All praise is for Allaah, The Lord of the whole of creation, and may He extol and bestow peace and security upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his true followers and upon all of his Companions.
Allaah, The Most High, said regarding the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and those that follow and support him:
الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الْأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
((Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he enjoins upon them the Al-Ma’roof [what is good and right] and forbids them what is Al-Munkar [wrong and evil] and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So those who believe in him, and honour him, and support him and follow the light which has been sent down with him – it is they who will be successful.)) (Al-A’raaf: 157)
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is the seal of and so the last of the Prophets sent by Allaah, The Most High, as a blessing and a mercy for the creation and a means of guidance out of the darkness of disbelief to the light of Eemaan (belief). Loving and venerating him is from the greatest aspects of faith upheld by every believer. Since loving and following him is the foundation of our religion and is professed as such – then likewise ridiculing and mocking him and his teachings is disbelief – and is entirely rejected by every believer.
Mocking the Prophets and the Messengers is Nothing New
Mocking and deriding the Prophets and the Messengers is something which has existed from as early as when Messengers were sent to mankind, it is not exclusive to the times in which we live, nor are the people of today excused from this indecent behavior as opposed to those to whom the Prophets were sent.[1]
Hence mocking the Prophets is nothing new, as Allaah, The Most High, informed us when He said:
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا
((That is their recompense – Hell – for what they denied and so took My signs and My Messengers in ridicule.)) (Al-Kahf: 106)
He said likewise:
وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
((And no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him.)) (Al-Hijr: 11)
He mentioned also:
وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
((And indeed Messengers were mocked at before you, so I granted respite to those who disbelieved, then I seized them, so how [terrible] was My Punishment!)) (Ar-Ra’ad: 32)
For the people of Nooh (Noah) (‘alaihis salaam) ridiculed their Prophet whilst he was constructing the ark as we have been informed:
وَيَصْنَعُ الْفُلْكَ وَكُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَأٌ مِّن قَوْمِهِ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُ ۚ قَالَ إِن تَسْخَرُوا مِنَّا فَإِنَّا نَسْخَرُ مِنكُمْ كَمَا تَسْخَرُونَ
((And he was constructing the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed him by, they ridiculed him. He said, “If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.”)) (Hud: 38)
Likewise Pharoah claimed regarding Moosa (Moses) (‘alaihis salaam) that:
أَمْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ مَهِينٌ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ
((“Am I not better than this one, who is insignificant and can scarcely express himself clearly?”)) (Az-Zukhruf: 52)
Such was the case with the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), Allaah informs of the practice of those that disbelieved in him when He said:
وَإِذَا رَأَوْكَ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَٰذَا الَّذِي بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَسُولًا
((And when they see you, [O Muhammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying]; “Is this the one whom Allaah has sent as a Messenger?”)) (Al-Furqaan: 41)
The Prophets and Messengers Receive Divine Assistance & so Are not Hindered or Harmed by Insolent Mockery
In mocking the Prophets and the Messengers those that do so do not harm anyone but their own selves. Since in rejecting the message of the Prophets and mocking them lies the destruction of the people that do so, whilst Allaah, The Most High, protects His Prophets from the ridicule of the people. The great scholar Shaikh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa’dee (rahimahullaah) said in this regard:
“Then Allaah commanded His Messenger that he should not take notice of them nor with other than them and instead proclaim that which he had been commanded with and to announce that to everyone and not to be hindered from his command by any hindrance, nor to allow the statements of those that are indecisive to obstruct him.
فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
((Then proclaim openly that which you are commanded, and turn away from the polytheists.)) (Al-Hijr: 94)
Meaning: do not take notice of them and leave vilification of them and reviling them; turning instead to your matter of concern;
إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ
((Indeed, We will suffice you against the mockers)) (Al-Hijr: 95)
With regards to you and that which you came with. This is a promise from Allaah for His Messenger; that the mockers will not harm him – and that Allaah will suffice him of them with that which He wills from an array of punishments.”[2]
The Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) are aided and victorious, as the distinguished scholar of our time; Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said:
“The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is aided and victorious by way of Allaah, The Majestic and Most High. He Who sent him just like his brothers from the Prophets as He, The Most High said:
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
((Indeed, We will support Our Messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.)) (Al-Ghaafir: 51)
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ الظَّالِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ
((The Day their excuse will not benefit the wrongdoers, theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the worst abode.)) (Al-Ghaafir: 52)
So they (the mockers) harm only their own selves and do not harm Allaah in the slightest nor do they harm His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) nor do they harm the Muslims, nor is that which has manifested from their revilement of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) which re-occurs in this time to be considered as anything strange.”[3]
The Prophets Are Mocked due to Their Calling to the Worship of Allaah Alone Without Any Partners
One of the greatest reasons for the mockery and subsequent denial of the true message that the Prophets came with is due to their calling the people to Tawheed – or the worship of Allaah alone – singling Him out in all aspects of worship and rejecting the worship of those besides Him. Allaah informs us that the call of all of the Prophets was one:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
((And indeed We sent a Messenger to every nation ordering them that they should worship Allaah alone and avoid Taaghoot [everything that is worshipped besides Allaah])) (An-Nahl: 36)
Regarding the mockery which arises due to this reason the great scholar Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:
“Mockery in these affairs is correlated; and those who are astray are scorned by the Tawheed of Allaah, The Most High, they venerate the supplication to other than Him from those that have deceased. So when they are commanded with Tawheed (singling Allaah in worship) and are prohibited from shirk (associating partners with Allaah in worship) – they scorn it, as He, The Most High, said:
وَإِذَا رَأَوْكَ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا
((And when they see you, [O Muhammad], they take you not except in ridicule)) – the aayah.
