Draw Muhammad Day is a farce
While both sides are busy taking a side against each other, Draw Muhammad day becomes a nothing more than a farce
By Faraaz Rahman on Friday, May 21st, 2010 - 1,153 words.
I do not write well when I am forced to write, when I have to write. Correction, I find it extremely difficult to write when I am told I have to write. There is this side of me that reacts negatively when told to do something. For example, when I used to play for a cricket team, the part I hated the most was when my captain or other ‘seniors’ tried to advise me how to bowl. Call it ego, call it arrogance, call it whatever you want, but it totally de-motivates me. Even if the advise my captain gave me was the same thing I would have tried anyway, it still angers me. Not surprisingly, I was always bad at writing essays in school, never managed to get 80% in English essays much to the disappointment of my parents. Yet when I would write on my own, out of my own free will, about a cricket match I remembered, or my favourite cricketer or a piece on my favourite movie, it would if I may say so myself, be quite good. I remember my father asking me why I could not produce writing like that for school. My hapless response was that in school, they specified the topic of my essay, without my permission, hence more often than not, I was given a topic I had nothing to say about. So I forced myself to write those essays.
I write this today not out of some creative impulse. I write because I feel compelled to write this. So it is not going to be the greatest piece of writing. I will also be plagiarising from a previous article on a similar issue written by another writer.
The issue: Draw Muhammad Day 20th May.
Background: I do not watch a lot of TV shows. In fact, I have hardly watched any TV show in the last few years. My spare time is spent watching movies. I have watched close to 200 movies this year so far and that is an achievement I am extremely proud of. So when South Park decided to portray Prophet Muhammad a while back, I had no idea until my Gmail and Facebook inboxes were flooded with invitations and calls. I usually ignore such forwarded emails and invitations but the name Muhammad caught my attention. These invitations were off two kinds – 1) asking me to protest the portrayal of Muhammad on South Park 2) asking me to support the right of the South Park creators to portray Muhammad. I have absolutely no idea why I receive these calls from both the sides. Anyway, I quickly learnt what had happened. Much to my embarrassment as a Muslim, some Muslim group called Revolution Muslim had sent death threats to the creators of South Park and forced them to censor the cartoons.
I felt ashamed.
Fast forward a few weeks. Once again I started receiving Facebook invitations for Draw Muhammad Day and Boycott Draw Muhammad Day. Once again I had to do some research to find out what this new issue was about. It did not take me long to read this. The issue for me was over until I decided to actually view the Facebook page. For some reason I can no longer find that particular Facebook with over 140000 followers but it has now been replaced by various similar pages titled Draw Muhammad day.
As a lover of cinema, art, literature, music, I have always had issues with Muslim leaders, teachers, scholars telling me art is prohibited in Islam. I love my life because of art. If you want me to respect and love Muhammad, then you have to let me draw him, make films about him. That has been my prerogative. However, when I visited the Draw Muhammad page, I had every intention of ‘liking’ the Facebook page to show my support, but a quick look at the wall messages and photos told me that while the creators of the page and myself agree on the title, we have very different ideas and opinions. The page was filled with hateful and vitriolic comments. The photos uploaded ridiculed Muhammad and Muslims. That did not necessarily offend me but the reason I did not join the page because I disagreed with the intentions of that page. I want to draw Muhammad because I feel like it, if in the process people are offended, I cannot help it. But I will not draw Muhammad with the sole purpose of offending and ridiculing people.
Needless to say, many Muslims responded in exactly the way I had expected them to, illogically, irrationally, shamefully. If that wasn’t enough, Pakistan has managed to block Facebook and Youtube.
Once again I felt ashamed as a Muslim.
But then a thought occurred to me. I realized what a dear friend had once told me, “ It is easy to know what you stand against, quite another to know what you stand for.” Here was the greatest manifestation of that saying.
The creators of that Facebook page did not take a stand for art or freedom of expression, they took a stand against Muslims with there comments and photos. The Muslims protesting against the Facebook page so idiotically are not taking a stand for Muhammad. They are taking a stand against everyone they feel is against them.
Here I am going to plagiarise from an article written by a Pakistani American writer Ali Eteraz three years ago when Salman Rushdie was awarded the knighthood. I loved the article so much that I had saved it.
My response to my fellow Muslims who are protesting like madmen.
“So, once again, the response has to be direct and straight forward: no compromise on freedom of conscience; no compromise on freedom of expression; no compromise on freedom of speech. Forget if people’s religious sensibilities are hurt. They will have to get over it and live with it like all the rest of us whose sensibilities are assailed by burning tires, burning cars, strikes, and demagoguery.”
My response to the creators of that Facebook page and all those people who posted those hateful and vitriolic comments against Muslims.
“There is also no paucity of artists who don’t really toe the theological line. The Syrian poet Adonis. Those that want to learn more about the way how historically Muslim artists flaunted and challenged the theological imperative might do well to read Nobel Prize Winner Orhan Pamuk’s My Name is Red. They might also read Children of the Alley by Nobel Prize Winner Naguib Mahfouz in which Allah is depicted as a grandfather and the devil is his son (which led the fundamentalists to stab Mahfouz in the face).”
