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THE SERVANTS OF THE MOST MERCIFUL
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EPISODE 3️⃣ : THE SECOND ATTRIBUTE
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2️⃣- THEY AVOID RESPONDING TO IGNORANCE WITH IGNORANCE
We all know how daunting it is to face and interact with people who portray ignorance in their actions towards us, but the Servants of the Most Merciful lessen the effects of such interactions, by responding, and not reacting. They choose the hardest, but most effective method of any interaction, which is responding. This was the character of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Abu Abdullah al-Khadali (رضي الله عنه) reported: _I asked Aisha about the character of the Messenger of Allāh, (ﷺ). Aisha said, “The Prophet was not indecent, nor obscene, nor would he shout in the markets. He would not repay an evil deed with an evil deed, rather he would pardon and overlook.”_
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2016)
Not only do they respond, but they do so by responding in a calm way. They exhibit patience, and they respond to ignorance with that which is better, and safe from attracting sins.
Allāh (ﷻ) says in Surah Al-Fussilat:
وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ
Not equal are the good deed and the bad deed. Repel evil by that which is better, and then the one who is hostile to you will become as a devoted friend.
وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَمَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٖ
But none is granted it except those who are patient and none is granted it except one having a great fortune.
(Fussilat 41:34-35)
Ibn Abbas commented on this verse, saying:
Allāh commands the believers to be patient when they feel angry, to be forbearing when confronted with ignorance, and to forgive when they are mistreated. If they do this, Allāh will save them from Shaytan and subdue their enemies to them until they become like close friends.
(Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim 41:34)
Here, Allāh (ﷻ) says in the second verse, that no one accepts this advice and work with it, except those who can be patient in doing so, for it is very difficult. And none is granted it except the one who has a great portion of happiness in the Hereafter.
(Tafsir ibn Kathir).
May Allāh (ﷻ) increase us in patience and forbearance.
آمين
