Mocking the Prophet, How Should We React?

[JAMALUDEEN]

How should we Muslim react to mockery of our Prophet Muḥammad or should we even react at all?

Just like the cartoons few years ago, the Muslim response to the recent film has been very diverse. From the very mild of responses to the very violent ones, what's most noteworthy is the enormity of the response. Despite the consensus that the film did not deserve the attention it was getting, social media kept being flooded, and still is, with messages defending the Prophet . So, before another incident of mockery takes place, since it seems that it's only a matter of time before someone else tries to play on the sensitivities of Muslims, let's take some time to examine what the Qur'an has to say about this very issue.

Mockery is Tantamount to Ignorance

Almost every Muslim knows the story of the Cow (Sūrat'l-Baqarah). After all, the longest chapter of the Qur'an is named after this story. To get to the gist, there was an unsolved murder that happened among the Children of Israel during the time of Moses [as] (Mūsa). So Allāh revealed to Moses that in order to solve the murder your people have to slaughter a cow. Of course, when Moses told his people of God's command, their first reaction was shock and disbelief (e.g. what's slaughtering a cow got to do with solving a murder?). The Qur'an says:



“Remember when Moses said to his people, 'God commands you to sacrifice a cow', they said, 'are you making fun of us?' He answered, 'God forbid that I should be so ignorant'” [2:67]

So initially, the Children of Israel thought that Moses was mocking them. But Moses quickly corrected that mockery could never come from a Prophet and he distanced himself from such an act by the expression familiar to Muslims “I seek refuge in God from”. But what we usually miss from this verse is the fact that Moses equated mockery to ignorance. So a learned man (or woman) should never mock anyone or anything under any circumstance. So the next question becomes, how do we deal with ignorance or ignorant people?

Ignore the Ignorant

The Qur'an tells us to dismiss the people of ignorance and not to give a lot of attention to them. It asks us to not engage with them in any conversation, except perhaps to safeguard ourselves from greater harm. For example:



“Be tolerant, command what's right, pay no attention to foolish people” [7:199]

This is such an important matter that the Qur'an makes it one of the traits of the People of God:



“The Servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on Earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply 'Peace'” [25:63]

The scholars of Qur'an have differed on the meaning of “peace” here. Some take it literally that you simply say the Muslim greeting of “Peace”. But others have argued that “Peace” here means that you end the conversation in a peaceful manner. Regardless of the difference in interpretation, I think we can all agree that the message of the Qur'an is to ignore the ignorant.

On the other hand, we see the Qur'an encouraging us to engage with the people of reason and to even debate them if they have a different point of view:



“Call people to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good teaching, and argue with them in the most courteous way” [16:125]

I mention this here so no one comes and says that Islam forbids conversation with “others.” In fact, Islam encourages debate and the exchanging arguments. But people who mock a religious symbol are not interested in debate or logical arguments. It is the lack of logical arguments that makes them resort to mockery in the first place!

Spare Me the Mockery

We can't leave this subject without contemplating a very interesting verse that speaks to the heart of the issue at hand. This verse address the Prophet Muḥammad himself. It says:



We have spared you those who ridicule you” [15:95]

In essence, the Qur'an is telling us that when it specifically comes to the issue of mocking the Prophet [SAW], which is exactly the issue that we are dealing with today. Don't take matters in your own hands, rather, God will take care of those who mock the Prophet.

A Call to Respect the Sanctity of Faith Symbols

Lastly, another very interesting and very relevant verse to this discussion in the Qur'an says:



“Do not revile those they call on beside God, so they, in their hostility, revile God, without knowledge” [6:108]

The direct meaning of this verse is that reviling, insulting, or cursing the idols is prohibited because indirectly we are causing our God to be reviled, insulted or cursed. No matter how much we disagree with idol-worship, we cannot mock, insult, or curse idols, idolaters, or idol-worship. This verse is also teaching us that there are always consequences to our actions. Just like we hold our religious symbols very dear to our hearts and we consider them holy or untouchable, people of other faiths will feel the same towards their religious symbols, no matter how ridiculous those symbols may seem to us. Therefore, we should have mutual respect of religious symbols in order to live together in a civilized manner. At the least, we should, as they say, respectfully disagree.

http://muslimmatters.org/2012/09/16/39567/#redirect?thread=846554684&forum=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&zone=internal_discovery&variant=metadata&imp=1348057877871660499&source_thread_id=849975695

[Toramana]

Forget about the theocratic argument --- Let us try to explain it through rational argument i.e., there are 1.2 billions Muslims in the world and 6 billions non-Muslims. There is no way the 1.2 billions Muslims can force or persuade the non-Muslims to show the same degree of reverence to the Prophet or other Muslim religious personalities as Muslms show.

So, what is the solution? I think the solution is to stay patient and cool and not to be provoked. Those people that are doing this are actually trying to show to the world how quickly can Muslim be provoked and turned violent ---and that, basically Islam is not peaceful religion ---And that Muslims are not peaceful people---

So why play into the hands of those that want to provoke and prove them correct?