I know what I stand for.
“I am free, my mind is free,
I am neither a sick person nor a physician
Neither a believer nor an infidel
Nor a mullah or syed
In the fourteen spheres I walk in freedom
I can be imprisoned nowhere. “
– Bulleh Shah (18th century poet from modern day Pakistan)
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Beautiful piece Faraaz… It's true that these freedom of speech cases are often hijacked by unsavoury Islamophobes, I think that's why it's so important for Muslims themselves to speak out, like you have done…. It won't be changed by outsiders shouting pieties, but only struggle by oppressed peoples, who know better than anyone what its like not to be able to speak your mind…..
Matt,
Just about had it with you multicultural bullshit. You call people that are offended by Islamic violence Islamophobes. This all started from a South Park episode where Jewish, Christian, buddhist and, yes, and muslim images were used. Only muslims threatened violence. Yet here you are unable even to utter a word of condemnation. Pathetic.
What are you talking about John? I think the Muslims who wanted to shut down South Park are ridiculous cowards and nutters. I hate Islamic fundmentalists, like I hate Christian fundamentalists, they are against everything I believe in. But what's the point on writing that under an article that basically says that from a Muslim… We have supported Islamic fundamentalism for decades, from Palestine to Afghanistan …. That's why they call it blowback, isnt that an important thing to address? States dont have philosophies contrary to propaganda, they support their interests — a while back the expansion of Islamic fundamentalists
You call yourself muslim and post drawings with your crap, you have become a subject of shame in US because of your tolerance for their hate, which won't go away. The US war on Islam and their sheer hatred for muslims is a reality, if you have guts why don't you draw Anne Frank in bed with Hitler, and see these westerners' respond in a totally different fashion, there is a movement on the way to hit American propaganda, which gets a boost thru these stupid attempts, next up, CNN and Fox News ban in 60 countries including Russia and China.
Drawing Anne Frank in bed with Hitler? Sorry dude, already been done.
"The US war on Islam", so you must relate to the terrorists. The US is at war with people who flew two planes into a building where civilians were trying to go to work to support their families. Yes they are Muslims, ans yes an Islamic state protected the person responsible. So yes the US went to Afghanistan and started a war to rid the land of the Taliban who protected an international terrorist. I don't hate Muslims, I hate people who try to force me to respect them when they don't deserve it. When you respect Western Culture, I will respect yours. I did not draw Muhammad, but I believe in the initial premise which was tolerability of others beliefs and rights.
Actually these terrorist were once US favorites as they were fulfilling the dream of Super Power and the US fully supported them including osama bin ladin. But now the time has change. You are getting what you made. If you are afraid of death then you must not invade the Afghanistan or Iraq. Majority of Muslims condemn terrorism. You need yo realize if all Muslims becomes terrorist then you will not find a place to live peacefully on this earth.
Harmon,
See I agree that there should have been no invasion of Iraq. Afghanistan, sorry, your Muslim government was protecting the terrorist. We asked them nicely to hand him over and they did not. So that was a deceleration of war. Had the Taliban (scum bags) handed him over, no war would have occurred. FYI… Christianity has more followers than Muslims, so if Muslims wanted to wage war on the world, you would lose.
Please get your facts right.
Afghanistan
Taliban's response to US demands after 9/11 was uncharacteristically reasonable, "Hand over the evidence, we will hand over Laden."
George Bush's response was it is non negotiable.
Iraq
According to the official statements at least, Iraq invasion was not about finding terrorists but WMD which were never found.
As for your second comment,
are you seriously suggesting that the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan are nothing more than Christianity vs Islam?
FR007,
You think that response is reasonable? LMAO. The Taliban knew he did it as they supported it. Let's not be stupid here. 3000 people died, it was non-negotiable and Afghanistan deserved everything that it received. I agree with your comments on Iraq and agree that we do not belong there.
And no that is not what I am suggesting at all. read harmons comment before mine. That was in response to his comment. Afghanistan we invaded due to harboring a terrorist. Iraq we invaded because Bush had a bone to pick with Saddam in regards to Bush's father.
Exactly FR007,
We should have let the taliban be the judges of what is enough evidence. What a joke!
This is incorrect. Taliban's response to US demands after 9/11 was uncharacteristically reasonable, "Hand over the evidence, we will hand over Laden."
George Bush's response was it is non negotiable.
all this is a drama, made by some powers to get way to Iraqi Oil. characters are muslims. one thing that i read in media, is interesting that at that day, all the jews working in wtc were on leave.
Guestt,
Your ignorance is amusing. Yes all jews were on leave. 400 jews dies in the attacks. That is 13% of fatalities roughly. Stop reading Hezbollah websites and you will get better information.
