Your prophet assassinated a man only for criticizing him. This shows that your r

[bamalli]

By Abu Amina Elias for FaithinAllah.org

Question:

Your prophet assassinated a man only for criticizing him. This shows that your religion is intolerant and can't win in the marketplace of ideas.

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The story you are referring to is the killing of Ka'b ibn Al-Ashraf, who was a leader among the armies that were fighting a war of extermination against the Muslims.

Uri Rubin writes:

    Ibn Ishaq relates that Muhammad ordered to kill Ibn al-Ashraf because the latter had gone to Mecca after Badr and provoked the Quraish to fight the prophet. He also composed verses in which he bewailed the victims of Quraish who had been killed at Badr.

    [The Assassination of Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf. Oriens, 32, 65-71]

Ka'b ibn Al-Ashraf had made known his support for violence against the Muslim community, so killing him was done as a legitimate act of self-defense, not because he had criticized the Prophet. Rather, the Prophet condemned any assassination that violates a peace treaty or security agreement.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

    الْإِيمَانُ قَيَّدَ الْفَتْكَ لَا يَفْتِكُ مُؤْمِنٌ

    Faith has prevented treacherous assassination; a believer does not assassinate.

    Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 2769 Grade: Sahih

This tradition was continued by the Prophet's companions.

Al-Hasan reported: A man came to Az-Zubair ibn Awwam and he said, "Shall I kill Ali?" He said, "No, how can you kill him when he is with the army?" He said, "I will catch up with him and assassinate him." Az-Zubair said, "No, for indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:

    إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ قَيْدُ الْفَتْكِ لَا يَفْتِكُ مُؤْمِنٌ

    Verily, faith has prevented assassination; a believer does not assassinate.

    Source: Musnad Ahmad 1429 Grade: Sahih

The Prophet strongly encouraged the signing of peace treaties and their strict adherence.

Ali ibn Abu Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

    إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي اخْتِلَافٌ أَوْ أَمْرٌ فَإِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ السِّلْمَ فَافْعَل

    Verily, after me there will be conflicts or affairs, so if you are able to end them in peace, then do so.

    Source: Musnad Ahmad 697 Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

    مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا مُعَاهَدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا يُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا

    Whoever kills a person protected by a treaty will never smell the fragrance of Paradise, and indeed its fragrance can be found a distance of forty years of travel.

    Source: Sahih Bukhari 6516 Grade: Sahih

Furthermore, there were many instances in the Prophet's life in which he was insulted, mocked, and harmed by his enemies, and he responded with patience, forbearance, and forgiveness.

Aisha reported: A group of Jews asked permission to visit the Prophet and when they were admitted they said, "Death be upon you." I said to them, "Rather death and the curse of Allah be upon you!" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

    يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ

    O Aisha, Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all matters.

    Source: Sahih Bukhari 6528 Grade: Mutafiqun Alayhi

This was because the Prophet would apply the teachings of the Quran which council forbearance and forgiveness in the face of insults and mockery.

Allah says:

    وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

    The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them harshly, they say words of peace.

    [Surah Al-Furqan 25:63]

And Allah says:

    وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

    When they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say: For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace be upon you, for we seek not the way of ignorance.

    [Surah Al-Qasas 28:55]

And Allah says:

    فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

    So be patient over what they say and exalt the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.

    [Surah Qaf 50:39]

And Allah says:

    وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

    Be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.

    [Surah Al-Muzammil 73:10]

In conclusion, the Prophet did not kill anyone merely because he was insulted, but rather he performed military operations in defense of the Muslim community.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.