The Issue of Blasphemy

THE WAY OF THE PROPHET the honourable ones will drive out the dishonourable ones.” (Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah, Vol. 2, p. 291) Upon hearing these words from Abdullah bin Ubayy, the Companions of the Prophet became angry. Umar Farooq said, “O Messenger of God, let me kill this hypocrite.” The Prophet responded, “Leave him be. I do not want people to say that Muhammad kills his own Companions.” (Sahih AlBukhari, Hadith No. 4905) More Examples Many such incidents are documented in the Books of Seerah. For instance, Laith bin Saeed narrated from Yahya bin Saeed that on one occasion, a man approached the Prophet in Je’rana while he was distributing charity to people. Upon witnessing this, the man exclaimed, “O Muhammad, be just!” In response, the Prophet said to him, “Woe unto you! If I do not uphold justice, then who else will?” Observing this conversation, Umar felt compelled to intervene and requested, “O Messenger of God, allow me to kill this hypocrite.” To which the Prophet replied, “God forbid that people should accuse me of killing my own Companions.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1063) Upon his return from the battle of Tabuk, the Prophet of Islam was accompanied by some hypocritical Muslims. These individuals would separate themselves from the sincere Muslims and engage in discussions against the Prophet. Hudhayfah, a Companion of the Prophet, recounted an incident where the Prophet pointed out a group of