ISLAM = summary of the teachings

“Good and Evil are not alike. Repel Evil with Good,
between whom and you there is enmity will become your dearest friend.”
Koran (41:34)

In his quest for peace, the prophet strove to convince people that all men and women __ wherever they live and however different they seemed from one another, in color, culture and language __ were in fact each others brothers and sisters. His message was crucial, for a proper relationship of love and respect can be established only if human beings regard one another in this light. To inculcate such feeling, the Prophet would say to His followers: “You are all Adam’s offspring and Adam was made of clay.”

In the same vein, the Prophet exhorted His followers,

“A true believer is one with whom others feel secure,
one who returns love for hatred.”

He used to teach believers that anyone who would return love only when love was given, belonged on a lower ethical plane. The true believer never reasons that it is only if people treat him well that he will treat them well in return.

He is accustomed, rather, to doing good to those who mistreat him;

He refrains from harming those who do him injury.
The Prophet Himself set the example:
all His recorded words and actions reveal Him as a man of great gentleness, humility, good humor and common sense, whose love embraced both humans and animals.

He would tell his people that, “Every religion has some special characteristic; that of Islam being modesty.”
In the absence of such a virtue, no community can enjoy lasting peace.

The prophet’s own modesty, coupled with great strength of character, is illustrated by the well-known story of old Meccan woman, who hated the Prophet. Every morning, when the Prophet passed by her house, she would empty a basket of rubbish on His head. He never remonstrated with her. One day, when the Prophet passed by, no rubbish fell on His head. Going upstairs to inquire after the old woman’s health, He found her ill in bed. On seeing the Prophet, she began to weep, “I ill-treated you, and now you come to ask about my health!”

The patience, tolerance that the Prophet evinced in refusing to be provoked __ preferring to show kindness and magnanimity to one who had wished Him ill__ is worthy of emulation.

Contributed by Saniyas Nain Khan