The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) prayed for his opponents, while other prophets prayed for their destruction. Is that a contradiction?

No. Noah (as) prayed in this way only after God had told him that no one else from his people would believe. It was an exception at God’s direction, not the general attitude of the prophets.

Anyone who reads the Holy Qur’an finds prayers of prophets against their people, especially the prayer of Noah (as). Alongside this stands the example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), who asked for guidance even for those who persecuted him. But a single case should not be applied to all prophets.

Noah (as) worked long and patiently for his people. Only when God revealed to him that no one would believe except those who already had, did he pray as the second verse above shows. So he did not pray out of anger but at God’s direction. These people had lost the very purpose for which they were created, and there was no longer any hope that they would turn back. This does not contradict mercy.

There is also a general rule. Whoever suffers wrong has the right to respond to the extent of the wrong he has suffered. No one can take that right away. But there is a higher level that lifts a person inwardly. That is the way of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), who was sent as a mercy for all peoples. He prayed for those who rejected him, as the hadith above shows.

For us this means that in hard times we should not be quick to pray against people. We do not know who may still turn back. Whoever manages to pray for guidance for his opponents follows the finest example. Whoever has not yet reached that level remains within what is permitted, as long as he does not go beyond the bounds of justice.