The Issue of Blasphemy

peaceful persuasion should be used to help the person understand the truth of the matter rather than trying to punish him. There is ample evidence that tells us what to do in such cases. Zaid bin Sa’nah, a Jewish scholar, noted that according to the Torah, two notable signs of the Prophet of Islam were: “His forbearance outpaces his ignorance, and increased ignorance only heightens his forbearance.” To test this, Zaid bin Sa’nah loaned money to the Prophet of Islam during a time of need, then prematurely demanded repayment, speaking harshly. He recounted, “I seized the collar of his shirt and cloak, looked at him sternly, and demanded, ‘Will you not pay me my due?’” In response, rather than reacting harshly, the Prophet of Islam chose a gentle approach and repaid him more than the owed amount. Witnessing this act of exceeding generosity, Zaid became convinced that Muhammad was indeed a true prophet and subsequently became his follower. (Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani, Hadith No. 14954) It is interesting to note the response of the Prophet and his Companions on such occasions. They never indulged in aggressive activities against non-Muslims. Instead, they prayed for them and tried to remove their misconceptions by engaging in discussion with them, adopting a peaceful method. In ancient times, people generally gave expression to their thoughts in poetry. The opponents of the Prophet used to PUBLISHER'S NOTE