Question: How should Muslims respond to blasphemous acts or words against God, Islam or Muslims?
God tells in the Qur’an the following facts about the behaviors of non-Muslims:
“It is for sure that; you will be put to a hard test in the matters of your possessions and lives, and you will frequently hear discomforting words from those who were granted the Book before you and from those who interpose others between themselves and God. If you persevere by refraining from doing wrong (they can’t hurt you). Yet, this is a matter of strong determination.” (Al-e Imran 3:186)
We learn what type of attitude we must have in such cases from the following verses:
“Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend.
But none is granted this (achievement) except those who persevere, and none is granted this (achievement) except those who have a great portion (of goodness).
And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in God. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. ” (Fussilat 41:34-36)
In spite of certain rulings in the verses, all of the sects agree on execution as being the punishment of blaspheming the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Advisories of death are given based on this TRADITION.
Verses that clearly express Muslim-nonmuslim relations are below:
“God does not forbid you from being kind and equitable to those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes. Indeed, God likes those who are equitable.
God only forbids you from making friends of those who fight you because of religion or expel you from your homes or aid in your expulsion. The ones that make friends of them are the wrongdoers.” (Mumtahenah 60:8–9)
According to verses, there are three critical lines that forbid the friendly relations with non-Muslims:
1. Battling against Muslims due to their religion.
2. Driving Muslims out of their homelands.
3. Supporting the ones driving Muslims out.
We cannot make friends with or exhibit sympathy to the ones that cross these lines.
As long as these three lines are not crossed, we must be patient with the wrong attitudes of non-Muslims and announce to them in a peaceful manner that they are doing wrong.
If they cross the red lines, friendly relations end. However, that is still not an act of war. The verse that commands to battle is the following:
“Fight for God’s cause against those who start a fight against you, but do not attack unjustly. God does not like those who attack unjustly.” (Al-Baqarah 2:190)
That means Muslims cannot start a war unless the other party starts the war.
Below is the verse that manifests the rule of war:
“Whoever attacks you, retaliate for that attack with its equivalent. Be mindful of God and refrain from doing wrong, and doT know that God is with those who refrain from doing wrong.” (Al-Baqarah 2:194)
In this day and age, we, unfortunately, see that all these rules were forgotten. The Qur’an and the Wisdom, that is, the method of inferring judgments from the Quran, were left away. We must uphold the rulings in the Quran, and Islam must again be promoted as the source of solutions for humanity. God the Almighty decrees:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, and debate with them in the most dignified manner. Your Lord is aware of those who stray from His path, and He is aware of those who are guided.
If you were to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as what is done to you. But if you resort to patience—it is better for the patient.
So be patient. Your patience is solely by the help of God. And do not grieve over them, and do not be stressed over what they conspire.
Indeed, God is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.” (Ash-Shuara 26:125-128)
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