Countering Blesphamy Against The Prophet (S.A.W.): Whose Job is it and how to do it?
By Faraz Beg • Aug 4th, 2008 • Category: Politics • 9 CommentsThe Indus Highway is one of the busiest national routes connecting several important cities of Pakistan with one another. Around three months ago, an angry mob, which was seemingly oblivious to this fact, shut it down for traffic. The closure presumably forced dozens of commuters on either sides of the blockade to look for alternate routes or – even worse – wait indefinitely until the crowd scatters. The reason for the protest apparently was the reprinting of the blasphemous cartoons by the Danish papers. The result of the protest? As always, some burnt effigies, a few items set ablaze, broken windows etc. of which definitely none was a property of the sketcher, the paper, Denmark or even any foreigner. Those things must have belonged to one of our own people, who probably would have ended up having definitely negative thoughts about the mob – so much for making friends!
Several time zones away, the cartoonist responsible for the provocation was probably ensconced in the safety of his home. The papers publishing the trash are adamant on their so-called freedom of expression, the Danish government is unperturbed by the global outcry in the Muslim world, even after the threat of some Muslim countries to ban Danish products, and all that the Muslim governments can do is call the Danish envoy to the foreign office and “vehemently” protest to him, then ask him on tea and discuss the prospects of new trade scenarios with Denmark.
If we look back at the last five years, there has been a number of such incidents where Muslims have been provoked by a seemingly harmless entity. Take for example, Nike’s new range of shoes in which the word “Air” was written to resemble “Allah” in Arabic; Burger king’s ice cream packaging where the cone was made to resemble “Allah” in Arabic; Wikipedia printing paintings depicting the Prophet (S.a.w.); Salman Rushdie being awarded British knighthood despite Muslim outrage. If all of this is coincidental, Muslims fail to understand that. And if there’s good intent behind these incidents, it’s not visible to them. As they put it, the western corporate giants are trying to lure the huge Muslim population by associating their brands with Islamic icons. It’s only that Muslims don’t see the friendly side of it at all. For them, fiddling with anything sacred to them is just blasphemy. Herein lies the problem of the west. West should understand and respect the feelings of one-sixth of the world’s population. If the west can bow to their Japanese guests saying “sayonara”, eat Chinese food with chop sticks, wear Hawaiian shirts on beaches - in short, respect and follow the traditions of other nations the way it’s recommended - then may be they can just know how to communicate with Muslims. But the question is who’ll show them the turn-ons and turn-offs of the Muslims. May be it’s the job of the Muslim administrations around the world.
Muslim governments on the other hand, are dealing with domestic violence and tension on borders. As these lines are being written, Turkey is at war against the Kurds, Iraq against the combating locals, Pakistan against the local Talibans, Afghanistan against the actual Talibans, The Fateh regime of Palestine against Hamas, Sudan dealing with the Darfur crisis, Lebanon barely at peace with HezboLLAH, while other Muslim countries are also engaged in constant mind games from the rest of the world. With such problems at hand, Muslim rulers are not only already exhausted, the majority of them is not considered to be practicing Muslim by other Muslims.
That, eventually – and quite rightly – becomes the job of the general Muslim population.
The plight of a common Muslim today is that he or she loves Islam but is not ready to follow it. People who don’t even offer Friday prayers still love Islam, but only as someone would love his birthplace. This is the same reason why we get to receive long email chains proclaiming Will Smith or Michael Jackson’s acceptance of Islam, there’s an inner desire in each and every one of the 1 billion strong Muslims to serve Islam, to preach its teachings, to show the world the correct side of Islam. However, we’re not inclined to first follow the same principles in our lives. We see someone with a beard and say “Masha ALLAH” and then step into the barber’s shop to fashion that goatee on our chin; we hear the Azaan and sit upright, and when it finishes, go back to the same reclining position. But the desire to do good doesn’t die, it may be dormant, but it’s there without argument. So when such an incident occurs, we feel extremely agitated, and with no knowledge of how to handle things, eventually end up following charlatans who convince them that killing any “Kafir” is the only way to salvation. Hence you see the suicide bombings, the beheadings of journalists and other instruments of terrorism. And unless we, the common Muslim, is educated enough, there’s no way we can convince the non-believers that for all the man-made problems created in this world today, Islam has the solutions for all of them.
