Where to Find Patience When Faced With Cruelty #SayNoToHatredYesToLove

As Muslims we are taught to respond to evil with kindness, but this can be so difficult especially when our personal feelings are hurt.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh felt the pain of personal insult when he was ridiculed because both of his two young sons had died. Can you imagine anything more cruel than to laugh at someone because their son had died?

The men of the Quraish used to call Muhammad the 'abtar' one. The word abtar literally meant 'an animal whose tail had been cut off', and it was used when someone had no son to succeed the family line, a suggestion of infertility. This was very painful for Muhammad to hear, nothing had been more precious to him than his two sons and he was devastated when first one and then later the other both died as infants due to childhood illness.

But then this verse was revealed to Muhammad as encouragement to remain steadfast in patience:

"Indeed we have given you Al-Kawthar (the River of Abundance),
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice,
Indeed your enemy, he is the one 'abtar' (cut off)".

Surat Al-Kawthar HQ 108:1-3

 

Whenever we feel insulted, we may draw inspiration from the Prophet Muhammad and remember the blessings in our lives, leaving our frustrations in the hands of God, as this can help give us the strength not to respond to hatred with hatred.

How to respond to hatred? #SayNoToHatredYesToLove

The following post is a contribution by Nixie James-Scott

#SayNoToHatredYesToLove

Maybe one way to peace is to not re-act to everything upsetting that one hears or sees; to find that 'still small voice of calm' where we can respond in a considered way from a space of love and forgiveness. To try to see the common humanity in the other, however one is provoked or horrified by someone else’s actions.

I believe it was Gandhi who said that ‘An eye for and eye will make the whole world blind’ revenge perpetrates and escalates. Forgiveness defuses and calms – I love that Mother Teresa said that ‘peace begins with a smile’.

So I invite you all to smile at those you pass in the street, at bus stops, those who serve you in shops, whoever you come into contact with – smile.....it works magic most of the time. When it doesn’t, then try to find it in your heart to send love and blessings to that person so they may feel able to smile another time.

Alongside the smile there is forgiveness; starting with yourself, and I’d like to share a wonderful John O’Donohue blessing with you all:

I pray for universal peace and understanding in this world, where all people will see the common humanity in the other and work together, supporting those in need or weaker and united in a common love for our world and our future and our children’s future.

Blessed be.
Nixie James-Scott, One Spirit Interfaith Minister www.unique-ceremonies.co.uk
@RevNixie

Repaying Evil With Kindness

When we talk of love, it is easy to love the people that we like, the people that we agree with. And when we talk of hatred, it is easy to highlight the people that hate us. But during the month of Ramadan, we are encouraged to reflect upon ourselves.

My challenge to us all during this month is to ask ourselves, who do we hate? How have we responded in anger? How may we have repaid evil with further evil? How may we have condemned our enemies to Hell rather than praying for their repentance? And what prejudices do we hold against other people, both Muslim and non Muslim? Do we ourselves at times say or do things that provide further fuel to the burning hatred?

In the Holy Quran we are told to return evil with good, that evil and good are not equal, that good is better and good can turn our enemies into our closest friends:

"And not equal are the good [deed] and the evil [deed] . Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; then behold! the one who between you and him was enmity [will become] as though he is a devoted friend." HQ 41:34

But how can we return evil with good when we ourselves may be the victims of great injustice and pain? The next verse emphasises the importance of great patience:

"But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good]." HQ 41:35

I know that my Christian friends will be reading this post and thinking "hey, that's in the Bible,  Jesus preached the same thing" - and yes he did, for it's the same message. Here is just one instance (I know there are several - if anyone wants to add more to the comments feel free):

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." Peter 3:9

I pray that this Ramadan we all have the courage to look with honesty at ourselves and that we might all be blessed with the patience to respond to hatred, injustice and evil words and acts with something that is better.

Every day this holy month I hope to post a reflection on the topic of #SayNoToHatredYesToLove and I invite you to get involved too insha'Allah, more details on how you can do so are here.

#SayNoToHatredYesToLove : An Invitation

I wanted to do something special for the month of Ramadan, but I wasn't sure what. I felt the need to output something that would counteract the increasing hatred I am seeing on social media, especially since my tweets are full of atrocious acts of injustice. I prayed about it and then woke up the next morning with this tag on my mind: #SayNoToHatredYesToLove

As we come to see more and more acts of terrible violence across the world it is easy for our hearts to be consumed with hatred, but hatred destroys, whereas love can overcome hatred. One way we could promote love instead of giving in to hatred is by trying to understand our enemies and why they do what they do, despite our own pain, for example.

I shall be posting to this blog throughout Ramadan, insha'Allah, with thoughts, stories and videos that promote love over hatred. Perhaps you would like to contribute? If you would like to write a blog post, or a poem, or to send some artwork that I might add to this blog please email me jamilahanan1@gmail.com or you can tweet me @jamilahanan

I will also be tweeting to the #SayNoToHatredYesToLove Twitter tag and I hope you might join me there with your own tweets over this holy month of Ramadan.

ps. You don't have to be Muslim to get involved, this is an invitation to all.