The Muslims, since have the responsibility to call humanity towards Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), must adhere to good manners while dealing with the opponents and patiently accept their criticism which could very well be unfair. Even if those opponents have disobeyed Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, in dealing with him, this should in no way be a justification for returning their misdeed with its like. The fairness of elders of this Ummah made them quite patient even with those who accused them of allegations like disbelief (Kufr), considered them as an innovator in the religion, and as a Faasiq (a dissolute person). They used to respond patiently and tolerated them, even when their enemies transgressed the limits of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) accusing them of disbelief, dissoluteness, fabricating lies against the religion, or fanaticism of the time of ignorance, still the elders did not transgress the limits of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) with them. Rather, they control their words and actions, responded them with the balance of justice, and commit them to the Book which Allah revealed and made a source of guidance to the people and a judge over that in which they differed. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted, says (what means):
كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ [البقرة: 213]
”All men used to be a single ‘Ummah (i.e. on a single faith). Then (after they differed in matters of faith), Allah sent prophets carrying good news and warning, and sent down with them the Book with Truth to judge between people in matters of their dispute.” (Al-Baqarah 2:213)
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) also Says (what means):
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ [النساء: 59]
”…Then, if you quarrel about something, revert it back to Allah and the Messenger…..” (An-Nisaa 4:59)
He further says (what means):
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ [الحديد: 25]
“We have indeed sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that people may uphold equity.” (Al-Hadeed 57:25)
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted, says (what means):
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ [النحل: 128]
“Surely, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are good in their deed” (An-Nahl 16:128)
The Good Manners that Should Be Adopted in Dealing with the Opponents:
1- A Muslim should refrain from defaming them or offending them in any way whatsoever, especially if doing this might drag him into saying about them what he has no knowledge of or accusing them of what they are not guilty of. In fact, it is a trait of the believers that they raise themselves above fishing in muddy water and pursuing opportunities to offend the opponents.
Here we get a lesson from women. Although it is common in the world of women that they might mix news, repeat rumors, backbite their female opponents and accuse their honor, yet this lofty example reveals to us the refined nature of the Muslim woman as illustrated by the attitude of Hadhrat Zainab binte Jahsh towards the ordeal of Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah, the Mother of the Believers, the chaste whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) declared her innocence of what she had been accused of. It was an ordeal for all the Muslims. Here is Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah, the pure and chaste, being accused regarding the most precious thing she cherished, her honor, though she was the daughter of Hadhrat Abu Bkr As-Siddeeq, and was brought up in that pure honorable nest. They discredited her faithfulness, though she was dearly loved and pampered by that big heart, the Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam). They discredited her faith, when she was that Muslim woman who was raised within the haven of Islam ever since the first day she came to life, and later when she was the wife of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam). She was accused regarding her honor, while she was innocent and wary of nothing and expecting nothing of that which was going on. She, however, found nothing to prove her innocence except her hope that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) would defend her. She was waiting for Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) to have a vision declaring her innocence of what she was accused of. But, for a wisdom that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) willed, the revelation was delayed for a full month while she was suffering such agony. Before the Quraan was revealed to declare her innocence, the Prophet had asked the people about her. Among those whom he asked was one of his wives, Hadhrat Zainab binte Jahsh. So, what was her reply? Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah her relates that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) asked Hadhrat Zainab binte Jahsh, about her.
The Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) asked: “O Zainab! What have you known or seen (about her)?”
She replied: “O Messenger of Allah! I guard my hearing and eyesight. By Allah! I knew nothing but good about her.”
Hadhrat ‘Ayeshah added: "She was the one whose rank was close to mine from among the wives of the Prophet, so Allah protected her by (her) prudence.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Such are the believers when they are overwhelmed by jealousy or differences, they are pure-hearted people who seek excuses for each other and distance themselves from ill speech and evil assumptions. They are aware of the size of trouble that an improper word can cause, and that is why it is said: "The believer’s tongue is behind his heart; were it to utter a word, it would pass first through his heart, and if the heart disapproves it, he refrains from saying it, and if the heart approves it, he says it. Unlike the hypocrite, who goes around with evil and likes offense.”
This is the behavior that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Exalted, has underlined as He threatens those who accuse people of what they are not guilty of; He says (what means):
وَمَنْ يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُبِينًا [النساء: 112]
“Whoever commits a vice or a sin, then shifts its blame to an innocent person, he indeed takes the burden of a false imputation and a glaring sin.” (An-Nisaa 4:112)
The same was said by the noble Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) as authentically reported in the following Hadeeth: "Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
In another Hadeeth, he says: "Four traits, whoever possesses them is a hypocrite, and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who, when he is entrusted, betrays the trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he disputes, he transgresses.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
(Continued)