In order to handle such situations, what we’re lacking is an understanding of how the Prophet of Allah (S.a.w.) and his companions handled them. Obviously, during the 13 years of early preaching in Makkah, and in the 10 years in Medina while inviting world leaders to Islam, there have been several incidents when someone grew so much in his audacity that he did something blasphemous to the Prophet of Allah (S.a.w.). We know that Abu-Lahb and his wife were known blasphemers, so was Abu Jahl during the stay in Mecca. While Caesar of Rome, Hercules of Syria, and the Iranian emperor all responded in aggressive negation, some even tearing the letter that contained Quranic verses. As far as I have found out, there’s been very few incidents when a Companion’s sword did the justice. But to that end, my knowledge is limited and requires your input. If we can just find out from the life of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions how they responded in those events, we may end up having a destination as a nation after all.
What we definitely need is having a strong media base. We need to create more opinion makers - like one of my friends has previously said in a circulating email chain, there aren’t much good Muslim writers on Wikipedia -to divert the masses in our favor, we need to show them the other side of the picture, in a more humane way. And this can only be done when the Muslim Media are strong enough and more importantly, united enough to send out a singular message to the world. I know that the points raised in this write up are not new, but I’ve written them in the hope that they may be able to tap a newer audience and just may reignite our dormant fire of Iman.
All we need to do is to make a start, and with a pure heart. We just need to find our individual strengths – some of us are good orators, some are good writers, some are good presenters, the mathematicians, the scientists, the number crunchers, the architects, the pilots, the marines, the astronauts, the multi-linguals, the multi-culturals, each has a strength, a niche’ that sets him or her apart - and then find out how to put it to the best use for Islam. Taking time out is easy. Just start by giving 5% of your time to the brainstorming session. If we’re thinking about it the same way we think about that next picnic spot, the new restaurant, that next car, that elusive better job, or just about anything that we’re obsessed about, we can hope that Allah would lead us to the correct path.
And just signing off, there’s a verse in the Quran (I can’t remember the reference) whose message is: If the love of your parents, your sons and daughters, your spouse, your business, your wealth, your houses or just about anything is more than your love for ALLAH, then just wait in a far corner for ALLAH’s verdict, and Allah doesn’t like such Kafirs. Let’s analyze ourselves again and again, and try to explore ourselves how we can make the change. Singly, I’m very weak, but with you, and the omnipresent help of Allah, we could be the most formidable force in the world.
(This writeup was written earlier, reprinted here for marking Shab-e-Mairaj)
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Faraz, I do like your attempt here but instead of focusing on whose job is it or how to do it, focus on the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Write and share stories of how the Prophet (pbuh) dealt with non-Muslims. Interfaith dialogue is one topic that can be added to ponder upon as well.
Regards
There are some 6.5 billion people living in this world, of which Muslim population is about 1.6 billions; that shows that about 76% people are non believers and it can be safely said that this planet earth belongs to No-Muslim people. Muslims are just minority. God Almighty only guides the people that He wants. Muslims may be carrying the greater vision for this world and may be the custodian of the last commandment- Quran; but matter of the fact is that most of the Non believer population of 76%; even take the prophet of Muslims as apostate (naozbillah) and in their views, Quran is a replication of old Jewish mythologies cleverly gathered in one book (Astugfirullah). Muslims may be bearing a tall divinely claim but their boorish conduct, the display of character on ground and the leadership; playing in the hands of enemy for paltry money; no where points out that the people with divinely claims are lettered people, of wisdom or bear any logic or the reasoning and are capable to lead the world.
Our religion Islam, our book Quran and our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) may be the most sacred to us but same is not taken as such by others. Our immediate predecessors; Christian they can’t bear it that Islam is standing there to challenge their concocted myths; like Trinity, Jesus* as a god and a saviour of all the nations.
