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இவர் தான் முஹம்மத்!!

ஒரு திரைப்படம் இன்று உலகத்தையே உலுக்கிவிட்டிருக்கின்றது.
உலகெங்கும் 800க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நகரங்களில் கண்டன ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்கள் நடந்திருக்கின்றன. இந்த நாள் வரை ஐம்பது பேர் உயிரிழந்திருக்கின்றார்கள்.

எல்லாமே யாருக்காக? எல்லாமே எதற்காக?

முஹம்மத் நபிக்காகத்தான் இத்தனை ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களும் கொந்தளிப்புகளும்.

முஹம்மத் நபி என்றால் யார்? என்ன அது, 1400 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு அரேபியாவில் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கை வழிகாட்டியா? இத்துணை நூற்றாண்டு-கள் உருண்டோடி விட்ட பிறகுமா, மக்கள் அவரை மறக்காது இருக்கின்றார்கள்? இத்துணை ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகுமா மக்கள் அவருக்காக தங்களின் உயிரையே கொடுக்கின்றார்கள்?

யார்தான் அவர்? எப்படிப்பட்டவர் அவர்? அவர் செய்த சாதனைகள் என்ன? அவர் சந்தித்த சோதனைகள் என்ன? போன்ற கேள்விகள் இன்று உலகெங்கும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் உரத்துக் கேட்கப்படுகின்றன. உங்களுக்குள்ளும் இந்தக் கேள்விகள் எழுந்திருக்கலாம்.

அந்தக் கேள்விகளுக்கு விடைதான் இந்த மடக்கோலை.

யார் முஹம்மத் (ஸல்)?

இறைவனிடமிருந்து இத்தரணியில் வாழ்ந்த, வாழ்கின்ற, வாழப் போகின்ற உலக மக்கள் அனைவருக்காகவும் அருளப்பட்ட இறைத்தூதர்தாம் முஹம்மத் நபி(ஸல்). மனித குல மாணிக்கமாக, அகிலங்களுக்கெல்லாம் அருட்கொடையாக வாழ்ந்து சென்றவர்தாம் அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்).

‘பணம், குலம், அழகு ஆகியவற்றைப் பார்த்து மணம் முடிக்காதீர்கள். மார்க்கத்தைப் பார்த்தே பெண்ணை மணம் முடித்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்’ எனச் சொல்லி அமைதியான மணவாழ்வுக்கு அடித்தளம் அமைத்துக் கொடுத்தவர்.

‘அரபி அல்லாதவரை விட அரபியோ, அரபியை விட அரபி அல்லாத-வரோ சிறந்தவர் அன்று. உங்களில் எவர் இறையச்சம் மிக்கவரோ அவரே உங்களில் சிறந்தவர்’ என்றும், ‘பிறரைக் கீழே வீழ்த்திவிடுபவன் பலசாலி அல்ல. கோபம் வரும்போது தன்னை அடக்கிக் கொள்பவனே பலசாலி’ என்றும், ‘பொறாமை நற்செயல்களை அழித்துவிடும்’ என்றும் ஏராளமான நல்லுரைகளைச் சொல்லி அமைதியான சமூகத்திற்குப் பாதை அமைத்துக் கொடுத்தவர்.

‘மோசடி செய்பவன் என்னைச் சேர்ந்தவன் அல்லன்’ என்றும் ‘உழைப்-பாளியின் வியர்வை உலரும் முன் அவருக்குரிய கூலியை கொடுத்து-விடுங்கள்’ என்றும் கூறி, தூய்மையான பொருளாதார நடைமுறைகளுக்கு வித்திட்டவர்.

‘சமூகத்தின் தலைவன் சமூகத்தினரின் தொண்டனாவான்’ என்றும் ‘பதவியை விரும்புகின்றவர்களுக்கு பொறுப்புகளைத் தராதீர்’ என்றும் தீர்க்கமான கட்டளைகளைத் தந்து உன்னதமான அரசியல் வாழ்வுக்கு வழிகாட்டியவர்.

