Another long series, inshaAllah, addressing the hastiness and improper, incorrect means of conveying information and calling to the Lord. This is quite religious in nature, therefore I think it is best to dedicate whole of Part 1 of the series with proofs from Quran and Sunnah and what the Scholars mentioned as appropriate, about patience, wisdom, kindness and associated characteristics.
I'd then focus on various practical examples that I have personally known or heard of and perhaps put forward few very plausible, hypothetical situations to pin-point the characteristics that go directly against Quran and Hadeeth.
What is established from the Speech of our Lord is that one must have correct knowledge about what they are talking about, be patient and kind, and exert wisdom in conveying the information to those who do not know.
Quranic Verses
The following translated Verses are appropriate (and commentaries to follow later):
1. "Say: this is my way, I call to Allaah upon sure knowledge (Baseerah); I and whosoever follows me ..." [Surah Yusuf 12:108]
2. "And follow not ( i.e., say not or do not or witness not) what you have no knowledge of. Indeed the hearing, sight and the heart, one will be questioned of all of those" [Surah al Israa 17:36]
3. "The believers (Mu'minoon) are nothing but brothers to one another. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive Mercy" [Surah al Hujuraat 49:10]
4. "O you who believe! Let not a group amongst you mock another group; it may be that the latter is better than the former! Nor let (some) women ridicule other women; it may be that the latter are better than the former! Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How evil is it to insult one's brother after having Faith (Imaan)! And whosoever does not repent, then such are the Oppressors (Zalimoon)" [Surah al Hujuraat 49:11]
5. "O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? And fear Allah..." [Surah al Hujuraat 49:12]
6. "Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better" [Surah an Nahl 16:125]
7. "And by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from around you; so pardon (their faults), and ask (Allaah's) Forgiveness for them" [Surah Al ‘Imraan 3:159]
8. "And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allaah" [Surah Taha 20:44] (Referring to Prophet Moses in his admonition to one of the worst people in the history of mankind, Pharaoh!)
9. "...Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning (i.e. limit)" [Surah az-Zumar 39:10]
10. "And do not insult the false gods that they worship besides Allaah, lest they insult Allaah wrongfully without knowledge..." [Surah al Anaam 6:108]
Prophetic Hadeeth
1. The Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, said, "Make things easy and do not make things difficult, give glad tidings and do not repel the people [from you]." (Saheehayn)
2. The Prophet said, "O Aaishah (wife of the Prophet), Allah loves kindness in everything." (Saheehayn, in which Aaishah went overboard in her speech to the Jews!)
3. The Prophet said, "Proceed with calmness and tranquility up until you enter their (disbelieving) land, then invite them to Islaam and inform them of what Allaah the Most High has made obligatory upon them (as it relates to the religion). For by Allaah, if Allaah was to guide a single person through you, then it would be better for you than red camels.” (Saheehayn)
4. The Prophet said, "It is enough lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears." (Saheeh Muslim)
5. The Prophet said, "It is enough sin for a man to speak of everything that he hears." (Saheeh Muslim)
6. The Prophet said, "And Allah dislikes gossip (قيل وقال) for you, asking too many questions." (Saheeh al-Bukhari)
7. The Prophet said, "Allah has sent this command to me through revelation: Take to humility. Let no man pride on another man, nor adopt superiority complex and let no one be unjust to anyone." (Saheeh Muslim)
8. The Prophet said, "Truly the religion is easy. And no one contends with the Deen except that it will overwhelm him. So seek out a balanced correctness, do as much as you can, and rejoice (at your reward). And seek assistance (from Allah) in the early morning, the afternoon, and some part of the late night." (Saheehayn)
9. The Prophet said, "What an evil habit it is for a man to say: 'They claimed...'" (Sunan Abu Dawud)
10. The Prophet said, "O you who have spoken the words of faith but faith has not entered your hearts! Do not backbite about the Muslims or seek our their faults, for whoever seeks out their faults, Allah will seek out his faults even if he is in his house." (Sunan Abu Dawud)
11. The Prophet said, "Indeed you (Muslims) were only sent to make things easy, and you were not sent to make things difficult."
Relevant narrations from the Commander of the Believers
1. 'Alee, the son of Aboo Taalib, said:
"Narrate to people what they can understand; do you want Allah and His Messenger to be disbelieved?"
(Saheeh al-Bukhari, Chapter about a person preferring some people with certain knowledge to the exclusion of others.)
2. 'Umar, the son of al-Khattab, said:
"Beware of fitnah (trials and afflictions), for a word at the time of fitnah could be as devastating as the sword"
To be continued...
Now this Part 1 needs a bit of research and I need to be careful about what I say, since speaking about Verses of the Quran and Hadeeth is not for every Ahmad. The Prophet of Allaah said:
1. "Whoever says anything about the Quran without knowledge, then he should take his abode (home) in hell" (Sunan Abu Dawud)
2. "Whoever talks about the Quran on the basis of his opinion, and even if he says something true in it, he has made a mistake" (Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i)
Please bear with me as I would update you, God willing, with the commentaries of these Verses and Scholarly clarifications.
Edit:
Part 1b (April 2010)
Part 1c (April 2010)
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