Possibly No Muslim should be much perturbed on the publishing of caricatures of their Prophet (pbuh). Muslim should know it well that only unpleasant can come out a foul mouth. These publications should be dealt with wisdom and ‘Hikma’. Rest assure; the caricature published and re-published with the intent to create a mischief has also got its own (positive) value. Like all the bad news, this mischief is reaching and stirring even the laziest, couldn’t careless fellows in the far flung corners of this planet. This intimidating exercise of Caricatures may make the common man at least think that there is some thing biger at its play behind all this mischief?
This is another way; how the ‘Word of God’ travels even to the darkest hearts. This may result in pricking their conscious and ultimately bring them closer to God and Islam… and make them kneel to— submit and repent. Caricature may serve; as a tool; where it may makes possibly others to reflect; it also pricks the Muslims that how powerless, destitute and useless bunch they are? There is no forum of their own to turn to; no print or electronic media to counter, neither they have their say in UNO. No Muslim country is even permanent member there.
Like wise lately an Anti-Quran movie ‘Fitna’ produced by Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders, (a victim of his own ego) tried to turn it into a media hype. Knowing it that he will be rejected and resisted but with a hope that in turn he may gain some fame in the line of fulfilling his ulterior political motives. I personally think that this Film must be made available for the people to watch. It only shows references of some out of context Quranic verses and clips of waffling and stereo type rhetoric of some Palestinian-Iraqi Mullahs, of killing the infidels. This film has evil intents but fallacy and evil has its destiny to perish and be humiliated when it comes up to confront the truth. And it ultimately… dies its own death.
In the likewise circumstances; God admonishes in Quran; in [21:71] “And they had intended an evil plan against him, but We made them the worst losers”. And in [9;3] “So if you repent, it will be better for you; but if you turn away, then know that you cannot frustrate the plan of Allah”.
Khokar Sahib,
You have brought-up a lot of issues here. Personally, I do not engage in trying to fight ignorance. Best to just focus on educating Muslims and non-Muslims. These folks will not be the first to start spreading lies and certainly will not be the last.
I am very encouraged by the interfaith dialogues around the world. No matter of what anyone may think of King Abdullah, of Saudi Arabia, the conference in Spain was a great initiative.
My advice to my fellow Muslims is to ignore these issues and focus on becoming better Muslims first. Be kind to your neighbors, no matter what they may believe in.
Regards
It was the churning of wheels of wisdom, knowledge, science and technology pursued by the literates of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria that their endeavour in the light of Quran, took Muslims to heights and gained recognitions beyond their Islamic borders and started influencing the life of people in Europe, in Spain and beyond. But then we know that what went wrong? [Janetay hain per kiya batlain, kuyoon lag gai perwaz main chup?]
Allah keeps on changing the time for the peoples. A Muslim ought to be a man of knowledge and reasoning; a man who possessing wisdom and fore bearing. Logic and reasoning are his tools. Muslims need to be equipped first, before this that they enter the battle zones.
Dr Alshaer,
It was the churning of wheels of wisdom, knowledge, science and technology pursued by the Muslim literates of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria that their endeavour in the light of Quran, took Muslims to the heights and gain recognitions beyond their Islamic borders and started influencing the life of people in Europe, in Spain and beyond. But then we know that what went wrong? [Janetay hain per kiya batlain, kuyoon lag gai perwaz main chup?]
Allah keeps on changing the time for the peoples. A Muslim ought to be a man of knowledge and reasoning; a man who possessing wisdom and fore bearing. Logic and reasoning are his tools. Muslims need to be equipped first, before this that they re-enter the battle zones.
A Khokar,
You are very right in your analysis. Effort is being made by Muslim intellectuals today but with the political environment we live in today, those efforts are being derailed. Though you may not agree with these Muslim intellectuals, I would encourage you to visit this site:
International Institute of Islamic Thought
The efforts made by these folks has been great in the area of Islamization of knowledge. One of the founders of this institute, I hold as a teacher; Dr. Ismail al Faruqi.
