In the light of the Quran and the sunnah what to do when you feel insulted
In this blog post, we will discuss what to do when you feel insulted in the light of the Quran and the sunnah. Feeling insulted is a natural human emotion that can affect our mental and emotional well-being. However, as Muslims, we have guidance from Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on how to deal with such situations in a way that pleases Allah and benefits us.
First of all, we should remember that Allah is the Most Merciful and the Most Forgiving, and He does not burden us with more than we can bear. He says in the Quran:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
"Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity." (2:286)
Therefore, we should trust that whatever happens to us is part of Allah's wisdom and decree, and He knows what is best for us.
Secondly, we should be patient and forbearing when we face insults or abuse from others. Allah says in the Quran:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient." (2:155)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The strong man is not the one who can wrestle, but it is the one who can control himself when he is angry." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Patience is a virtue that elevates our status in the sight of Allah and earns us His reward.
Thirdly, we should respond to evil with good, as Allah commands us in the Quran:
وَلَا تَسۡتَوِی ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّیِّئَةُۚ ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِی هِیَ أَحۡسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِی بَیۡنَكَ وَبَیۡنَهُۥ عَدَ ٰوَةࣱ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِیٌّ حَمِیمࣱ
And the good deed and the evil deed will never be equal; O listener! Repel the evil deed with a good one, thereupon the one between whom and you was enmity, will become like a close friend.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ وَلاَ اللَّعَّانِ وَلاَ الْفَاحِشِ وَلاَ الْبَذِيءِ " .
'Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "The believer does not insult the honor of others, nor curse, nor commit Fahishah, nor is he foul."
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1977
He also said:
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent." (Bukhari and Muslim)
By repelling evil with good, we show our moral excellence and our adherence to the sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Fourthly, we should seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytan, who is our sworn enemy and who whispers to us to react with anger or resentment when we feel insulted. Allah says in the Quran:
وَإِمَّا یَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنِ نَزۡغࣱ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِیعٌ عَلِیمٌ
And O listener! If the devil provokes you, seek the refuge of Allah; indeed He is All Hearing, All Knowing.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said 'I seek refuge with Allah from Satan,' what he feels would go away." (Bukhari)
Finally, we should remember that Allah is watching over us and He will judge us according to our deeds on the Day of Resurrection. Allah says in the Quran:
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ
Indeed nothing is hidden from the sight of your Lord.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever suffers an injury done to him and forgives (the person responsible), God will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins." (Tirmidhi)
Therefore, we should forgive those who insult us and pray for their guidance, as this will increase our reward and purify our hearts.
In conclusion, feeling insulted is a normal human reaction, but as Muslims, we have guidance from the Quran and the sunnah on how to cope with it in a way that pleases Allah and benefits us. We should trust in Allah's decree, be patient and forbearing, repel evil with good, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan, and remember that Allah will judge us according to our deeds. May Allah help us to follow His guidance and grant us peace of mind. Ameen.