While chowing down on Kung Pao Seafood at the restaurant last night, I was reading through Islam For Dummies and came across the following paragraph on page 94:
The day Prophet Muhammad died, the Muslim community faced a state of chaos; for the first time, Muslims had questions that couldn't be answered directly by God through the Prophet.During this critical time, Abu Bakr (a close companion of Prophet Muhammad and first Caliph after the Prophet's death) stood in front of the Muslims and emotionally recited a passage of the Koran that suddenly came to life:
"Muhammad is no more than a messenger. Many were the messengers that passed away before Him. If he died or was slain, will you then turn back on your heels?" (3:144)
Then, Abu Bakr said, relating to the meaning of this passage to his people:
"If you worshipped Muhammad, then know that Muhammad has died. But, if you worship Allah, know that Allah is living and He lives forever."
If one is to believe that Muhammad and the other prophets of history were through messengers of a Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever), then that Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever) stated through sura 3:144 that the messengers were insignificant and not worthy of veneration of worship. The only being worthy of worship or veneration is the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever) himself.
Which means that Muhammad himself had no value whatsoever to the world beyond being a conduit through which the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever) spoke. Just a disposable meat-flavored radio through which that Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever) talked to the world.
So why threaten to kill people who depict Muhammad in any way, shape, or form? Why take it as an insult at all?
The cartoonists were mocking Muhammad, but not Allah. Not even mocking the Quran, the message of the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever). There was no depiction of the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever), no mockery of the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever). Just the messenger. The humble messenger whom the Higher Power (God/Allah/George Hamilton/Whomever) has commanded you not to elevate to the status of any more than a messenger.
If you elevate the status of the messenger beyond just a mere messenger with a reverence that inspires you to kill others, then are you not failing to honor the message itself in Sura 3.144?
My apologies to George Hamilton, but the guy's permanent tan is most divine.
Comments (4)
Now that is really interesting. And also the reason why I've never understood the Catholic obsession with Mary. She's just a person!
Posted by Sunidesus | February 1, 2006 1:43 PM
Posted on February 1, 2006 13:43
Well, let me make it clear. Muslims never worship Mohammad (May Peace Be Upon Him), only God Almighty is the one worthy of worship. It is true that Mohammad was a prophet as many prophets came before him and was a human who died after living his life just like everyone. But he is also a role model to all muslims. The practices of Islam have originated from two sources: firstly, the Quraan which is beleived to be the word of God himself and secondly, Sunnah (meaning the life of the prophet Mohammad) with practical examples of the implementation of Islamic principles. Every aspect of his life is a lesson for a Muslim to learn and follow. He was a perfect being as a leader; as a human right activist; as a politician; as a friend; as a business man; as a warrior; as a lawyer. He gave law to a lawless land and created order in a chaos. You have to go back and learn the history to learn what his role was in forming a civilised society.
Therefore, he is in the hearts and souls of every muslim. Which might explain why people are angry.
Now, if he was alive today and saw those cartoons, I am sure that he would have politely smiled and ignored them. But I as one of his followers fail to do so because I think this is a kick on the teeth for no reason. There is no constructive critisim, the paper has just launched an assault against muslims' feelings to demonstrate the "freedom of speech". Well, here I am demonstrating my freedom of choice, I refuse to get involved with anything Danish. Just cancelled a purchase order and looking for supplier elsewhere. And also stand shoulder to shoulder with all the people boycotting Danish products. We have a right of choice under any law of the world, I beleive.
Posted by Usman Aslam | February 1, 2006 2:30 PM
Posted on February 1, 2006 14:30
"There is no constructive critisim, the paper has just launched an assault against muslims' feelings to demonstrate the "freedom of speech"."
Your words, Usman Aslam. No one else's. So only the followers of the moon-worshipper have freedom of speech? Why? Who gives you the right to order non-Muslims about? You also wrote "You have to go back and learn the history to learn what his role was in forming a civilised society." Your eyes HAVE to be brown. "Law to a lawless land"? "perfect being"? You're either funnier than Chappelle or dumber than a Labrador on Thorazine.
What in the bloody HELL makes you believe that murdering mothers and children is part of a CIVILISED SOCIETY? Might one enquire which planet you inhabit? You "humans" get angry because of a FUCKING CARTOON??? Or,pardon,12 CARTOONS?? And I use the term "human" VERY damn loosely... I'd call you asswipes apes but that would denigrate the monkeys... BTW - soldiers beat warriors every time. Read history, laddie...
Your freedom of choice is availible under Western law, not shari'a. But you seem to be unable to think for yourself - so you depend on suras.
But you think every day is a Sunnah day. My question is this:
Were you ordering goats or dates from Denmark? Since your culture invented the concept of zero, it has done that much to advance science and technology. May Yahweh have mercy on your pathetic culture - because if you strike the tolerant West again as you did on 9/11/2001, Arabic will most probably be spoken only in Hell.
Y'all got a problem with my thoughts, go to my website, leave a comment regarding date and place - and DON'T bring a knife to the gunfight....
Oh, and Muhammed? Bees piss upon him....
Let's roll.
Posted by The Old Man | February 1, 2006 7:00 PM
Posted on February 1, 2006 19:00
I do not buy the "role model" argument. One does not threaten economic sanctions or violence upon others for the depiction of a "role model" in a bad light, or at all.
I think the Danish ambassador should issue an apology. In the largest Christian church in Saudi Arabia.
Posted by Laurence Simon | February 2, 2006 9:07 AM
Posted on February 2, 2006 09:07