EPISODE 3

Responding
Servants of
to the Foolish The Most Merciful
and Ignorant “...and when the jahiloon address them
[harshly], they say [words of] peace…” ...‫ َوإِذَا َﺧﺎﻃَ َﺒ ُﻬ ُﻢ اﻟْ َﺠﺎ ِﻫﻠُﻮنَ َﻗﺎﻟُﻮا َﺳ َﻼ ًﻣﺎ‬...
(25:63)

1 What is hilm? 5 Lessons from the pious predecessors:

Act according to the Sight of Allah, not the sight of others.
Forbearance. • Don’t stoop to the • Be too focused on
level of anyone Ar-Rahman to worry
• To be composed, have a mild presence. who attacks you. about the provocation
of individuals or Shaytan.
• To practice patience with people and with the
minor irritations of life. • The misdeeds of others, • Even if you’re in a
even if directed at you, are position of power,
• To only express anger when absolutely necessary not your responsibility. choose forbearance
and when it will have a positive impact. and composure
over punishment
and overreaction.

NO.
Who are the jahiloon Does having hilm mean you let
2 in this verse? 6 people take advantage of you?
• Those who act or speak rudely or foolishly, “The strong are not the best wrestlers. Verily, the strong are only those
who display hot tempers. who control themselves when they are angry.” [Sahīh Muslim 2609]
• In this context, it does not refer to those
• Sometimes, it will feel unjust
who are simply ignorant or uneducated.
to remain silent or leave when
you could have reacted or
said something back.
• Hilm also applies to We do not accept oppression.
virtual interactions of all For example, when dealing
What does it mean to say
3 “salaam” in this verse?
types—on social media,
on the phone, etc.
with bigots, racism, or targeted
discrimination, it is neccessary
to respond wisely—but only to
• It’s important to judge wisely protect others, never to defend
between situations that require a your ego or pride.
“Peace out.” “I will not engage.” response and those that do not.

How did our pious predecessors 7 How can we develop hilm?

4 deal with the jahiloon?
When they heard any vain talk, they physically turned
away from it.
They kept their composure and calmed others,
responding with words like:
“For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds.
Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.”
(28:55)
They were merciful and did not punish actions of
jahiloon for their own sake, even though they had
the authority to do so.
Once we connect to the idea of being ‘Ibad ar-Rahman, we
emanate the rahmah we seek from Allah and apply it to all areas
of our lives, including those in which people may seek to provoke
us or make us respond with anger.
THINK The goal of Shaytan is to make you REFLECT What situations have
stoop to the level of people who are rude you faced in which you practiced
and ignorant. How can you help yourself (or should have practiced) hilm?
rise above that impulse?
REMEMBER You are only responsible for ACT Practice forbearance daily
your own actions and words. If others are by being patient with people. Don’t
jahiloon with you, it doesn’t mean you are feed the trolls in your life. Do not
responsible for dealing with them. Your let those who try to provoke you
goal is to be elevated in the eyes of Allah. into your heart and mind.

Adapted from Episode 3 of the series:

Servants of the Most Merciful at yaqeeninstitute.org