Hence they mocked the Messenger (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) when he forbade them from committing shirk, and the polytheists do not cease to revile the Prophets and depict them with having insolence and misguidance and insanity whenever they are called to acknowledge Tawheed, this being due to that which is within their own souls by way of a veneration of shirk.”[4]
Shaikh Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) mentioned:
“So the polytheists and idol worshippers attempt to malign him due to advocacy/patronage of their own idols and the graven images which the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came to annul the worship of, he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came to eradicate and obliterate them and so they acted in zealous protection over them. Allaah, The Majestic and Most High, said:
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
((Indeed they, when it was said to them; Laa ilaaha illallaah [None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah], they become arrogant.)) (As-Saafaat: 35)”
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had an Elevated Status Before his Advent as Well as After His Being Sent to Mankind
As has preceded in the very first aayah mentioned above, the advent of Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. This indicates his importance and elevated status in being a Prophet whose advent was being foretold in the books which came before. The prophecy was demonstrated again upon the tongue of ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary) (‘alaihis salaam) who said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ
((And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: “O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allaah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and giving good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.”)) (As-Saff: 6)
Ahmad being one of the well known names of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Allaah, The Most High, also took a covenant from the Prophets that came before in acknowledging him and pledging their support for him as He, The Most High, said:
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
((And when Allaah took the covenant of the Prophets, [saying]: “Whatever I give you of the Book and the Hikmah [wisdom in distinguishing between truth and falsehood]; then there will come to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.” He [Allaah] said, “Have you acknowledged and taken up My bond of Covenant upon that?” They said; “We acknowledge.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”)) (Aal-‘Imraan: 81)
This aayah is from the greatest proofs of his elevated status and his venerated level and that he is the best of the Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam).
With regards to that which Allaah, The Most High, said regarding the Messenger upon his advent, then He, The Most High, said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا
وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُّنِيرًا
((O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allaah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.)) (Al-Ahzaab: 45-46)
He said likewise:
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
((And We have elevated for you your repute)) (Ash-Sharh: 4)
After stating the above aayah Shaikh Al-Fawzaan said:
“So it became such that his name (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is mentioned along with the name of Allaah in the sermons and in the adhaan (call to prayer) and in the iqaamah (announcement of the immanence of prayer). Likewise his mention is raised along with the mention of his Lord, The Glorified and Most High, in the Shahadatain (two phrases of testimony) from the tops of the minarets.
Until now it is heard in the east and the west by means of broadcast (transmission) and announcements and telecommunications, no one from humankind can prevent this from all the enemies of the Messenger – they cannot prevent the call of the bear-witnessing of his messengership (‘alaihis salaatu was salaam) – because Allaah has protected His Messenger and has protected his mention from these people.”
Islaam Instructs us to Honour and Respect the Prophets and to Hear and Obey The Command of Our Lord
The Muslims however whilst following the legislation of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), they also believe in as well as respect and honour all of the Prophets and Messengers sent by Allaah, as Allaah, The Most High, said:
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ ۚ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
((The Messenger believes in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so do] the believers. All of them believe in Allaah and His Angels and His Books and His Messengers, [saying]; “We make no distinction between any of His Messengers.” And they say; “We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.”)) (Al-Baqarah: 285)
Therefore in light of this we defend the right and honour of our beloved Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) from the mockery and ridicule of those that seek to do so, not because he is in need of our defence – since Allaah, The Most High, will suffice him against those who mock him. But because it is a matter of Eemaan (true belief) and we ourselves are in need of defending him for our own welfare. As Shaikh Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) continues to mention:
“It is obligatory upon us all as a nation of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that we aid and support our Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and that we defend him and refute these malicious people in all of their groups. Allaah, The Majestic and Most High, is able to grant aid and victory to His Messenger – and He has indeed aided and granted him victory. However; He has commanded us to aid him (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as a trial and as a test upon us. Thus if we aid him; then Allaah will reward us over that as well as recompense us, yet if we are feeble and we do not aid him; then Allaah, The Glorified and Most High, will not aid and grant us victory and He will inflict punishment upon us in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is not in need of our aid; because Allaah has aided him and He said:
إِنَّا كَفَيْنَاكَ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ
((Indeed, We will suffice you against the mockers)) likewise:
وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ
((And Allaah will protect you from the people)) (Al-Maaidah: 67).
