Respond But with Love

Respond but with love

Shamsul Huda Qasmi

hudaqasmi@gmail.com

Nowadays, hatred and intolerance are being spread systematically across the country. Some of our top leaders, intellectuals, writers, authors, journalists and activists have expressed their serious concerns for it at various occasions. While speaking on the topic ‘Politics of debasing Gandhi’, writer K.P. Ramanunni said, "As a writer, I am frightened by the prospect of intolerance and hatred being spread across the country.” Sadly, we have no choice but to confess the fact that various platforms are brashly used to sow the seed of hatred and intolerance in the minds of the people against minorities and some selective secular people. Social media significantly is becoming a hub of spreading such malicious mean contents, misinformation and evil thoughts. Recently, micro-blogging website, Twitter, was abuzz and used to spoil the communal harmony and social fabric of the nation. Some anti-social elements led a hateful campaign on Twitter and made various intolerable blasphemous Hash-tags trending against the Prophet Muhammad (saw) to provoke the Muslims in India and interestingly the Muslims did respond the hateful trend on Twitter but positively elaborating the morals and teachings of the prophet (saw) which was widely acclaimed by the non-Muslims as well.

In a situation, where some anti-social elements, for their vested interests, are repeatedly trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the country, our responsibility doubles to impart the true teachings of Islam to the common people and eradicate the misconceptions taken place in the minds of our some fellow citizens.

We have a duty to lead a campaign that Islam has always been acknowledged for its peaceful teachings and cohesive wisdom and advocates having high morals, good conduct and well behaviours towards one and all.  It is high time Muslims should show the true picture of the prophet (saw) through their sublime morals to their compatriots because "tit for tat" always worsens the situation. Muslims must take in the teachings of the prophet (saw) in their day to day practical life.

Often we find non-Muslim brothers living as our neighbours, working with us in offices; we must show our prophetic good conduct to them. The Prophet (saw) said: "Jibra'il (angel) kept enjoining good treatment of neighbours until I thought he would make neighbours heirs." The commentators of the sayings write that Muslims, non-Muslims, pious, impious, strangers, fellow citizens, relatives, and non-relatives; all kinds of neighbours are covered in this saying of the prophet. Good conduct to neighbour means they must feel highly secured and satisfied and need not be afraid of you.  It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah observed: "He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful conduct." Moreover, sharing foods and presenting gifts to our neighbours are also regarded good conducts to them. While travelling in public transports like aeroplane, train, bus and whatsoever, we must prove ourselves to be a good Muslim passenger by dealing, helping, and talking to our co-passengers gently. Irrespective of caste and creed, we should show respect to elders, shower love upon youngers, invite our fellow citizens to our auspicious occasions, visit ailing persons at home and in hospitals, help them out while they get stuck in trouble because the prophet was sent to this world for the purpose of perfecting good morals. Our beloved Prophet (saw) set examples of good morals and good character for all mankind by treating others with generosity, being helpful and benevolent to others. Patience, sincerity, honesty, humility, justice, straightforwardness, keeping promises, were some of his good morals. He always spoke the truth, avoided jealousy, backbiting, and falsehood and always helped the needy people. 

We must take pledge to  implement the good conduct in our daily life since good behaviours and high morals given in our religion will alone ensure the positive changes in our Indian society and eradicate the hatred and intolerance. The prophet (saw) said, “The best of you is the best among you in conduct.” May Allah enable us to be good Muslims to follow the true path of the Prophet Muhammad (saw)! Ameen