The truth truth about about Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad ( (Peace Peace Be Be Upon Upon Him Him) ) Loving Loving him him is is following following him him Muslims Muslims all all over over the the world world are are deeply deeply hurt hurt by by the the recent recent caricatures caricatures of of our our beloved beloved Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad , , in in Danish Danish and and several several other other publications publications. . Every Every now now and and then then, , some some Western Western media media outlets outlets provoke provoke Muslims Muslims by by insulting insulting the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad . . The The baiting baiting often often succeeds succeeds in in eliciting eliciting Muslims Muslims outrage outrage and and sporadic sporadic violence violence. . The The latest latest incident incident started started with with a a Danish Danish newspaper newspapers s caricature caricature portraying portraying the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad as as a a terrorist terrorist. . To To add add insult insult to to injury injury, , Norwegian Norwegian, , French French, , German German, , Dutch Dutch and and a a few few other other newspapers newspapers reprinted reprinted the the defamatory defamatory cartoons cartoons to to " "defend defend"— "—they they claimed claimed— —the the freedom freedom of of expression expression. . The The real real issue issue is is not not the the freedom freedom of of expression expression. . Free Free speech speech is is not not and and was was never never meant meant to to be be absolute absolute. . There There are are laws laws in in the the West West that that ban ban certain certain kinds kinds of of speech speech, , including including those those that that incite incite anti anti- - Semitism Semitism, , racism racism and and violence violence. . Moreover Moreover, , some some countries countries have have laws laws against against blasphemy blasphemy and and defamation defamation. . To To Muslims Muslims, , banning banning blasphemy blasphemy against against Allah Allah and and the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad has has a a higher higher priority priority. . For For the the European European newspapers newspapers to to reprint reprint the the offensive offensive cartoons cartoons to to show show solidarity solidarity with with their their Danish Danish counterpart counterpart seems seems akin akin to to the the plot plot the the leaders leaders of of Quraysh Quraysh had had hatched hatched to to assassinate assassinate Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad . . The The Quraysh Quraysh masterminds masterminds had had figured figured that that including including representatives representatives from from major major tribes tribes of of Makkah Makkah in in the the heinous heinous plot plot would would make make it it impossible impossible for for the the Prophet Prophets s clan clan, , Banu Banu Hashim Hashim, , to to avenge avenge. . But But Allah Allah willed willed that that the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad would would migrate migrate to to Madinah Madinah unscathed unscathed while while the the plotters plotters laid laid siege siege to to his his house house. . The The West West often often underestimates underestimates the the Muslims Muslims reverence reverence for for their their beloved beloved Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad, , ( (sallallallahu sallallallahu alayhi alayhi wa wa sallam sallam) ) and and is is, , therefore therefore, , staltred staltred by by the the fierce fierce Islamic Islamic reaction reaction to to an an insult insult against against him him. . Few Few in in the the West West know know that that for for Muslims Muslims, , loving loving their their Prophet Prophet more more than than themselves themselves is is a a matter matter of of faith faith, , not not choice choice. . Further Further, , the the depiction depiction of of the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad , , as as a a terrorist terrorist is is a a falsification falsification of of history history. . He He was was considered considered " "Al Al- -Ameen Ameen, ," " the the trustworthy trustworthy, , by by his his people people even even before before he he received received the the Prophethood Prophethood. . Once Once, , when when asked asked by by some some of of his his followers followers to to invoke invoke Allah Allahs s wrath wrath on on the the enemies enemies, , he he refused refused saying saying he he had had been been sent sent as as a a mercy mercy unto unto mankind mankind. . Objective Objective Western Western intellectuals intellectuals have have acknowledged acknowledged the the superior superior character character of of Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad . . In In his his “ “The The 100 100, , a a Ranking Ranking of of the the Most Most Influential Influential Persons Persons in in History History, ," " Michael Michael H H. . Hart Hart ranked ranked Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad, , ( (sallallallahu sallallallahu alayhi alayhi wa wa sallam sallam) ) No No. . 