THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

can rise above emotions of hatred and carry out justice with fairness and humility. After the prescribed punishment has been carried out, insulting or cursing the criminal adds human punishment to divine punishment, and this is a right no one has. The Prophet’s statement above shows that even when imposing the prescribed punishment, he still had great compassion for the criminal. He did not want the criminal to be affected by the insults of others, which could lead him away from repentance and reform, and instead cause him to turn toward arrogance and rebellion. This makes it clear who are those individuals who are granted permission by God to stand as overseers over others and to implement the punishments ordained by Him. They are the ones whose love for humanity is so profound that it extends even to wrongdoers. Even in the face of wrongdoing, they do not develop hatred toward the individual. They remain interested in the well-being of every human being—even the offender—out of a spirit of sincere goodwill. TWO PATHS, TWO OUTCOMES Once, a Bedouin came to Madinah. He entered the Prophet’s mosque, where the Prophet of Islam was present along with his companions. Standing inside the mosque, he began urinating. People wanted to stop him, but the Prophet forbade them. He said, “Leave him alone, and pour a bucket