உயர்குலப் பெண் திருட்டுக் குற்றத்துக்கு ஆளாகி தண்டனை-யும் விதிக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் அவளுக்காக தோழர்கள் பரிந்து பேசியபோது ‘ஆளுக்கொரு நீதியைக் கடைப்பிடித்த சமூகங்கள் அழிந்து போனது உங்களுக்குத் தெரியவில்லையா? என் மகள் பாத்திமாவே தவறிழைத்தாலும் அவளையும் தண்டிப்பேன்’ எனச் சூளுரைத்து நீதிக்கு உறுதியளித்தவர்.

என அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் சிறப்புகளைச் சொல்லிக் கொண்டே போகலாம்.
அவரைக் குறித்து இறைவனே ஒரே வரியில் அறிமுகப்படுத்தி-யிருக்கின்றான்.

மேலும், திண்ணமாக நற்குணத்தின் மிக உன்னதமான நிலையில் நீர் இருக்கின்றீர்.             (திருக்குர்ஆன் 68 : 4)

உண்மை. முற்றிலும் உண்மை. அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) அழகிய குணங்களைக் கொண்டவராகத்தான் இருந்தார். இதற்கு அவருடன் வாழ்ந்த அவரின் மனைவியரும், தோழர்களுமே சான்றளித்திருக்கின்-றார்கள்.
அவற்றின் விவரம் வருமாறு:

அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் இருபத்தைந்து ஆண்டுகள் இல்லற வாழ்வு நடத்தியவர் அன்னை கதீஜா(ரலி). முதன்முதலாக இறைவ-னிடமிருந்து வசனங்கள் அருளப்பட்ட போது பயந்து வியர்த்து விதிர்த்து வந்த அண்ணல் நபிகளாரைப் பார்த்து அன்னையார்(ரலி) சொன்ன வாசகங்களைப் பாருங்கள்:
“இறைவன் மீது ஆணையாக! இறைவன் உங்களை எந்தக்-காலத்-திலும் வேதனையில் ஆழ்த்த மாட்டான். நீங்கள் உறவுகளை மதித்தும், அவர்களின் தேவைகளை நிறைவேற்றியும் வாழ்கின்றீர்-கள். கடனாளிகளின் கடன் சுமையைப் போக்குகின்றீர்கள். ஏழைகளுக்கும் எளியவர்களுக்கும் தேவையுள்ளவர்களுக்கும் உதவுகின்றீர்கள். விருந்தினர்களை உபசரிக்கின்றீர்கள். உண்மைக்கும் சத்தியத்திற்கும் தோள் கொடுக்கின்றீர்கள். துன்பத்தில் உழல்கின்ற மக்களின் துயர் துடைக்கின்றீர்கள்.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் இன்னொரு மனைவி அன்னை ஆயிஷா(ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் மரணம் வரை அவருடன் இருந்தவர். அவர்கள் சொல்வதைக் கேளுங்கள்.  “அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) எவரையும் எந்தக் காலத்திலும் திட்டியதில்லை. தனக்குத் தீங்கிழைத்தவர்களை மன்னித்து அவர்களுக்கும் நன்மையையே செய்து வந்திருக்கின்றார். சொந்த விவகாரங்களில் எவரையும் பழிக்குப் பழி வாங்கியதில்லை. எந்தவொரு முஸ்லிமையும் அவர் சபித்ததில்லை. எந்தவொரு பணியாளரையும் பணிப்பெண்ணையும் கை நீட்டி அடித்ததில்லை.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் 23 ஆண்டுகள் இறைவழியில் இணைந்து பாடுபட்ட உற்ற தோழர்தாம் அலீ பின் அபூதாலிப் (ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் பயணத்திலும் போரிலும் வணக்க வழிபாட்டிலும் ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டத்திலும் இணைபிரியா நண்பராக வாழ்ந்தவர்தாம் அலீ பின் அபூதாலிப்(ரலி). அவர் கூறுகின்றார்: ‘அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) மென்மையானவர். இளகிய மனம் கொண்டவர். எந்தக்காலத்திலும் கடுமையாக நடந்துகொண்டதில்லை. மிகவும் பரந்த மனம் கொண்டவர். ஓங்கிப் பேசமாட்டார். எந்தக் காலத்திலும் அவருடைய நாவிலிருந்து கெட்ட வார்த்தைகள் வந்ததில்லை. எவருடைய குறையையும் துருவித் துருவி ஆராய்ந்ததில்லை. வீண் விவாதம், அதிக பேச்சு, பயனற்ற பொழுதுபோக்கு ஆகிய மூன்றிலிருந்தும் அறவே விலகியிருந்தார்.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் தோழர்களில் ஒருவர் அனஸ் பின் மாலிக் (ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் பணியாளராய் பல்லாண்டுகள் இருந்தவர்.
அவர் கூறுகின்றார்: ‘நான் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் பணியாளராகப் பத்து ஆண்டுகள் சேவையாற்றியிருக்கின்றேன். அவர் ஒரு நாள் கூட என்னைப் பார்த்து ‘சே..’ என்று கூட சொன்னதில்லை. அவர் சொன்ன வேலையைச் செய்ய மறந்துவிட்டாலும், அல்லது செய்யத் தவறிவிட்டாலும்கூட அவர் என்னைப் பார்த்து ‘ஏன் இப்படி நடந்து கொண்டாய்?’ என ஒரு வார்த்தை கேட்டது கிடையாது.’

