This article is doing the rounds on the blogosphere..
In the Islam religion class in school I, as all children in Muslim world, have learned about the life of Prophet Mohammad. I would like to briefly recount three of the ones I remember:
His story with the Jewish neighbor who used to THROW GARBAGE at his doorsteps:
The Prophet had this Jewish neighbor. Everyday the neighbor would throw his garbage at the Prophet’s door! Then, one day, the garbage stopped appearing.
The Prophet wondered why and asked people about what had happened to his neighbor. He was told that the neighbor was sick, in bed.
So, the Prophet went and visited his Jewish neighbor to make sure he’s OK and to wish him well. So touched was the Jewish neighbor that he later converted to Islam.
His story with the people of Ta’if who’s children STONED him:
One day the Prophet visited the village of Ta’if near Mecca. He was hoping to find support amongst the people of that area after he was shunned by many of his own tribe in Mecca. Instead of support, he was faced by a mob of children, sent by their parents to throw stones at him. He was hit by the hail of stones. He was bleeding, and was barely able to escape into an orchard. He could have asked for God’s wrath to be brought down upon the village, but instead he prayed that one day these people will see the light.
His story with his tribe after he conquered Mecca:
When the Prophet’s army finally conquered his hometown Mecca, many of the leaders of his tribe were filled with fear. They feared the conquerer’s retribution. Most of them NEVER BELIEVED in him. They TORTURED and KILLED many of his followers and CONSPIRED TO KILL HIM in the early days of his prophethood.
What did the Prophet do? He told them: “Go. You are free!”
In the spirit of the life of the Prophet, here are 5 ways how the Muslim world could have responded the the Danish cartoons:
Apply to the Ministry of Culture in Denmark to organize a big exhibition about the Life of Prophet Mohammad and Islamic History. The Saudi and other Arab governments would finance this event and promote it in a big way in the Danish media.
Invite 100 Danish children to come and live with Arab and Muslim families to learn about life in today’s Arab and Muslim world.
Invite the editors of the Danish newspaper to a well publicized cultural debate in Doha, Qatar or Copenhagen.
The embassies of Arab and Muslim nations could commission a website in Danish about Islam, contemporary muslim thinkers and life in today’s Islamic world. A dedicated staff would respond to incoming questions and request for information.
Subtitle the movie ‘The Message’ in Danish and try to get many movie theaters and cultural centers in Denmark to show it.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
I completely agree. Everything we have documented about the life and character of our Prophet (SAW) indicated that he would have responded with compassion and tolerance. Your ideas are excellent!
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
The issue isn't so much the offensive way the Prophet (pbuh) was depicted. It was the fact that an image was made of him at all.
I remember in the mid-90s, the Royal Mail published a series of stamps about people who like cats. One of the 7 stamps was the Prophet (pbuh). There was no malice in the way he was drawn, but the muslim community was outraged that an image, even a respectful image, of him had been created. The Royal Mail withdrew the stamp due to the protest.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
Amazing how some people are more concerned with mimicing the way the prophet grew his facial hair than the way he treated other people or spiritual growth.
Also amazing that some people think anger is a righteous emotion.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
but if its in fron of u, and u ignore it and not feel angered, then u r not a good son/daughter....
no its natural that you feel angered when someone says something about your father but
a) the prophet is not your father...
b) the two situations are not the same, where a newspaper prints a photo of the prophet the muslim ummah ought to stick to following the sunnah of the prophet (his message from God, because thats what God told him to do right?) stick to his actions and not lose yourself in the emotions.
i agree its an act of bigotry against muslims but you are giving them further satisfaction by getting all hyped up about it. and again its not like muslims do not make fun of other religions.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
the Prophet (saw) himself ordered killing of one man in Madinah who wrote insulting poetry against him....
u guys never heard of any of his sunnah and now when someone insults him u come up with this crap to defend ur cowardice....
have u no love for him that atleast u cud stand by ur muslim brothers????
instead u post views like this....
indeed shameful of u....
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
In fairness, that was during a time of war, and it was more inciteful than insulting.
Some of the cartoons can be chalked up to ignorance...the artist simply doesn't understand our sensitivities regarding his depiction. Muslims themselves have portrayed the Prophet (pbuh), and as far as I know, Shia's have no problem with respectful depictions.
But, I digress...depecting the Prophet (pbuh) with a bomb on his head is hardly just ignorant, but is in fact inciteful as it attempts to generalize all muslims by using an archetype.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
Brother Zakk, yes it is possible he COULD have reponded like that but its wrong to say he WOULD have responded like that. Look at the situation in the Ummaah today.; we have many other things to look at.
Muslims are being Killed.
A war has been declared on Islaam
Muslim women are being imprisoned, Raped!
The Ummah is imitating the Kuffar etc etc
after looking at these things and others u would wonder if if he(saw) would have ever let it got to that stage where people started drawing pics of the Rasool(saw).
i could bring another response and make out he would hav declared War on the ones that MOCK him but then who knows how the Prophet(saw) would have acted.
Its best to stay silent with these matters and be the ones TO ACT!
the Kuffar didnt even fear doing these comics. they didnt even think twice!
do not think im going against yr thread. i am just saying "dont think that is how he WOULD have reacted"
O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand. (Al imraan)
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
Its not the prophet's response that people are concerned about. Its the response of his followers that matters here. Already bomb threats, death threats, and stroming offices with guns is happening. How long before one of the followers of the prophet whacks someone? How many weeks or days before the first killing?
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
u guys never heard of any of his sunnah and now when someone insults him u come up with this crap to defend ur cowardice....
have u no love for him that atleast u cud stand by ur muslim brothers????
instead u post views like this....
indeed shameful of u....
ok you need to learn how to talk with respect first. stop telling others what they say is crap. YOU are full of crap. nobody made any personal attacks and wow guess who did ? the moderator!.
this is my last post in this messed up forum because i dont have any respect for you and i dont have discussions with those i have no respect for.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
The initial post in this thread was one of the most thoughtful, spiritual and positive posts I have read in this forum and then it is called crap, cowardly and shamfeul with the excalmation point being the prophet ordered someone killed. How sad and how very telling.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
but like i said it is WRONG to believe The Rasool(saw) WOULD act like that.
We do not know how HE(saw) would hav responded. like i said i could bring hadiths saying that he would have attacked them but then who knows how he would have reacted.....its best to stay silent on these matters and not make assummptions.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
Thank you for a comprehensive response Faisal..I would argue Islam teaches us sabr when dealing with the misguided and that the reaction should be proportionate to the crime..while I also am saddened by what is happening to Muslims all over the World..this newspaper did not cause all those acts..
In our history we can see from the battle of Uhud what happens when people act with excessive zeal and display impatience..we are talking about our faith..I look for a person who talks and defends his faith with reason and patience..not with abuses and insults. If it was left to the impatient and angry ..Mecca would never have fallen without a fight during the Prophet’s (sm.) time ..Saladin would never have defeated the crusaders and the Mongols would never have embraced Islam.
Re: Wondering how the Prophet might have responded to the cartoons..
I personally consider it ok to protest at similar things as long as the protest doesn't include vandalism, chaos or murder. There is nothing wrong with calling the ambassadors back or officially writing a protest letter but educating the community rather then protesting is a much more Islamic response.