The Ruling on Protesting against the insults on the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم

Question: May Allaah be good to you! The insults against the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم have repeated itself in different forms from films, newspapers, and others in recent times. The question is, 'what is the legislate stance on these insults and also what is the ruling on expressing anger with regards to insults to the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم by means of protesting ?

Answer by Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله:

“O' my brothers, this is not new. During the time of the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم they used to say he was a magician, a liar, soothsayer, poet and other than that. The Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was patient and not hasty. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى ordered him with patience:

اصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْراً جَمِيلاً

"And be patient (O Muhammad) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way."
  (73:10 Al-Muzammil)

He heard it [the insults] however he صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was patient with command of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى:

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ

"Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say."

 (Al-Hijr 15:97)

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ
"So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him)."

(Al-Hijr 15:98)

وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death)."

 (Al-Hijr 15:99)

He was patient and he did not permit any of his Companions to take revenge, (not one single day) while he was in Makkah. He did so because if they sought revenge against the polytheists, it would put an end to Islaam in Makkah, and end to the da’wah in its beginning stage. This prevention was until they migrated and found the Ansaar (the supporters) in Medina. Then Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى ordered them with the legislated Jihaad. 

As for protesting, destroying or killing the innocent who are under the safety and protection of the Muslims, then this is betrayal. It is not allowed. It is not allowed to kill the innocent, even if they are disbelievers. It is not allowed:

لا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ أَنْ صَدُّوكُمْ عَنْ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَنْ تَعْتَدُوا

"Let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al­ Masjid­ al­Harâm (at Makkah) lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part)."

(Al-Ma'aida 5:2)

The meaning is that it is not allowed to transgress against the innocent.

Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says:

وَلا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى

"No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another."

(Al Anam 6:164)

Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says:

إِنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ

"And if anyone of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allâh (the Qur'ân), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not."

(At-Tawbah 9:6)

Messengers from the polytheists came to the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم to enter into negotiations even in his Masjid. He صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم negotiated with them although they were polytheists and disbelievers. However, it is necessary to know that Islaam is not a religion of anger and religion of revenge. Verily it is a religion of guidance,  mercy, and leniency as the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم used to be. 

What is the result? 

The result is that Allaah will aid His Messenger and give might to his religion. Some of those who used to mock the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم, became leaders of Islaam and fought in His way. They came to Islaam and their Islaam was good because the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم was patient, treated them with forbearance and also he was lenient with them until they loved him.

This is as Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى said:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

"And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character."

(Al-Qalam 68:4)

This is the character of the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم. The disbelievers, when they do these actions, they want an effect. They say: “see the actions of the Muslims: they will kill the ambassadors, corrupt the houses, destroy the buildings, this is the religion of Islaam”. This is what the disbelievers want from this affair.

Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says:

وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُواْ عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُواْ وَأُوذُواْ حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَا وَلاَ مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللّهِ وَلَقدْ جَاءكَ مِن نَّبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

"Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allâh. Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you)."

(Al-An'am 6:34)

This is the guidance of Islaam with regards to these affairs, i.e. leniency, deliberation, patience, lack of hastiness. Therefore, the polytheists want to profit from these affairs that occur from some Muslims in terms of arrogance, corruption, and killing until the Muslims start fighting between themselves, protesting, fighting with the Muslim security guards. This is what the disbelievers want”.

[ http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/14103]

Translated by: Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan Abu Sulaymaan

Edited by: Umm Hasna bint Jabir as-Saylâniyyah