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof; but whoso forgives, and his act brings reformation, his reward is with Allah.’ What great practical advice. Islam permits punishment proportional to the wrong, but promotes forgiveness leading to reformation. In some cases, especially in repeat offenders, punishment may be required for the protection and greater good of the society. It is a teaching full of wisdom and takes care of all possible scenarios.

   The Holy Prophet Muhammad^(saw) practiced what he preached – he always promoted tolerance and forgiveness, and even when faced with extreme foul behaviour and aggression, always exhibited forbearance. Despite his supreme status, both as the king of all prophets and as the ruler of Arabia, he always humble and tolerant. He only became angry at times when the foul language and aggression was directed towards his creator, Allah the Almighty.

    During the period of grief after the death of his beloved wife Hadhrat Khadija^(ra), he was walking through the streets of Mecca when a wicked Quraish man threw mud on his head. He did not say a word, but quietly went home to his daughter Hadhrat Fatima^(ra), who wept while she washed his hair.

A lady used to throw rubbish in the Prophet’s^(saw) path as he walked to the mosque, but he never said a bad word to her. When for a few days no rubbish was thrown, he inquired and was told that the lady was ill. He went to check on her and offered his help with her treatment. Such tolerance and kindness was unique to the Prophet^(saw) of Islam.

   In the fifth year after migration to Medina, when the Prophet^(saw) was a very respected ruler with thousands of followers who loved him, the hypocrite Ibn Ubbayy was publicly rude to him. He said that the mighty and noble will expel the mean and humble (meaning the Prophet^(saw) and the immigrants) from Medina. The Prophet’s^(saw) companions were offended and angry and wanted to kill Ibn Ubbayy. But the Prophet^(saw) stopped them and did not say anything back to him. In fact, he forgave him. This was a great lesson in tolerance for his companions.

    Once, a delegation of Christians came to meet the Holy Prophet^(saw) . After some time, the Christians became restless. The Holy Prophet^(saw) enquired if something was wrong. In response, the Christians informed him that it was time for their worship, but they did not have an appropriate place to perform their prayers. Upon this, the Prophet of Islam^(saw) invited the Christians to worship in his own mosque in Madinah, according to their traditions and ways. This shows that the Prophet of Islam^(saw) was very considerate, tolerated and respected other religions and their forms of worship.

It was this kind, humble and tolerant nature of the Holy Prophet^(saw) that enabled him to conquer the hearts of the whole of Arabia. He was, and is, without doubt, the most loved human being. Even today, there are millions of Muslims who are ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the name of their beloved Prophet^(saw).

Western nations should stop projecting the Prophet of Islam^(saw) as a man who loved violence. This is not true, and these lies make Muslims very distressed. Freedom of speech does not mean that you are allowed to blatantly drift from the truth. The Prophet of Islam^(saw) used to preach that foul language should not be used for any deity or founder of any religion, in order to safeguard the feelings and emotions of their followers – perhaps the so-called modern nations should take heed and follow this simple advice. In this way, instead of hatred and discontent, love and harmony will manifest between people of different backgrounds and beliefs.