A Cartoon so Powerful…

While Muslims once again tumble into the reactionary trap set for them and react predictably to the offending cartoons by exploding in rage and violence, we would do well to reflect upon the Prophet’s supplication to God in the city of Taif over a thousand years ago. This is the prayer he recited with his sandals soaked in his blood, wounds all over his body and after having been insulted and abused by the people of Taif. What’s more, this all occurred after three years of suffering a boycott at the hands of the people of Mecca, as a result of which Muslims were reduced to eating grass and leaves off of trees.

The Prophet Mohammad as he left the city of Taif prayed:

[INDENT]“O Allah! I complain to you of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and my humiliation before the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too. Who have you sent me to? To a distant people who receive me with hostility? Or to an enemy, who you have granted authority over my affairs? So long as you are not angry with me, I do not care. Your favor is of more abundance to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest your anger or your displeasure descend upon me. I desire your pleasure and satisfaction until you are pleased. There is no power and no might except by you.” [/INDENT]

If only those who claim to love the holy Prophet so much, that they are willing to fuel their reaction with blind rage and fury would reflect upon this prayer. They will find that the prayer is a guiding light for them and a clear instruction as to how a Muslim should respond to our current situation. It is also the only salve by which troubled hearts and souls will find peace. It will not be found in torched embassies or smashed stained-glass windows.

Are we to revert to pre-Islamic tribal norms of vengeance and retribution rather than see this as an opportunity to turn hearts & minds by sharing the example of our beloved Prophet’s patience and compassion in the face of hate and enmity?

Are we to fall into the major sin of despair-fuelled violence rather than maintain hope? The same hope that the prophet displayed when the angel appeared to him outside of Ta’if following his prayer, and offered to cause the mountains surrounding the city to explode and obliterate it. To this the Prophet replied “No, I hope that these people will one day come to worship only Allah and Him alone”

Rather than reacting with violence and rage we should intensify our work to share the beautiful and merciful message of Islam especially now that the Prophet is headline news. Let the Prophet’s prayer of Taif be printed in European newspapers as an example of his supreme magnanimity and patience.

Yet with the announcements of ’eminent’ Muslim scholars of a ‘Day of Outrage’, I fear we have become nothing but saboteurs. Why not a Day of Remembrance of the Prophet, Why not a Day of Tremendous Prophetic Character? Why not a Day of the Prayer of Taif?

May the good Lord guide us to that which is right and grant us the tremendous fortune of seeing our enemies as our close friends. Friends -to whom we have the duty of conveying the love of Allah and his Prophet.

Amen.