I always enjoy our interactions and thank you for your reminders.
Regards
Here is the link, it did not work first time:
International Institute of Islamic Thought
Assalamoallaikum,
I agree with both of you. With Dr Alshaer about Muslims becoming better muslims, and A Khokhar for galvanizing the Muslim Intelligentsia. And IMHO both of them are the same thing…
I was listening to a Juma sermon and the speaker rightly said that what we need to do as Muslims is to categorically reject the current Politico-Socio-Economic system, to live with it under protest. If we keep our interests in this system then we can only dream of bringing about meaningful change. And for that the first step is to create a strong bonding with the Quran. It is with the Quran that we’ll be able to answer anyone appropriately, worldly knowledge is all very well, but without a strong bond with Quran, that worldly knowledge is going to lead us astray.
Thanks,
Faraz Beg
Speech is a voluntary coordinated response to ideas originating in brain and transforming in to words thus endorsing the impression of desire and interest to communicate the listener of intentions and resident response and perception of the conveyer.
Expression is a mode to convey message or opinion, may it simply be a motion, a verbal, a physical move, an action or reaction.
Expression defines motive as intention.
It is an impression to explain and float notion as thought.
It’s a gesture, dependent upon the mood, environment, place, personality and perception.
It is an act that response as reaction without verbal denomination thereby deciding and curtailing the term in the contest of sign and symbol.
Modes are portfolio which acts as transformer so to deliver the info to the processor for responsible action as expression.
Expression derive its origin from built in and acquired tendencies in the form of traits, habits, senses and factors that governed personalities.
Hence as many as one can consider suitable and appropriate as per his exposure, suitability, required criteria, necessity and circumstances.
In the world of broader spectrum, expression is the only platform which enables the speech to be communicated to the listener intended for, thereby as you said, the message received.
In my opinion the same is the methodology of US law or else, whereby it awards, “free speech” in the contest of expression meaning, freedom to communicate with all forms of expression”.
However such ideas in the confiscated term of free speech and expression as repeated criminal blasphemy episodes, is the point of reservation being Muslim, as intended desire to legalize repeated act of blasphemy under the cover of free speech can not be own or engulf or assimilated by and under the head of courteous and neglecting response.
This disowning has infact similar threshed hold as; we being Muslim and nation condemn the cowardly act of all such happening in the shape and format of suicide bombing or any criminal acts in the name of self interpreted fanaticism based non Islamic principles.
Dear, it’s all, the matter of perceiving and interpreting things.
Perceptions and feel has a very little line of demarcation, and most of the times used inadvertently and interchangeably as synonymous.
Up to the point of definition and synonymous attrition in a vocabulary of books, terminology does not create mess but if we get out of definition and implement the terms on religion and belief, there seems to be a mass difference.
This is the root cause of deranged directions.
You see we feel things through our innate abilities that has been destined by virtue of our god gifted natural tendencies in the shape and format of nature ,as smell, taste, sight and seen, hearing, and touch.
These are the modes by which we appreciate the end result or resultant in the form of good, bad, stink, and etc.
However perception is an integrated phenomenon.
It’s the cumulative effect of feel and associated paraphernalia with element of interpretation.
If observe religion in the light of perception my feelings would be different, as compared to a person who observe religion by his feel, as closed observation would relate element of emotion and attachment with in the domain of definition.
It is this tendency that ignites and retaliate thus deviating the horizon of thoughts.
Expecting response to speech through speech is a misnomer, if we take speech as mode of expression.
It denies the concept of expression as expression is a platform to convey speech which can be through the way and mode, what ever is acceptable, feasible and suitable to the retaliator.
In my opinion this is the legal ground of speech where it should be curtailed as it havoc a new multidimensional attitude of listener to respond ,who shall be expected to utilized any such platform that in his horizon of thoughts is fruitful as retaliation.
