A Muslim Perspective on Conflict.

I was recently invited to meet with a religious political figure of local importance, “Romo” (Raden Muhammad Syafi’i).  He is a local leader in the Reformation Star Party, an Islamic party.  He is a representative in the provincial legislature and is in line to represent PBR in the national assembly.  He is also an Ustadz – which means he preaches in various setting.  Concerned about how the West view Muslims as extreme in their reactions, he told a story about how Muslims should respond.  It is a story of the Prophet Muhammad.  One day the Prophet went to his door, and there was a pile of poop on the doorstep.  So the prophet, got a shovel, and cleaned  it up.  He did not get angry, he not shout, he simply cleaned it up.  The next day, it was there again.  So, without emotion, he got the shovel and cleaned it up.  This happened so frequently that the Prophet started taking a shovel to the door with him.  One day he discovered who had been throwing poop at his door.  He said nothing and did nothing.  He kept coming to the door each day with a shovel in hand.  One day, there was no poop on his door step.  He was puzzled.  By then, he had came to expect poop on his doorstep.  Something must be wrong.  So, he immediately went out and inquired after the neighbor.  In fact, the neighbor had fallen ill. The Prophet asked for food including milk, to be prepared.  He brought this food to the neighbor and fed him and prayed for him to be healed.  The neighbor asked incredulously, if they Prophet knew that it was he that had been throwing poop on his door.  When the Prophet told him that he knew and that he had know for a long time, the neighbor exclaimed.  How amazing is your religion that you could respond this way to my hateful behavior.  Romo continued that people saying nasty things about Islam and Muslims is the new poop.  But we must follow the example of the Prophet and not respond emotionally.