Islam and Muslims have always had enemies. It is the nature of the thing: You do something good, something really noble and outstanding, and bad people will resist, oppose and fight you and fight what you are doing. That, as I said, is the nature of the beast.
But what is new is that the curve has jumped to unprecedented heights in more recent times. At least it would appear so. Because in every age, the assessment by the Good Guys of that period, like Nuh, Alaihis Salam, for example, was: Wa Makaroo Makran Kubbaara -- meaning, in broad paraphrase of course: The enemies of truth and justice and goodness resorted to the worst and the most terrible and deadly kind of conspiracies and plotting and treachery.
So, the Testimony of Time -- Wal 'Asr, as the Qur'an puts it -- is that apparently the Bad Guys always had a field day of lies, deceit and propaganda against the doers of Good and speakers of Truth.
So, the ongoing rampage of hate and prejudice against Islam and Muslims, and the barrage of the most vicious anti-Islam and anti-Muslim propaganda around the world within our lifetime, are stunning to say the least. The question is has anyone ever considered the psychological and social impact of this unrelenting wave upon wave of hate and hostility on its targets: the Muslims.
What does all this negative characterizing and all this vicious name-calling do to Muslims as individuals and families, and as groups, communities and societies? To generation after generation after generation of them? The answer is simple and straightforward: damage -- incalculable and unpredictable damage.
Psychological damage and social damage and every other kind of damage of the worst proportions you can think of.
The miracle is that in the midst of all this hate and hostility directed at them, Muslims and Islam not only survive but also continue to grow and multiply and spread -- in their own way of course. This is no less than direct evidence -- proof if you will -- that Islam is from God and Muslims are God's People, no matter how messed up they may appear to be in their head and in their behavior. And as People of Haqq -- Keepers of Truth if you will -- in this world, Muslims are inexorably and unstoppably on their way to Paradise!
So let me say what any decent and civilized person in the world should be saying:
"May God Almighty bless and guide and help the Muslims!
And may God Almighty forgive Muslims their sins!"
"And may God Almighty replace the hate in the hearts of the enemies of Islam and Muslims with genuine love and respect for Truth and Justice -- and for Islam and Muslims!"
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