And why is it that the real Muslims are not saying something!? Why are they not saying "We disagree that the writers should be killed but we do think the cartoon was uncalled for. However, this guy is wrong and we do not support his actions against the writers." Why is no one coming out in the open and saying this? Why do Muslims stay so quiet and not stand up for themselves. They hide in the shadows and do nothing. I don't get it. If you don't say anything people will just assume its true. Heck, I'm wondering if its true sometimes I hear it so often and I have an education in Islam. You just hear about these things so often.....
I can't take it anymore. I just can't take the idiocy, on both sides. I want out. If I don't convert it will be because of things like this. Because I cannot live my life constantly defending myself to everyone, everyday because of a few stupid extremist idiots who feel they have to kill everyone who does something they don't like.
I've really had enough with all the hate.
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hmm i didn't even know someone said they should die.
ReplyDeletehonestly, i just don't keep up with what stupid people say anymore.
i don't define my religion by what stupid people say on either side of the fence alhamdulillah.
and it is said that non-believers wont be happy with the believers no matter what we do or say. if they aren't angry about the extremeists they will be angry about niqab or hijab or polygamy or hajj or salaat or this or that.
if someone has a genuine concern about what i believe, then i will have a disucssion but i wont participate in an argument because no one can change their mind but Allah. nothing i say will change it for them.
as for speaking out against people who do stupid stuff... i have mixed feelings about it honestly. those people who latch onto what extremists say... are they really going to believe me if i tell them they are wrong? not likely. am i just going to be beating my head against a brick wall like what you are going through? probably. but i also know that not acting at all to some people is implied acceptance or even agreement.
so what to do?
Allahu 'alem it is quite the conundrum.
I think a lot of people speak out about it, but who hears them? For example I don't even know what you're referring to so obviously there's been nothing big done about it if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of moderate Muslims actually do speak out against people like this; for example, ISNA and IQNA often issue statements condemning terrorism and other violent acts done in the name of Islam, as does the masjid that I attend. I know a lot of individuals that do this, too. Unfortunately, I feel like no matter how many times these Muslims speak out against it, others won't hear it, mainly because it's not reported in the news (who wants to hear about peaceful, non-fanatic Muslims when violent ones are so much more interesting?). As much as I believe that Muslims need to get the message out that Islam doesn't in fact condone such anger and violence, it's not fair that all Muslims should always have to apologize for a few people that do things in our name. I know this example is used all the time, but I (and I'm sure many, many others) don't expect Christians to constantly be apologizing for the Crusades or acts of terrorism committed by Christians, because we know that the people that do these evil things are not following the spirit of Christianity. Likewise with Islam. If people are educated about the true nature of Islam, perhaps they will come to realize that terrorists/"bad guys" who do terrible things in the name of Islam are not actually representative of what Islam is.
ReplyDeleteLet's just say I didn't convert because of the behavior of Muslims. I did it because I feel that it is the best religion for me, and there are going to be jerks in every religion. I know it's incredibly frustrating, but we (and I mean everyone) should try not to base our religious decisions on people, but rather ALLAH, Who is waaaay above all this ridiculousness.
Considering how racy/edgy South Park can be, I thought that what they were doing about Muhammad (saw) was actually pretty tame (I read the description of the episodes on Wikipedia). Of course I don't condone what they did, though, since I believe that making fun of any religious figure, especially the Prophet (saw), is a huge no-no (I hate the way South Park constantly makes fun of Jesus (as) and even GOD, Astaghfirullah).
I know this might not be what you want to hear, but being a Muslim today is not easy. Having to constantly defend yourself is not a reason to not convert. If you believe in Islam, then become a Muslim. You really have to ignore all the stuff you just posted about. And yes, it is annoying and difficult and frustrating, but that's just how it is.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't Muslims speak out? GOOD QUESTION!
NeverEver: Maybe its a bigger deal here because 1) I work in a place with a lot of people who watch the show and 2) the extremist is based in my city. So they are making a huge deal out of it.
ReplyDeleteAnne:I know there are organizations but I never hear about what they have to stay. Truck load of quotes from the extremists but nothing from MSA or ISNA or any of the many groups. Nothing, not a thing. All anyone is reporting is the crazy man who wants to kill the writers for doing a rather tame joke with the Prophet. My understanding is they picked on the fact that you can't draw him so they kept hiding him behind stuff. Does not warrent death.
CLA: Yeah I know, and maybe its not a good reason not to convert but its definitely an understandable one. Cause I've already had it, I can't imagine 5 years after fighting everyone I know. The people I know, the people I am friends with sitting in front of me bashing Muslims over a cartoon!!!! I can't take it. I almost started crying when I tried to explain to my friend via IM as they bashed why its a problem....she too now thinks Muslims are crazy. All over a cartoon.
Amazing how a maniac and a cartoon can change everyone's minds but I bet even a thousand good deeds wouldn't get Muslims noticed.
@LK: True true, it definitely doesn't warrant death. Prophet Muhammad (saw) didn't take revenge on people, even if they tried to harm him (tons of hadiths about this, like the woman who threw garbage on him everyday, and the one day she didn't do it he went to visit her to make sure she was okay). The Qur'an also says "Hold to forgiveness, command what is right, but turn away from the ignorant" (7:199), which is interpreted as just ignoring the people that are ignorant (a very conservative translation of the meaning of the Qur'an says that it means not to punish the ignorant people). Obviously this extremist, and all extremists, has forgotten about this verse.
ReplyDeleteAmber's post on the same subject really made me wonder if people ARE standing up...you just can't hear them because these extremists are so loud. Then you have another group taking that verse from the Qur'an literally and just staying quiet. At this point, no one can stay quiet. Or all Muslims will be public enemy #1...not that they aren't already. But it will get worse.
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