THE PROPHET FORGAVE
The Danish cartoon of the Prophet has sparked off a destructive controversy and agonizing trouble all over the world, putting peace at stake. No doubt, it is a piece of mischief calculated at stirring up violence. But the pertinent question to be asked is what the Prophet himself would have done in a similar situation.
The Quran and Hadith are full of instances from the Prophet’s life that shown that he never believed in revenge. Rather, he was the epitome of peace and forgiveness.
One particular instance states that a Jewish woman poisoned the Prophet’s food, of which he put a little morsel in his own mouth and prevented others from eating it. It cost him his life within six months but he forgave the woman against the verdict of the Sahibe-karam (his followers) of beheading her.
Though heretics used to hit the Prophet with stones, leaving him bleeding profusely, he always prayed to Allah to give them good sense, just a after conquering the Kaba, he did not take any retaliatory action against those who had tortured him earlier.
The oft quoted line from the Holy Quran-“Hajran jamila (Withdraw beautifully when faced with no alternative except bloodshed)”- should be the guideline for all those who take up violence in the name of Islam. The Holy Quran tell us,”Allaho-Lahibul Faaskeen (God does not love trouble makers).”
All the followers of Islam and true jehadis who love the Prophet truly must shun violence because he himself is known as Ramatallil-almeen (Kindness incarnate for the world) and remember.”God does not like any evil to be mentioned openly, unless it be by him who has been wronged (thereby). And God is indeed all-hearing, all-knowing, whether you do good openly or secretly; or pardon others for evils (done unto you): for, behold, God is indeed an absolver of sins, infinite in his power.”
Let us remember these direct spiritual messages and also these beautiful words by Gandhi on forgiveness: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”