What Would the Prophet Have Done?

[DoYouEverWonder]

By Tarek Fatah

The way some Muslims have reacted to the provocation leaves a lot to be desired. They walked blindfolded into a trap set for them, and came out worse than what they started with.



"Keep to forgiveness (O Mohammed), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant." The Holy Koran, Chapter 7, Verse 199

During his lifetime, Prophet Mohammed endured insults and ridicule on a daily basis. His opponents mocked his message and used physical violence to stop him from challenging the status quo.

At no stage during this ordeal did the Prophet lose his temper or react to these provocations. Tradition has it that he would, instead, offer a prayer of forgiveness to those who showed contempt for him.

Today, however, many followers of Prophet Mohammed are acting the exact opposite. Reacting to the provocative Danish cartoons about the Prophet, they are burning newspapers, threatening journalists, issuing bomb threats, yet claiming they are standing up for the Prophet himself.

<snip>

This posturing by Arab governments and Islamist movements is not in the tradition of Islam. These zealots should ask the question: What would Prophet Mohammed have done when faced with this insult?

He would, I suggest, have said a prayer for the cartoonist and "turned away from the ignorant," as Allah commanded him to do in the Koran.

http://palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=020706232314


None of can us win when we resort to violence. This plays right into the powermongers hands. We don't need to give them excuses to 'crack down.

[applegrove]

1. Muslims have been in that trap of lack of education while lots of $$

for tribalism - for a long time.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Peace and blessings be upon him

You are absolutely right. What some folks don't know is that the Beloved Prophet was sometimes physically attacked while praying, but he never did anything in retaliation, for he knew that God alone is the Avenger (al-Muntaqim). Far better to pray for those who are hurting and to ask for their forgiveness. To keep anger in your heart keeps you away from God. This is why the whole business is so sad-the cartoons were set out with intent to lead people astray.

[Carni]

3. He probably would have run screaming from all this BS

In the same way that Jesus would probably run screaming if he were forced to encounter Jerry Fartwell or Pat Robertson.

The more I watch the antics of the assorted religious fanatics the happier I become to not be a part of any of these groups--the entire world has just gone friggin crazy IMO

[Bellamia]

4. Just wondering..........

What would the Fundies have done if the cartoons were about Jesus?

[leftofthedial]

5. Blamed Clinton

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Good article