[IamDZJ]

NO!! Not the moo moo!


Seriously, how does any of this end up being a cow's fault??? Why not just slaughter each other instead??

[Tjanaparh]

I liked in this context a lot the words of the great Chechen Sufi Kishi KIant Kunt Haj:

War—it is savagery. Remove yourself from anything that hints of [reminds you of] war if the enemy hasn’t come to take away your faith and honor. Your strength is wisdom, patience, fairness. The enemy will not withstand this strength and sooner or later will admit his defeat. No one will have the strength to defeat you and your truth if you don’t turn away from the path of your faith—the Tariqah.

Brothers! Because of the constant wars we are catastrophically diminished in numbers. I do not believe in help from Turkey, that Turkish sultan wants to free and save us. He is the same despot as Russian tsar. Believe me: I saw this by my own eyes as well as covering by sharia despots from Arab countries. Further war is not pleasing God. If they order you to go to the church - go, it is only a building. If they order you to wear crosses - wear them, they only iron things. You would still be Muslims in your heart and soul. But if they would rape your women, force you to forget your culture and traditions, only then rebel and fight to the last man.
Defeat the evil man by your goodness and love
Defeat the greedy with your generosity
Defeat the treacherous with your sincerity
Defeat the infidel with your fidelity

[Tjanaparh]

It is thought that Gandhi even was partly influenced by Kunta Hajis teachings.

[randolph85]

the issue is not merely the mockery, its the pouring salt on the wounds of western military intervention in muslim lands.

[Toramana]

the issue is not merely the mockery, its the pouring salt on the wounds of western military intervention in muslim lands.

I agree with this statement. The reasons to react to the film in this way also has much to do with the present world-order where the West dominates and Muslims have the perception-right or wrong-that the West is constantly attacking their lands as well as religion.

It is unfortunate that many sane-minded Westerners can also not grasp the fact that anti-West sentiment of Muslims is being generated by both these perceptions i.e., the perception that their lands are under an attack by the West coupled with the perception that their religion is also under attack.

I think if the West were in the same situation as Muslims are today, their reaction would also be the same if not far more violent. Imagine how would White Christians react in an economically weakened US if they perceive that they are not only no longer relevant in the world's political and economic order but Western values and way of life are also under attack.

I can only imagine a religio-race war. In such a war, Muslims will be the first target. And the assault would then extend to other races and followers of other religions e.g., Africans, Asians, South Asians, and in the end also I can envision Jews as well.

We are living in an unfortunate world.

[Toramana]

I also think that why the movie emerged at this point of time. Has it some thing to do with the coming US elections and is the act aimed at consolidating the right-wing vote and weaken Obama's position by showing to the world how is US engaged in a civilizational war and as to who are the true guardians of the Western civilization and interests?

[faye]

under islamic imperialism, non-muslims WERE in this position. non-muslims don't want to be in that position again.
the extremist, who still want to behead people for blasphemy, are supposedly the minority and have come out of the closet, on this occasion. those moderate muslims, should also be glad that these potential dangers to your western safehaven, are being identified.
dhimmi were under the laws of muslim domination and were the slaves and underdogs.

[randolph85]

oh get out of here with the moderate/extremist stuff. as if only an "extremist" would be insulted by US/Euro military adventures in the last 100 years which have killed countless muslims and public mockery of the religion.

[faye]

muslims have probably killed more of their own than the westerners have. haven't you read about islamic imperialism and how they were at each others throats, half the time?
read what the muslims did to the hindus, in their own country.
islamic imperialism was exactly the same as the behaviour of the western imperialists. booty, manipulation, control, attacking at the enemies weaknesses, all for their own greed and supposed superior belief system.

extremists are those who want to take over the western countries and impose sharia. now, you going to try and tell me these people don't exist?

[randolph85]

muslims have probably killed more of their own than the westerners have. haven't you read about islamic imperialism and how they were at each others throats, half the time?
read what the muslims did to the hindus, in their own country.
islamic imperialism was exactly the same as the behaviour of the western imperialists. booty, manipulation, control, attacking at the enemies weaknesses, all for their own greed and supposed superior belief system.

extremists are those who want to take over the western countries and impose sharia. now, you going to try and tell me these people don't exist?

what does that mean? if muslims tomorrow killed a million europeans, it would be 1/100th of what europeans did to each other last century, that must make the 1 million insignificant right? as for india, its not "imperialism" when the leaders are not foreigners and there are no international laws. you are talking about islamic imperialism, while hindus outnumbered muslims 5 to 1, not to mention the western narrative that muslims kill or convert their subjects. for a country rich in islamic history, there sure were a lot of hindus and today its not the gangis river with feces and dead bodies that people visit but places like the taj mahal.

as for extremists, show me any extremists besides some worthless zawarhiri on tape that says they want to invade foreign countries and enforce their religious law there. not even the stupid salafis involved in these protests would say that. come on faye, i thought you were better than that.

