In this verse, Allah (swt) is preparing His Prophet (saws) for a great mission, that is; inviting his people to the embracement of Islam. He (swt) knows that they will harm him (saws) by speech and acts and they will fight him as well so that he is required to be patient. The Prophet (saws) said:
“May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses, for he was troubled with more than this, but he remained patient”[1]
Patience is a sign of true faith. Allah (swt) says:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
(Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account) (Az-Zumar: 10)
Patience is considered half of the faith. So the Prophet (saws) is commanded to endure the disbelief of his people in spite of their allegation that he is a sorcerer, a poet…. , Allah (swt) commands him to:
( وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا … ) (…and avoid them with gracious avoidance): As if Allah (swt) says to the Prophet (saws): ‘If patience is hard on you, let it be with gracious avoidance’. The Arabic word of (avoidance) refers to passing from state to another. It connotes one’s dislike for what causes severance of good relations between the Messenger Muhammad (saws) and his people.
The (gracious avoidance) also means to separate himself (saws) from his people in a peaceful and harmless way despite their persecutions and harms. It also means to continue being tolerant towards them, not to invoke Allah (swt) against them and to keep preaching them. The books of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) biography assert that although he suffered from his people, yet he said:
“My Lord, guide my people, for they do not know”[2]
It is narrated that Jibril (PBUH) came to the Prophet (saws) and said to him:
“’Allah has heard your people’s saying to you, and what they have replied back to you, Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’ The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, “O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akh-Shabain (i.e. two mountains) fall on them.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him.”[3]
This stance reflects the Prophet’s (saws) mercy towards his people and the whole world as Allah (swt) says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
(And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds) (Al-Anbiyaa: 107)
His people need his perfect manners, modesty, lovely behaviour, warm smiles and comforting looks. Indeed, this is Islam. Allah (swt) ordered the Prophet (saws) to overlook the mistakes of his opponents and not to let himself be provoked by their behaviours. The Prophet (saws) was deeply affected by the disbelief of his people as he willed greatly their guidance and survive. Thus Allah (swt) said to him:
فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
(So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do.) (Fatir: 8)
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari: Book of Expeditions, Chapter: The Ghazwa of At-Taif, Hadith No. 4335.
[2] Shu’ab al-Bayhaqi: Love for the Prophet (saws), Virtues of the Prophet (saws) and his eloquence, Hadith No. 1375.
[3] Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Beginning of Creation, Chapter of “If anyone says Amin and the Angels say Amin at the same time, his/her past sins will be forgiven”, Hadith No. 3231.