The Prophetic Model: How the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Responded to Violence with Mercy

 

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
(Surah Al-Anbiyā’, 21:107)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the final Messenger of Islam, is not only a religious figure but also a moral exemplar whose life embodies the highest standard of human behavior. While he lived in a time of tribal conflict, persecution, and hostility, he consistently chose mercy over vengeance, patience over provocation, and forgiveness over retribution.

This article explores how the Prophet ﷺ responded to violence with mercy through key incidents from his life. These examples are not merely historical but offer timeless lessons for how we deal with injustice, hostility, and conflict in our personal, social, and political lives.

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1. The Early Years in Makkah: Patience Under Persecution

The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ mission began in Makkah, a society steeped in tribalism, idol worship, and moral decay. When he began calling people to tawḥīd (monotheism), he and his followers faced relentless persecution.

A. Physical Abuse and Public Mockery

The Prophet ﷺ endured both verbal abuse and physical assaults. On one occasion, while he was praying at the Kaʿbah, the disbelievers of Quraysh placed the intestines of a camel on his back while he was in sujūd. His daughter, Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها, rushed to clean him, weeping at the humiliation her father faced.

Despite this, he responded with silence and patience, turning to Allah rather than retaliating. This reflects his adherence to the Qur’anic command:

وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا
“And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.”
(Surah Al-Muzzammil, 73:10)

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2. The Incident of Ṭā’if: A Prayer Instead of a Curse

Perhaps one of the most moving examples of the Prophet’s ﷺ mercy was his experience in Ṭā’if. After years of rejection in Makkah, he traveled to this nearby city to seek support. Instead, he was ridiculed, stoned, and forced to flee with blood flowing from his body.

The Angel Jibrīl عليه السلام came with the Angel of the Mountains and said:

إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَخْشَبَيْنِ
“If you wish, I will crush them between the two mountains.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

But the Prophet ﷺ replied:

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ قَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“O Allah, guide my people, for they do not know.”

He hoped that their descendants would embrace Islam. This moment reflects unparalleled mercy, choosing hope and forgiveness over anger and revenge.

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3. The Treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah: Peace Over Pride

During the 6th year after Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ and his companions intended to perform ʿUmrah. However, they were stopped at Ḥudaybiyyah by the Quraysh. A treaty was negotiated, and its terms seemed heavily biased against the Muslims.

One clause stated that if a Qurayshi accepted Islam and fled to the Muslims, he would be returned. However, if a Muslim defected to the Quraysh, he would not be returned.

Many companions were disheartened, and ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه questioned the terms. Yet the Prophet ﷺ signed the treaty without hesitation. He saw beyond immediate pride and focused on long-term peace. The Qur’an later revealed:

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا
“Indeed, We have given you a clear conquest.”
(Surah Al-Fatḥ, 48:1)

This event showed the Prophet’s ﷺ strategic wisdom and his deep commitment to nonviolent resolutions when possible.

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4. The Hypocrites and the Slender of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها

Among the most difficult internal challenges was dealing with the Munāfiqūn (hypocrites). Their leader, ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy, spread a vicious lie accusing ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها of indecency.

Though the Prophet ﷺ and his household suffered emotionally, he did not act impulsively or seek revenge. He waited patiently until Allah revealed verses declaring her innocence:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَاءُوا بِالْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ...
“Indeed, those who brought forth the slander are a group among you…”
(Surah An-Nūr, 24:11)

Even then, when some companions demanded the punishment of ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy, the Prophet ﷺ refused, saying:

“Let it not be said that Muhammad kills his companions.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

This shows how the Prophet ﷺ balanced justice with social harmony, ensuring that his actions never fueled division.

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5. Individual Acts of Forgiveness

A. The Woman Who Poisoned Him

A Jewish woman, Zaynab bint al-Ḥārith, once attempted to kill the Prophet ﷺ by poisoning a roasted sheep. When he tasted it, he spit it out and stopped eating. One of his companions, Bishr ibn al-Bara’ رضي الله عنه, later died from the poison.

Though she confessed, the Prophet ﷺ forgave her initially. Later, due to Bishr’s death, she was executed under Islamic law of retribution (qiṣāṣ), not personal revenge. This distinction highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ commitment to justice while maintaining a forgiving nature on a personal level.

B. Wahshī: The Killer of Ḥamzah رضي الله عنه

Wahshī was responsible for killing Ḥamzah ibn ʿAbdulmuṭṭalib, the Prophet’s ﷺ beloved uncle, at the Battle of Uḥud. Years later, Wahshī accepted Islam. The Prophet ﷺ forgave him but expressed emotional pain, saying:

“Can you keep out of my sight? For I do not like to see the one who killed Ḥamzah.”
(Sunan Abu Dāwūd – 2649, Ḥasan)

This story shows that forgiveness doesn’t always erase human emotions—but mercy still prevails.

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6. The Conquest of Makkah: The Pinnacle of Forgiveness

The most significant demonstration of mercy came when the Prophet ﷺ re-entered Makkah as a conqueror after 20 years of persecution.

Many of those present had tortured Muslims, plotted his death, and driven him into exile. Yet when he stood before them in victory, he asked:

مَا تَظُنُّونَ أَنِّي فَاعِلٌ بِكُمْ؟
“What do you think I will do with you?”

They replied, “A noble brother, son of a noble brother.”

The Prophet ﷺ declared:

لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ، اذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمُ الطُّلَقَاءُ
“No blame will there be upon you today. Go, for you are free.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, Ṣaḥīḥ)

Echoing the words of Prophet Yūsuf عليه السلام, the Prophet ﷺ forgave them all. This was not just a moment of political genius, but the embodiment of divine mercy.

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7. The Prophetic Traits That Defined His Response

Mercy (Raḥmah)

His mercy was comprehensive—not limited to friends but extended to enemies, animals, and even the environment. As the Qur’an testifies:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
(Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4)

Patience (Ṣabr)

He never acted out of anger for himself. He was patient in the face of insults, trials, and physical harm.

Forgiveness (ʿAfw)

He forgave personal offenses, distinguishing between personal rights and public justice.

Wisdom (Ḥikmah)

His ability to choose the best possible response—whether silence, dialogue, treaty, or firmness—demonstrates divine-guided wisdom.

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8. Lessons for Us Today

The Prophet’s ﷺ model of responding to violence with mercy carries vital lessons:

• On a personal level: We are often wronged in family or society. Do we choose revenge or take the higher path of forgiveness?

• In activism and daʿwah: His example teaches us to respond to hostility with dignity, never compromising on principles, yet never sinking to cruelty.

• In political conflict: His leadership shows that strength lies not in domination, but in reconciliation.

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Conclusion

In a world rife with anger, vengeance, and polarization, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stands as a beacon of mercy and restraint. He was slandered, beaten, betrayed, and even hunted—but never allowed bitterness to take root in his heart. He responded to violence not with equal hostility, but with profound mercy rooted in faith.

For Muslims, this isn’t just history. It’s a guidebook. Emulating the Prophet’s ﷺ mercy is not optional—it is an obligation and a source of divine reward.

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example…”
(Surah Al-Aḥzāb, 33:21)

May we strive to walk in his footsteps and become agents of peace in a world that desperately needs it.