Paris Teacher Murder: Not in the Name of God or Muhammad
20201030On Friday, October 16, Abdoullakh Abouyezidovitch, lay in wait for hours outside a school, and then beheaded a French high school teacher, Samuel Paty, for having shown the Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the prophet, Muhammad ﷺ in his history classroom. Paty had done so in a lesson on the controversy over free speech in France, and he had his students debate the question. Extremist ideologues had been posting videos threatening the teacher and calling for action against him.
As Muslims, we are horrified and profoundly saddened by this terroristic act of murder and violence against a teacher doing what teachers do: helping his students to think critically. We condemn this murder as we condemn all violent acts in the name of any ideology or religion, whether by individuals, groups, or states.
At the same time, we recognize the multifaceted nature of the controversy that the Charlie Hebdo cartoons have ignited. We understand the sensitivities of Muslims to perceived disrespect of our Prophet. We alsounderstand the anguish of Muslims around the world as wars are waged in their lands by powers, Muslim and non-Muslim, that have no compassion for the death, suffering and destruction they wantonly wreak on civilian populations.
We acknowledge the pain and fear that this horrific murder of Samuel Paty has caused in France, the tragic loss to his family and loved ones, particularly in light of the 2015 terror attacks in Paris that resulted in 17 dead and over 50 seriously wounded. We decry all political or religious rhetoric calling for violence. Finally, we assert that we must all persist vigorously in the hard and daunting work of developing mutual understanding and respect among people in the struggle to combat ignorance, hatred, and violence.
Our position is based in Islamic values on freedom of religion enshrined in the Qur’an: “There is no compulsion in religion.’(2:256) On the sin of murder, “…We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person―unless it was for murder or spreading corruption on the earth―it would be as if he killed all of mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he had saved the lives of all mankind. (5:32). Murder, except in self-defense, is forbidden.In 21:107 of the Qur’an, God says to Muhammad, “We have not sent thee, except as a mercy unto all beings.”
We urge reflection on the example of our prophet, Muhammadﷺ who said: “You are neither hard-hearted nor of fierce character… You do not return evil for evil, but excuse and forgive.” (Bukhari) In another famous narration Muhammad says that “Whoever kills a non-combatant, innocent non-Muslims, will not smell the scent of paradise …” (Bukhari).
Living in France since 2008, Abouyezidovitch had actually entered into a covenant with France and its people who gave him and his Chechen refugee family safety and security from Russian oppression. But by murdering a French public school teacher, Abouyezidovitch violated this sacred covenant. Of this type of behavior, Muhammad ﷺ had said, “Whoever wrongs one with whom a covenant has been made, burdens him with more than he can bear, or forcibly takes something from him, I will be his adversary on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud’s Sunan)
On these understandings, we entreat Muslims to walk in the footsteps of Muhammadﷺ who constantly bore insults, taunts, and physical attacks with patience and even magnanimity. When he sought support in the city of Taif, he was attacked and bloodied. His response was not murder but a prayer: ““O God, unto thee do I complain of my weakness, of my helplessness, of my want of resources, and of my lowliness before men. O Most Merciful of the merciful, Thou art Lord of the weak…I take refuge in the Light of Thy Countenance whereby all darkness’ are illuminated and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest Thou make descend Thine anger upon me, or lest Thy wrath beset me…”
In another narration, a man asked Muhammad for advice– twice. He responded both times, “Do not get angry.”(Bukhārī) Yet Abouyezidovitch became enraged over images of Muhammad being discussed in a French classroom.
As a matter of fact, the prophet constantly and patiently endured repugnant behavior by opponents to the faith of Islam. Muhammad’s wife, Aisha reported: “I was [living, in Mecca] between the two worst neighbors [one could have]: between Abu Lahab [his uncle and sworn enemy] and ‘Uqbah ibn Abi M’uayt [who once threw a sheep’s insides on his blessed head…while he was praying]. Indeed, they would come with bloodied intestines and throw it on my doorstep…” (Ibn Sa’d, in Suyuti’s Jami’ al Kabir) Muhammad’s way ﷺ was to respond with forbearance, not with anger nor violence. Thus, we call upon ourselves, first of all, to reflect on his example of responding to wrong with clemency and nobility.
Let us likewise learn from the highest example of the Almighty who said, “My mercy overcomes my wrath.” (Sahih Muslim, Bukhari, Nasa’I, and Ibn Majah). It is our obligation to strive to be merciful rather than vengeful.
Seventeen times daily in our prayers, we call upon Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim, the Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate because God is merciful toward us. Are we not then to strive to implement the Divine attributes of compassion and mercy when faced with distressing challenges?
Islam calls us to take the higher ethical road. There are those who, because of mental illness or false understanding, commit heinous crimes in the name of God and the prophet of Islam. We must set the record straight. Such acts are not dictated by Islam; on the contrary, they are crimes against humanity dictated by hate-filled ideologues whose teachings are further from Islam than the earth is from the sun, and hence there is nothing but death, destruction, and darkness in them.
May we work to dispel this darkness with the light of a true understanding of the Qur’an and the prophet’s example; may we struggle against every base inclination when tempted to take the low road of anger and vengeance, and may we keep on the higher road of forbearance and mutual understanding exemplified by Muhammad ﷺ. The real insult to our prophet is not the cartoon, but an unjust murder committed in his name of the name of God.
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Colleen M. Keyes, Ph.D.