If you want to draw Anne Frank in bed with Hitler to make a point about freedom of speech and expression, then go for it! As defender of free speech and expression, then I say go ahead even if you may offend some folks by doing so. I personally find anyone who kills or threatens others or defends or makes excuses for such violence over the drawing a cartoon as EXTREMELY offensive, as well as seriously dangerous to society and very very wrong. Everyone should shout from the rooftops anyone trying to stifle free speech or anyone harming others for mere "offense". Yes, even if their offense is religiously based. I don't care what religion.
Do not kill people or threaten people for drawing a cartoon that you find offensive. Do not support those who kill or threaten people for drawing a cartoon that they or even you find offensive. Do not make excuses for those who kill or threaten people for drawing a cartoon that some find offensive.
The right to free speech is hard because it defends things that some may find offensive. I value the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which allows creating art that some may find offensive. It also protects religious freedom, which I think you should find a good thing. That religious freedom does not mean you can impose it on others.
I respect your right to be a Muslim and would defend that right as much as the right to free speech. BUT.. you don't get the right to force your religious beliefs onto others or to kill people or threaten people over your feelings.
Peace by upon us all!
If you people think that you are well civilized then why don't you care about other peoples' feelings?
you people don't love very much your Prophet, but love yourselves. you lose tolerance when you feel that someone is against you. We people love our prophet more then ourselves, so we lose tolerance when someone make fool of our beloved Prophet.
Do you want a simple answer? We don't care because your feelings are hurt over the stupidest little things, and quite frankly, we have better things than to worry about the feelings of the intellectual dwarves of Islam.
And perhaps this blind love for your prophet is what has corrupted you. The truth is that Islam has elevated a ruthless murderer, rapist and all-round bandit to the position of perfect model of humanity. No wonder Islam is leagues ahead when it comes to murder and terror.
Thanks for this Faraaz – its from the heart and that comes across.
panzy
Cool javet… next we Muslims are going to celebrate 'draw Anne Frank in bed with hitler' … Great idea! it'll start here from Pakistan. And fo you sissy boy faraaz keep yo selfbuild beliefs to yoself.
we have enough of it. tomorrow they will draw yo mother naked as freedom of speech then leme know how it feels.
GR8 Shella ! I like it
you can celebrate what ever you want .nobody is going to kill you .only muslis kill other people if they do not agree with their opinions ..islam is evil
Those who cause evil are followers of devil, like those who agonize muslims by making fool of their beloved Prophet (p.b.u.h.), when muslims get angry, devil followers say it wrong. This is injustice. The people saying muslims bad are unaware of truth. They only read books that are written against islam, they read qouts out of context.
Or they read the news such as… http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/11/world/la-... http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Afghanistan/bloody-talib...
Your religion is sooooo peaceful. Barbaric is more like it.
Interesting read, but brother I think you need to learn about Islam to understand what it really means. Its true muslims today do allot of shamless acts but whatever their intentions are regarding the drawings they need to be against it. As muslims we dont draw our blessed prophet SAW, because whatever our drawing is no matter how good it will always degrade our prophet SAW, to draw what we think he looks like will always be an insult because of our positions, Allah swt has created the prophet SAW to be the best of creation, in everyway possible and we are limited to our understand of that fact and will never give it the respect it needs. For this reason alone the drawing are wrong to do, ragardless of how muslims go against this idea.
My advise to you will be sincerly seek for knowledge and sit with people of knowledge who will show you what true islam is and how it is practised.
Just read the reaction of the companions of the prophet when then prophet saw was put down by the non muslims in his time.
Once again missing the point… I can draw Muhammad, as I am not a Muslim and do not have to respect your religion. It may be wrong for a Muslim to draw Muhammad, but Muhammad means nothing to me so I can draw and say what I like about him. This is the whole point. Stop trying to force your beliefs onto me, I don't care about them. If you don't like Western culture, then pay no mind to it.
hai jeff first you need to respect others religion my sincere advice to you is first read who is muhammad. he was not only a religious leader but also the greatest reformer of that time jus read the book "the 100" written by michael hart who being a unbeliever quotes him as the most influential person of history.try to have an open mind and study his biography then you by yourself will respect him to the core.
khaleel,
See that is the issue. I DON'T have to respect your religion, because I disagree with it. I have to tolerate it, because the people who follow it are human. Your religion means nothing to me. I don't care about it. I will not go out of my way to disrespect it (I did not draw Muhammad), but nor will I go out of my way to respect it. I have studied religion and know all about Muhammad, Jesus, Buddha etc… If you say something negative about Jesus, I am not going to threaten you with death. I am going to ignore you.
khaleel,
In the bible, it says…
"Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." Luke 6:29
More Muslims need to take this advice. That is a peaceful religion.
i don want to argue wit u but am sure dat u have some negative impression about islam or muhammd jus tell me i ll clarify u the same its better to share our thoughts frankly and another thing i have to say you is that i ll never ever say anything wrong about jesus because he according to our belief is one of the adorable prophets of the Lord.
