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Let’s be real, no one who truly loves Allah and His Messenger ﷺ can be unmoved by the insults, mockery, and misrepresentation hurled at the Prophet ﷺ, especially in the West.

It hurts to see the Prophet ﷺ, the best of creation, painted as barbaric, angry, or regressive, the very stereotypes that are then projected onto Muslim men everywhere.

And the trap is set: insult the Prophet ﷺ, provoke a reaction, and then point to that reaction as “proof” of the ugly image they’ve tried to create.

So, as someone who loves Rasulullah ﷺ, what do you do?

Your heart wants to leap to his defense.

But you also know that how you defend him matters just as much as the defense itself.

The Spiritual Weight of Defending the Prophet ﷺ

To defend the Prophet ﷺ is one of the most beautiful acts of worship.

It’s an act that the angels themselves are drawn to.

That’s why the angels of Badr are so special, they stood with the companions who physically defended the Prophet ﷺ when few others would.

Jibreel (as) once asked the Prophet ﷺ, “How do you view the veterans of Badr among you?”

The Prophet ﷺ replied, “They are the best of us.”

Jibreel (as) responded, “The angels who served on the Day of Badr are also the best of us.”

There are veterans of Badr among the Sahabah, and there are veterans of Badr among the angels, those who stood for the Prophet ﷺ in the hardest of times.

But not all defense is with the sword.

Take Hassan ibn Thabit (ra), the poet.

He was initially sent to insult the Prophet ﷺ, but upon seeing him, he could only speak words of beauty.

He became Muslim and used his poetic gifts to defend the Prophet ﷺ against the enemies’ slander.

The Prophet ﷺ honored him so much that he was the only companion for whom a pulpit was built in the masjid, so he could respond on behalf of the Prophet ﷺ, since the Prophet ﷺ himself would never stoop to respond to insults.

And when Hassan stood to defend, the Prophet ﷺ would say, “Jibreel is with you.”

Not just any angel, Jibreel (as), the greatest of the angels, was with Hassan as he defended the Prophet ﷺ.

Some scholars even connect this to the verse in Surat al-Hashr: “And He supported them with a spirit from Him.”

While many say this refers to Allah’s power, some say it could also mean that Jibreel (as) himself comes to the aid of those who defend the Prophet ﷺ.

Salawat, Defense, and the Need for Deep Knowledge

There’s something truly special about sending salawat (prayers and blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺ.

We know from the authentic narrations that when you send salawat, Allah Himself sends blessings upon you in return.

It’s one of the few acts of worship that is always accepted, never turned away.

But here’s a thought: when you stand up to defend the honor of the Prophet ﷺ, you’re not just sending salawat with your tongue, you’re embodying it with your courage and your actions.

In a sense, this is an even higher form of salawat, because you’re taking that act of worship and bringing it into the real world, with real consequences and real boldness.

This idea beautifully ties into what we’ve discussed yesterday about defending your brother or sister.

If there’s so much reward in standing up for another believer, imagine the reward for standing up for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

But it also connects to the importance of knowledge.

How can we hope to defend the Prophet ﷺ properly if we don’t honestly know him?

His character, his wisdom, his mercy, and the way he interacted with society on every level?

Whether as a father, a teacher, a leader, or a friend, each role the Prophet ﷺ played requires a different understanding and appreciation.

The more deeply we know him, the more beautifully and effectively we can defend him, not just with words, but with the prophetic character that silences every slander.

Defend, But Don’t Become the Caricature

So, if defending your brother or sister brings an angel to your side, what about defending the Prophet ﷺ?

The reward is immense, but so is the responsibility.

We must defend him intelligently, with wisdom, and with the very character he embodied.

Don’t let your defense become the very thing the enemies want: angry, reactionary, or unjust.

Instead, show the world the true character of the Prophet ﷺ: mercy, dignity, and strength.

Living prophetically is the best way to defend him.

If you conduct yourself well enough, they’ll wonder what inspires you, and when they hear you speak of the Prophet ﷺ, they’ll be drawn to him too.

When people love you and admire you, they naturally will listen to you as well.

And when the ignorant refuse to hear, speak your truth and then step away, don’t let them drag you into extremes.