The recent “I Love Mohammad” controversy has once again brought thousands onto India’s streets, with protests erupting across multiple cities. Slogans are being chanted, traffic is being blocked, and tensions are rising between communities. But in this moment of collective anger, we must pause and ask ourselves a crucial question: Is this what Prophet Muhammad would have wanted? Is this how he taught us to respond?
As Muslims, our love for the Prophet is beyond question. It is an essential part of our faith. But true love is not demonstrated through rage and disruption-it is shown through emulating his character, his patience, and his profound wisdom in dealing with adversity. History provides us with clear guidance. When the Prophet Muhammad walked through the streets of Taif seeking to spread his message, the people there rejected him brutally. They set street children upon him, who pelted him with stones until his sandals were filled with blood. His companion, Zaid in Haritha, begged him to curse the people of Taif.
What was the Prophet’s response? He raised his hands, not in curse, but in prayer-asking Allah to guide these people to the truth, saying they did not know what they were doing. When Angel Jibreel appeared offering to destroy the entire city between two mountains, the Prophet refused, hoping that future generations from Taif would embrace Islam.
This is the man we claim to love. This is the character we must reflect.
Similarly, in Makkah, the Prophet endured years of persecution.
Garbage was thrown on him, thorns were placed in his path, and his followers were tortured. Yet he never called for violent protests or street demonstrations. He responded with patience (sabr), strategic wisdom, and moral conviction. He built a community not through displays of anger, but through the strength of character and faith.
The Quran itself provides explicit guidance on how to respond to those who insult or mock the Prophet: “And when you see those who engage in offensive discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation” (Quran 6:68). The instruction is clear-disengage, don’t escalate. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes responding to evil with good: “Repel evil with that which is better” (Quran 41:34). It teaches us that “the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace” (Quran 25:63). These are not suggestions-they are divine instructions on how believers should conduct themselves.
Let us be honest about what these protests accomplish. Do they increase respect for Islam? Do they draw people closer to understanding the Prophet’s message? Or do they reinforce negative stereotypes and create further divisions in our society? When we block roads, disrupt daily life, and create chaos in the name of defending the Prophet, we inadvertently give more attention and platform to those who seek to provoke us. We play directly into their hands. The provocateurs want reactions-they want to portray Muslims as intolerant and violent. Every time we pour onto the streets in rage, we provide them with exactly the narrative they seek.
Moreover, these protests harm our own community. Businesses
are disrupted,
students miss school, daily wage earners lose income,
and most tragically, these situations sometimes escalate into violence that claims innocent lives and destroys property. How does any of this honor the Prophet who was sent as “a mercy to all worlds”? The real Islamic response to such controversies lies not in the streets but in our character and actions. If we truly love Prophet Muhammad, we should embody his character. The Prophet was known as “Al-Amin” (the Trustworthy) even before prophethood. Let us be known in our communities for honesty, kindness, and integrity. Let our behaviour be the best advertisement for Islam.
Instead of protests, organize
educational programs that teach people about the Prophet’s actual life and teachings. Engage in respectful conversations with neighbours of other faiths. Build bridges, not walls. Channel this energy into positive action-helping the poor, educating children, supporting widows, cleaning neighbourhoods. These were the Prophet’s priorities. India is a democracy with constitutional rights and legal frameworks. Use these systems to address grievances rather than taking to the streets.
Remember that the Prophet himself said, “The strong person is not the one who can overpower others, but the one who controls himself when angry” (Sahih Bukhari).
The Prophet Muhammad’s life was a testament to patience, strategic wisdom, and moral courage. He changed the world not through angry demonstrations but through the transformative power of his character and message. If we claim to love him, we must follow his example, not our base impulses. The next time controversy arises, let us respond as the Prophet would have-with dignity, wisdom, and unshakeable faith. Let us prove our love through our character, not our capacity for outrage. This is the true path of Islam, and this is what will genuinely honor the Prophet we hold so dear.
Muhammad Shaheen Qasmi,
Secretary, World Peace Organisation, New Delhi