A letter from a Muslim friend…
March 27, 2008Last night I received an email from a Muslim friend in Egypt. This man is someone I consider truly Godly. You would too if you ever met him. It is his 4 year old child that decided on his own to respect Ramadan that I wrote about in yesterday’s posts. I thought I would share with you his email to me, because it answers some of your questions that were posed.
Dear Amber,
I really missing a lot from not reading your blog. Today I passed by and read your beautiful article about Muslims, I was very touched with your words. I would not be able to defend Islam as you did. Thank you very much really.
For people who threaten of killing cartoonist, I’m not with them at all. BUT definitely I wish to send them for jail for repeating it.
Let me illustrate, so you understand where I’m coming from.
Imagine that someone is saying bad words on your loved ones, David for example. I believe you’ll feel angry. Suppose that you informed him that you don’t like that sarcasm on David because you love so much, but he still swearing at him, or trying to irritate you more, I believe you’ll wish that someone helps you in preventing him from repeating it again, you may wish to send him for a trial.
The only difference between David and the prophet Muhammad, that 1- Prophet Muhammad is not available to defend himself,
2- our love to Muhammad is much much much more than your love to David.
I hope I made myself clear, actually English was not of a great help for me.
Thank you very much again for your post about Muslims, and for your great role in showing the right pictures of Muslims.
Needs others to be just as objective
Hi Winslie, thanks for your comments… although Im not sure. Are you talking about needing more Objective Muslim people? Or more Objective Non Muslims?
Dear Amber I really needed to read this before I started my morning…..
Janalynn
I believe your friend is confusing things.
First, there’s a big difference between someone shouting abuse in your face (maybe even on your premisses) and someone publishing a cartoon on the other side of the planet.
Second, he mentions “or trying to irritate you more” in his comparison. Now I won’t deny that some cartoons may cause insult to muslims, but that does not necessarily mean the cartoon was drawn with that purpose in mind. In fact, the by now infamous Danish cartoons were published to protest the fact that a writer of a childrens book could not find an illustrator who was willing to depict Muhammad for fear of retaliation by muslims. The very same cartoons were republished to protest the (real or perceived) influence of muslims on freedom of speech.
Third, if we would extend the comparison of David to Muhammad to other fields, the very same argument can be made agains muslims. Quite a few passages in the qur’an state things about Jesus which are insulting to orthodox christians, yet nobody -except one silly Dutch guy- favours forbidding the qur’an of sending it’s publisher to jail. If that were to happen, if we would apply those same standards to everyone, nearly every believer would be prevented to proclaim his faith (of lack thereof) and the world would become a very silent place indeed.
Hi shirhashirm - I think his English is getting in the way. He doesn’t like the people that threaten death to those who disrespect his beliefs. He just understands their frustration and anger. I have read the qur’an and saw no texts which refered to Jesus in a non positive way. But I guess its all down to what the person is looking to see.
In Islam, drawing pictures of ANYONE is not allowed. All art revolves around the Qur’an. Its a matter of respect that anyone should not do it. A grown person who writes a cartoon should educate themselves enough to know this. In my opinion it was a blatiant slap in the face.
However, death is quite a severe punishment… I think people get a little carried away in the heat of anger.
We all say things we regret later, and sound stupid played back to us. How else would you account for the Jerry Springer show?
I can understand your friends distress at what has happened. In all the time I was in Saudi, I never once saw a cartoon ripping off the Chritians or even the Jews for that matter… perhaps because it is not allowed to be mentioned, perhaps out of respect, your choice. All I can say is Inshallah and Rahimahullah assaluamu alaykum to all religions
PS Sorry for the spelling still catching up from yesterday!
Amberfireinus
Good question!
No answer just now but will ruminate over dinner
I think that suppose to be a
Hey Winslie, I vote for more understanding from all sides!!!! The world will be so much better then! Hope your dinner is lovely
Amberfireinus
Interestingly I can tell you more about my dinner than the question I was supposed to ruminate.
Dinner: Roast Chicken (home roasted, organic, by yours truly)High heat 15-20 mins then reduced to cook for further hour.
Served with Roast spud (cheated for 5mins in micro then shove in a skewer and crispy the skin with some olive oil AND boiled new potatoes with curly Kale and peas.
