In every age, some people misunderstand the divine teachings of religion, or they hate it, and they want to eliminate it with force, violence, and persecution.
They think that they can suffocate the faithful followers by their evil forces, and they can blow out the light of faith. The history tells us that persecution can kill some faithful, but it cannot kill the faith.
Instead, the religion spreads more into the hearts of others. It is an absolute truth about Islam. Every messenger of Allah and his followers received brutal resistance, yet the advancement of religious teaching continued.
We should look at two verses in the Holy Quran, one regarding the persecutions, and another about the continuous spreading of the light of religion, for our reminder.
“And they persecuted them (The believers) for no reason other than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise.” [Quran 85:1]
“Their intention is to darken Allah’s Light (by bellowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (Brightening) His Light.” [Quran 61:8]
As Muslims, we are not exempted from the persecutions here and there. The question is, what is the best way to face the persecutions? Should we hate for hate, fight for fight, kill for kill, anger for anger, cruelty for cruelty, and offer violence for violence?
Or there is another way, a peaceful way? What was the most regular practices of Allah’s Messengers when they faced persecutions? Did they try to win hearts, guide the misguided, made effort to offer understanding to remove misunderstanding etc?
Should we give up our moral high ground of love, kindness, and compassion towards humans due to some of their lowly actions against us?
Most particularly, what was the policy and practices of Prophet Muhammad (s) towards the enemies in Mecca, who killed and persecuted many of his holy companions, and even tortured him, and attempted to kill him?
What is Allah’s prescription about it in most cases? Again, we should look at a verse in the Holy Quran, for our reminder.
“And good deeds and evil deeds cannot be equal. (So) face (evil) with what is best (fairness, kindness, forgiveness etc). Then, verily, he (the one) between whom and you, was hatred, will become like close friends.” [Quran 41:34]
Allah’s Light will grow continuously to remove darkness, but we are tested if we are dedicated to being part of this evolution with patience or not.
Prophet Mohammad (s) began his peace message through the faith alone, faced all the abuses, blasphemy, torture, and persecutions, but always held on the high moral qualities and as a result, hearts were won, hatred was turned into friendship, the peace message did spread faster with the best actions.
Today, we need to follow our role model, Rahmatullil A’alameen (Mercy for the words) Muhammad (s) in facing the persecutions to turn the violence into peace.
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