A senseless American, misusing his democratic right of free expression, made a documentary film:"Innocence of Muslims" wherein he reportedly insulted the followers of Islam and the Prophet. Within days of its exhibition, even more senselss groups of Muslims went on a spree of killing, bombing and burning US targets in several Muslim countries. In Libya, Muslim terrorists assassinated the US ambassador, among others. We had angry protests even in India, particularly in Srinagar, the capital of J&K, a Muslim majority State in the Indian Union. Thankfully, the protests have been peaceful, so far.
One recent report from Paris said that a French cartoon weekly had published a few cartoons depicting the Prophet in bad light. The French govt has promptly condemned it to discourage any bloody reaction from the fanatics. The US authorities had similarly denounced the anti-Islam documentary but, unfortunately, it did not deter the zealots from taking the law into their own hands.
However, the question arises on the legitimacy and acceptability of widespread violent reaction of sections of Muslims unleashing their murderous anger on innocent non-Muslims. Muslims all over the world proudly proclaim that their superior faith-Islam is most peaceful; its name means peace and submission to the will of Allah. If it is so, then why a large number of Muslims from Iran to Libya, to Egypt, to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and elsewhere, appear so intolerant and violently hypersensitive when it comes to dealing with some clearly mindless, uncivilised remarks of individuals against Islam and the Prophet? Does their extremist and fanatical response not amount to conniving with their critics to get huge publicity derogatory to Islam? Why can't the Ummah show great wisdom and large-heartedness by taking criticism in its stride and ignoring it? A ruthless, violent reprisal attacking innocents only underlines the terrible touchiness of the Islamic faithfuls.
We had a recent replay of this Muslim volatility and a short fuse when a bogus claim that some torn pages of the Quran were thrown from a fast moving express train in Masuri(Ghaziabad) and were found lying on a rail track. How could torn pages from any book thrown from a fast train collect in a neat pile instead of flying off in different directions in the wind? But, the fanatics had enough pretext to go amuck, assaulting innocent people and indulge in arson. Is the Quran so fragile or the Prophet so vulnerable that a mad, brainless individual can destroy their credibility? Did the Prophet himself not acknowledge that he was a human being(Messenger) with all human imperfections? Then, these barbaric killings and bombings of innocents in their name?
One recent report from Paris said that a French cartoon weekly had published a few cartoons depicting the Prophet in bad light. The French govt has promptly condemned it to discourage any bloody reaction from the fanatics. The US authorities had similarly denounced the anti-Islam documentary but, unfortunately, it did not deter the zealots from taking the law into their own hands.
However, the question arises on the legitimacy and acceptability of widespread violent reaction of sections of Muslims unleashing their murderous anger on innocent non-Muslims. Muslims all over the world proudly proclaim that their superior faith-Islam is most peaceful; its name means peace and submission to the will of Allah. If it is so, then why a large number of Muslims from Iran to Libya, to Egypt, to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and elsewhere, appear so intolerant and violently hypersensitive when it comes to dealing with some clearly mindless, uncivilised remarks of individuals against Islam and the Prophet? Does their extremist and fanatical response not amount to conniving with their critics to get huge publicity derogatory to Islam? Why can't the Ummah show great wisdom and large-heartedness by taking criticism in its stride and ignoring it? A ruthless, violent reprisal attacking innocents only underlines the terrible touchiness of the Islamic faithfuls.
We had a recent replay of this Muslim volatility and a short fuse when a bogus claim that some torn pages of the Quran were thrown from a fast moving express train in Masuri(Ghaziabad) and were found lying on a rail track. How could torn pages from any book thrown from a fast train collect in a neat pile instead of flying off in different directions in the wind? But, the fanatics had enough pretext to go amuck, assaulting innocent people and indulge in arson. Is the Quran so fragile or the Prophet so vulnerable that a mad, brainless individual can destroy their credibility? Did the Prophet himself not acknowledge that he was a human being(Messenger) with all human imperfections? Then, these barbaric killings and bombings of innocents in their name?
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