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் அழைப்பை எதிர்ப்பதில் முன்னணியில் நின்ற அபூசுப்யான் ரோமப் பேரரசரிடம் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரைக் குறித்துச் சொன்னதாவது: ‘முஹம்மத் பொய் சொல்லி நான் பார்த்ததில்லை. அவர் எந்தக்காலத்திலும் கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதியை மீறியதில்லை. ஒப்பந்தத்தை உடைத்ததில்லை.’
 
இந்தச் சான்றுகள் தருகின்ற செய்தி என்ன?

இன்னொன்றையும் கேளுங்கள். அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) தம் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதிலும் ஒருவரைக் கூட கட்டாயப்படுத்தி மதமாற்றம் செய்ததாக வரலாறு கிடையாது.

கைதிகளாகப் பிடிபட்டவர்கள், அடிமைகள், பணியாளர்கள், ஏழைகள் ஆகிய பலவீனமான மக்களிடமும் அவர் இஸ்லாத்தைத் திணித்ததில்லை. அண்ணல் நபிகளாரை வளர்த்துப் பாதுகாப்பு அளித்த அவருடைய பெரிய தந்தை அபூதாலிப் இறுதிவரை இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்காமலேயே மரணித்தார்.

அவருடைய நெருங்கிய உறவினர்களில் பலர் இஸ்லாமியப் பிரச்சாரம் தொடங்கிப் பல ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின்னர்தான் இஸ்லாத்தைத் தழுவினார்கள். இஸ்லாத்தில் இணைந்தவர்கள் தங்கள் பிள்ளைகளைக் கட்டாயப்படுத்தி இஸ்லாத்தில் இணைக்க அண்ணலாரிடம் அனுமதி கோரிய போது அதனை மறுத்தார்.

அதுமட்டுமல்ல, மக்கா நகரம் அண்ணலாரால் வெற்றி கொள்ளப்பட்டபோது, தமக்கும் தம் குடும்பத்தினருக்கும் துன்பங்கள் அளித்த மக்காவாசிகளை மனப்பூர்வமாக மன்னித்த மாண்பாளர் அவர்.

பகைவரையும் மன்னித்த அந்தப் பண்பாளரைப் பற்றி,
மென்மைக்கு அடையாளமாய் வாழ்ந்த அந்த உத்தமரைப் பற்றி,
இளகிய மனமும் ஒழுக்கசீலமும் படைத்த அந்த மாமனிதரைப் பற்றி,
கனிவும் கருணையும் கொண்ட,
வாழ்நாளில் எவரையும் பழி வாங்காத அந்த உயர்ந்த தலைவரைப் பற்றி இன்னும் இன்னும் தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டுமே என உங்கள் மனம் பரபரக்கின்றதா?