khaleel,
I don't have negative beliefs about Islam. I don't really think about it. It is of no importance to me. It is not my religion. I think it is quite compelling that the majority of terrorist attacks that occur throughout the world are done in the name of Islam. For me this says that the Qu'ran is either preaching acceptance of violence for people who are not believers or it is not written in a way that provides misinterpretation. In addition in studying Muhammad, he did things that I consider to be not righteous. Marrying a 6 year old, and having sex with her when she was 10 is gross to me. Yes I understand he married her to protect her, he could have adopted her as a child as opposed to the other. Throughout his life he partook in violence in various conflicts (Mecca, Arabia, Medina). For me this does not speak prophet. The fact the Islam permits jihad tells me that your religion is a religion that permits violence to achieve a goal. In the religion which I was raised ( I am not practicing) our prophet, the son of God, would never partake in this type of action.
u are in a total misconception about islam .islam never permits violence in any form Quran says
“…take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.”
[Al-Qur’an 6:151]
“…if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”
[Al-Qur’an 5:32]
The word Jihad comes from the root word jahada, which means to struggle. So jihad is literally an act of struggling. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the greatest jihad is to struggle with the insidious suggestions of one’s own soul. Thus jihad primarily refers to the inner struggle of being a person of virtue and submission to God in all aspects of life.
Secondarily, jihad refers to struggle against injustice. Islam, like many other religions, allows for armed self-defense, or retribution against tyranny, exploitation, and oppression.
another thing is that marrying a 10 year old is not a problem at all at that time also he did so bcoz it was a divine reveleation to him as God knew dat she will become a greatest women islamic scholar who has interpreted the maximum number of hadiths .as islam is the easiest religion it has determined dat puberty is the first qualification for a women to get married.
throughout his life he never partook any war for his selfish need or to maximise islamic territory he did so when the arab pagans opposed and troubled the innocent muslims of mecca .
never be mislead by anyone u just search by yourself about the truth. Don be hatred about islam. the true islam u can find in the way of prophet and his true followers the true islam is also lying in the holy quran when read with sincere approach.
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things.”
[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
i also request you to visit the website,www.answering-christianity.com if you hav any queries regarding islam
jeff,
you are a negative person, who trys to seek only only negative points in every good thing and person. and do not know positive aspects of a matter.
Hamid,
Really??? Your religion is the negative thing here. You all expect everyone to see your points but do not care to listen to anyone elses. Tell me what exactly I have said that is negative about people and things. Actually what you are doing is making a judgment about me without knowing anything about me. So who is the negative person. Pick up a mirror before you pick up a magnifying glass. Your comments are ignorant.
Hey Jeff. What if I draw a nude picture of your mother or sister would your freedom of speech cover it. I don't think so. I think you will feel offended. The picture that they are drawing are showing their state of mind. You guys seriously needs some psychiatrist.
Harmon,
Yes, you can draw whatever you like. If you draw my mother or sister that is your business. I cannot prevent you from doing so. I am not going to threaten to kill you. I am going to turn the other cheek. Artistic expression and state of mind are two different things. This is our form of protest against Muslims taking religion too seriously. Here is the west we have separation of Church and state. In other words our religion does not guide the laws. If you don't like don't live in America. Go live somewhere (Iran) that religion makes the rules.
hey u son of the beach why u draw our P.B.U.H CARTOON IS THIS CORRECT THAT WE DARAW JESUS WITH AN BEACH
Faizan,
I did not draw Muhammad, but I have the right too. Plus, not sure what son of a beach or daraw means. But, you can DRAW whatever you like as I am not against artistic expression or trying to control what someone wants to depict in a cartoon. BTW typing in all caps offends me, so you should not do it… right? Isn't that why people are not supposed to draw Muhammad.
hey jeff u have not replied me yet
Khaleel,
Yes I did. It is below… I have re-pasted it here:
Khaleel,
Who was in Mecca first? The Meccan's, not the muslims. Therefor, he should have been respecting their rules of the land, not forcing his upon them. That is exacrly what is going on with the Muhammad drawing thing. Muslims are trying to tell us that we can't draw him. We are drawing him as a form of protest. This is our land, not Muslims. We in America are not governed by religion. We are governed by a government not a priest, a rabbi or a mullah. So you say to us our religion prevents you from drawing Muhammad, and we say well e are going to draw him because our laws do
So you say to us our religion prevents you from drawing Muhammad, and we say well e are going to draw him because our laws do not is what I meant
hey jeff first understand why islam does not permit to draw pictures of any person(not only muhammad) the main reason is that when sum one draws the picture of his beloved ancestor in time being this becomes the basis of idol worship as they will attribute divinity to it according to islamic belief anything which promotes idolatory is totally prohibited on that basis islam never permits drawing of any person do you think is that not a logical answer???