However; Allaah has commanded us to aid him for the benefit of our own selves, in order that He may recompense us and as a trial and a test: are we obedient or not obedient? Will we be courageous – not becoming perturbed and not being taken away/occupied by the censure of those that rebuke – for the sake of Allaah; or will we become feeble in being of aid to the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘aliahi wa sallam) and fearing the polytheists and the idol worshippers?”
The Prophets and Messengers Were Always Granted Success
Allaah, The Most High, said:
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نُنجِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
((Then We shall deliver Our Messengers and those who believe. Thus, it is a right upon Us that We will deliver the believers.)) (Younus: 103)
He said likewise:
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
((Indeed, We will support Our Messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.)) (Al-Ghaafir: 51)
He said also:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا وَرُسُلِي ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
((Allaah has decreed: I and My Messengers shall be triumphant; indeed Allaah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.)) (Al-Mujaadilah: 21)
In conclusion, the importance of the Prophets and Messengers as well as the purpose over which they were sent to the creation is well known and no attempt at mocking them can be justified or accepted in any form by a true believer. For those that mock and ridicule the Prophets and Messengers or partake in it, there would have been in the study, understanding and expression of the merits of the Prophets and Messengers along with abstaining from the obnoxious elements of their own souls a great heed and much to have kept them occupied. But then; the just and equitable allotment is foregone – in that the people of a repute truly hold precedence to it.
Thus; whoever has a natural disposition for sardonic rebuke and vulgarity does not incline except to mockery and disrespect. Whilst the believing follower of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) by way of his Prophetic guidance and example has a natural disposition for honourable mannerism and sound integrity and uprightness; and so does not incline except to righteousness and fine speech and a desire for rectification of that which is within his capacity to carry out amongst the creation.
Therefore we invite our fellow Muslims to learn more and familiarize themselves regarding our noble and beloved Prophet (‘alaihis salaam) from the pure and authentic sources of knowledge. Since in having knowledge of his pure methodology and practice and in following it lies the success of every Muslim in both this life; as well as in the life to come.
Likewise we invite those that are not of the Islamic faith to acquaint themselves with the beautiful religion of Islaam and of its Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in order to realize for themselves what a mercy he was for the creation and what a great example mankind has in him. All of this is untainted and recorded in the books which contain his biography, and the greatest testimony to all of this is found within the Noble Qur’aan itself revealed by way of revelation from The Lord of the creation; and cannot be spitefully re-written or depicted by the scorned satirical pen. Our Lord, The Most High, said:
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
((And indeed, you [O Muhammad] are upon an exalted standard of character.)) (Al-Qalam: 4)
All praise is for Allaah, and may Allaah extol and bestow peace and security upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his true followers and upon all of his Companions.
_____________________________________
[1] Mocking and ridiculing the Prophets and Messengers and in specific the appalling and unacceptable attempts at mocking the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) of late as well as the books of revelation that the Prophets were sent with is by no means a virtue – it is a woeful transgression; regardless of what pretext societies may champion it under. It is an astounding contradiction of judgment from an era which claims surpassed intellectual and technological advances that its people should ignore the true message and essence which the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came with, along with the high praise and conclusive testimonies of the people of the various eras and throughout the ages from the prominent academics, scholars and intellectuals who asserted acknowledgement of the truthfulness of his messengership and genuineness as a true Prophet. Resorting instead to encouraging and approving satirical mockery of such a Prophet on a mass scale never seen before, something which was not witnessed at such a scale in such societies even during their self-acknowledged age of academic ignorance and unenlightenment.
Likewise we do not remain silent with regard to the actions of the terrorists that spill blood in the name of defending the honour of the Prophet when their unlawful actions in reality serve to perpetuate by a long way the spiteful mockery they may have set out to avenge. The same then for the terrorists who along with their distorted ideologies launch their attacks upon the people and respond with the shedding of blood is by no means an act of religiousness and heroism; it is an outrageous crime; regardless of what pretext its perpetrators promote it under. Such actions are condemned by the teachings of Islaam itself which is free of and staunchly prohibits these acts, no matter how much anyone attempts to attribute the justifications for unlawful bloodshedding and terrorism to the religion of Islaam, they cannot produce a single authentic proof from the teachings of this noble religion as was understood and practiced by the Prophet and his companions that could justify such acts.
Islaam authorizes the right of the ruler and his ruling administration to exercise common law and order with its varying levels as and how situations may arise – it does not authorize individuals to wreak havoc and spill blood whilst paying no regard to governments or those in authority. So it should be understood that Islaam does not permit nor authorize such extreme ideologies and is at the forefront of fighting terror and the renegade insurgent terror groups that launch their attacks in its or in any other name.
[2] Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan p.435.
[3] All excerpts from Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan in this article are taken from:
http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/1960
[4] Majmu’ Fatawaa vol 15 p.48.
Note: For further reading on this subject refer to the following useful links:
http://www.abukhadeejah.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Prophet-Muhammad-2015.pdf
Be the first to comment