Strange

Look how Muhammad looked at Wikipedia invites Muslim ire

by Ahmar Mustikhan | March 22, 2009 at 03:41 am

710 views | 10 Recommendations | 7 comments

At least one famous singer in the Muslim world, Salman Ahmed of Pakistan believes Islam is a very sexy religion, but such views are limited among marginalized liberals in the Muslim world.

By and large, Islam today appears to be at the same historic phase Christianity was during the Spanish Inquisition.

This scribe has attended both Muslim mosques and Christian churches and finds the basic essence of many hymns and Quranic verses is the same -- both derived from Judaic traditions.

However, there is little room for intellectual discourse in Islam, as many groups have sprung up against Wikipedia for publishing images of Mohammed, who the Muslim consider the last and final messenger of Allah.

The Qur'an does not explicitly forbid images of Muhammad, but there are a few hadith (supplemental traditions) which have explicitly prohibited Muslims from creating the visual depictions of figures under any circumstances. Most contemporary Sunni Muslims believe that visual depictions of the prophets generally should be prohibited, and they are particularly averse to visual representations of Muhammad.[3] The key concern is that the use of images can encourage idolatry, where the image becomes more important than what it represents. In Islamic art, some visual depictions only show Muhammad with his face veiled, or symbolically represent him as a flame; other images, notably from Persia of the Ilkhanate, and those made under the Ottomans, show him fully.[1]

At a liberal petition site more than one hundred thousand signatures had been collected as of March 22, 2009 against Wikipedia's portrayal of Muhammad. Most of the signatures are from Pakistan, headquarters of Al Qaeda.

Many American progressives and liberals are among those signing the petition against this basic right to freedom of expression.

Victoria M.Strong, a civil rights activist from New York comments: "To be honest with you, I signed a petition against publishing Muhammad's picture, but I am conflicted because I also believe in freedom of speech and expression."

Strong, who describes herself as peacemaker and R&B/pop/soul/soft rock singer, said she thinks if the picture is posted very respectfully, it shouldn't be a problem and it will not be "disrespecting" the Prophet Muhammad.

"Sometimes I think people go a little too far with certain issues. Religion has and is causing so much fighting and conflict in the world. This is predisely why I refuse to join any religion though I was raised Catholic against my will."

But Wikipedia has refused to surrender.

Wikipedia has received increasing numbers of emails over the article relating to Muhammad and they all complained about the pictures that accompany it and depict the Prophet as a human being. The images, mostly paintings from manuscripts dating back to the Middle Ages, show various aspects of Muhammad's life and work.

The reason why Salman Ahmed called Islam a sexy religion is that the polygamous founder of Islam, Muhammad of Arabia, appears to have allowed his sexual fantasies run wild and also indulged in perverted child sex.

For the Western mind, perhaps the most disturbing fact about Islam is that its founder had a sexual relationship with a nine-year-old girl. Because of this, it has become increasingly popular in some circles to refer to the Prophet of Islam as a "pedophile." This is, of course, extremely offensive to Muslims, who view Muhammad as the ideal servant of God and as the greatest example of what a man should strive to be. Nevertheless, Muhammad’s relationship with a young girl presents a problem for Muslims, especially for those who want to share their faith with others.

A similar group has been launched at the Facebook with nearly 300,000 signatures.

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israeli.agent

at 04:46 on March 22nd, 2009

Did the fatwa already come out against Salman Ahmed or still in the anvil...!!??

.Agent.

Roy C

at 11:22 on March 22nd, 2009

Any decent depiction in Wikipedia should be allowed to stand. Hadith are not the Koran, but, from what I have read, Hadith determine a lot of the right and wrong of everyday life for Muslims. Muslims cannot tell us what to do here. They can only ask, but I see asking as the attempt to impose their values needlessly on our way of life and I oppose that 100%.

A psychologist friend of mine told me that his daughter quit working at Barnes and Noble when the bookstore moved the Koran to the top shelf from a lower shelf to please a Muslim who had complained about its location. According to him, "no book could be higher". !!

This fear of idolatry is interesting because the idealization of anyone is a form of idolatry. Anyone who is considered "always right" , "infallible", is already an idol.

As far as I can see, Mohammed is an idol, whether depicted or not.

Some Buddhists and Christians treat their sacred literature as an idol. One Christian told me that the Bible was always right and never contradicted itself. That makes the Bible, a book translated from several other languages, an idol of worship.

Marxists have idols: Marx; Lenin. Che is particularly big as an idol. His life has been completely misrepresented by romantics who have trouble reasoning about their own lives and are possessed by the need to justify a violent overthrow of the existing order.

Lincoln has a whole cult following about him and my experience with Jungians has revealed similar attitudes.

President Obama is the recipient of a lot of idolatrous energy. What is amazing here is that it comes from the press, an "educated" class.

djsblack

at 13:00 on March 22nd, 2009

Whatever "objections" may exist on a particular matter, the right to have or present a different view point is called "freedom of speech." The Muslims should get used to it.

djsblack

at 12:55 on March 22nd, 2009

Many American progressives and liberals are among those signing the petition against this basic right to freedom of expression"

I'm not surprised.

jazzyzazzy

at 18:24 on March 22nd, 2009

Sorry dont really get this one ? where on earth does sexy come into Any religion.There is nothing sexy about people being killed in the name of religion.naw naw naw no having this one naw very wrong a think.a mean whats sexy aboot a burka,women covered head toe in black.

Quiller (not verified)

at 09:37 on March 23rd, 2009

Islam, the sinister cancer spreading round the world and in the name of God (a Creator NOT a destroyer) murdering anyone they feel like because they invented a word `jihad` which makes it right for them to do all the dirty, cowardly, underhand, hypocritical things they do. Muhammed would turn in his grave. They want to change everything, laws, customs and culture to suit themselves and because of the absurdity of political correctness they are winning. However, not for much longer . There is a war on the way mainly because they have asked for one. Its called Armageddon , where all the decent religions will rise up against this Beast which has become the servant of the Devil and obliterate it. Thank God.