How to respond to Islam haters?/ how to respond when someone slanders our prophet or religion?

Every now and then we hear the news that this person or that person said something to belittle our Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or wrote something denigrating about Islam.

 First we need to think, why are these people targeting Islam and our Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?

The answer is simple because we say "la ilaha illallah (There is no God but Allah)". And whoever says this is in a war with shythaan, hence he is using innumerable ways to hurt and harm us. The people who are spreading malice and slandering Islam are just few of his pawns, who are following their innate desires like puppets.

 Anas ibn Malik reported the Messenger of Allah Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said "verily shytan flows through the human being like the flowing of the blood" (Muslim)

This means that the devil is running in the veins of every human being respective of caste, creed, colour or religion.

 You must be surprised to know that I am blaming the devil here instead of the people who actually do such heinous act of slandering our prophet and religion.

 However Allah says in Quran

 Al-maidah 5; 91 "Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred..."

So now you know he is the main culprit here. But what about the people who are not afraid to show their hatred towards Islam and Muslims and go to great heights to show the same in various ways?

 For such people Allah says in Quran 

Al-Anam- 43-44 

"... Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing. So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair."

Shaytaan makes it fair seeming to them that which they do so, no matter how much you defend yourself against them it's pointless. Unless Allah guides them. And in next verse Allah says if such people ignore the warning signs, for example:- Quran is one clear proof for people in search of truth and a warner at the same time. Yet if such people instead of searching the truth join the horde to speak I'll against Islam (until they repent) for such people Allah makes the worldly life a place of bliss filled with pleasure ironically for a short time though. And then when inevitable destruction(death) seizes them, they'd end up with deep regrets and sorrows which will be of no avail then.

 So now we know what happens to those people who spread malice against Islam. its also indispensable for every Muslim to know " how to react in such situations?". As I see that many people have come out on street causing havoc and vandalism.

Allah says "You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah -  indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination."( 3:186)

A Muslim must have patience and protect himself from falling into the traps of Shaitan.

"..Bear patiently what they say." (20:130 and 50:39)

"Obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and disregard their hurtful talk." (33:48) 

In all the verses quoted above, Muslims are taught to bear their feelings of hurt and anger with patience, and to ignore the abuse. If you react after listening or reading to any hurtful talk and then engage yourself in violence as counter attack, then you are doing nothing but only helping the devil succeed in his plans against you.

Remember" the moment you start arguing with an ignorant fool you have already lost" ( Ali (ra))

Allah says concerning them and their like,

And among mankind is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge," (22:3)

So such kind off people are ignorant 

(25-63) ".. And when the foolish address them they say:"Salama."

One of the attribute of servant's of Allah is that if the ignorant people insult them with bad words, they do not respond in kind, but they forgive and overlook, and say nothing but good words.

This is what the Messenger of Allah did. The more ignorant the person, the more patient he would be.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mulaika: 'Aisha said that the Jews came to the Prophet and said, "As-Samu 'Alaikum" (death be on you). 'Aisha said (to them), "(death) be on you, and may Allah curse you and shower His wrath upon you!" The Prophet said, "Be calm, O 'Aisha ! you should be kind and lenient, and beware of harshness and Fuhsh (i.e. bad words)." She said (to the Prophet), "Haven't you heard what they (Jews) have said?" He said, "Haven't you heard what I have said (to them)? I said the same to them, and my invocation against them will be accepted while theirs against me will be rejected (by Allah). "  (Bukhari)

In the end I would say that this is the character a Muslim should vie for.

"It doesn’t befit the lion to answer the dogs

My silence towards the idiot is indeed an answer"

Imam Al-Shafii