As for objectivity:
In religion, it is just not possible (please don’t stone me in the town square) :cry:.
Striving towards objectivity is the closest I have ever been able to manage
Winslie - wow and not even a sunday for such a fine meal. I want to come over to your place for Sunday Roast!!!!! I will bring the wine (or non alcoholic beverage of your choice).
Objectivity - hmmm I would be happy with simply being able to be tollerant.
These emoticons are driving me nuts!
Sorry! OBJECTIVITY:
Muslim (i.e.religion) not possible. Because faith requires a suspension of questioning and it is a common denominator with all religions,in the fundamentals.
Non-Muslim: Needs to have a historical perspective and respect for another’s belief system. Is that objective? I don’t know.
Can I get back to my desert? Just kidding!
So, Sanityfound, you didn’t see any of this in Saudi?
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/site/html/search.asp?isSearch=yes&isT8=yes&searchText=T99&pid=119&sid=15&preview=
Keep in mind that the islamistic people who make these cartoons are the same who threatened the danish cartoonists…
I want to show you this blog post that says things I totally agree with
http://absolutelyalex.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/that-anti-islam-dutch-film
Ironically enough, the extremist muslems respond to the provokation (”Muslems are violent”
by prooving the provokers right (I had to hit him in the face, he kept calling me violent).
Freedom of expression and of religion to everyone and the world is a happier place as long as we have mutual respect for each other’s views and beliefs.
As you see my critisism is not against uslems it’s the extremists. But I have something to say to the moderate muslems too - speak louder! We can’t hear you! Why don’t we ever hear of mass protests of moderate muslems in favour of freedom of speech?
By the way, because I know you’re gonna ask. Yes I am offended by the “white power” people, the KKK and the national socialist movement in america, and yes I hate their intolerant rasistic views. But as long as they’re only talking, I will defend their right to freedom of speech.
ACK! I wanted to write a lovely comment on this post (because it is beautiful, and I can see that you and your friend have a tremendous amount of respect towards one another) but then I read Winslie’s comment about how religion requires a suspension of questioning and I nearly choked on my cheerios!
I have NEVER, not ONCE, stopped asking questions, of myself, of my faith, of those who teach my faith, of those who practice it, and yet I have it. I believe that I have the depth of faith I have BECAUSE I question, because I doubt, and my faith is renewed each time with more certainty.
Back to the cheerios I go…
Sorry Shush
I didn’t do a vey good job at trying to explain. Subjectively, I suppose, at the moment I am grappling with the “One God and Trinity” doctrine and thus a cetain level of Faith is required.
I think I better stick to dinner, seem to be adequately qualified.
Now that you’ve recovered from choking on cheerios (what happened to Muesli, not sweet enough?)
Glad to hear you question everything? I assume you are a Christian.
Peace!
Oh, most definitely Christian, although I also study Buddhism and Taoism. I know a man who is Bhakti Christu (a type of Hinduism that embraces Christ) and people of other more obscure faiths as well, so the questions of why I have chosen my particular tradition and doctrine are pretty prevalent in my life.
Ah, Trinity theology… not often discussed, but when it is things can get messy.
Hope you find some good answers, are at least some reassurance.
Thatdudeyouknow - I guess you missed my comments on the last blog posts about how so called Christians not just threaten Murder but MURDER Doctors and Nurses at Abortion clinics, and bomb them etc. You missed how they beat up and kill Gay people each and every single day.
Try being a Muslim or a Jew in the Midwest (Bible Belt) Utah, Or the Southern States of the US. See how pleasant it is for you. Christians will even spurn other Christians if they don’t believe exactly as they do. The entire state of Utah… try to live there and not be LDS! The first thing you are asked is.. are you LDS? If no… no friends, no job. It is that closed. They don’t want non believers tainting them.
I know that there are Christians all over - Even in England who refuse to be friends with non believers because they are “Unequally Yolked” Their children are not allowed to play with non Christian children. Nice huh?
Give me a break here… this kind of insanity is with every single religion. Its MAN who corrupts the word of God. Not the religon itself. There are plenty of Muslims who speak up. The King and Queen of Jordan. (She is a Palestinian by birth). She teaches young Muslim girls how to be a strong Muslim woman.
