Responding to Profanity

Sep 20th, 2012 | By | Category: Latest, Religion, World

It was indeed shocking news of what happened as the aftermath of a released preview of a profane film which has left the Muslims in a state of sadness and shock across the world. As horrific and offensive as the video might be, nothing justifies the sort of violent acts we have seen in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Nothing is worth the cost of a human life and as a Muslim, I firmly believe that there is no honour or faith in committing such violence, and we all unequivocally oppose the senseless violence in different parts of Muslim world.

This video also gives a glimpse of the fragile relationship and misunderstandings between the Muslim world and West/United States. It is evident from this film that to create further rifts and misunderstandings between different cultures, it is not necessary to commit an act of violence. Films like these, unfortunately, may have a much more negative effect in bringing any positive change in common understanding and further deepen the gulf.

As a Muslim, I would like to remind Muslims of the character of Prophet Muhammad. He was a man of peace and mercy, and thus engaging in such violence and senseless killing is truly mismatched with his legacy and teachings.  It is high time that Muslim should not only remember his teachings, but also follow them in the face of hostility. It is imperative for Muslims to ignore cheap attempts for publicity by hateful bigots. While they have every right to protest this profanity by resorting to violent reactions Muslims are not only harming innocent lives but also falling in the traps set by bigots.  It must be crystal clear that in order to defend and promote the personality of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), one should not resort to those means which the Prophet himself never approved of or allowed.

To move in a positive direction and avoid further backlash, it is necessary that the West and U.S should take some concrete steps in terms of introducing certain regulations. There are already laws in place in many western countries, which legally punish Holocaust denial, anti-Semitic expressions, hate speeches, homophobic statements, racial slurs and even blasphemy against Christianity. Looking at the negative potential of such acts, is it not time to come up with such legislation? Beyond legislation or regulations, such unfortunate events really bring forth the need for constructive dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations.

The movie is very offensive, but Muslims should be offended in a positive way. We should speak up against this evil in a rational way. We should always keep in mind the right way of dealing with evil in all situations:

“Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend, but only those who are steadfast in patience, only those who are blessed with great righteousness, will attain to such goodness.” (Quran 41:34-35)

Abdullah Khan

About the author

Abdullah Khan is a thinker and writer, studying at Hartford Seminary, USA.

Tags: , , , , , ,

3 comments
Leave a comment »

  1. Good Work Mr.Abdullah !
    Could you plz suggest me some RATIONAL WAYS of Protesting ?
    And Please : Elaborate your point ” Offended in a Positive Way”

  2. Yes Mr. Abdullah

    Please how do we protest in a positive way? How do we register our complaint against the western world that please stop that blasphemy at once and don’t spark these riots?

    Can the making of such stuff be justified in any way, why your whole article doesn’t reflecting any protest to the western world that please stop this.

  3. Brother Irfan Salam and sister Bint e Ali, I think we don,t need to dig deep to know that how to register our protest positively. The Problem is that we have pinned so many hopes from the West / USA that every preventive act should be taken by them. Just look our OIC which is getting rotten in ICU. Look at our own Muslim governments. The list is long. How many of us wrote good articles in the western newspapers,?how many of us Good , authentic documentaries about the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ? How many of us can not only full understand Islam and the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) but also respond to the western criticism in their own methodological or terms.?
    We don,t have to request or plead rather we have to make them to do this. Jews worked hard for making Holocaust denial a crime in the West, so what should we expect that they will offer such a law in platter for Muslims ?
    I strongly support the demonstration and in the same note i think it is an important short term solution, we really have to use such moments as impetus and drive our valid anger and sadness in a positive way. How great it would be that millions of Muslims would have come on the streets and not even a single glass would have been broken. You may find the below given link helpful Inshallah. Allah knows best.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/omid-safi/huffjummah-prophetic-response-to-the-anti-muhammad-film_b_1903353.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share

Leave Comment