A Word About Islam
I want to say something to the non-Muslim players involved in the recent argument.
First, I want to be honest: I do not know all the details of what happened, and I do not want to pretend that I do. From what I have seen and heard, some Arab players began by mocking some foreigners over homosexuality and other beliefs or social issues. The argument then escalated, and eventually some people responded by insulting Islam, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and even Allah.
I am not writing this to justify what happened from either side.
Mocking people for their beliefs is wrong. And insulting Islam, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or Allah is also wrong. One wrong does not make the other right.
But there is something I would like you to know about Islam, because perhaps the Islam you encountered in this argument was represented very poorly.
The behavior of a Muslim is not the measure of Islam itself.
The Quran actually warns Muslims against provoking people in a way that can lead them to insult what Muslims hold sacred:
«“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah out of hostility and ignorance."
— Quran 6:108»
Think about that for a moment.
Allah Himself teaches Muslims not to insult the beliefs of others when doing so may lead to greater hostility and abuse.
So if a Muslim mocks you, your beliefs, your society, or something you consider sacred, he is not following the principle I am describing to you.
Islam does not teach us to win every argument by humiliating the other person.
It teaches us justice.
It teaches us restraint.
It teaches us mercy.
And it teaches us to speak with wisdom.
The Quran says:
«“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in the best manner.”
— Quran 16:125»
And the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his followers to control their anger, forgive, show mercy, and treat people with dignity.
This does not mean that Islam says every belief is equally true. It does not.
A Muslim believes that Islam is the truth and that some beliefs and actions are wrong. But believing something is wrong does not give us permission to humiliate the person who holds it.
There is a difference between disagreeing with someone and dehumanizing them.
There is a difference between defending your faith and using your faith as an excuse for bad character.
And there is a difference between having principles and having hatred for everyone who disagrees with you.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself lived among people who rejected his message, disagreed with him, and sometimes treated him with hostility. Yet his mission was not simply to defeat them in arguments. It was to convey the truth and call people toward God.
That is why I am writing this.
Not to tell you that you must become Muslim because someone wrote a religious argument in a game. 😌
And certainly not to pretend that Muslims never behave badly. We do. Muslims are human beings, and we make mistakes.
But I want to invite you to judge Islam by its actual teachings, not by the worst behavior of someone who claims to follow it.
If you have never seriously read the Quran, perhaps read it.
If you have never learned about Muhammad ﷺ beyond what you have heard from his critics, learn about his life from reliable sources.
Ask questions. Challenge what you read. Disagree if you disagree.
But at least judge the religion by what it actually teaches.
As for what happened here, I hope everyone involved can step away from the insults.
You do not have to agree with us.
We do not have to agree with you.
But we can disagree without becoming enemies.
And if any Muslim reading this was part of the provocation that led to what happened, then I say this to my own people as well:
we are responsible for our words.
We should be people who bring others closer to goodness, not people who push them further away.
Perhaps this entire argument can end with something better than another insult.
Perhaps someone who knew little about Islam will become curious enough to actually learn about it.
And perhaps that is worth far more than winning an argument in a game.
May God guide all of us to what is true, and give us the wisdom and sincerity to recognize it when we find it. ❤️🩹