1 1 because because " "He He was was the the only only man man in in history history who who was was supremely supremely successful successful on on both both the the religious religious and and secular secular levels levels. .” ” Alphonse Alphonse de de Lamartine Lamartine, , a a renowned renowned 19 19th th Century Century French French writer writer, , had had this this to to say say about about the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad : : " "As As regards regards all all standards standards by by which which human human greatness greatness may may be be measured measured, , we we may may well well ask ask, , is is there there any any man man greater greater than than him him?” ?” Unfortunately Unfortunately, , some some Muslims Muslims forget forget that that loving loving their their Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad ( (Peace Peace be be upon upon him him) ) means means following following him him. . Burning Burning Danish Danish embassies embassies, , as as they they did did in in Damascus Damascus and and Beirut Beirut, , to to avenge avenge the the insult insult to to the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad is is a a complete complete disservice disservice to to him him. . Our Our violent violent reaction reaction only only plays plays into into the the hands hands of of those those who who wish wish to to reinforce reinforce the the negative negative stereotypes stereotypes about about Muslims Muslims. . Do Do Muslims Muslims need need reminding reminding that that Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad , , forgave forgave the the people people of of Ta Taif if who who had had rejected rejected his his message message of of monotheism monotheism and and pelted pelted him him with with stones stones, , bloodying bloodying him him? ? Islamic Islamic tradition tradition has has it it that that when when Jibreel Jibreel ( (Archangel Archangel Gabriel Gabriel) ) sought sought his his permission permission to to punish punish the the perpetrators perpetrators, , the the Prophet Prophet, , instead instead prayed prayed that that some some day day the the inhabitants inhabitants of of Ta Taif if would would leave leave their their idols idols and and worship worship Allah Allah alone alone. . Within Within a a few few years years they they did did. . Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammads s, , ( (sallallallahu sallallallahu alayhi alayhi wa wa sallam sallam) ) servant servant once once noted noted his his forgiving forgiving disposition disposition, , said said, , " "I I served served the the Prophet Prophet, , for for ten ten years years, , and and he he never never said said ‘ ‘uf uf’ ’ ( (a a word word indicating indicating impatience impatience or or discontent discontent) ) to to me me and and never never blamed blamed me me by by saying saying, , ` `Why Why did did you you do do so so or or why why didn didnt t you you do do so so?" ?" ( (Al Al- -Bukhari Bukhari and and Muslim Muslim) ) Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammads s, , ( (sallallallahu sallallallahu alayhi alayhi wa wa sallam sallam) ) archenemies archenemies hated hated his his Message Message and and hurled hurled malicious malicious insults insults at at him him, , to to which which he he responded responded with with forbearance forbearance. . Years Years later later when when he he, , sallallallahu sallallallahu alayhi alayhi wa wa sallam sallam returned returned as as victor victor to to Makkah Makkah, , his his city city of of birth birth which which he he was was forced forced to to leave leave, , he he asked asked its its awed awed citizens citizens, , " "What What do do you you think think I Im m going going to to do do to to you you. ." " They They said said, , " "You You are are a a noble noble brother brother, , son son of of a a noble noble brother brother; ; we we expect expect only only good good from from you you. ." " The The Prophet Prophet responded responded with with a a general general amnesty amnesty. . Let Let Muslims Muslims not not forget forget that that the the Prophet Prophet, , encouraged encouraged freedom freedom of of expression expression. . In In the the Battle Battle of of Badr Badr, , he he changed changed the the battlefield battlefield against against his his own own opinion opinion due due to to the the passionate passionate advice advice of of some some young young soldiers soldiers. . Part Part of of the the West Wests s success success today today is is the the freedom freedom of of expression expression, , of of thought thought, , of of religion religion— —that that draws draws Muslims Muslims to to it it from from their their oppressed oppressed societies societies. . For For that that, , Muslims Muslims should should be be thankful thankful to to the the West West. . After After all all, , freedom freedom is is an an Islamic Islamic value value that that the the West West has has embraced embraced while while Muslim Muslim societies societies have have forsaken forsaken. . Defending Defending Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad requires requires allowing allowing freedom freedom and and practicing practicing compassion compassion and and forgiveness forgiveness, , like like he he did did. . In In his his lifetime lifetime he he, , bore bore insults insults with with magnanimity magnanimity and and devoted devoted his his time time to to spreading spreading the the Message Message of of Allah Allah. . In In fact fact, , he he never never avenged avenged anyone anyone for for a a personal personal offence offence. . Can Can we we really really respect respect him him by by violent violent retaliation retaliation? ? Muslims Muslims should should turn turn this this extremely extremely painful painful incident incident into into something something positive positive, , by by teaching teaching the the world world what what the the Prophet Prophet, , means means to to us us and and what what his his life life was was like like. . As As for for the the West West, , there there really really is is a a need need to to reexamine reexamine the the notion notion of of free free speech speech. . Without Without safeguards safeguards, , the the exercise exercise of of this this freedom freedom can can be be lethal lethal, , as as we we have have seen seen. . One One may may ask ask, , is is it it morally morally defensible defensible to to provoke provoke violence violence, , cause cause death death, , and and create create a a civilizational civilizational conflict conflict for for one one cartoonist cartoonists s freedom freedom of of expression expression? ? The The West West already already has has laws laws to to protect protect religious religious freedom freedom, , which which Muslims Muslims and and other other peoples peoples of of faith faith admire admire. . What What it it now now needs