REACTION TO PROVOCATION
REACTION TO PROVOCATION
Absolutely Un-Islamic
Contrary to common belief, Islam does not teach its adherents to react against issues such as the Rushdie and the cartoon issue. Islam teaches patience in the fullest sense of the word.
On the publication of the Satanic verses by Salman Rushdie, the Muslim reaction was to have him killed forthwith; he had committed an unpardonable offense against Islam and the Prophet. All over the world, Muslims demanded his head. They were not prepared to settle for anything less than that. In a similar incident, when the Denmark cartoon was published, the Muslims reacted in much the same manner.
In the modern age, all campaigns are spread like wildfire. Reactions such these give the impression that Muslims are vengeful and violent people. Consequently, in certain Western countries notice boards are put saying, “Beware of Muslims”. This shows the extreme fear engendered by the Muslim fundamentalist threat worldwide.
In all fairness one can ask, Is this Islam? Never! God has been represented in Islam as All Merciful, and the Prophet has been proclaimed the Prophet of Mercy. It is ironical that in the name of such a magnanimous religion, a certain section of the fundamentalists could not appreciate such sentiments, far less promote them. Islam can never incite people to committing murder in the name of religion, simply because someone had written a book or published a cartoon which ruffled their emotions. In fact, this is not the religion of Islam: It is the religion of certain bigoted Muslims.
Islam can never incite people to murder simply
because someone had written a book or published
a cartoon that ruffled their emotions.
In the days of the Prophet a large number of people existed who said many insulting things to the Prophet, but none of them were beheaded or protested against for the offence of insulting Islam and its prophet. On the contrary, in the times of the Prophet, the principle of countering words with words was followed. That is why those who spoke out against Islam no matter to what lengths they went were not penalised in any way. All that happened was that the Prophet appointed a poet called Hassan to give a befitting answer in verse to the offenders, poetry being the main mode of public expression and sentiments. This is the example we should follow for the resolution of all such problems in true Islamic spirit and earlier traditions.
The Prophet’s name was Muhammad, meaning the praised one or the praiseworthy. But when the Meccans became his most dire opponents, they themselves coined a name for the Prophet, ‘Muzammam,’ on the pattern of ‘Muhammad ,’ Muzammam meaning condemned. They used to heap abuses on him calling him by this epithet of Muzammam. But the Prophet was never enraged at this distorted version of his name. All he said in return was: “Aren’t you surprised that God has turned away the abuses of the Quraysh from me. They abuse a person by the name of Muzammam. Whereas I am Muhammad". (Ibn Hisham, 1/379). This meant that abuses were being heaped on a person whose name was Muzammam. Since the Prophet’s name was Muhammad, not Muzammam, their abuses did not apply to him. This shows that Islam does not teach one to be easily provoked, even in cases of extreme provocation. o
Observing the Universe
Observing the universe, one cannot fail
to be struck by the wonderful works of art,
the ingenious displays of consummate skill,
which lie before one. There are atoms,
dancing around within matter.
Two particles – without life –come together
to mould a third object – a new life. Stars
revolve in space, without the slightest
deviation from their set speed.
Tiny seeds are transformed into luxuriant trees.
Life in all its multiple forms seems like a torrent surging
all around us, all these events, and many more, are
happening in the universe, but they are happening silently.
No cosmic event defines itself. Nothing speaks to man,
revealing to him its inner significance.