By Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
An Old Phenomenon
وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
“Messengers were ridiculed before you, but those who mocked them were enveloped by that which they used to ridicule.” (Qurʿān 6:10)
In the divinely revealed scriptures, God describes the great works, charity, compassion, commitment and propagation efforts of His prophets and messengers. Be it Ādam, Noah, Moses or Jesus (peace and blessings upon them). On the same token, He also describes to us the challenges, hate and opposition that was directed towards all of them and their communities.
Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him), the Prophet of Islam, was no different. Along with all the positive contributions and his remarkable work to help the poor, establish social justice and propagate the Godly message revealed to him, he had his fair share of haters. They did what they could to destroy his reputation, change the perception of people regarding his values, and vilify him and those who embraced him.
Walīd bin Mughīrah and his crew is a clear example. They were the handful of haters who constantly propagated anti-Islam messages to the masses against Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) in Makkah. When this group’s verbal hate did not stop Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) from continuing his practice of the new faith, their hate led them to threats, violence and murder.
In one of the yearly festivals, Walīd bin Mughīrah met with leaders of Makkah. He addressed them indicating that Muḥammad’s message is very captivating and it seems truthful. The public is leaning towards his teachings. He is getting popular. Our popularity is at stake. Walīd said,
وَاللهِ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ آنفاً كَلَاماً مَا هُوَ مِنْ كَلَامِ الْأنْسِ وَلَا مِنْ كَلَام ِالْجِنِّ إنَّ لَهُ لَحَلَاوة
“I have just heard from Muḥammad a speech which is not of human nor the jinn. It is [divinely] captivating!” (Mustadrak Ḥākim)
However, Walīd bin Mughīrah demanded support to oppose and vilify Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) and his message. They all agreed to forge a title against him, naming him a ‘magician’ whose message causes divisions amongst families. Those who accept his message do things differently than family members who have not embraced his message. Walīd bin Mughīrah said to the leaders,
فَدَعْنِيْ حَتَّى أُفَكِّرُ، فَلَمَّا فَكَّرَ قَالَ هَذَا سِحْرٌ
“Leave it to me so I may contemplate an appropriate [forged lie against Muḥammad and his message]. After pondering he said, ‘the suitable [forged] lie for his message is [that we will call it] magic.” (Mustadrak Ḥākim)
While Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) would be in discussions with the general populace, this group would interrupt and raise meaningless arguments to divert his audience. They placed economic and social sanctions against Muḥammad and his followers. They assassinated his family members and some followers. They made life extremely negative and difficult for the Muḥammadans in Makkah.
In the end, love, compassion and justice is what prevailed. The masses realized that Muḥammad and his followers were ordinary decent people simply following a new faith. The masses were so captivated by the goodness of the Muslims that they now supported Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) and his followers against the few who were adamant on the anti-muslim movement.
Anti Islam Hate and Islamophobia Today
The Quebec massacre, wherein a lone gunman walked into a Canadian mosque on January 29th, 2017, mercilessly shooting and murdering 6 worshippers and injuring 19 during evening prayers, is a living example that anti Islam hate does exist, even in a peaceful country like Canada. Reports suggest the gunman had right wing extremism affiliations.
Study after study shows the rise of islamophobia both locally and internationally. According to Statistics Canada, an appalling 253 per cent rise in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes occurred between 2012 and 2015.
As a person working in the community, I am constantly hearing painful stories every so often, of how identifiable Muslims face racism, stereotyping, prejudice and anti-Muslim remarks and gestures. Some at airports, others at work and school; while many at grocery stores and public spaces.
What to Do?
Stay Calm
If you face this discrimination, racism or hate, first and foremost is that we should remain calm and collected. If we employ rage, vulgarity and negativity in the face of hate, that will not help the cause at all. Smile and carry on. Note down the incident.
When one of the most evil men behaved very aggressively and rude with Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his wife, ʿAyesha (may Allāh be pleased with her) asked, “Why were you so soft and gentle in your approach to him?”. He responded,
مَتَى عَهِدْتِنِي فَحَّاشًا
“Since when is vulgarity [and evil] associated with me? [He may be a bad person, but that does not make me a bad person.] (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī)
Share Your Story and Experiences
Share your experiences of islamophobia with others. Post on social media. Write about it. Report it to the authorities. If the occurrence involved anything criminal, then ensure to notify police. If you are an onlooker witnessing islamophobia and hate in action, speak out against the islamaphobes. Call out hate for what it is.
We can no longer suffer in silence. In order to establish a just society, every citizen, organization and all levels of the government need to do their part in preventing racism and anti Muslim hate.
Educate and Establish Bonds
If you are a Muslim, speak to your non muslim coworkers, class fellows and neighbours about your views and practices. Welcome them at your local mosques and institutions.
Usually, unfounded fear and hate is a result of ignorance and a lack of recognition. Share a coffee or a meal. Get to know one another. Hold interfaith events and address common social Canadian issues together. Direct any tough questions about Islam to the experts in your communities. Build bridges of love and cooperation.
If you are a non-muslim, educate yourselves, first hand, by speaking to your local Muslim community. If you are doing a self study, ensure your sources for learning Islam are correct and understood in the right context. Education and awareness is key, in removing ignorance.
Positivity
Know that majority Canadians are peace loving and decent people who embrace diversity and freedom of religion. They will be the ones who stand for justice and peace for everyone. Get to them before the haters do. The world has more good people than bad. Remember, Walīd bin Mughīrah and his crew were few in number. So if the masses stay silent, the hate of a few will destroy the peace and stability of others. This is an old phenomenon, in a new era.
Let the good overcome the evil. Do not be deterred by the haters. Continue all the great positive work you do with confidence and positivity. Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) was told,
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
“We already know that your heart is disturbed by what they say [forging lies against you]. So exalt with praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]. [Continue] worshiping your Lord until the certain death comes to you [at its fixed time].” (Qurʿān 97-99)
Conclusion
As we mark the anniversary of the tragic Quebec massacre and mosque shooting, let us pray for the souls of the 6 martyrs. Let us pray for their surviving loved ones and families. Let us pray for a prosperous and peaceful Canada. Let us all commit to doing more to establish vibrant and loving communities across our beautiful nation, Canada. Let us not allow terrorists and islamaphobes to take over the narrative. Let us recognize that work is required to challenge real threats of extremism, hate and terrorism in all its forms.
May the good prevail over the evil, always.
