Forbearance with the Ignorant is a Point of Etiquette

Dear Islamic brothers! Exercising patience with the ignorant remarks of the ignorant is also among the etiquettes of life. Many a time, we encounter people who are distant from knowledge, morality, and the etiquettes of life. This is particularly true for preachers who invite towards goodness, as they frequently have to deal with such people. Taking a lesson from the pure life of Dātā Ganj Bakhsh ꜤAlī Hujwayrī      رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ , we should exercise patience over the words, actions, and bad manners of such people. We should respond to their ill-treatment with goodness. This patience is also a virtue, and often, through the blessings of such patience, great difficulties are resolved. Allah Almighty states to His Beloved and Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَ اْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَ اَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجٰهِلِیْنَ(۱۹۹)

˹Dear Beloved Prophet,˺ adopt forgiveness and enjoin righteousness and turn away from the ignorant.^[1]

It is stated in Tafsīr Ṣirāṭ-al-Jinān:

In this verse, the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was guided regarding three matters: (1) When a transgressor comes to you seeking forgiveness, forgive him with compassion and kindness. (2) Command people to do good and beneficial deeds. (3) If ignorant and foolish people speak ill of you, do not argue with them; rather, demonstrate forbearance.^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

A Brief Introduction to Dātā Ganj Bakhsh ꜤAlī Hujwayrī رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ 

·         Dātā Ganj Bakhsh رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ   was born around the year 400 AH.