[Toramana]

under islamic imperialism, non-muslims WERE in this position. non-muslims don't want to be in that position again.
the extremist, who still want to behead people for blasphemy, are supposedly the minority and have come out of the closet, on this occasion. those moderate muslims, should also be glad that these potential dangers to your western safehaven, are being identified.
dhimmi were under the laws of muslim domination and were the slaves and underdogs.

I am astounded by your response, faye. I have never supported Islamist fanatics and their backward ways. Rather, I have persistently confronted them on this board and in return have been vehemently attacked by them.

I just wanted to post an objective comment based on my understanding of the situation.

As for imperialism of Arabs, Turks, Persians, or Muslims whatever you call it, there is no doubt about that harsh reality of Muslim imperialism in the past and the apprehensions of non-Muslims associated with that. However, I will like to make some comments for the sake of objectivity.

Institution of dhimis no longer exists and I think it will never be tolerated on any Muslim land in the future. Slavery also stands abolished as well as polygamy in most of the contemporary Muslim world. Although, there is no denying the fact that the lot of religious minorities in Muslim countries needs to be improved and brought at par with the right and status of mainstream Muslim sects. By the way, this also applies to different sects of Islam. For example, in Iran, Sunnis don't enjoy the same status as Shia.

On the other things, I will not agree with you totally.

For example, Islam is blamed to have been spread through sword and there is a degree of truth in that claim as well but the spread of other religions has also not been through "very benign ways" by the way.

Just a couple of centuries back, the continent of North America, continent of South America, and continent of Australia and Newziland were the abodes of native people and their native pagan religions. Today, neither those native communities survive nor their native religions in much of the lands once they inhibited rather dominated.

The continent of Africa too, mostly practiced native pagan religions, today it is Christian sane some north African countries which are Muslim. One may argue this expansion of Christianity occurred through missionary work but it would be unfair to not accept the fact that the missionaries and priests themselves marched into the footsteps of powerful European armies and the expansion of Christianity in these regions occurred in the wake of violent European invasions and military conquest involving worst kind of slavery and subjugation.

Although, the expansion of both Islam and Christianity proved to be detrimental to native religions of the regions that were subjugated, the fact is, Islam, in my opinion, didn't prove that much detrimental to native people and communities (and the cultures of the conquered lands) as Western civilization proved to be to the communities it colonized because Islam is not tied to any great degree to the "notion of race". Native people in North America for example today are mostly extinct just like Aboriginals are in Australia. On the contrary, the subjugated people of the lands that Muslims conquered most of the time themselves became rulers and kings. For example, in lands conquered by Islam, no apartheid regimes like that in South Africa arose. There was practically no race-segregation or primacy of one or other race in society some exceptions not withstanding.

This was to put the record straight.


Rest I accept the extreme stupidity of a handful of Muslim/Islamist fanatics.

[Toramana]

faye, this apprehension/fear of Sharia in Western countries is absolutely misplaced. Muslim community in the West today is so apologetic and low-profile due to constant media scrutiny and international situation that virtually every Muslim whether liberal or conservative in the West today is trying to be invisible for fear of discrimination. There though are few fanatics that are trying to harm Muslims.

I will tell you my own experience. I went to the grocery store today to buy something. The lady standing there didn't want to serve me until an African guy in another corner noticed and was kind enough to pay attention to me. Likewise, while on my way, some guys on the roadside shouted behind me---uttering the typical stereotypes.

Similarly, this fear of Muslims conquering the rest of the world is but absolutely bogus and non-sensical. Most of the Muslims today are world proletariat lowest of the low. They cannot even clean their own bottoms let alone conquering lands of powerful civilizations like Western, Sinic, etc.

When Churchil came from the other side of the world from tens of thousands of miles away to conquer my land my people didn't have any idea where Britian is. Even today, most of my people even don't know where US is let alone think to conquer it. The greatest concern of a common man of most of my nation (99%) is how to both ends meet.

[faye]

there are references all over different sites on the net of muslims talking about taking over the western countries. the signs by men, in those protests here, in oz, talk of beheading people who criticise mohammad.
mohammad actually told muslims not to worship him, he is a slave of allah.

someone has put out bait and the muslims have taken it, hook, line and sinker. how are people who can be aroused to kill over this 'bait', be capable of successfully running their own muslim caliphate, or overall system for all muslim countries?
we will now probably see anti muslim graffiti, and provocations, all over the place.

the golden age of islam incorporated knowledge from india, china, europe and other countries but it was controlled by muslims.
if each major religion and political system, continue to believe that they are the chosen and are superior, humanity will continue failing to create peace.
personally, i see good in all the belief systems that i have looked into and if we could again share, without one particular group, thinking they are superior, we might get somewhere, worthy of the ideal proposed by buddhism, mohammad, christ and many other belief systems.