Safe space is not a modern invention, it is a forgotten sunnah.
How the prophet ﷺ taught us to be a 'safe space'.
Assalamu'alaikum wr wb my dear friend!
Here are 2 Ideas, A Verse to Reflect Upon & One Question for you 👇
Two Ideas this week
1. What’s the deal about safe space?
For any trust or communication to be established, we must first provide a safe space. When world leaders want to speak they have to know who they will be speaking to and where they will be speaking at.
Humans need to feel psychologically and emotionally secure for any genuine communication to happen.
As muslims, our duty is to be a safe space not just for our fellow muslims but for humanity.
And then we wonder, which part of the sunnah did Rasulullah ﷺ advocate for a safe space? Perhaps the term ‘safe space’ is not a term popularised previously, but the idea of:
Creating a safe environment with rahmah
Avoiding any harm towards a person (including physical, mental, emotional, etc)
Suspending judgement towards sinners or doubters
Showing mutual respect and manners (adab)
Being gentle/sensitive in speech
These are all part of making a ‘safe space’.
As a muslim, we already practice safe space when -
We give salam. When we say Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh… that is essentially hoping for peace to be upon the person we are addressing. And that also means we come in peace, safety and goodness for the person.
We clothe ourselves with adab & haya (modesty). Not just our physical clothes, but the action of lowering the gaze, avoiding indecent talk, and choosing only to speak when necessary. This automatically makes others feel respected and safe.
We are mindful and we seek permission where required. Islam highly respects personal space.
O believers! Do not enter any house other than your own until you have asked for permission and greeted its occupants. This is best for you, so perhaps you will be mindful.
Surah An-Nur 24:27
2. Is your masjid a safe space?
In the time of the Prophet ﷺ , the mosque was not just a place of prayer. It was also a place where:
the poor came to rest
women could seek counsel without fear
people shared their doubts and sins without being humiliated
There was once where a man urinated in the masjid and instead of being rebuked harshly, he allowed the man to finish his business before educating him that the mosque is not a place for filth. 1
The Quran also reminds us on not ridiculing other people (49:11), backbiting (49:12) and to speak gently, even to those who are arrogant (20:43-44).
The mosque is should not just be a safe space, but a sacred one.
A safe space welcomes you as you are, and a sacred space invites you to become better!
A Verse to Reflect Upon
The true servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them improperly, they only respond with peace.
Surah Al-Furqan 25:63
In the tafsir of Ibn Kathir, he relates that the more ignorant someone was in their behaviour towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the more forbearing and calm he ﷺ would be.
This is consistent with the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ did not retaliate with harshness. He remained composed and even made d’ua for those who hurt him ﷺ.
Subhanallah! Does this not show the deep internal strength of the Prophet ﷺ, who never let ignorance compromise his character ﷺ.
One Question for you
Are you a safe space for the people close to you? Can people open up to you about their thoughts and feelings?
An added question to ponder about regarding our contribution to the ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ:
In what way do you make the mosque a sacred space?
Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas via email or in the comments section!
For any feedback and comments, drop us an email at digest@hourofqadr.com
See Sahih Bukhari 6128 & Sahih Muslim 285