The following question was posed to Sheikh Salih Fowzan regarding the correct response when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is insulted.
Question: May Allaah Grant you great good – insults upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) have become frequent. Their methods of insulting him vary, at times they release films and clips and at other times they insult him in the broader media. The question is: What should be our stance against those who insult him? Connecting to this also, is it permissible for us to be angered by their insults and express our anger via protesting against them?
Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) replied by saying:
My brothers! Insulting the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is not a new phenomenon. They insulted him to his face, calling him ‘a magician’, ‘a liar’, ‘a soothsayer’, ‘a mere poet’ to the end of their degrees of insults.
However, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) remained patient with their insults and he didn’t hasten to seek revenge. Allaah ordered him to remain patient:
(وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْراً جَمِيلاً)
“And be patient (O Muhammad ) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.”
[al-Muzzamil 72:10]
He heard their insults and was affected by them but he remained patient, acting upon the Command of Allaah (the Glorified and the Exalted):
(وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ* فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُنْ مِنْ السَّاجِدِينَ* وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ)
“Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say. 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]
So he remained patient and commanded his Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them all) to likewise remain patient and not to react to any one of these insults. This was their plight when they were living in Makkah, purely because they were weak and outnumbered, and had they reacted then the Mushriks of Quraysh would have overcome them and al-Islaam would have ended in Makkah (without it spreading).
The command during the Makkan period was to remain patient and invite people to al-Islaam by giving Da’wah. This situation continued until they migrated from Makkah and found those who would help them, the Ansaar.
Thereafter, Allaah Ordered Jihaad against the Mushriks of Makkah, which was the legislated form of Jihaad (and not the killing of innocent people or those bound under treaty, rather legislated Jihaad includes rulings connected to combat between two opposing armies).
Protesting, killing innocent people or destroying their wealth - this includes Muslims or who the Muslims have peace treaties with - and attacking them is a form of treachery and is not permissible.
It is not permissible to killing anyone who is innocent, regardless of if they are Kuffaar or not, it is not permissible:
(وَلا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَنْ صَدُّوكُمْ عَنْ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا)
“and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid-al-Haram lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part)” [al-Maa’idah 5:2]
It is not permissible to transgress the rights of those who are innocent (or under treaty):
(وَلا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى)
“No person’s sin can burden another.”
[al-Israa 17:15]
And,
(وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ)
“And if anyone of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Qur'an), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not.” [at-Tawbah 9:6]
Message carriers from Mushrik and Kuffaar rulers used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as ambassadors for their respective countries. They would enter al-Madeenah and at times would even enter the Masjid of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and convey the message they had been ordered to carry. Despite the fact that these ambassadors where Mushriks or Kuffaar, they entered with peace and security.
With this, we must all realise that al-Islaam is not a religion of anger and retribution. Rather, it is a religion of spreading guidance, mercy and kindness.
These were the characteristics and practices of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and what did having this approach result in? It resulted in the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) being supported by Allaah, given honour and the correct representation of al-Islaam spreading.
As for those who mocked him (during the Makkan period), they became from those who were foremost in practicing al-Islaam and spreading it (such as Aboo Sufyaan and the son of Abu Jahl, ‘Ikrimah).
They submitted in al-Islaam and they personified a good display of al-Islaam.
This is all because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was patient with them, was kind and gentle with their insults until the Prophet even became more beloved to them more than themselves.
This is how Allaah (the Glorified and the Exalted) said about him:
(وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ)
“And verily, you (O Muhammad ) are on an exalted standard of character.”
[al-Qalam 68:4]
This was the noble character of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) .
The Kuffaar came to realise this. They only insult the Prophet expecting a reaction from the Muslims so that they can attach something negative against al-Islaam.
Responding to these incidents with violence leads them to point the finger and attach stereotypes to the Muslims; killing diplomats and destroying the houses and wealth of others – this is what the religion of al-Islaam teaches.
This is exactly what the Kuffaar want, so that they can blame the Muslims and stereotype them based on the actions of a few of the ignoramuses from them, stereotyping all Muslims based on the actions of the ignorant and the worst of those from them.
Therefore, it is not permissible to be hasty. When facing such tribulations, rather the command is to be patient.
(وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا وَلا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكَ مِنْ نَبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ)
“Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad ), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allah. Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you).” [al-An’aam 6:34]
This is the guidance that the religion of al-Islaam has come with and the correct response given to those who mock and insult; be kind, practice patience and not to be hasty in seeking retribution.
The Mushriks want for us to fall into the trap they have laid in front of us, taking the example of the actions of some of the ignorant ones – arrogance, violence and killing. To the extent that such notions become widespread and influence the regular Muslim, so that they protest against the actions of one another Muslims, leading to Muslims killing on another. This is precisely what they want.
Adapted from: http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa