FIRST REMINDER. Yaumul Ahad, 13th day of Shaabaan (29th April). ISLAM between BLASPHEMY and EXTREMISM. This is a sensitive topic so please be patient with the length and read through for ALLAH sake before jumping into typing aameen. I'm taken only your 2 minutes this morning to go through this be-iznilLah. BismilLaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. The general answer to blasphemy as commanded in the Quran is to respond with patience, beautiful preaching, and graceful avoidance. The Quran records the fact that the Prophet was called a “sorcerer,” a “madman,” and a “liar,” yet ALLAH commanded him to be patient and to increase his acts of worship. ALLAH says: وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا Be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance. Qur'an 73:10. And ALLAH says: فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ So be patient over what they say and exalt with the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting. Quran 50:39. These insults deeply hurt the feelings of the Prophet and his companions, but ALLAH did not prescribe revenge for them. ALLAH says: وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ ALLAH already know that your heart is constrained by what they say, so glorify the praises of your Lord and be among those who prostrate. Quran 15:97-98. In fact, Allah told the Prophet and his companions to expect more insults and mockery from the followers of other religions, and that they should remain patient and not let their abuse shake their faith. ALLAH says: لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves, and you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with ALLAH much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is of the matters requiring resolve. Quran 3:186. In other verses, ALLAH commands the believers to simply avoid those who mock Islam and not to sit with them until they discuss something else. Allah says: وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِ When you see those who engage in offensive discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion. Quran 6:68. And ALLAH says again: وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ It has already been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah, they are denied and ridiculed. So do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Verily, you would then be like them. Qura4n 4:140. To be continued in shaa ALLAH. May ALLAH keep guiding us all and increases us in patients. Aameen.