Examples from the Prophet's Life Where He Chose Not To Seek Revenge

Examples from the Prophet's Life Where He Chose Not To Seek Revenge

This list is far from being exhaustive. I only present these examples in response to those who show examples of where the Prophet peace be upon him ordered people to be killed. 

These critics think that if Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were to punish people for their crimes then that would negate the notion that he was sent as a mercy to people. To always forgive people for heinous crimes for no valid reason is not mercy, rather it is stupidity and injustice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forgave at times and implemented justice at times. He knew when to balance between the two. He couldn't always be forgiving, for this would put the Muslims in a weak position and make them vulnerable to more attacks by their enemies. Neither did he always punish people as we shall see below...


Example 1: The Prophet Did Not Have Marba‘ bin Qaizi Killed

We read the story in Al-Mubarakpuri's The Sealed Nectar:

Quote:

The Remainder of the Islamic Army are on the Move to Uhud With the remainder of fighters, the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] moved towards the enemy. After the rebellion and withdrawal of the hypocrites, the number of soldiers was reduced to seven hundred only. The camp of idolaters was situated in such a place that the many roads leading to Uhud were almost blocked by them. So the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] said to his men: "Which man of you can lead us to where the people (i.e. the idolaters) are, along a short track that does not pass by them?" Abu Khaithama said: "O Messenger of Allâh [pbuh], I am the man you need." Then he chose a short track that led to Uhud passing by Harrah Bani Harithah and their farms, leaving the idolaters’ army westwards. On their way they passed by Ha’it (i.e. the field) of Marba‘ bin Qaizi, who was a blind hypocrite. When Marba‘ felt and realized that they were the Prophetic army, he started throwing earth at their faces, so they rushed to kill him, but the Prophet [pbuh] said: "Do not kill him. He is blind in heart and eyes."

This story was reported in Ibn Hisham's Seerah of the Prophet (see original Arabic here). 

Example 2: The Prophet Forgave The Bedouin Who Tried To Kill Him

We read in Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 005, Book 059, Hadith Number 458:

Quote:

Narated By Jabir bin 'Abdullah : That he fought in a Ghazwa towards Najd along with Allah's Apostle and when Allah's Apostle returned, he too, returned along with him. The time of the afternoon nap overtook them when they were in a valley full of thorny trees. Allah's Apostle dismounted and the people dispersed amongst the thorny trees, seeking the shade of the trees. Allah's Apostle took shelter under a Samura tree and hung his sword on it. We slept for a while when Allah's Apostle suddenly called us, and we went to him, to find a bedouin sitting with him. Allah's Apostle said, "This (bedouin) took my sword out of its sheath while I was asleep. When I woke up, the naked sword was in his hand and he said to me, 'Who can save you from me?, I replied, 'Allah.' Now here he is sitting." Allah's Apostle did not punish him (for that).

Example 3: The Prophet Chose Not To Execute The People of Makkah

This story is famous (see Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 112). 

Example 4: The Prophet Forgave The Jewess Who Poisoned Him

Eventually she was killed because a companion died later on from the poison, however before that occurred, the Prophet peace be upon him forgave her. We read in Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 003, Book 047, Hadith Number 786:

Quote:

Narated By Anas bin Malik : A Jewess brought a poisoned (cooked) sheep for the Prophet who ate from it. She was brought to the Prophet and he was asked, "Shall we kill her?" He said, "No." I continued to see the effect of the poison on the palate of the mouth of Allah's Apostle.

Example 5: The Prophet Forgave The Murderer of His Uncle

See Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 399.


Indeed Islam is the religion of moderation. We don't need blood thirsty murderers as we see the false God of the Old Testament ordering people to be and we don't need cowards who would just turn the other cheek as we see the false God of the New Testament trying to teach people to do. Rather, we need Islam that is moderate and balances between justice and mercy.