Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Article
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner | April 21, 2010
By Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL
In celebration of their 200th episode, the popular television cartoon sitcom, "South Park," took a jab at Prophet Muhammad. While the creators of the show actually drew the face of the Prophet Muhammad in a past episode (pre-Danish cartoon controversy), in this episode they blurred out his face. This move was designed to ridicule extremists who claim to be Muslim, and wish to respond violently any time someone reviles the Prophet.
On queue, an extremist group, revolutionmuslim.com issued a "threat that's not really a threat" to the creators of South Park. While they compared the "possible" fate of the creators of South Park with that of the murdered cartoonist Van Goeth, they insisted it was "reality, not a threat." Obviously, these extremists are not only ignorant, but also incompetent.
So, in mocking the Prophet Muhammad, has South Park gone too far? The answer is, it's irrelevant. Regardless of how someone might desire to insult Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, it is never an excuse to respond in violence. Such a notion has no place in Islam.
During the life of the Prophet Muhammad he was insulted, spat upon, reviled, and slandered countless times. Never once did he respond with anything more than peace, as per the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. "And the servants of the Gracious God are those who walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’" (HQ 25:64)
As for a practical example, there was a woman who particularly hated the Prophet Muhammad. Every day as he entered the mosque she would spit on him, curse him, and throw garbage on him. He refused to respond in kind. One day the woman was missing and the Prophet inquired about her. Upon hearing that she was ill, he immediately went to her home to offer his services and support. At a time when he could easily have ignored her and thought good riddance, his example demonstrates true compassion for mankind that some unfortunate so called Muslims have completely abandoned.
Upon returning to Mecca after 13 years of persecution and exile as the de facto ruler, Muhammad overtook Mecca in a bloodless siege. At a time when he could have punished anyone for their crimes of murder, rape, and genocide, he gave amnesty to all who accepted peace over war. His condition did not require conversion, enslavement, ransom, or even recognition of him as a Prophet. Rather, he only required peace and freedom of thought and conscience. He only required freedom of speech. Indeed, groups like revolution Muslim have nothing to do with Islam, and Islam has nothing to do with them.
In the modern day, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has carried this message of true Islam like no other. While I can quote countless pages, below is a short quote to reflect upon.
While explaining the responsibility of a Muslim in the face of insults he said, "If you are persecuted or reviled, be mindful that you should not meet stupidity with stupidity, for otherwise you will be counted in the same category as your opponents."
He also said, "They (Muslims) should not design harm against the followers of any religion or the members of any tribe or group." (Read the abolition of violent Jihad here).
This is the example of a true Muslim. The fact is, South Park is simply a show and the opinions of a few people. Could their cartoon offend Muslims? Sure. But, so what?
To Muslims who feel even the slightest bit of violence is a justified response, listen closely. You need to find a new religion if you wish to maintain your violent thoughts. Islam has no place for you.
Read the original article here: In mocking Prophet Muhammad, has South Park gone too far?
Qasim
Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly
writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging
from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or
email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com
Indeed South Park has gone too far! since many right minded scholars, including His Eminence Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad have recently admonished writers/ Journalists about the the noble qualities of Prophet MUhammad(saw)Though despite Park's violation of the truth, mUslims must remember the sayings of Rasulullah(saw) that the strongest among you is not the one that can destroy with his might, but He/She is the strongest who can swallow anger in the face of strong provocation like this! And Hadrat Mirza Ghulan Ahmad(as) strongly reccomend that Muslims should demonstrate great examples of Muhammad(saw).
ReplyDelete@Murtaza:
ReplyDeletewell said - specially about swallowing anger in the face of strong provocations. This has been the hallmark of Ahmadi Muslims everywhere. We do fight back - but only only as @Qasim has done here - by highlighting the qualities of the Holy Founder of Islam (pbuh. Thank you to both of you.