Khaleel, I do not think you are getting my point. Poeple who are not Muslims do not have to follow what your religion thinks is or is not appropriate. I am not sure why you think the world should revolve around Islam. We believe in freedom of expression. So no, I do not think a religion telling me what I can and cannot draw is logical. Islam is telling you idol warship is not permitted but then they tell you to idolize Muhammad. It is hypocritical. Dude your brain washed.
yes am clear dat freedom of expression allows u to do it but u hav to think dat it hurts sentiments of muslims around d world so we do not force you dat u shud not do it but we do not like it bcoz he is the most lovable to us if you think dat you islam is not the right way better dont interfere with it
Quran says,
Say : O ye that reject I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship,And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine.
Khaleel,
Thanks for proving my point for me…
"To you be your Way, and to me mine."
My way is freedom of expression and freedom of speech. I don't care what he means to you, he means nothing to me. Your people (and I am not saying all Muslims) burn American flags, try to blow up buildings, commit suicide bombings, behead people, stone woman, make them cover their face in public, do not give woman the same rights as men, reject and destroy art etc… Everything there goes against the moral fiber of western culture. But you think I should respect your religion and rules. I don't think so. Like I said before, respect is earned not a right. Your religion has done very little to show that you condemn the items above I have mentioned. When your religion decides to stop segregating itself from society than come talk to me about respect.
jeff,
i dont know what will you get by protesting islam or muhammad even if you do so neither muslims will forget to admire him nor his name gets spoilt these kind of filthy comments will never degarade his name jus look into the writings of honest historians who never fails to admire muhammad while writing about him what you blabber about him is nothing but islamaphobic writings i think no honesty is with your comments if u hav so give me a single proof which degrades his respect .
Moron,
I have said nothing about your idol Muhammad. He is means nothing to me. I have not said anything that is not written in history. He married a child, Fact. He was involved is armed battles against people who oppose Islam, Fact. He had sex with a child, Fact. Having sex with a child is a crime, Fact.
You can admire Muhammad all you want. I am not the one trying to impose my beliefs on you. I am not protesting Islam. I am protesting the violence that is done in the name of Islam. You can take that up with your terrorist buddies (Al Qaeda and Taliban). BTW… Why dont you post your name? Not proud enough?
GR8 reply ANSAR !
Somebody calling himself a muslim cannot be free. Any (religious) identity is a limitation, and freedom is unlimited. As the poem you yourself quote says: Neither a believer nor an infidel!
And yes, islam was ridiculed on that site. That was good, because islam IS ridiculous. And the fact that millions of people are brainwashed to have nothing more important in their lives then an ancient prophet with violent behavior IS ridiculous. And the fact that people are being killed and threatened over cartoons is not only ridiculous, but extremely sad and barbarian.
Islam needs to be ridiculed. And islam needs to stop answering cartoons with bombs and threats.
And muslims need to stop disapproving of peaceful cartoons that are an answer on extreme violence…..
(In Nigeria 200 deaths over the 2006 Danish cartoon.)
God curse on you damned, i think u r blind and don't see that thousands of muslims are being killed in the world and there is no notice of it. If a muslim whose relative is rapped or killed, trys to protest, you call it violence. and don't see what was being done with him.
Actually, you people have no love and respect of your OWN Prophet (peace be upon him). then, how can you respect other Prophets (peace be upon them).
how it is possible that a man blasts bomb in his own home. it is people having mind like you behind the scene to disgrace Islam. Muslims are arrested and hypnotized to do so.
Overall a well thought out piece. However, two aspects I don't agree with. First, those who supported the "everybody draw Muhammed Day" were not all expressing anti-Muslim views. In fact, that was not the point. The point quite simply is that we in the West are tired of being threatened with death and dismemberment by extremist Muslims every time Mulsims take "offence" at something. Learn to deal with it and retaliate through reasoned debate, not death threats. Secondly, most of the Muslim commentary I ever read on anything happens not when a terrorist event or threat occurs, but after the Western community pushes back. We need exactly this sort of thinking and vocalization WHEN extremists threaten and terrify, not simply commentaries on immaturity of a Western reaction to the threat. It is this latter point that makes the West suspicious of moderate Muslims – where is there outrage joining in with that of the rest of us when extremists threaten and destroy? Usually there is a suspicious silence. That is when we want to hear you speaking up. That is the only time it counts. For many of us, Muslim arguments coming after that point and chastising the rest of us for our reaction are irrelevant.
Thanks Matt and Leah
Ansar Shezad, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Maria thanks for your honest comments. Here are a few links for you
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-eteraz/the-myth...
http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php
Thank you Faraaz – two excellent links.
you should read this http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/20/tommy-seno-muhammad-cartoons-facebook-islam-christianity/ i believe all muslims should have joined in on the events on boycoting Facebook .Freedom of speech doesnot give the right to any human to disrespect anyone’s faith or its beliefs regardless of the fact you believe in God or not. and before you go on feeling ashamed of being a muslim you should read around othere websites and commenst made by the not so enlightneded , not moderate and not loving people from west.
Ayesha,
thanks for your thoughts. See it is quite possible and healthy for two individuals to have different takes on a given issue. Hence it is very important for people to hear each other. We already live in a highly polarised world, listening to each other is the way forward, not silencing each other with ridicule and threats. There is a right and constructive way of responding when one feels he/she is being insulted.
