Knowledge Every Muslim Should Know (Book One)

When The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) Is Insulted

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]