Hate against Muslims! We often hear that hate against Muslims is rising.
Today, a Kiwi telephoned me to check how I was after the hateful news from someone against Muslims. He seemed more worried than I. How should I react to the concerning news as a minority Muslim?
To begin with, I would not react to the hate news impulsively. A hate comment may be to seek attention or to blame Muslims more for an angry reaction. Why should I make a hater popular by adding fuel to it? So, I would take it easy.
Then I would check the fact that what percentage of citizens hate me as a Muslim. If I find their number very insignificant, then I would plan for engaging loving people to build our society loving, peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous.
No matter how little contribution I can make, I shall increase it, and I shall seek Allah’s help to magnify the good works by placing it into many people’s hearts.
I would like to be part of a solution to a problem not to add more problems. The messengers of Allah came to change hearts from hate to love, to change people’s minds from negative to positive, and for setting up good examples for good people to follow to change the world to be better.
Prophet Yusuf (a) transformed a hostile nation to a nation of fairness and peace. Prophet Muhammad (s0 acted as Rahmatul-lil-A’laameen (mercy for the worlds) to change his enemy to friend.
They are my role models. Why shouldn’t I follow their spirit, strength, love and mercy to bring a change? So, I take the criticism as positive and seek Allah’s help to do something for the best.
Then, I will not take the path of hate for someone’s hate towards me. I have a value. I have a prescribed character that I want to follow. I am a Muslim to achieve good moral character.
That’s why, despite some people’s hate towards me, I shall offer my love for the pleasure of Allah. For my loving attitude, Allah will love me, and Allah will grant some degree of success Insha Allah.
Therefore, I do not feel scared, hopeless or discouraged to stop my good duties that Allah has prescribed for me and for all the Muslims. Allah commands us in the Holy Quran:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ
You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. [Quran 3:110]
Finally, my reaction to a hate comment as a Muslim is to be a healer with love, patience, and effort for reconciliation and peace, not hate for hate, nor destruction of human unity rather building human unity.
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