Can Muslims Prevent Blasphemy In This Age Of Social Media? Is their violent reaction helping or harming?
Blasphemy
Is Actually Rising Despite Or Perhaps Because Of Muslims' Violent Reaction
Main
Points:
1. The Fatwa
against Salman Rushdie did not deter detractors of Islam.
2. Nupur
Sharma's alleged blasphemy is not an aberration.
3. Social media
has facilitated blasphemy.
4. Blasphemy
over social media cannot be monitored or controlled in non-Muslim societies.
5. Muslims
should follow Quran's advice on blasphemy.
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By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
23
September 2022
Blasphemy
has been an Achilles’ heel for Muslims since the beginning of Islam. Blasphemy
or insulting remarks or slander are not new in human society, nor is the
prophet of Islam pbuh the first to be slandered against. Prophet Moses pbuh was
also slandered against for being shy and for not bathing with others in public.
Almost all the prophets were termed as liers, sorcerers and delusional. The
Quran defended them by testifying that they were not sorcerers, liars or mad
but were God's prophets.
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The same
allegations were made against the prophet of Islam pubh. He was called mad,
sorcerer and liar. In fact his opponents accused him of blasphemy against their
gods and goddesses.
The Quran
defended him and bore witness that he was indeed the prophet of God and was
raised for the salvation of the human beings. He also advised Muslims not to
retaliate or be violent to the blasphemous remarks. The Quran says:
"You believers will surely be tested in
your wealth and yourselves, and you will certainly hear many hurtful words from
those who were given the scriptures before you and from polytheists. But if you
are patient and mindful of Allah --- surely this is a resolve to aspire
for."(Al-e-Imran:186)
This can be
said to be the Standard Operating Procedure for Muslims in cases of blasphemy.
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Also Read:
Blasphemy, Islam and
Free Speech
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There were
some cases of beheading of opponents for blasphemy on the order of the holy
prophet pbuh in extreme cases but there are also instances when the detractors
were let off or forgiven by the holy prophet pbuh. Therefore, insisting that
slitting the throat of the detractors is the only step to be taken in cases of
blasphemy is not supported either by the Quran or hadith.
Islam has
spread to the most part of the world and Muslims inhabit the most part of the
world. They are majority in about 55 countries but are in minority in more than
hundred countries. Muslims can not demand a law based on their religious
traditions in countries where Muslims are in a minority and the country follows
a secular law. The Quran also says that God does not put burden on any one
heavier than he can bear. In other words, the Quran makes it clear that God
does not ask Muslims to do what they can't in religious disputes or in personal
issues. In the month of Ramadhan, Muslims are mandated to fast but those who
can not fast for some valid reasons are given leave to compensate later. This
also applies to the issue of blasphemy. If Muslims feel hurt by blasphemy
against the prophet pbuh, they can seek legal action according to the law of
the country. They can make verbal or written condemnation or peaceful protests.
But if they take violent actions against the laws of the country, they may be
held guilty of violating the law and hurting innocent people not involved in
blasphemy. The killing of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur in Rajasthan, India was a
similar scenario in which the victim is said to have apologised before the
Muslim community. Still he was killed.
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Also Read:
Islam and Free
Speech: A Reply to A. Faizur Rahman
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In 1989,
the Iranian Supreme religious leader Imam Khomeini had issued a fatwa of death
against the novelist Salman Rushdie for his blasphemous book Satanic Verses.
Rushdie had to go into hiding and has been living an isolated life due to the
threat to his life. A number of attempts on his life have been made but he has
survived. The latest attack on him was made in August this year but he again
survived.
Khomeini's
fatwa did not deter detractors of Islam from making blasphemous remarks. Many
blasphemous remarks have been made; films portraying the prophet of Islam in
negative light have been made; blasphemous cartoons have been published by
Jyllands Posten and Charlie Hebdo. Muslims have turned violent every time and
even terrorists carried out attacks on the office of Charlie Hebdo killing its
staff. But all this violent reaction did not prevent detractors of Islam from
making blasphemous remarks against the prophet, against Quran and against
Islam.
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Also Read:
The False Binary of
the Secular versus Islamic Needs to Be Broken
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The 21st
century is the age of social media. The social media has made blasphemy very
easy and at the same time difficult to be monitored and controlled. After
Kanhaiya Lal's murder for blasphemy, more blasphemous remarks were made on
media and social media. The Muslims staged violent protests and faced action by
the police. Some youngsters were shot dead and dozens were injured and
arrested. This proved suicidal for them.
The fact is
that blasphemy against prophets have been resorted to in every age and so it
can not be controlled or prevented. This is a part of human behaviour. When
people can not defeat some one with arguments, they resort to abuses and verbal
insults. And when such blasphemous remarks are made on social media across the
globe, every day, it is not possible for Muslims to monitor and penalise each
and every remark, leave aside slitting every detractor's throat. Even in India,
Hindu deities and religious beliefs are criticised by Dalits in objectionable
words but the Hindus ignore them.
One problem
with Muslims in this regard is that what is blasphemy to them is a right to
expression in western countries. In India, though there are laws covering
blasphemy and communal remarks, actions are not taken due to political reasons
or general bias in bureaucracy or in the police. A person criticising the
government may be arrested but one threatening a particular community may not
be arrested.
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Also Read:
Embrace What Is Different: Quran and Hadith Stress on Building an
Inclusive Society
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In this situation,
Muslims should adopt a practical and pragmatic approach in the issue of
blasphemy. Quran has clearly laid down its principle on blasphemy in surah
Al-e-Imran and Muslims will do well to follow this principle.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/muslims-blasphemy-media-violent-reaction-/d/128013
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