Hate
I have been busily commenting about this particular issue as well as the extended issues that arise out of the Prophet Muhammad (salaahu walaihu wasalaam)incident. I refuse to call it just a cartoon, because it is not just a cartoon. Below are two comments, one as a response to a posting on izzymo's blog. The second, a response to a posting on Singapore Ink.
Oh reading this blog and the responses, it just leaves me in a confused kind of state. I have always strongly felt that "and eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." This mantra would apply to all sorts of "isms". As someone who was minority in her country, I have experienced the whole array of racism. Sexism is of course still the normal state of affairs, although it is much more subtle now. I have been particularly conscious of the feelings that are evoked within me - the blind racism that you want to hit someone else with just because you have been a "victim" yourself. I just feel it is right. No one race is superior, no one gender is superior. No one religion is superior. Yes, the same Allah who gave us Islam, also gave the religion of Isa, (pbuh) to the world. We can be proud that we were born into the perfected religion of Islam for sure.
BUT, in Islam, it is haram to even take one's own life. How can we go around threatening to take away the lives of others? This is NOT justice (in response to bro Altaf. What would be a a more proactive thing to do then cry over spilled milk? Sis Izzy, you said, sometimes the struggle is about smiling. I agree with you. If there were enough Muslims around the world, who will act their part, and talked their part (ie explaining with knowledge and patience) to the ignorant, it is taking a mighty step.
I must say, I myself hadn't been a good Muslim most of my life, mianly because the Muslims I knew of, were kinda sexist, racist and extremists. That just didn't flow with my worldview. Of course, I still meet people who say, "Oh celebrating your birthday is unislamic, u aren't supposed to greet when some other religion is celebrating their festival, etc." This is what consumes some types of Muslims. They will be arm chair critics and bitch about how the world treats them, but wouldn't truly be practicing, or learning more about this beautiful religion. Why their knowledge of Islam, can't be very much more than the average non Muslim.
Geez I have rambled, but what I want to know is, what is bro Altaf doing, and what can everyone else who is keen do to follow in his footsteps? One shouldn't just critique, one should also offer suggestions. Allah Hafiz!
Comment 2
certainly do not condone to any of the violence that was a result of the insensitivity of the European media. I say European media because it is evident that what was published in a small time Danish language in Sept was last year, was republished recently, with no thought at all. What you must know, this very media, will not have printed anything of such a nature (which is a desecretion, more than a mere cartoon)about the Christian religion. In the past, the Danish media, had criticized the denial of the Holocaust as punishable by law. Yet, they call what they have done freedom of speech! Try creating a cartoon with Jesus, or Buddha or Kali in a derogatory manner. Why they talk about Jesus being gay. I can imagine some very colourful cartoons that can be created from that scenario. An eye for an eye certainly makes the world go blind. But alot of us moderate Muslims are wondering, geez, we have talked and talked and talked, where has that got us? Martin Luther King, an advocate of peaceful protest, but look, African Americans in the U.S are still down trodden, and there is systemic racism. When there is legalised racism and lack of tolerance towards the people of one particular religion/race, maybe people feel trapped enough to resort to violence. Every religion holds some things sacred. This is one of them. I mean no offence but I would like to suggest that in order to make your comments more of an informed one, you should interact with the minorities of world. You probably never had the problems I have faced of “Apu Ne Ne” (black skinned person) being thrown at you from your neighbours or having no one sit next to you in a crowded SBS bus because you are of the wrong colour. Do you have any Muslim friends in the first place who would be able to throw light on the fact that 1 billion people on this face of the Earth are angry? Find out maybe that would enable you grow out of your Eurocentric framework. I want to also let you know, that, in Islamic blogs, I advocate that violence must stop. But like I said, when you are feeling soul deep pain, it becomes difficult to be objective. In Islam it is forbidden to take one’s life (as it belongs to the Most High), let alone take the life of someone else. In Tamil there is a proverb. “Don’t believe what you see, don’t believe what you hear, thorough investigation leads to truth.” Peace
End of comments
This is indeed yet another test that the Most High has sent our way. It makes me very sad that Muslims have started resorting to violence, and eventhough some of my fellow educated bros and sisters have commented that they see that sort of action, as being more productive than not doing anything, I beg to differ. I really do believe in the principles espoused by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa. That would make me a pacifist I guess. I see clearly, that by getting violent, we are further strengthening the belief among non Muslims are that Muslims are savage. Protest is a great step. Think of 9/11. If every soul affected by that dastardly event decided to burn down Islamic schools and mosques, etc, would we be accepting of it? These people who were killed in 9/11, do not represent the wrong doers in the government. This action of these Muslims in Syria, etc, is equivalent to a non Muslim spitting on me, or harassing me, as a form of punishment for the wrong doing of other Muslims. Really - it is beyond my comprehension.
At the same time, I watched "Negros with Guns", it was a documentary about Robert Frank Williams, who is connected with the beginning of the Black Panther Movement. It made me think about the injustice that the African Americans had to go through at the hands of the European American biased system. All those segregated public spaces (swimming pools, bars, restaurants, schools) and worse still, the Ku Klux Klan, going around killing African Americans.
I have never been in a position where I had to protect my body and soul against systemic abuse, slavery and legalized racism, so I guess I am not exactly in a position to comment. But the way to God, how can that be a path of bloodshed? We say "As Salaamalaikum" - Peace be upon you, how can one segment of the world live in peace, when another section isn't? All of us, are interconnected, the fruits of Adam and Hawa.
I make a dua (prayer) for peace everyday, for the enlightenment of non Muslims, that they may better understand Islam by relating to Muslims,not just reading about Islam. I also pray that my Muslim brothers and sisters will stop any form of violence or bigotry. Don't they see that they are causing more Muslims to be victimized. I pray that Allah gives everybody the patience and fortitude to pass yet another test that God sends our way. Peace and Blessings.
