Every community has things it holds sacred...

Every community has things it holds sacred; and if Muslims insult their sacred things, they, out of ignorance, will insult ours: “And do not insult those whom they call upon besides God, lest they insult God out of hostility and ignorance. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds” . [8] Prohibition of Violence Toward the Poor and Downtrodden God’s prophets firmly rejected calls by the elites and affluent members of their communities to expel the poor and barefoot followers.

After Prophet Noah (AS) received the divine mission and warned his people ( “Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, saying: I am to you a clear warner” ) [9] , a group of the poor and destitute believed in him. The disbelieving elites labeled these believers “lowly” (aradhil), saying: “The leaders of his people who disbelieved said … We see that none follows you except those who are the lowest among us, at first thought …” . [10] They then urged Noah to expel these poor followers.

Noah rejected this violent and discriminatory proposal, praising the believers as “those who will meet their Lord” , and condemning his people for this suggestion and their broader corruption by calling them “an ignorant people” : “O my people… I will not drive away those who believe; indeed, they shall meet their Lord. But I see you are a people acting ignorantly. O my people, who would protect me from God if I were to drive them away? Will you not reflect?

… And I do not say to those your eyes look down upon that God will grant them no good. God knows best what is in their hearts; indeed, if I did that I would be among the wrongdoers”. [11] This same response is clearly stated in Surah al-Shuara: “And I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a clear warner” .

[12] God the Exalted also instructs the Noble Prophet (PBUHH) not to unjustly expel poor believing men and women, since doing so would itself be an act of violence: “And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. You are not accountable for them in anything, nor are they accountable for you in anything. If you drive them away, you will be among the wrongdoers” .

[13] Prohibition of Violence in the Masumin Narrations Since outward violence stems from inner harshness, the Prophet (PBUHH) and the Imams (AS) strongly condemned harshness in character.