Ayesha,
I have a question for you… Do you have this type of reaction when someone burns an American flag which for an American would be along the lines of drawing Muhammad for a Muslim. Freedom of speech and expression DOES give me the right to not have to follow YOUR religions guidelines. So I can draw Muhammad, say that I think him consummating a marriage with a 10 year old is a crime and can say I do not think he was a prophet. You don't have to agree with me or respect me, but I have the right to express myself without the fear of a violent reaction.
Jeff,
burning american flag is a reaction. And if you dont care about any other's feelings and sentiments, what is the difference between you and a beast. It means americans rules would be jungle rules that is "might is righ"
What are you talking about. Your response at no point makes any sense what so ever. We are all less intelligent for having read it. Drawing Muhammad is a reaction as well. We are reacting to Muslims saying that we can't. It is called peaceful protest. Your people should learn what a peaceful protest is. Just to be clear, beheading someone and blowing up yourself is actions of a beast (i.e. Muslims). Drawing Muhammad not even close. I do care about others feelings, but not Muslims religions rules. Your rules I couldn't care any less about. Not my rules and not my concern. If you get offended because I draw a picture, tough shit. Get thicker skin.
You say: “Freedom of speech doesnot give the right to any human to disrespect anyone’s faith or its beliefs”, but that is exactly the point, it does. Freedom of speech allows me to say that I dont think the bible is the word of any god, it is simply some of the recorded myths of a small group of ancient peoples. I could also say that the earth is not flat but is a sphere. Both these statements will offend someone, but their offence does not prohibit me from saying them, even if I am wrong. After I say it others can reply and we can have a dialogue. This is freedom of speech.
Everyone draw Muhammad day was a reaction to some people trying to use violence and threats of violence to stifle free speech.
If freedom of speech gives the rights to say anything you want, what would you feel if someone insult you or your loved one's before you? Ok lets not talk what someone want and wish to say, lets talk about reality.. I know that you are not a robot, You are a human being. you must have parents, they must have done something that you born, if in the name of freedom of speech I elaborate in front of everyone that how Matthew is born.. what happened and how.. and I mention every move… I dont think you would like it…. if you will have power, you will ask me to stop, if not you will not willingly hear me.
If its freedom of speech, why I never found any Jew to discuss Holocaust..
If freedom of speech should be for everyone, why media is not free to show what actually is happening? why they have limits to show within only?
thing is that, We Muslims love Our Prophet PBUH more than our parents, and knowing what actually HE was and what HE has done for us, how could we bear such acts?
You can insult any religion you want. You can also say anything you want about anyone you want, including their families, as long as what you say is not factually false. You won't be stopped from saying it, but they can sue you for slander. You can talk about Matt's birth, you can talk about Jews in the Holocaust, you can talk about anyone and anything you want, and you can never be harmed legally under our laws, nor will the government stop you. What you can not do is threaten people, no matter how offended you may be, because no idea is above reproach in the public sphere, and this is the misconception Muslim's have in the west. You do not have a right never to be offended.
Good piece Faraz. One pedantic point – you say you are plagiarising which would be bad but really you are quoting which is fine but sorry I'm just being pedantic…
On another point, many reports say that Islam forbids the portrayal of Mohammed. I think that this may be untrue. I don't know the Koran well but I do know for certain that during the Mughal Empire the prophet was often depicted in art. They were muslims that created this art. Either it does not actually forbid this in Islam or there has historically been muslims who ignored this prohibition.
James W
James W,
Thanks so much for your comments. I was not sure how to post the link to the article I was quoting, hence I used the word plagiarising
As for art, you are absolutely right, throughout history, Muslim artists have time and again produced great works of art in defiance of the theocratic states.
As for Quran which is the holy book for Muslims, believe it or not, there is not a single verse prohibiting art. What has happened is that a clergy has developed that tells Muslims that you know what, you are too stupid to understand your own holy book, so we will interpret it for you. All these prohibitions about art and what not are from the clergy, not the Quran.
I find it impossible to rationalize with the Muslim population. They have been bound and shackled by their religion and are ALWAYS on the offensive…similar to early Christianity and it's bloodshed. Muslim is not my religion, and it is not the dominant religion in America. Therefore we are not bound by your portrayal of Mohammed as you are. Draw Mohammed Day certainly brought out the crazies from both sides, I actually saw Muslims posting death threats on facebook comments…the supporters of Draw Mohammed may have been rude, but were not threatening. But somehow you Muslims will rationalize these threats, and hide behind your religion as you continue to hate our freedom. It sickens me.
Faraaz. true say that Muslims are not responding in a good way. Yes and they are aggravating the the Muslims, they are only drawing the Prophet to wind up Muslims are so they Muslims will threaten them ( thinking that is halal, although this was not the case.) This damages their reputation, and the Drawing Muhammed people get fame for being a victim.