Such magnitudes of impulsive reactions again are dependent on multiple factors from, exposures to qualification and broad perspective to courteous tendency, terminating at his assumed or obligatory religious bindings and belongings.
Tendency to react in situation has neither criteria nor protocol hence is always situational.
In such a variant horizon of vast population peoples have different perspective to look in to affairs, whether religious or functionary.
Grooming, exposures, ethnic belongingness, religious bindings and attachments, and grievances against races are all such factors that shoot a new circular of event in any such untoward free speech culminating in to undesirable situation.
It is this point where legal measures need to be initiated so to curtail and avid any new situation, vide free speech and expression.
There are pre set criteria and limitations to respond and react.
Such responses are threshold dependent and variant, exercising individual in to different trait qualities as aggressive, humble, down to earth or offensive etc.
These traits are again dependent on time tested exposures, circumstances, situational, obligatory, bindings, belief, and horizon and perspective of vision.
In other words such limitations are polished with exposures to extreme of environment that breaches the threshold by diffusing its pressure and brunt so that person may become immune or to a limit that his thresh hold to respond increases thus delaying the reaction in retaliation.
The same is the theory of tolerance that person sacrifices his desire over interpreted thoughts ,thus curtailing and abiding and refraining from the untoward behavior and indecent response, morally and socially unacceptable by virtue of law, society, culture or religious abides etc.
Rules are right to the extent that of course one has the right to peacefully protest whatever he want, as the natural human desire to speak up in response to a message if one find hateful!
However, here again discussion enters in to the same methodology of expression, as mode and platform to respond in lieu of speech is in the domain of retaliator, depending on his trait qualities and threshold to accept brunt, and the brunt itself depends on his previous or innate abilities as tolerances.
This tolerance has one other visionary prospect if we scrutinize the subject in the light and methodology of belief and religion.
Tolerance under such perspective resides on principle of obligatory restrictions and belief as attachments.
Hence, sorting, tolerance, in to mode of, preference and priority, on the basis of liability, obligation and restriction as bindings.
It is this restricted liability that is always targeted and floated by such offensive culprits that deliberately utilized the expression of free speech in lieu.
In my opinion, under such diversified domain of responses, again, limited speech with legal implementation become a requirement so to refrain and avoid unfamiliar and offensive behavior.
As to your inquisition, how to stop these offensive people who derogate belief or religion, regardless of their belongings, in my opinion being Muslim ,we have many situational responses of our holy prophet (PBUH)and qoran which clearly ,specify and negate such irresponsible behavior of human response that may hurt ,or derogate or culminate in to grievances.
Islam teaches principle of brotherhood and harmony with peace, and negates and disowns all such elements that sabotage or dismantle scope of Islamic ideology and teaching.
In my opinion, irrational responses under any circumstances should be condemned and disown and as has been cited and advised by intellects, ignoring the event is an option.
This destiny of continuous consequences is the resultant of our iatrogenic distortion of behavior in terms of nation as Muslim.
Qualities as traits and symbols as faith have always been set aside from the emblem of insignia as belonging and bindings.
Perceiving all if and buts within the platform of religious assertions has developed an irrational wave of unaccepted discrepancies among the fake and reality.
One thing people got to realize, no body can threaten Islam, but any body can threaten Muslim.
Belief is a subjugated term, with different perspective and domains of religion among different community, people and nation.
What has been defined as prohibition in Islam can be an integral part of other religion.
Dominancy under such rational and logical diversity can only be countered by excellence ,expertise, knowledge and advancement and with abilities that may counter and restrict the conscience with in the laid down principles of religious practices being Muslim keeping preferences ,priorities and liabilities above and towards the interest of humanity at large.
No body will accept your slogan and signature of dictation as Muslim.
People have their own faithful principle and policy of obedience, practices, loyalties and acceptance as belonging and bindings, within their defined domain of religion as Hindus, Sikh, Jew, Christians etc.
If we as Muslim want to curtail and disembark these culprits from the sight and scenes of maniacal activities we got to compete on every platform of intellect above and about the domain of our ideology of belief .