(CINCINNATI, OH, 12/01/22)– On Tuesday, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) organized and led character-building and anti–bullying workshops for over 200 students from grades K-8 at the International Academy of Cincinnati (INTAC). CAIR-Ohio staff members were invited to speak on bullying prevention through an Islamic lens to Muslim youth.
CAIR-Ohio staff members approached these workshops with the goal of increasing awareness of bullying by discussing Islamic standards regarding character, identifying what bullying and harassment is, and understanding how to respond to bullying.
Islam emphasizes etiquette when interacting with others, and to approach relationships with peers, classmates, and coworkers following the Sunnah (way) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Sunnah is to respond to bullying with tolerance, mercy, justice, and human dignity—as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor, or he is an oppressed one.” The people said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” He replied: “By preventing him from oppressing others.” [Sahīh al-Bukhāri, 3:624]
The workshops also highlighted the importance of being an upstander by setting a good example as outlined in Islam, protecting others, and being conscious of one’s actions.
During their sessions, they related bullying behaviors to the hardships the Prophet (peace be upon him) experienced throughout his life. By using examples from Hadith and Quranic verses to relay etiquette or adab, the young Muslims at INTAC were equipped with the knowledge and ability to address adversity they may face at school and in other social settings.
Interested in having CAIR-Ohio speak at your school or organization? Fill out our speaker request form here.
