Guidelines for the Muslim Community regarding new cartoons to be published Tomorrow

[ummtaalib]

Important article posted by Shaykh Abdur Raheem Limbada [db] a few hours ago. A must-read for all Muslims!

Guidelines for the Muslim Community regarding new cartoons to be published Tomorrow - Wednesday 14 January 2015

The following points are general guidelines for Muslims on how to initially deal with and immediately react to the depiction of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in magazines due to be published tomorrow (WEDNESDAY).

1. For every Muslim, Love of the Prophet ﷺ is a NECESSARY part of his/her FAITH. He is dearer to us than our mothers, fathers, sons & daughters. We prefer him to our own self.

2. The publishing of cartoons will definitely hurt the sentiments of 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, as well as millions of non-Muslims who respect the great personality of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

3. Muslims do believe in freedom of speech. And they do respect the right for people to say what they believe to be correct. However, we all know that there is no such thing as absolute free speech. There are laws to protect the dignity and properties of people. We urge all decent minded Governments and individuals to respect these sensitivities, as we should respect all races and religions.

4. As it is clear that the cartoons are to be published again, Muslims will inevitably be hurt and angered, but our reaction must be a reflection of the teachings of the one we love & are angered for, ﷺ. Enduring patience, tolerance, gentleness and mercy as was the character of our beloved Prophet (peace and Blessings be upon him) is the best and immediate way to respond.

With dignified nobility we must be restrained, as the Quran says “And when the ignorant speak to them, they say words of Peace.”

Our aim is to not, inadvertently, give the cartoons more prominence through our attention. Muslims must remain calm and peaceful in their speech and actions. Repel harm with goodness is the Qur’anic imperative and by which the Prophet Muhammad lived. Legal action, civil protest, letter writing & other legal avenues can then be considered, insha Allah.

5. Muslims have to remember that by depicting the Prophet ﷺ, no one can ever tarnish his image, as he is way beyond what is depicted, as Allah says, ‘We have elevated for you your name’. We should spend such regrettable moments in reading lots of Durood, sending salawaat and blessings to his beloved personality. May Allah's mercy, peace & blessing be upon his soul.

6. Engage with others about your feelings. Speak of your love for the Prophet ﷺ and do not be shy to let your non-Muslims friends know your justified anger at the mockery that is made of our faith. People need to know HOW MUCH WE LOVE OUR NABI ﷺ.

7. Learn more & share more about the great Prophet Muhammed ﷺ.

Hassaan bin Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) describes him with the following couplets:

"My eyes have never seen anyone more perfect than you

No woman has given birth to anyone more handsome than you

You have been created free from all defects

As if you were created the way you wished"

8. We should, through our actions and deeds, display the sublime character of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet faced many great challenges but he exhibited impeccable beauty and character in his actions. He did not react inhumanely or violently. He was attacked verbally and physically in Taif but he forgave the people. His uncle and companions were murdered but he reacted peacefully and in a human manner. And there are many such examples from the seerah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) we must display.

9. As British citizens we must not allow tragic incidents of Paris allow hate to creep into our hearts. Muslims, non-Muslims and people of all backgrounds must come together and show unity and solidarity and not let it divide our communities. We must remember the statements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) such as: “Someone who unjustly kills a Dhimmi (non-Muslim person under protection) cannot attain a whiff of Heaven. However, its fragrance is felt from a distance of forty years. (Sahih Bukhari), or, “He who hurts a Dhimmi (non-Muslim person under protection) hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah.” (Tabarani) And many other similar hadiths highlighting that Muslims are not allowed to hurt their non-Muslim brothers and sisters in humanity.

10. We must continuously supplicate to Allah that He rectifies our situation. Pray to Him that the chaos, injustice and oppression is lifted from our society. We should pray to Allah so that He makes Britain a better, fairer and just country for all. Pray to Him to aid the oppressed and the victims of the oppressors in France and all over the world. Pray that He allows us to contribute to a more peaceful and just world. Sincerely pray at night and beseech Him to protect our honour and our dignity.

May Allah give us the ability to do what is right and avoid what is wrong. May Allah protect the humanity from trials and tribulations. Ameen

By shaykh Yunus Haleebi

[ummtaalib]

Seven Important and Precious Advices 
regarding Recent Events

 

by Shaykh-ul-Hadith, Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah

 

During these critical times, the Muslims should observe the following:

1. With love and reverence, carefully study the beautiful life of our beloved Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam from authentic reliable sources.

2. Frequently make mention of this beautiful life to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

3. Distribute leaflets and booklets which cover aspects of this great life far and wide.

4. Give place to his illuminating teachings in your daily life so that others can appreciate the greatness of his exemplary conduct.

5. Send salutations and greetings upon him in abundance.

6. Supplicate to Allāh ta‘ālā, beseeching Him to pardon our sins and to grant us assistance and protection from all evil.

7. Exercise patience and remain within the boundary set by our beloved Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam.

 

 

They can be downloaded as PDF in English, French, Spanish, Arabic & Urdu. Please read, practise & share.

