How Does One Deal with Bullying Like Our Prophet Muhammad Did?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
How does one deal with bullying like our Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) did?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your sincerity and willingness to follow the sunna of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in something so difficult.
Bullying
Allah Most High has told us in the Quran, “O believers! Do not let some (men) ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor let (some) women ridicule other women, they may be better than them. Do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. How evil it is to act rebelliously after having faith! And whoever does not repent, it is they who are the (true) wrongdoers.” [Quran, 49:11]
Harming another in this way is haram, and will be accountable to Allah for it on the Day of Judgment.
Patience
Upon declaring his prophethood, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was treated very badly by the disbelievers, including his relatives. The Arabs of his tribe were taunting him, ridiculing him, and harming him and his followers physically. He overcame all obstacles through prayer, patience, and perseverance. We should be encouraged by the following verses:
Allah Most High told us in the Quran, “O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient.” [Quran, 2:153]
And He said, “And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble, those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and to Him they will return.” [Quran, 2:45-46]
And Allah also said, Remember this verse in the Quran and wholeheartedly believe it, “So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with (that) hardship comes (more) ease.” [Quran, 94:5-6]
Show Mercy
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) displayed mercy and clemency to those who harmed him and his family when he had the opportunity to be harsh. There are too many instances like this to recount, but I highly encourage you to read about his life and witness them for yourself. You will find some details here: Is It True That Someone Threw Trash on the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him)?
Steps
If you are being bullied, I urge you to tell the authorities around you, your parents, and/or your school authorities. It cannot be tolerated, and surely something can be done about it. You can even call the police if you fear physical harm. Constantly make supplication for your well-being and for the bully’s well-being as well, because Muslims have been commanded to help the oppressed and the oppressor. The more you pray for him, by the grace of Allah, your hearts will soften toward each other.
Please see these links as well:
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