Why Draw Muhammed when there are 60 million other people in this world? Muhammed is the leader of only the Muslims, not of any other faith.Therefore only Muslims have the right to draw him. I know that people respect Muhammed more than their parents. People that are drawing Muhammed are not even drawing which matches our beloved prophets description.
Chantel,
That is the point… I have the right to draw Muhammad in any way I choose to depict him, because that is my freedom of expression. You may not like it or agree with it, but you have no right to try to force me to obey your belief that only Muslims can draw him. I, as a non Muslim, do not have to pay attention to your religions rules. I do not have to respect your religions rules. I have to tolerate your religion because it exists and is around me. Will I go out of my way to be respectful to your religion, no. Will I go out of my way to respect your religion, no. Your religion and Muhammad are irrelevant to me.
The sentence before the last one I meant, will I go out of my way to disrespect your religion, no.
But why would you want to draw Muhammed without trying to insult Muslims? :S
If Muhammed is irrelevant why draw him?
If you were drawing him which matched his description, I doubt anyone would have a problem because you are a non-believer, and whoever does, is sad. But the concept of Muhammed day is to insult and aggravate Muslims. Im not telling you to follow the guidelines, but atleast respect it. As I am respecting you
Have you heard of the wakeupproject?
You dont have to respect Islam but you should respect Muslims, becuase they are Human beings. for Humanity. because I know I would never kill anyone over a picture.
What did Mohammed teach anyway? See:http://masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/adab_of_islam.htm
Faraaz,
You basically said nothing in this article. Most people don't really care about pictures of muhammed, yet are surprised by the violence it stirs up and the acceptance of that violence by a large number of muslims and their governments. Horrid depictions of jesus or jews for example are widespread in the middle east, yet when muhammed is offended muslims go crazy.
In the end you are connected to Islam so you try to protect it, make excuses for it and though you are ashamed by the actions of muslims you won't leave it. That is basically the point.
A Muslim who says he feels shame. Thats something I have never come accross before.
The bottom line is this: a gang of people have murdered, tried to murder and threatened to murder a few who have dared to disobey them…it is therefore made necessary for others to stand up to this gang and to do so as unambiguously as possivble. If the result is “offensive” then ask how offensive death threats are?
I find the sight of religious piety deeply, profoundly offensive, and of all the religions the one thats shoving its piety in our face these days is Islam.
Its all very well saying you feel “shame”at Muslims who threaten to kill, but If you dont want the reaction, then stand up and do your bit to stop those Muslims who act in that way. You reap what they sow. Its YOUR duty to stop them. Otherwise, the fruits ofyour pusilanimity are more cartoons, more insults and a growing dissatisfaction with you by the other 4 billion people in the world who are not Muslim.
death threats to those who have hurted Muslims that hard that they cannot talk anything else due to the Love they have for their Prophet in their hearts. let me make fun of your love one all the time and speak ill about him/her… how long will you bear? the day will must come you start thinking about me to not to speak anyhow.
You do not have idea how Offensive these things for Muslims they are doing in the name of freedom of speech.
ISLAM is like atomic energy .it can be used for good (electricity …..)or bad .but the potential for bad far ought weighs the potential for good .the sooner the world gets rid of it ,the better.
The same can be said about Christianity. The problem is fundamentalists, fanatics and people who wield power derived from religion and vague interpretations of some scriptures.
Not too long ago, we Christians were just like them. Intolerant and committing crime in the name of our God.
http://www.reformislam.org/
It is clear that they want war, they get war. If they want peace, they get peace. Simple. They wish for war for a very long time, they want it, they cannot wait any longer, and war will come, that is what they want. It is no use to talk, debate, argue or anything. The result is clear. They wish for it, and they will get it!
I think some of you go a bit astray when you think of freedom of expression as some form of undeniable unquestionable right that we all should have. It's not.
Most of us, however, feel (and have felt) that it is a relatively important and essential right, and therefore we've throughout history included it in our different national laws and international declarations, but NOT without limitations with respect to other freedoms/rights. Some countries/some people have more limitations than others, and many countries, for example, limit freedom of expression when it is intended to cause hatred.
I think that using freedom of expression to knowingly offend other people isn't a very constructive way of bringing different cultures and views together. Faraaz's idea is better.
Many countries have made a mockery out of free speech by trying to limit comments which cause offense. Several European nations are guilty of this crime and they have brought great shame on themselves through their betrayal of individual liberty. If your words do not physically harm or threaten to physically harm someone, you are not violating anyone's rights and thus they have no right to have the government silence you. Being offended is not "harm". What offends some of us in the US is when our laws and traditions of many centuries, created by national heroes who enjoy overwhelming respect in our republic are denigrated by a primarily foreign entity recently arrived that decides our traditions, culture, and values are degenerate and unworthy of their religion. Our rights are sacred and absolute to the extent I mentioned above, and until absolute submission of Islam to our laws occurs within our borders, without threats of violent retaliation, there can be no respect between Western and Islamic culture.
