Muslims have gone out of control with rage and anger and took matters into their own hands forgetting the noble character of the Prophet they claim to defend.
While they have every right to protest against the anti-Islam film, they have crossed boundaries and limits in killing the U.S. ambassador in Libya along with his staffers.
In response to the defamatory film Innocence of Muslims insulting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); Al-Azhar Senior Scholars Council (ASSC) condemned these attacks, urging in the meantime the Muslim masses to keep away from exceeding the limits of Islam punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty.
As reported by the Al-Azhar Council came up with proper methods in dealing with the issue. It had reminded Muslims of self-constraint, to control the limits and to adhere to the Islamic codes of conducts.
Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. (Qur'an 41: 34).Prophet Mohammad was attacked and insulted during his lifetime and the waves of attacks continue to this day.
He was a man who controlled his anger and had emphasized that the strongest man is not the one who can wrestle others to the ground but the one who can control himself during the time of anger.
The strong is not the one who overcomes people by use of his physical strength; rather he is the one who controls himself while in anger. (Al-Bukhari)
Those emotionally-charged hooligans who went ballistic in their protests probably know little about the prophet they claim to defend. They most likely know more about movie stars like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie than they know their own prophet. Had they known a little about his character, they would not have gone wild as they did in their protest.
It is sad to witness the pathetic condition of Muslims. While they have been blessed with a massive amount of wealth especially in countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and others, they have done little in defend of Islam and the Prophet of Islam. They have not done enough even to help their fellow Muslims who are suffering around the world.
The religion of Islam is polluted by the behaviour of Muslims and that is why masses around the globe are confused about this beautiful religion and its noble prophet who is called in the Qur'an a mercy to mankind. And that is why hate mongers are winning the battle to spread their venom and hate.
Muslims need to introduce the true character of their prophet, a noble man who has been praised even by honest non-Muslim intellectuals.
The famous historian, Michael H. Hart, in his The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History mentioned him first as the most remarkable personality of our time, ahead of Jesus and other great men in history.
In explaining his reasoning, as indicated on gainpeace.com, he said, "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."
Thomas Caryle, in Heros and Heros Worship, stated:
How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades? The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to ourselves only...How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades....A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world; the world's Maker had ordered so.
George Bernard Shaw, on the other hand in his The Genuine Islam wrote:
I believe if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring much needed peace and happiness.I have studied him -- the man and in my opinion is far from being an anti-Christ. He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I have prophesied about the faith of Mohammad that it would be acceptable the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.
If you don't see the difference, I am afraid you are part of the problem Abubakar.
I know there are Jews in Israel who have died protesting the treatment of Palestinians, and I know of others who reliably craft and create propaganda to belittle other faiths; to say the very least, Christians have a long ungodly history of torture and murder and other acts against both so-called infidels and members of other faiths, from the Crusades to the Inquisition to the ghettos of Europe...not to mention the current Kentucky so called "Christian" denomination which pickets against gay folks, etc....I hear a few faint protests, but not many...the Muslims do not have hypocrisy cornered by any means.
It would be nice if leaders of all faiths practiced what they preached, if they would speak against bigotry and fanaticism in whatever capacity it arises, but they never have, and probably never will...one of the many, many reasons I am a Humanist and I despair of anything like brotherly/sisterly love in my lifetime....
using any and all things as a pretext to engage in premeditated violence. There was no sense in what had been done by those who premeditatingly provoked the rage, and there is no sense or justification to attack and slaughter the innocent as a form of revenged and retribution, Shame on all guilty parties, those who deliberately provoked the rants, and those who engaged in bloodshed, destruction and opportunistic looting as a result. Shame also on all who come to the defense of those who allege to express themselves freely, even though their expressions were aimed to insult and to inflictthe greaest harm possible. Shame on all who also exploit this for purposes of political pontification abd grand-standing!!! Ignorance and arrogance are evil twins!
Do you understand the difference between a government and a citizen of a democracy who has the right to express whatever he or she wants, even if it is noxious and offensive?
The US has not promoted hate, nor was this a government film.
It's not the job of western governments to promote Islam. If that's what you're looking for, the Middle east (except for Israel) might be your place. They are more interested in promoting one religion over protecting an individuals right to freedom of thought, religion, and expression.
A citizen in a free country, as you are referring to, doesn't have unlimited freedom to slander others. There are hate laws in place. We should learn to respect one another and treat each other with civility.
Debating issues about Islam isn't something Muslims are afraid of. Insulting each other is what keep us apart. Demeaning each other is what we should stay away from.
If the answer to this question is yes, then clearly you have a limited understanding of the importance of freedom of speech.
You can't slander a whole group. You can only slander an individual. I also don't think that Muslims are unique victims of hateful speech and prejudice. Just talk to a few blacks and Jews. Indeed, historically, they've had it much worse.
And on the subject of hateful speech, since you're a Muslim yourself, perhaps you should examine your own community's relationship with prejudice, hate speech and discrimination. Perhaps an article decrying how in every Muslim-majority country, non-Muslims are under threat and treated as second class citizens; how there's been an ethnic cleansing in the Muslim-Middle East of non-Muslims through intimidation and threats, both on an official and unofficial level.
Now, that would be great to read a Muslim challenging his own community on the issue of hypocrisy.
The "film" did neither.
In Canada and European countries, the film may well qualify as hate speech and therefore be banned, since it has no "literary value", unlike Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" or indeed, Southpark (which has a poignant point to make).
Unfortunately for your analysis, I'd imagine you'd be for banning or penalizing all sorts of expression that wasn't as vapid as this video, but still was offensive to the majority of observant Muslims (a la Southpark). If that's the case, then even in Canada and Europe, this wouldn't pass as hate speech.