Islam & Europe - Peace, Identity & Integration — Page 18
ISLAM & EUROPE: PEACE, IDENTITY & INTEGRATION 18 not trample upon the rights of the weak and underprivileged, whilst the poor and deprived should not bear hatred for those who were better off. The King asked the disbelievers if the Muslims had ever waged war, whether they lied, if they broke their pledges or incited rebellion. In reply, the opponents of Islam were forced to admit that the Muslims were innocent of all charges. Despite their hatred for the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him) and his followers and despite their intense desire to finish Islam, the people of Makkah testified to the fact that the Founder of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him) had never spoken an untruth, had never broken a promise and nor had he ever acted with cruelty or injustice. They were forced to admit that the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers were those who only ever sought to spread love and affection in society and who peacefully propagated their belief in the Unity of God. At all times, the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained patient, even in the face of the most cruel and barbaric oppression. He turned only to God Almighty to share his pain and so it is mentioned in the Holy Quran that during prayer, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke of his grief that he called his people towards peace and prosperity and yet they responded with brutal and incessant cruelty. 4 Despite their brutalities, during the Makkan period, the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him) never raised