needs to to do do is is protect protect this this freedom freedom from from being being trampled trampled by by unbridled unbridled free free speech speech. . No No one one should should have have to to insult insult Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad, , Jesus Jesus, , or or Moses Moses, , may may Allah Allah exalt exalt their their mention mention to to speak speak freely freely. . We We can can turn turn these these negative negative, , malicious malicious cartoons cartoons into into something something positive positive by by learning learning about about the the Prophet Prophet, , by by following following him him, , and and educating educating others others about about his his teachings teachings. . Allah Allah described described the the Prophet Prophet in in the the verse verse ( (which which means means) ): : " "And And verily verily, , you you ( (O O Muhammad Muhammad) ) are are on on an an exalted exalted standard standard of of character character. ." " ( (Quran Quran 68 68: :4 4) ) And And ( (what what means means) ): : " "Indeed Indeed in in the the Messenger Messenger of of Allah Allah there there is is a a good good example example to to follow follow for for him him who who hopes hopes in in ( (the the meeting meeting with with) ) Allah Allah and and the the Last Last Day Day and and remembers remembers Allah Allah much much. ." " ( (Quran Quran 33 33: :21 21) ) By By a a divine divine decision decision, , the the status status of of Muhammad Muhammad was was raised raised forever forever, , as as in in the the verse verse ( (which which means means) ): : " "And And ( (has has Allah Allah not not) ) raised raised high high your your fame fame?" ?" ( (Quran Quran 94 94: :4 4) ) Muslims Muslims were were commanded commanded to to lower lower their their voices voices low low in in the the presence presence of of the the Prophet Prophet , , out out of of respect respect, , as as in in the the verse verse ( (which which means means) ): : " "O O you you who who believe believe, , raise raise not not your your voices voices above above the the voice voice of of the the Prophet Prophet, , nor nor speak speak aloud aloud to to him him as as you you speak speak aloud aloud to to one one another another lest lest your your deeds deeds be be rendered rendered fruitless fruitless while while you you perceive perceive not not. . Verily Verily, , those those who who lower lower their their voices voices in in the the presence presence of of Allah Allahs s Messenger Messenger, , they they are are the the ones ones whose whose hearts hearts Allah Allah has has tested tested for for piety piety. . For For them them there there is is forgiveness forgiveness and and a a great great reward reward. ." " ( (Quran Quran 49 49: :2 2- -3 3) ) While While other other prophets prophets were were sent sent to to their their own own people people, , Muhammad Muhammad was was appointed appointed as as the the Messenger Messenger to to all all mankind mankind. . And And such such he he was was asked asked to to declare declare ( (what what means means) ): : " "Say Say ( (O O Muhammad Muhammad) ): : ` `O O mankind mankind, , verily verily I I am am sent sent to to you you all all as as the the Messenger Messenger of of Allah Allah - - to to Whom Whom belongs belongs the the Dominion Dominion of of the the heavens heavens and and the the earth earth. ." " ( (Quran Quran 7 7: :158 158) ) On On the the Day Day of of Judgement Judgement he he will will be be the the only only Messenger Messenger to to intercede intercede with with Allah Allah to to seek seek forgiveness forgiveness for for the the wrongdoers wrongdoers. . As As blasphemous blasphemous as as the the drawings drawings are are, , we we believe believe that that behind behind all all events events there there is is Allah Allahs s pre pre- -decree decree and and wisdom wisdom that that mortal mortal beings beings fully fully understand understand only only in in hindsight hindsight. . In In the the end end, , this this deeply deeply hurtful hurtful incident incident would would be be seen seen as as benefiting benefiting the the image image of of the the Prophet Prophet . . A A case case in in point point is is the the verse verse ( (which which means means) ): : " "Verily Verily, , We We have have given given you you ( (O O Muhammad Muhammad) ) a a manifest manifest victory victory. ." " ( (Quran Quran 48 48: :1 1) ) When When this this verse verse was was revealed revealed, , even even some some of of the the most most exemplary exemplary Muslims Muslims could could not not understand understand how how being being prevented prevented from from performing performing pilgrimage pilgrimage by by the the enemies enemies could could be be a a manifest manifest victory victory. . Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad had had just just signed signed a a treaty treaty with with non non- -Muslims Muslims of of Makkah Makkah that that imposed imposed unfair unfair restrictions restrictions on on Muslims Muslims. . The The Prophet Prophet swore swore by by Allah Allah that that no no matter matter how how restrictive restrictive this this treaty treaty seemed seemed, , it it was was a a clear clear victory victory for for Muslims Muslims. . Within Within a a few few years years, , the the victory victory became became abundantly abundantly clear clear when when Muslims Muslims marched marched into into Makkah Makkah, , not not just just as as pilgrims pilgrims but but as as victors victors. . Our Our love love for for the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad Muhammad cannot cannot be be expressed expressed except except by by following following him him. . If If we we did did that that, , we we will will see see how how Allah Allah can can change change this this painful painful incident incident into into a a great great opportunity opportunity for for the the Islamic Islamic cause cause.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:33:48 +0000
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