How to deal with rude people Fatwa No: 122438
- Fatwa Date:24-5-2009
Aslam Alikum
I would like to know how muslims should respond to those who are rude (There are some people who want attention in my school, and to do that they offend others by using offensive language). This usually makes me angry and feel to act. Please advise on what to do.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, you should know that the people whom you mentioned as being rude people, Allaah called them “the ignorant” and He advised us to be patient with them and avoid them. Allaah Says (what means): {And when the ignorant address them [harshly] they say [words of] peace (they reply back with mild words of gentleness).}[Quran 25:63] Allaah further Says (what means): {And whoever pardons and makes reconciliation his reward is [due] from Allaah}[Quran 42:40] This is the best and most effective answer to the foolishness of the foolish people, because people who are foolish like them, would want to respond to them and in this case they would increase in their foolishness. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 88802.
However, if a person wants to encounter a bad deed with a bad deed without transgressing the limits, then he may do so. Allaah Says (what means): {And whoever avenges himself after having been wronged — those have not upon them any cause [for blame].}[Quran 42:41]
However, being patient is better as we mentioned, but if it is predominantly thought that taking revenge could be deterrence for the wrong doer, then it might be that taking revenge is better. Indeed, the scholars stated that a less virtuous of two deeds could be more virtuous than the other deed in some cases.
Allaah Knows best.