Are you in your senses , Fear from God i m feeling ashamed when u say u r a muslim
Muhammad(S.A.W) is the Greatest personality in the whole Universe , God created whole universe for him. He is an ideal personality. All human beings are made by God,So making Him(S.A.W) pictures giving the false idea of his image to the whole world specially to the other non-Mulims so that they remain to get the light of Islam. And i hv seen some of pictures they were almost depicting the complete idea of evil mind, Tears began to roll on my face because such a great personality and what they r showiing in pictures is complete nonsense.
i am given you ver big abusing who make the cartoon of muhammad peace be upon himm
sajid,
We are all very frightened. Learn to spell and learn proper English.
I tend to agree with Jeff — I don't see how you can say it's wrong for someone to draw the Prophet because it's wrong for you. In many Christian churches homosexuality is a sin because that's what God said apparently — yet I wouldn't expect any non-Christian to have to follow that stricture just so as not to offend Christians.
But saying that, a lot of this is gratuitous attempts to piss off Muslims which is stupid and boring actually… I don't mind people taking issue with Muslims who don't believe in freedom of speech, but this isn't the way to do it, it's just not constructive…
MattK,
I agree that some people did not understand the true spirit of this and decided to take advantage and make this a pick on Muslims event. I think the initial purpose was to protest Muslims trying to infringe upon our rights to depict Muhammad or any other religious figure however we want in a satirical manner. And to show that we are not governed by what their religion views as blasphemous. I have posed the question to Muslims here and have not received a response. Is it ok when we see Muslims burning an American flag? Would they tell those Muslims that what they are doing is wrong?
Yeah I don't condone the attitudes of some of posters here that seem to me pretty small-minded, but this is an issue that needs to be dealt with delicately — these people are not going to change their mind by seeing some right-wing idiots taking the piss out of their prophet…
MattK,
I agree, as I have said in other posts, I agree with the sentiment of the day, but did not draw Muhammad myself, though it was my right to. I will not go out of my way to disrespect their religion, but will not go out of my way to respect it either.
yes am clear dat freedom of expression allows u to do it but u hav to think dat it hurts sentiments of muslims around d world so we do not force you dat u shud not do it but we do not like it bcoz he is the most lovable to us if you think dat you islam is not the right way better dont interfere with it
Quran says,
Say : O ye that reject I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship,And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine.
Khaleel,
You are right, I should not interfere with Islam, just like you should not interfere with my rights. You need to speak more intelligent and less hypocritical if you want to debate me. As of right now you have done nothing but prove my points for me. You think everyone needs to respect Islam, but Islam needs to respect no one.
Religion of peace huh?
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/28/pakis...
ASSALAM O ALIKUM………………
FIRST OF ALL THOSE WHO DRAW THE PICTURES ARE THEY THEMSELVES NOT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W)
WHO SAYS THAT THESE ARE THE SKETCHES OF HIM(S.A.W).?
HELL ON THEY WHO SAYS TAHT IT IS HIS PICTURES…………………..THEY R HAPPY THAT THEY MADE CARTOONS BUT THEY DONT KNOW WHAT WILL THEY SUFFER IN THE HOLY DAY OF JUDGEMENT……….IT MAKE TEARS IN MY EYES,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THEY ARE DAMN WHO ARE WRITING SUCH DIRTY COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE,,,,,,,,
HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) WAS A GREAT PERSONALITY AS MENTIONED ABOVE,,,,AND ON TALKING BY DIRTY PEOPLE NOTHING CAN B HAPPENED TO US…..WE CAN GIVE UP OUR LIVES FOR HIM(S.A.W)………..HE WAS GREAT U ALL SHOULD KNOW
ISSSSSSSSSS THATTTTTTTTT CLEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR?????????????????????????????????????????????????
As clear as it is that he was a murderer, thief, rapist, paedophile, etc. If you want to worship that, well, I think it says more about you than us who choose to refute his divinity.
kutty k bachon apni shaklein dheki hain tum log tou mohammad s.a.w k joton ki khak b nhi ho tum log dheko tum logo par kaisa allaha ka azab nazil hota hy jab qayamat mai tarpogy na tb pata chlega manhuson
javeria,
Typing in caps offends me, don't do it. You go ahead and give up your life for him. Go blow up yourself and other innocent Muslims like your people do every day. So no that is not CCCCCLEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He molested a 10 year old girl and stole her innocence. Peace out Bitch!
"There is this side of me that reacts negatively when told to do something. For example, when I used to play for a cricket team, the part I hated the most was when my captain or other ‘seniors’ tried to advise me how to bowl. Call it ego, call it arrogance, call it whatever you want, but it totally de-motivates me. Even if the advise my captain gave me was the same thing I would have tried anyway, it still angers me."
This petty, petulant and quite frankly pathetic way of behaving is exactly why Muslims gets nowhere. Their twisted concepts of "shame" and "honour" (which have little to do with the way we understand these concepts in the West) drive them to live their lives out as one long inferiority complex. A man who cannot say thank you when offered help is a man who seriously doubts his own value. Grow up!