Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal opened one of his books with the following eloquence:

"All praise is due to Allah, who, in every age where there was a break from messengers, placed remnants from the people of knowledge.

They call those who are astray back to guidance, and they patiently bear the harm that comes their way.

Through the Book of Allah, they give life to hearts that were dead, and with the light of Allah, they bring sight to those who were blind.

How many victims of Iblīs have they revived! How many lost wanderers have they directed back to the path!

So beautiful is the impact they leave upon people, yet so ugly is the way people treat them in return."

One of the greatest gifts Allāh ﷻ has given this Ummah is the presence of its duʿāt (Callers to Islam); those who call to Him with knowledge, wisdom, and care. Their existence is a sign of mercy, because through them hearts are guided, faith is revived, and people are reminded of the beauty of living for Allāh.

But with this gift comes a reality: communities are not perfect. People sometimes hurt with words, question intentions, or even oppose those trying to serve them. And yet, part of the mercy of a dāʿī is seen in how he bears these harms with patience. He understands that his mission is not about himself; it is about representing the message of his Lord.

This is why a dāʿī cannot afford to be consumed by negativity the way ordinary people might be. A layperson, when upset, may lash out, dig up the past, or even spread “dirt” about someone they have a grievance with. But a person of knowledge is called to something higher. His role is not to descend into the same pettiness, but to remain steady, principled, and focused on the bigger picture.

Regarding this character and these ideals; Allah Almighty revealed:

اُدْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ

Repel [evil] with that which is best. We are most knowing of what they describe.

Sūrah al-Mu’minūn (23:96)

And he said:

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ • وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ۖ وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ

Good and evil are not equal. Repel [evil] with that which is best, and the one between whom and you there is enmity [will become] as though he were a close friend. But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great share [of goodness]. Sūrah Fuṣṣilat (41:34–35)

And He said:

وَلَمَنْ صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

And surely, whoever is patient and forgives – indeed, that is of the matters requiring resolve.

Sūrah ash-Shūrā (42:43)

And He said:

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs. Sūrah as-Sajdah (32:24)

The above verses teach us that when your enemies harm you, whether through words or actions, you don’t respond in the same manner. Yes, Islam allows you to deal with someone according to the wrong they’ve done. That is justice. But here, Allah is calling us to something higher than justice; He is calling us to excellence.

So when harm comes your way, respond with goodness. When someone wrongs you, answer with kindness. This is not weakness, rather it is a form of strength, because you rise above their behaviour.

Now think about the benefits:

1. In the moment, the harm directed at you becomes lighter.
2. Over time, it prevents greater harm in the future.
3. It can even soften the heart of the wrongdoer, pulling him towards truth, towards regret, towards repentance.

And more than this, the one who forgives:

1. cultivates the quality of iḥsān within themselves.
2. Overcomes their real enemy... Shayṭān.
3. And makes themself worthy of reward from Allah Almighty.

Of course, this doesn’t mean a dāʿī should be distant or unrelatable. He must walk with the people, feel their struggles, and speak to their reality.

About this, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

"The believer who mixes with people and is patient with their harm is greater in reward than the one who does not mix with people and is not patient with their harm".

(Sunan Ibn Mājah: 4032).

However, being relatable is very different from lowering the bar of behaviour. A true dāʿī sets the standard of ideals for others to aspire to, not by claiming perfection, but by showing through practice that it is possible to rise above the impulses of ignorance.

We only have to look at our beloved Prophet ﷺ. He faced harm, insults, and rejection far worse than what any caller to Allāh will face today. Yet he remained patient, forgiving, and steadfast. His example teaches us that the real strength of a dāʿī lies not in matching harm with harm, but in embodying mercy, discipline, and vision.

So when we see our duʿāt remaining patient, refusing to be dragged into quarrels, with reason, and choosing principle over impulse, we are witnessing a living mercy from Allāh. They remind us that knowledge is not about information alone; it is about transformation. It is about becoming a better servant of Allāh, and helping others to do the same. And Allah knows best.

Your brother

Sajid Umar

Location: 'somewhere en route to the hereafter'

10/03/1447 (AH) - 02/09/2025