[ummtaalib]

Charlie Hebdo Attack – An Islamic Perspective

 

Moulana Yusuf Patel (Secretary-General of the United Ulama Council of South Africa)

 

All praise is due to Allah and may His choicest salutations continue to descend upon our Master and Leader Mohammed Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

 

Respected Brothers and Sisters in Islam

 

“O You who Believe! Let not some among you laugh at others; it may be that they are better than them, nor let some women laugh at other; it may be that they are better than them. Nor defame yourselves, nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by offensive nicknames….” (Quran Surah 49, Verse 11)

 

The deadly shootings at the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo have once again put the spotlight on Islam and Muslim. There are several theories behind the killings:

 

1. This was an Islamic State operation in response to the US led offensive against IS in Iraq. France has played a leading role and stands as one of the strongest ally of the US in its fight against the IS.

 

2. This was an Al Qaida backed attack which goes back to its 2013 fatwa of ‘wanted dead or alive for crimes against Islam’ against the editors of the newspaper.

 

3. This was a false flag operation carried out in the name of Islam and Muslims to set the stage for more draconian 9/11 type of laws to deal with perceived terrorist activity.  Or it may be that Paris is being punished for its pro- Palestinian vote? One month ago the lower house voted to recognize Palestine as a state. The fact that Muslims have been blamed for the killings based on one person chanting the takbeer and another saying that the Prophet has been avenged is hardly evidence enough to lay the blame of the Muslims.

 

4. This is but a response to the growing marginalization of the Muslims in France.

• Muslims constitute approximately 6 million out of a total population of 61 million. 85% of France is Roman Catholic. Muslims make up just fewer than 10%.
• France has banned the hijab and has disallowed the building of minarets
• 60% of prison inmates in France are Muslim.
• Muslims live in ghetto like areas in abject poverty.
• Muslims have been continually humiliated in the press by the likes Charlie Hebdo. It is one of the most offensive, racist and malicious publication which makes its money by jeering, mocking, vilifying Islam and Muslims. It had published a naked caricature of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam the publication has been deliberately provocative and challenging 1.6 billion Muslims.

 

What is our response?

 

1. As Muslims we do not endorse, sanction or encourage extra judicial killings. We do not believe in kangaroo court justice. No individual should take the law into his hands.

 

2. We do not shed tears for the racist, hateful staff of Charlie Hebdo who took such pleasure in spitting at 1.6 billion Muslims.  We do feel pity for them…pity that they chose to live a life of hate and die a death of hate. We pity them for being consumed and blinded by such racist aversion

 

3. The West has to re- interrogate its stubborn adherence to the principle of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech has legitimised slander, insults, vilification, rumour mongering and disgrace which is more consistent with the dark ages of indiscriminate brutality.  

 

4. In Islam freedom of speech is underpinned by the protection of honour and dignity. Freedom of speech in not absolute! Every right comes with a corresponding responsibility. “O You who Believe! Let not some among you laugh at others; it may be that they are better than them, nor let some women laugh at other; it may be that they are better than them. Nor defame yourselves, nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by offensive nicknames….” (Quran Surah 49, Verse 11)

 

5. The Quran describes Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam as a ‘mercy unto mankind’ Charlie Hebdo portrays him to be a monster and curse to mankind. Will we ever take up the cudgels to show how exactly Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam served as a mercy to mankind?  

 

“It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.” [Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad]

 

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

Council of Muslim Theologians

223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban

[ummtaalib]

Reaction to Prophet's cartoons #CharlieHebdo

Mufti Abdur Rahman Mangera

 

[ummtaalib]

The Honour of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam & the Need of the Time

Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah)

 

The Prophet Muhammad sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam is extremely close to a Muslim’s heart. A true Muslim loves his Prophet with a love which surpasses the love a child has for his parents or the parents’ love for their darling children. No bond of brotherhood or friendship can equal this love; in fact no human being has ever loved another as much as a true Muslim loves his Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam....

Download your FREE copy

 

Urdu Version      English Version

[ummtaalib]

Allah raised the status of the Prophet Muhammad and sanctified his secret and remembrance with such dignity and honor that it is impossible for anyone let alone Charlie Hebdo to depict him or resemble him in a portrait or a cartoon.

 

This is one of the wisdoms behind the impermissibility of Tasweer (pictures) in Islam. There is not a single picture of the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) for them to depict, resemble or imitate.

 

If someone claims to depict Will Smith in a cartoon and ends up drawing a picture that imitates Mr Obama then the laugh's on him. The cartoonist has failed and made an embarrassing error.

 

He has no idea that he has drawn a cartoon which has absolutely no resemblance at all to the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam). Not even a pin point of it is anywhere near a resemblance. It is a stupid and embarrassing mistake and the laugh's on him.

 

He has drawn his own image from his imagination and the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) is beyond his imagination.

 

All thanks to Allah that those who take pictures can be mocked and insulted for example by people walking on their pictures that are thrown on the floor but Allah has protected our Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) from all this as there is no picture that can imitate his eminence.

 

Even Shaytaan cannot imitate the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) never mind Charlie Chaplin

---

Mufti Zahid Hussain, Preston, U.K.

 

Source

[ummtaalib]

Countering the Blasphemy

Shaykh Kamaluddin Ahmed (db)

 Islamic Spirituality.org

 

cartoon controversy mp3

[Muhammad Ali]

Freedom of Speech does not mean to hurt the emotions of Muslim. this is very sensitive issue .you can not say this is freedom of speech, if you said do not take law in your hand . Then what will we do? just staying back and keep calm? this person must know if he do action then obviously you will get re action.