Oh reading this blog and the responses, it just leaves me in a confused kind of state. I have always strongly felt that "and eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." This mantra would apply to all sorts of "isms". As someone who was minority in her country, I have experienced the whole array of racism. Sexism is of course still the normal state of affairs, although it is much more subtle now. I have been particularly conscious of the feelings that are evoked within me - the blind racism that you want to hit someone else with just because you have been a "victim" yourself. I just feel it is right. No one race is superior, no one gender is superior. No one religion is superior. Yes, the same Allah who gave us Islam, also gave the religion of Isa, (pbuh) to the world. We can be proud that we were born into the perfected religion of Islam for sure.
BUT, in Islam, it is haram to even take one's own life. How can we go around threatening to take away the lives of others? This is NOT justice (in response to bro Altaf. What would be a a more proactive thing to do then cry over spilled milk? Sis Izzy, you said, sometimes the struggle is about smiling. I agree with you. If there were enough Muslims around the world, who will act their part, and talked their part (ie explaining with knowledge and patience) to the ignorant, it is taking a mighty step.
I must say, I myself hadn't been a good Muslim most of my life, mianly because the Muslims I knew of, were kinda sexist, racist and extremists. That just didn't flow with my worldview. Of course, I still meet people who say, "Oh celebrating your birthday is unislamic, u aren't supposed to greet when some other religion is celebrating their festival, etc." This is what consumes some types of Muslims. They will be arm chair critics and bitch about how the world treats them, but wouldn't truly be practicing, or learning more about this beautiful religion. Why their knowledge of Islam, can't be very much more than the average non Muslim.
Geez I have rambled, but what I want to know is, what is bro Altaf doing, and what can everyone else who is keen do to follow in his footsteps? One shouldn't just critique, one should also offer suggestions. Allah Hafiz!
Comment 2
certainly do not condone to any of the violence that was a result of the insensitivity of the European media. I say European media because it is evident that what was published in a small time Danish language in Sept was last year, was republished recently, with no thought at all. What you must know, this very media, will not have printed anything of such a nature (which is a desecretion, more than a mere cartoon)about the Christian religion. In the past, the Danish media, had criticized the denial of the Holocaust as punishable by law. Yet, they call what they have done freedom of speech! Try creating a cartoon with Jesus, or Buddha or Kali in a derogatory manner. Why they talk about Jesus being gay. I can imagine some very colourful cartoons that can be created from that scenario. An eye for an eye certainly makes the world go blind. But alot of us moderate Muslims are wondering, geez, we have talked and talked and talked, where has that got us? Martin Luther King, an advocate of peaceful protest, but look, African Americans in the U.S are still down trodden, and there is systemic racism. When there is legalised racism and lack of tolerance towards the people of one particular religion/race, maybe people feel trapped enough to resort to violence. Every religion holds some things sacred. This is one of them. I mean no offence but I would like to suggest that in order to make your comments more of an informed one, you should interact with the minorities of world. You probably never had the problems I have faced of “Apu Ne Ne” (black skinned person) being thrown at you from your neighbours or having no one sit next to you in a crowded SBS bus because you are of the wrong colour. Do you have any Muslim friends in the first place who would be able to throw light on the fact that 1 billion people on this face of the Earth are angry? Find out maybe that would enable you grow out of your Eurocentric framework. I want to also let you know, that, in Islamic blogs, I advocate that violence must stop. But like I said, when you are feeling soul deep pain, it becomes difficult to be objective. In Islam it is forbidden to take one’s life (as it belongs to the Most High), let alone take the life of someone else. In Tamil there is a proverb. “Don’t believe what you see, don’t believe what you hear, thorough investigation leads to truth.” Peace
End of comments
This is indeed yet another test that the Most High has sent our way. It makes me very sad that Muslims have started resorting to violence, and eventhough some of my fellow educated bros and sisters have commented that they see that sort of action, as being more productive than not doing anything, I beg to differ. I really do believe in the principles espoused by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa. That would make me a pacifist I guess. I see clearly, that by getting violent, we are further strengthening the belief among non Muslims are that Muslims are savage. Protest is a great step. Think of 9/11. If every soul affected by that dastardly event decided to burn down Islamic schools and mosques, etc, would we be accepting of it? These people who were killed in 9/11, do not represent the wrong doers in the government. This action of these Muslims in Syria, etc, is equivalent to a non Muslim spitting on me, or harassing me, as a form of punishment for the wrong doing of other Muslims. Really - it is beyond my comprehension.
At the same time, I watched "Negros with Guns", it was a documentary about Robert Frank Williams, who is connected with the beginning of the Black Panther Movement. It made me think about the injustice that the African Americans had to go through at the hands of the European American biased system. All those segregated public spaces (swimming pools, bars, restaurants, schools) and worse still, the Ku Klux Klan, going around killing African Americans.
I have never been in a position where I had to protect my body and soul against systemic abuse, slavery and legalized racism, so I guess I am not exactly in a position to comment. But the way to God, how can that be a path of bloodshed? We say "As Salaamalaikum" - Peace be upon you, how can one segment of the world live in peace, when another section isn't? All of us, are interconnected, the fruits of Adam and Hawa.
I make a dua (prayer) for peace everyday, for the enlightenment of non Muslims, that they may better understand Islam by relating to Muslims,not just reading about Islam. I also pray that my Muslim brothers and sisters will stop any form of violence or bigotry. Don't they see that they are causing more Muslims to be victimized. I pray that Allah gives everybody the patience and fortitude to pass yet another test that God sends our way. Peace and Blessings.
posted by Unconventionally_Urs @ 1:16 pm
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