Attack on Islam

FE Team | Published: September 29, 2012 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Mohammad Amjad Hossain
There have been a series of protest demonstrations and attacks on American embassies in particular in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan and Bangladesh against the backdrop of an anti-Islamic video film which has been in circulation on the internet for quite some time. The film has projected adversely the character of Prophet Muhammad (SM). The film is the product of an Israeli-American real estate developer, Sam Bacile, who is originally a Coptic Christian from Egypt, but it has been promoted by Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who became controversial by burning the Quran in March, 2011. The film has been made by an individual. There has been no connection with Americans in general or for that matter with the government of America. American constitution protects an individual's freedom of speech unconditionally. It was categorically stated by secretary of state Hillary Clinton on September 13 that the government has no hand in making the film describing the video film as "disgusting and reprehensible".
Islam has unfortunately been distorted in western society by taking extremes to be the norm. For this distortion of Islam the Muslim community around the world, particularly fanatic religious leaders, are responsible for making inflammatory speech out of nothing to instigate innocent religious people, who do not have depth of knowledge about Islam. Islam is not a fragile religion. It is a strong religion based on verses of the Quran which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SM) by the creator of this universe, Allah. Muslim countries like Turkey, Egypt and Syria gave women right to cast vote as early as Europe did to its women. In Muslim societies women enjoy equal pay and rights. In America, Obama administration introduced law to provide equal pay to women in 2009. In the Quran, the right of inheritance and property to Muslim women and protection in case of divorce has been enshrined.
There is no reason to deny the fact that Muslim community around the world has sentimentally been hurt to see an obnoxious film on their beloved Prophet, which has no relation with reality. It was audacious to say by the producer of the film that Islam was a cancer. Let me tell what Prince Charles admitted in his illuminating speech at Sheldonian theatre, Oxford on 27 October, 1993 on Islam and the West -- "if there is much misunderstanding in the west about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure which stems, I think, from the straightjacket of history which we have inherited. The Medieval Islamic world, from Central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished". There is no doubt that the present civilisation of the west owes to medieval civilisation of Islam indeed.
The people, who follow the tenets of Islam in true sense of the term, cannot get involved in any form of vandalism under any circumstance because he or she is connected to Allah (God), the creator of this universe, and Allah would guide him or her to follow the correct path in this world.
Many scholars in Europe have accepted Islam as a peaceful religion. Let me quote from the book "Islam" by Karen Armstrong (a British nun), one of the world's foremost scholars on religious affairs, who points out that the Quran insists strongly that there shall be no coercion in matters of faith, and commands Muslims to respect the beliefs of Jews and Christians, whom the Quran calls abl al-kitab, a phrase usually translated "as people of the book", but which is more accurately rendered as people of an earlier revelation. The foundation of beliefs and practices of Islam lies in the Quran, the revealed words of Allah, and in the sunnah, the sayings and teachings of Allah's messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Therefore, the Quran and Islam are synonymous. In the Quran, Muslims have been commanded to believe in previously revealed books, and show honour to other prophets. The Quran says: "Say (O Muslims), we believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and their children, and that which Moses and Jesus received. We make no distinction between any of them and unto Him we have surrendered." (Para 136 of Sura 2). Today I feel proud to quote from Anne Marie Schimmel, a profound scholar on Islam and Sufism being a protestant German Christian, who is on record by saying that "I have never seen anything in the Koran or in the traditional writings that called for or even allowed terrorism or hostage-taking". I came to know her personally when I was on a tour of duty as Bangladesh diplomat in Germany from 1996 to 1999. She paid a visit to my official residence while I paid a return visit to this great lady. Anne Marie Schimmel had accomplished her educational career having received double doctorates on Islamic languages and civilisation and history of Religion and expertise in Quranic language: Arabic. She knew Persian, Urdu, and Turkish etc. She ended her professorial career at Harvard University as Professor of Indo-Muslim culture and devoted her life to foster better understanding of Islam and Muslim world in the west.
Islam stands for peace. The word peace has been mentioned 58 times in the Quran. Islam also does not encourage war; rather it eliminates almost all reasons that normally incite war, and abolishes all wars for unjust gain and oppression. Islam and Muslims do not condone the killing of innocent people even during the period of war. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had set many examples of saving innocent people and children, including prisoners of war. Islam does not absolve the killings of innocent persons, nor does it encourage suicide, or for that matter suicide bombing to kill people. Let us look at what the Quran has to say about suicide: "Do not kill yourselves. God is merciful to you but he who does that through wickedness and injustice shall be burned in fire. That is enough for Allah." (Para 29 of Sura 4). In another sura it is stated clearly: "Give generously for the cause of Allah, and do not with your own hands cast yourselves into destruction." (Para 195 of Sura 2).
In America, Islamic scholars and Imams of Mosques have condemned the killing of Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three staff members of the Consulate of America in Benghazi of Libya and attack on US embassy in Cairo and other places in Muslim countries. Ambassador's contribution towards liberating Libya from dictator Gaddafi is unique and praiseworthy during critical time of Libyans. As ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) President Imam Mohammed Magid has this to say: as Muslims, "we love our Prophet (Peace be upon him) dearly. In the holy Quran, Allah has praised the prophet. No video could impact his status in our hearts".
No amount of insult on Islam can affect the strength of belief in Allah, the Almighty. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had endured criticism, harassment and threat to his life, but he did not indulge in vandalism or hatred against his enemy. He remained calm in the face of adversary and prayed for those who attacked him. Muslims around the world should take lesson from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and the Quran. By burning cars or destroying properties of the government, Muslims in fact are not showing tolerance and peace rather establishing Islam as a destructive religion. Governments in Muslim countries are under obligation to protect foreign embassies and consulates in accordance with Vienna convention on consular relations of 1963. I hope wisdom would prevail in Muslim society to refrain from destructive work to save Islam. Allah would take care of Islam.
....................................................
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of prestigious Toastmasters International Club, writes from Virginia. E-mail: amjad.21@gmail.com