Dr. Waffie Mohammed
The first Trinidad national to have earned a doctorate in the study of Islam, Dr. Waffie graduated from the University of Karachi with a PhD in Islamic Studies, obtained in parallel with Al-Kamil certification from the Aleemiya Institute established by Dr. Fazlu R. Ansari.
On his return to Trinidad, Dr. Waffie contributed to the development of the Muslim communities located throughout the country and the region, while at the same time serving the wider national communities. This led to his appointment to the Senate in 1981, and his later appointment as Director of the Muslim World League regional office for the Caribbean and Latin America, a position in which he contributed to global Muslim development, until his retirement in 2003.
Dr. Waffie is currently serving as the Principal and Director at the Markaz al Ihsaan Institute of Islamic Theology. He also serves as a spiritual leader of the local chapters of the Qadri and Nakshbandi Orders within Islamic Spirituality Circles.
The author of numerous books, articles and publications dedicated to Islam and contemporary social issues, Dr. Waffie also has a growing number of pioneering works in contemporary Islamic studies. Dr. Waffie blogs often at http://drwaffie.blogspot.com
BE PATIENT, LEAVE THE IGNORANT WITH GREETINGS OF PEACE
- By Dr. Waffie Mohammed
- Published 08/6/2010
Answer:
During the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), especially when he had just started to preach Islam to the people, a lot of people were against him. As a matter of fact they wanted to kill him.
Like this we will find in many places some of the non-believers in Islam will be hostile to Muslims. Allah informs us about this in the following verse of the Holy Qur'an:
They, (the non-believers) would behave as enemies to you, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you for evil. They desire that you should reject the truth. (60:2)
On many occasions the Quraish tried to physically destroy the Prophet (pbuh) and all the Muslims, but the Prophet (pbuh) did not retaliate; he did not seek revenge, nor was he inclined to punish those who behave unkindly towards him and his companions.
He was teaching the believers how to behave whenever any negative matters about Islam and the Prophet (pbuh) should surface. He was teaching them what the Qur'anic guidance in such a situation is. Allah says:
Be thou be patient; for thy patience is but from Allah; nor grieve over them; and distress not thyself because of their plots; for your Lord is with those who restrain themselves; and those who do good. (16:127-128)
Allah also says:
Patiently persevere; as did the messengers of inflexible purpose; and be not in haste about them. (46:35)
A Muslim has to always keep in mind the following:
· Allah says: Be steadfast in patience; for verily; Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. (11:115)
· Show tolerance: Allah says that a believer should always keep in mind the following verse: For you your religion, and for me mine. (109:6)
A Muslim must always keep in mind that many non-Muslims do not know Islam, and they are fed negative headlines all the time; so that when they show some kind of aversion or anger to Muslims they are to be pitied and not hated; attempts should also be made to educate them about the truth of Islam.
