Responding to religious insults with faith, wisdom and restraint  …The Prophetic Model for Muslim–Christian Peace and Coexistence(Part 1)

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Him from the evil within ourselves and from our evil deeds.

May His Peace and Blessings be Upon the Noble Prophet Mohammed, his household, companions and all righteous people till the Last Day. Ameen

GHANA, WE MUST NOT ALLOW A MOMENT OF ANGER TO DESTROY DECADES OF PEACE

My dear brothers and sisters in Ghana.

Today I speak about something that should concern every Muslim, every Christian and every responsible Ghanaian.

Recent events involving controversial statements about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the arrest of an Islamic cleric accused of making statements advocating violence, and the arrest of a Christian preacher over alleged derogatory comments concerning the Prophet (pbuh) have generated considerable national concern. The Ghana Police Service has said the matters are under investigation and that due process will apply.

And now, reports of an alleged assault on a detained pastor have added another troubling dimension to the matter.

Let us be very clear:

Ghana is not at war.

Muslims are not at war with Christians.

2 | P a g e

Christians are not at war with Muslims.

For generations, we have lived together, traded together, worked together, attended the same schools, built communities together and, in many Ghanaian families, even married across religious lines.

Therefore, we must not allow the reckless words or actions of a few individuals to destroy the peace built by generations.

WHEN SOMEONE INSULTS THE PROPHET (PBUH), WHAT DOES ISLAM EXPECT

FROM ME?

This is the question we must answer.

Not: “How angry am I?”

But: “What does Allah require from me?”

Not: “What can I do to my enemy?”

But: “What did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) do when his enemies hurt him?”

This distinction is crucial.

Islam does not teach us to abandon our faith when we are provoked.

Islam teaches us how to behave because we have faith.

Allah says:

“Do not let the hatred of a people cause you to depart from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (Qur’an 5:8).

Notice the greatness of Islam.

Allah does not say, “Be just when people respect you.”

He says, be just even when you hate what they have done.

Therefore: An insult does not give me permission to become unjust.

The author is the Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert 

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai