Achieving the Opposite

Dear Editor,
    The recent killing of the editor and staff of French magazine Charlie Hebdo in the name of defending the honor of the Prophet Muhammad of Islam is extremely sad and should be condemned by all. Those who commit such acts bring Islam and the Prophet Muhammad into disrepute and achieve exactly the opposite of what they set out to achieve.
    Throughout his life, the Prophet Muhammad showed compassion toward those who disrespected and persecuted him. When a lady who used to throw trash on him every day stopped, he went to her house to check on her health, finding her to be sick. His response to Abdullah bin Ubayy, who insulted and plotted against him repeatedly was “let us deal with him kindly,” and upon his death, he led Abdullah’s funeral prayers. Respect of the Prophet is in following his example of forbearance instead of taking innocent lives for fake standards.