THOSE WHO RIDICULE THE PROPHET

He never sought revenge. Instead, he approached them as problems to be addressed, employing wisdom in his responses. This is why we find various approaches to dealing with such matters, as different situations require different methods. 1. One notable aspect to mention is that the Prophet never resorted to the method of protesting and holding public agitations against those who insulted him, a method that some Muslims adopt today in response to instances of ‘insolence.’ Despite facing repeated insults and humiliation during his lifetime, the Prophet did not protest publicly against those responsible. The reason for this is quite evident. Making blasphemy a subject of public agitation would only serve to amplify the words of the abuser, bringing them to the attention of more people, especially in today’s world where media can quickly spread such information. In such cases, public agitation proves to be counterproductive. An example of this is the case of Salman Rushdie’s book, ‘The Satanic Verses.’ Considered by many as an absurd book, it would have likely been read by only a few thousand people under normal circumstances. However, due to the misguided agitation caused by some Muslims, it gained significant attention and became a bestseller among English books. ‘The Times of India’ (March 17, 1989) and the New York Dateline reported that, according to a review in The New York Times, ‘The Satanic Verses’ had reached the top spot on The New York Times best-seller list for hardcover fiction.