Its much better news to publish the sensational bad stuff than the every day good and kindness that happens in the world. Remember that.
You say that none of this behavior is in YOUR back yard. But living so close to San Francisco, the killing of Gays is in mine. Just another statistic here. All in the name of God.
Shush - My friend and I are indeed the closest of friends. He is family of the soul to me… I have watched his children grow. His wife inspires me. She is an amazing woman of God.
Thank you for your comments.
Winslie - the whole trinity thing gives me a headache too. As does the whole speaking in tongues thing as interpreted by the holy roller christians. I just pass on the whole deal. I choose to focus on God, and his message of love and hope in my life.
Musli sucks! Its full of carbs and sugar! And it tastes terrible! Yucky! I suppose you eat wheatabix too since you are from the UK. Another British habit I was not able to aquire. Now… if we are talking Beans on Toast with bacon… you have my attention!!!!!
Amber
Wow, speaking in tongues! Did you know (probably, as you know about Muesli) that unless someone in the congregation can interpret, then it is no longer a message, just jibberish.
Speaking of powerful Muslim women, have you heard Wafa Sultan, she can be strident though.
You’re making me hungry! How do you like your bacon? Crispy or ….
Shush
Have I been forgiven or do I have to do penance?
Winslie - I have experienced the whole speaking in tongues deal. To which to my own horror I started LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY in the middle of the church. True story. I couldnt stop. Made worse by my friend’s truely pious mother patting my hand and saying “Its all right dear”.
I have never heard of Wafa Sultan.. but Ill be sure to look her up.
I am American (though lived my entire adult life in the UK) So I do prefer streaky bacon crispy. But if it is danish back bacon, cooked as normal is fine.
But I have never tried bacon with sex - you’ll have to ask our friend Shush about that one
Winslie: No penance needed!
Amber: *dies laughing*
Amber
Talk about going off topic!
Religion, food and now sex and bacon or maybe you misspoke, when what you meant to say was - bacon with ex.
I was all godly till I got here and now
Reminds me of “How do you like your eggs” question.
Sorry Winslie… it was a joke between Shush and me.. one of her previous posts. It was very appropriate.
Now I suppose Im going to be needing the penance for I am the one who went down the bad track..lol I just wrote a good article.. so maybe I will be redeemed? I promise, no sex and bacon mentioned there.. rofl not even in controlled circumstances!
Amber
No fear! It’s all done in the best possible taste. It’s been fun though and will have to say, bye for now!
A LETTER TO THE MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH BELIEVERS
Muslim, Christian and Jewish believers,
Let’s Act All Together for Love, Peace and Brotherhood and Respect the Faiths.
All prophets are very beautiful people.
Their disposition, morals and attitudes are excellent. They are exemplary people, who are most respected and loved.
Any inappropriate language directed towards them disturbs all believers. It is unreasonable to explain away any such contrary attitudes by the excuses of “democracy” or “tolerance.”
From the Qur’an, as well as the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we know that throughout history, unbelievers seemed to mock and slander God’s blessed messengers. However, the Qur’an foretells the miserable end of those who try to ridicule God’s messengers, with these words: “Messengers before you were also mocked, but those who jeered were engulfed by what they mocked.” (Qur’an, 6: 10)
Jesus (peace be upon him) is also one of the Islamic prophets highly praised in the Qur’an. In one verse, the Qur’an states that people also attempted to mock Jesus (pbuh) in the time of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace):
When an example is made of the son of Mary [Jesus], your people laugh uproariously. (Qur’an, 43: 57)
From the Hebrew Bible, the holy book of the Jews, we learn that Prophets Elijah, Moses, Job and many other prophets (peace be upon them all) met similar attitudes from the people they addressed. As it is stated:
But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36: 16)
Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?
. . . In the light of these things, should I relent? (Isaiah 57: 4, 6)
Likewise, the hostile manner of the unbelievers to God’s blessed messenger Jesus (pbuh) is related in the New Testament in these terms:
He [Jesus] will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him… (Luke 18: 32)
For further information, please visit http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com
Harun Yahya / Global Publishing
http://www.harunyahya.com