Invite (mankind, O Mohammad salaAllah alaihe wassalam) to the way of your Lord (i.e., Islam) with wisdom (i.e., with the Divine Revelation and the Quran) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.
And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allah), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily it is better for As-Sabirun. (the patient)
And endure you patiently (O Mohammad Sala Allaho alaihe wassalam) your patience is not but from Allah. And grieve not over them (polythesist and pagans) and be not distressed because of what they plot.
Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him) and those who are Muhsinun.
Patience is a great virtue. The person who practices patience and does not speak in anger, his speech is not his speech, it is God who makes him speak. The Muslims should act with patience and should not return the opponent's harshness and should not be abusive in response to abuse. It is not necessary that a person who falsifies one should refer to him with respect. There were many examples of this in the life of the Holy Prophet(sa) (of Islam). There is nothing like patience but patience is a very difficult thing to adopt in practice. God supports him who is patient.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Oct 1905 [Malfoozaat vol.8, p. 200]
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[This message has been edited by Zalim (edited June 09, 1999).]
Reply thou, to their evil talk, with that, which is very beautiful.We ourselves know very well that they describe.
( chapter 23, the believers, verse 97 )
"The Muslim who mixes with the people and bears patiently their hurtful words, is better than one who does not mix with people and does not show patience under their abuse."
(Mishkat, Book: Ethics, ch. 'Gentleness, modesty and good behaviour')
A man called Suhail ibn Amar had a voice suited to oratory, and used to employ this talent in making speeches against the Holy Prophet. He was captured by the Muslims at the battle of Badr and brought before the Holy Prophet. A Muslim suggested that some of Suhail's teeth should be knocked out to disable him from speaking well. The Holy Prophet replied:
"If I disfigure any of his limbs, God will disfigure mine in retribution".