How to React To Islamophobia (Qur'anic Guidance)

"Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most upright way" Qur'an 17, 9

"You shall certainly be tried in your possessions and your lives, and you shall certainly hear many hurtful things from some of those who were given the Book before you and from some of polytheist. But if you persevere patiently and guard yourselves against evil, that is a matter of strong determination" . Qur'an 3, 186

The philosophy behind Islamophobia is to plant seed of fear of Muslims and Islam in the hearts of non-Muslims by depicting Muslims and Islam as an immanent danger to Americans, America and the Western world that Islam is not a religion and Muslims are strangers who do not belong to America.

Is there any hospital in USA without Muslim physicians? Is there any educational institution in USA without Muslim professors teaching? Is there any auto industry without Muslim engineers? The list goes. American non-Muslim fellows entrust their fellow Muslims with their lives in hospitals, the minds of the children in colleges and university and their machines and properties in auto industries. Did Muslims kill any body or sabotage the industries or pollute the mind of their students?

This accusation is not a new. It's an old game. Since the time of Prophet Nuh (pbuh) to time of the Prophet Muhammad, their contemporaries accused them of spreading dangerous idea in the society. They launched uncompromising attacks and conspiracy on them. Some of them were torched, persecuted and even killed.

Having said this, let us proceed by asking: how should we be behave toward those who are planting the seed of hatred or Islamophobia in the hearts of fellow Americans? was there any instructions or examples in the Seera of the Prophet (pbuh) to emulate? Before answering the question, I ought to say:

There is no question that the guidance of the Allah and His Messenger is the perfect and best. This guidance is so comprehensive that it covers all aspects of human life.

The Qur'anic verse 186 of Chapter three represents of one the guidance of the Qur'an in terms of how to deal with Islamphobia. The Ayah simply states in the explicit term manner that Muslims will certainly be tested in their possessions and them selves and that some of non-Muslims will definitely hurt Muslim ears with very painful words then the Ayah directs Muslims how to handle the situation.

Elaboration on the guidance

According to Ayah, without any doubt, we Muslims, the past Muslims, the Muslims of today and the subsequent generations will be verbally hurt by some non-Muslims. There are two things that we should do in confronting this challenge.

1. Tasbiru

2. Tat-taqu.

Tasbiru does not mean passiveness. It means to confront the challenge without being emotional, over react, but to respond to those accusations intellectually, wisely and convincing manner.

Tat-taqu. I do not disagree with you if you understand the word tat-taqu as to fear Allah by obeying His command which means to excises SABR. But the tat-taqu here, to me is to protect yourselves against the evil that may result from the spreading Islam-phobia and educating our non-Muslim fellows by using

1. Your possessions: Allah has told us that we will be tested in our wealth. Spending our wealth in confronting Islamphobia is FI SABEEL ALLAH.

2. Physically engage in the operation or action in refuting the Islamphobia. This is also a part of the meaning of Allah's word above mentioned (wa fi anfusikum)

3. We have lot of non-Muslim friends locally and nationally in Congress, House of Representatives, Interfaith Groups and Civil Right organizations. We should use the friendship in fighting against this discrimination based on our constitutional rights

Reacting to Islam phobia patiently, intellectually and constitutionally will definitely insha Allah yield to pleasant result. The Seera of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was full of excellent examples. How many people the Makkans warned against listening to Muhammad (pbuh) or coming near to him or even talking to him? How many Arabs have attempted to kill Muhammad (pbuh) but later became Muslims?

It's needles to say that, those who spread false have their own agenda and always try to set a trap for Muslims to fall in. We should be wise not fall into that evil trap.

We should pray for those who are planting the seed of hatred in the hearts of our fellow Americans and those who burnt the Qur'an. Perhaps there will be among their offspring who will be not only supporters of Islam but those who will carriers of Islamic flags.

Finally, Allah says "God and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better, you will see that he with whom you had enmity has become your dearest friend"

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