| by Rifai
( September 21, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Attacks
and sinister criticism against Islam and Muslims have dramatically
increased in the last few decades. Since Salman Rushdie published his
book satanic verses we have seen many provocative activities against
Muslims throughout the world and particularly in European countries.
Sometimes, some anti-Muslim elements openly come out and attack Islamic
places, mosques, and physically attack Muslim brothers and sisters. Many incidents of such attacks have been have been reported in many parts of European countries and these provocative acts are expressed through books, news papers, magazines, cartoons and films to gauge emotional pulses of Muslim people throughout the world. Time to time provocative actions are taken by anti-Islamic forces to create communal tension between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities in Europe and more importantly to portray Muslims as violent and extremist people.
Under these circumstances, it is imperative that Muslim people behave in accordance with Islamic principles and moral conducts as prescribed in the Quran and Hadith literature. Of course, we have every right to show our love and affection to our beloved prophet. No Muslim is a real Muslim unless he or she loves prophet more than himself or her self. This love and affection to prophet is part and parcel of our faith and belief in Islam and yet, we should show our love and affection to prophet in a way that prophet taught us and in way that Quran teaches us.
Unfortunately, behaviours of some of demonstrators all over the world
have been pathetic and horrible and indeed have been un-Islamic. How
could we damage properties and inflict injuries
in the name of this blasphemous film. Of course, we have to object to
this film in a practical, logical and religious way that Islam teaches
us. Resentment and antagonism against Islamic message are not new phenomena.
Since the prophet Muhammad proclaimed his prophet hood in Makka, unbelievers in Makka began to
show their enmity, resentment, torture and persecution against Muslim
began and Quran and History of Prophet and his companions record all
clearly: Quran guided the Prophet step and by step in all these
difficult circumstance how to deal with these extreme hostile
situations. Quran instructed him to maintain patience and tolerance at what disbelievers say. This
does mean that we should not take any constructive steps to show our
discontent to this film but we should do it in an Islamic way that draws
the attention of the entire world so that we could draw the support and
sympathy of people against this derogatory film:
Arguments are coming ups now among Muslim people for and against demonstrations against his this films: Some people tell us that Muslim public should not go out and demonstrate against this film: they argue that these types of demonstrations
do not do any good and end of day more innocent Muslim people are being
killed, more innocent people are wounded by Muslim police, properties
of Muslim people are damaged by these demonstrations. Sheikh Salih fawzan was asked this question.
Question: “O Eminent Shaykh, may Allah grant you Tawfeeq, there are many questions as to what is your advice to the students of
knowledge and other than them regarding that which has happened
recently regarding the derogatory film about the Prophet, what is the
advice of your Eminence regarding that?”
”Our
advice regarding that is to have comportment and not to show
disapproval in this manner; demonstrations or harming innocent people,
and wasting wealth, this is not permissible. Those who must respond to
this are the scholars, not the common folk. The scholars respond to
these affairs. They want to cause chaos amongst us and they wish to affect us; this is what they want. They want us to fight one another. The soldiers withhold
while these people attack; and there occurs beating, killing, and
injury. This is what they want. Calm down, calm down. Those who are
responsible for responding are the people of knowledge and insight. Or
they could choose not to respond to them and resolve not to respond. The pagans used to call the Messenger a magician, a soothsayer, a liar etc. and Allah
commanded him to have patience. They did not protest in Makkah nor did
they destroy any of the homes of the pagans nor did they kill anyone.
Patience and comportment until Allah the Glorified and High facilitates a way for the Muslims.
That
which is obligatory is to have comportment; especially in these times
and in these tribulations and within this evil today which is going on
within the lands of the Muslims.
It is obligatory to have comportment and not rush into these affairs;
and the commoners are not fit to deal with this, for the ignorant do not
know. None should deal with this except the people of knowledge and
insight.” ,
This may be the reason that we have not seen many demonstrations in Saudi Arabia against this Film and this Sheikh argues that it is the responsibility Islamic
scholars to respond to the situation like this. It is fine but Islamic
scholars have not any official voice in today’s Muslim world. Islamic
scholars have been marginalized in very decision making process and in
some countries they become government agents do what has been told to
do:
Moreover Saudi Government is very much worried and concerned about the spread of Arab Spring into Saudi Arabia
and for that matter it would not encourage or promote any type of
demonstrations even if they are blasphemous films against Islam. yet, I strongly believe that Every Muslim in every nook and corner of this world has right to protect against this
derogatory film and it is the fundamental right of this free world:
Suppose such derogatory film is made in the name of VIPs of modern time:
Suppose such film is made in the name of Obama or Prime Minster of any
Western world, what would have happened today: FBI and all Intelligence agents would have traced the culprit, blocked the YouTube, taken the culprit to court and used all legal avenues to punish the culprit: yet, when this derogatory film is done in the name of most revered
and sacred human being on earth the culprit is still at large and no
human right or religious commissions to speak against this utter blasphemy:
This film is an insult to 1.2 billion Muslim people all over
the world and yet, Muslim community in modern time do not have
internationally recognised Islamic leadership neither political nor religious leadership to speak for Islam and Muslims:
In times of difficulties and challenges Muslim people do not speak in
one voice: different groups issued different religious opinions and
behave differently on issues like these: at
least Shia sect of Islam has got one Religious Leadership as do
Catholics but Sunni Muslims people are fragmented and it is hard to
formulate any uniformed religious opinion or verdict on any religious
matters:
It is high time to re-evaluate this and form an International Islamic intellectual council for Muslim Scholars so that Muslim people could have
one voice in times like these. More Importantly, Muslim Political
leaders with more than 53 Membership in UN should have courage and
determination to pass a resolution to protect religious freedom of
Muslim people and to protect honour and sacredness of Islamic faiths and practices.
This may be an eye opener for Non-Muslims to learn and understand more about Islam and particular about the life of our the last prophet: some may ask Why Muslim people get so angry about this film and why this film is so derogatory to Islam and Its Prophet? How come Muslim people react angrily for just a film? These entire questions
may creep into the minds and hearts of people and consequently I’m sure
that a lot of People may begin to read the biography of Prophet from the beginning to the End.
This may give them opportunities to know the truth about the Prophet of Islam who was sent as a Mercy to Mankind; we
should take constructive initiatives to introduce the Prophet to
Non-Muslim people: We could organise local and international conferences
and seminars to introduce the life of Prophet. We could even establish
Islamic institutes and Centres to the study of biography of the prophet.
Still more than 5 billions people need to know about Islam and its
Prophet. So we should initiative translation projects to translate the
biography of the Prophet into hundreds of languages in the world. There are hundred of Non-Muslims scholars who admired the accomplishments and achievements of the Prophet Mummahed.
How
could a Man born and brought up in a desert in Arabian Peninsula make
this revolution with his little resources and yet, His mission spread
the half of the world within a short period of time. Is not it a miracle
that he
changed the destiny of mankind with his divine message and let all
Non-Muslim people without any prejudice read the biography of this
prophet and let us all determine to clear the misconception and
misperceptions about our beloved prophet:
 Attacks and sinister criticism against Islam and Muslims have dramatica...){kind=link}