Dr. Ahmed Saad Al-Mofareh
In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious Most Merciful
Muslims around the Globe have been deeply hurt by the negative portrayal of our beloved prophet and messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in the Danish newspapers. This hostile and negative attitude has offended Muslims all over the world. Consequently, it has resulted in many reactions at the public and the official levels. Some Muslims felt so outraged that their intellectual faculty failed to help them to deal with the matter prudently. Others stunned unbelieving what has happened from a country consider its self as a forerunner for freedom and a protector of human-rights! The third group took a longer time to think of the response to the issue, maybe giving more time to the Danish to realize their big mistake and back away. But this did not happen and it seems that it is not even going to happen at all. The Danish officials as well as the public have insisted that the incidence is merely a practice of freedom of expression!
What would the Danish think after this un-just incidence? Do they think that Muslims would let go such a blasphemous act? Do not they mindfully calculate the consequences of such a profound and sentimental issue? Do they think that the Islamic societies would easily accept the status-quo theory? In a case of such a great sin and unforgivable mistake, Muslims can not compromise, nor sit on the back seat. By large, it is a crystal clear offensive event that deserves a swift and precise move. And this is what has recently gushed out in Saudi Arabia and else where.
The majority of None-Muslims among the Danish, unfortunately, as well as some other Western societies do not know the fact that insulting or degrading any prophet or messenger of God is a great sin in Islam. Let it be Noah, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Lut, Jesus or Mohammed (PBUT).
On the other hand, what our brethren and fellow Muslims may not know that a large number of those western societies do not believe in God, and ultimately do not recognize His prophets and messengers. Although, another proportion of those societies have some kind of faith, and yet they do not realize our religion nor our prophet. Moreover, their distorted books do not relate their followers to God and other God’s religion, as Islam does, nor respect the prophets and messengers of God. It is noticeable that these books contain so many verses defaming prominent and respected prophets and messengers such as Noah, Lut, and others (PBUT). This is why these books were abrogated by the final book, the Nobel Quran.
The Nobel Quran has been revealed by God through the archangel Gabriel (PBUH) to the final prophet, Mohammed, (PBUH) 14 centuries ago. The book was not composed by prophet Mohammed (PBUH), nor he claimed to be his own. It is accepted by Muslims as the final and true message of God. This message has come after a long series of messages and prophet-hoods, beginning with Adam (PBUH), the father of all human-beings, passing through Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Mohammed (PBUT).
With truth have We sent it down, and with truth hath it descended. And We have sent thee as naught else save a bearer of good tidings and a warner. ( the Nobel Quran, 17-105)
In this book Allah lays down the entire system of life, purpose of life, essence of life, essence of death, the fact about the hereafter, and indeed our relationships to Him, to His prophets and messengers, our views of other religions, and the nature of His sublime existence and power, Glory to Him. He also puts forth the history of mankind and his creation. In a nut shell, this book -which was revealed to and taught by prophet Mohammed (PBUH) over a period of 23 years- teaches all Muslims how to deal and relate to all prophets and messengers. It teaches us to highly respect all prophets and messengers of Allah and make no distinction among them. In verse number 285 of chapter 2 of the Nobel Quran we read:
The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from His Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey, (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." (The Nobel Quran, 2-285).
Meanwhile, Allah encourages us to stand firm against any evil acts towards any one of His prophets and messengers. We must defend them and their messages as they have come originally from one source, our Creator, Allah. We read in chapter 3, verse number 84 in the Nobel Quran:
Say: "We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Ibrahim, Isma'il, Ishaq, Ya'qub, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Musa (Moses), 'Isa (Jesus), and the Prophets, from their Lord: we make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)." (The Nobel Quran, 3-84).
Therefore, we Muslims would not accept any type of defamation or humiliation of any prophet and messenger. This is why we Muslims are disturbed and angry with what the Danish newspaper had published. However, it is our duty and responsibility to react to this sadden incident. First, by denouncing it openly with containment of our sentiment lest we lose our just right of defending our prophet (PBUH).
Second, by condemning the action, the actors and their supporters by all peaceful means till they back-off, and we receive tangible evidence that such an act shall not happen yet again. In doing so, we should take into account what Allah has instructed us in verse number 108 of chapter 6 of the Nobel Quran:
Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do. (the Nobel Quran, 6-108).
And verse number 113 of the same chapter:
Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary - devils of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile. If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their devising;" (the Nobel Quran, 6-113).
Third, by working harder to convey the message of Islam through inviting those disbelieving people to study the bibliography of the honorable prophet (PBUH) in the light of verse 64 of chapter 3 of the Nobel Quran:
Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bssssear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him), (the Nobel Quran, 3-64).
Bearing in mind that inviting them should be in the manner that Allah has prescribed for us in the Nobel Quran :
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright. (the Nobel Quran, 16-125)
Also with the acknowledgement that there is no compulsion in religion:
There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (the Nobel Quran, 2-256).
Fourth, taking into consideration that there are respectful individuals among the none-Muslims around the world who are also offended by such an act. We should not blame them for an action that there are not responsible for. Rather we should appreciate their effort and help in the light of verse: .
O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do. (the Nobel Quran, 5-8).
All the above verses ,and so many in the Nobel Quran, are clear evidence that the message of prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is comprehensive, make no distinction among people, merciful, true, and the message of all prophets and messengers came before him. We read in the Nobel Quran:
We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples. (the Nobel Quran, 21-107).
And We have sent thee (O Muhammad) only as a bearer of good tidings and a warner. (the Nobel Quran, 25-56)
And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not. (the Nobel Quran, 34-28)
Finally, this is some of what our prophet (PBUH) has taught. Is his mission to destroy or to build? Is this mission to divide people or to bring them together? Is it a mission of peace or chaos? A mission of mercy or anguish? A message of love or hatred? Examine his bibliography and you will see for yourself what a message it is? It is a mission full of love and mercy to all. It is a message that gives hope and glad tidings to mankind to lead outstanding life and to rejoice in the eternal life in Heaven (paradise). Try not to destroy the marvelous image of the message and the personality of the final and true prophet of all mankind , Mohammed (PBUH).
I must agree that there are individuals who consider themselves Muslims; dress like Muslims, act like Muslims, named like Muslims, and so on. Yet they are far away from the message of Mohammed (PBUH). Do not judge Islam and the prophet of Islam (PBUH) through the eyes of the ill-actions of those individuals. Bear always in mind that there is a difference between Islam, the faith, and the Muslims, the practitioners.
May Allah guide all of us to His right path, and help all of us to understand and appreciate each other in order to construct together this Earth the way Allah has willed for us when he had first created Adam (PBUH):
Behold, your Lord said to the angles; "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: will you place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? While we do celebrate your praises and glorify your holy (name)?" He said: "I know what you know not". (the Nobel Quran 2-30).
Written by
Dr. Ahmed Saad Al-Mofareh
3-1-1427- Feb. 2.2006 Riyadh