தொடர்பு கொள்ளுங்கள்:

ஜமாஅத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த்
தமிழ்நாடு & புதுச்சேரி
138, பெரம்பூர் நெடுஞ்சாலை, சென்னை - 600 012
Phone : 044 -2662 1101, Fax : 2662 0682
Tel : 044 -2662 1101, Fax : 2662 0682
Email : jihtnzone@gmail.com,  Website : www.jihtn.org

Annadurai on Islam

Here

Muhammad the benefactor of humanity

Here

Periyar's inspirational speech on Islam

Here
and also Here
The transcripts of the speech were first published in Vidudalai Daily dated 20 Dec 1970

Pregnant nun ice cream advert banned for 'mockery'

An ice cream company banned from using an advert displaying a pregnant nun has vowed to position similar posters in London in time for the Pope's visit.

Antonio Federici's advert showed a pregnant nun eating ice cream in a church, together with the strap line "immaculately conceived".

The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered it to be discontinued, saying it mocked Roman Catholic beliefs.

Antonio Federici says it will now put up new posters near Westminster Abbey.
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Westminster Abbey on Friday, before holding Mass at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday.

Antonio Federici, a UK-based company, has yet to reveal what image will be portrayed in the new advert, saying only that it would be "a continuation of the theme".
A spokeswoman for the company said the new image intended to "defy" the ban from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

She added: "We are in the process of securing a series of billboards close to and along the planned route of the Pope's cavalcade around Westminster Cathedral".
A spokesman for the ASA said its rulings "must be followed and we are taking steps to ensure Antonio Federici do so".

He added: "We do not comment on the likely compliance of ads that have not yet appeared.
"However, we are continuing to conduct work behind the scenes, including with the advertiser, to ensure they comply with the rules."

Defending the banned nun advert, Antonio Federici said the idea of "conception" represented the development of their ice cream.

It added that the use of religious imagery represented its strong feeling towards its product.
The firm said it also wished to "comment on and question, using satire and gentle humour, the relevance and hypocrisy of religion and the attitudes of the church to social issues".
The banned advert was featured in editions of The Lady and Grazia magazines.

The ASA said in its ruling: "We considered the use of a nun pregnant through immaculate conception was likely to be seen as a distortion and mockery of the beliefs of Roman Catholics.
"We concluded that to use such an image in a lighthearted way to advertise ice cream was likely to cause serious offence to readers, particularly those who practised the Roman Catholic faith."
The publishers of The Lady said it had received eight complaints and that it had been a "misjudgement" to have published .

The ASA banned another advert for Antonio Federici in July 2009 that showed a priest and a nun appearing as if they were about to kiss.

A BBC report Here

மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்திய மாநபி (ஸல்)

Here

A fitting reply to Anders Breivik. Is it?

In what can be described as a fitting response to Anders Breivik’s brutal assault on Norwegian multiculturalism, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg appointed a 29-year-old Muslim woman of Pakistani origin the new Culture Minister. Hadia Tajik is the first Muslim and youngest Minister ever in Norwegian political history. Ms. Tajik, who has degrees in law and journalism and has been a career politician in Norway’s Labour Party, was appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle.

‘Courageous move’

“This is a very courageous move on the part of the Prime Minister. She is an extremely intelligent person and has been an activist all her life. I would describe this as an important decision for Norway that will go a long way to prove that we are a truly multicultural society,” Dag Herbjornsrud, editor of the influential paper Ny Tid told The Hindu in a telephone conversation. “It was important that Norway proved this to the world, but it’s even more important that we proved this to ourselves.”

Jamaat to launch massive campaign on the life and teachings of Prophet of Islam

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Tamil Nadu has decided to launch a high profile, high voltage massive state wide campaign for introducing the life and teachings of the Prophet of Islam. 

Dates are 5th October, 2012 to 14th October, 2012. 

A committee has been formed under the stewardship of Br I Kareemullah. It comprises of Br S N Sikkander, Br K M Siraj Ahmed, Br Mohiyuddin, Br K Jalaludeen, Br T Azeez Luthffullah, Br T Yousuf Basha, Br Sirajul Hasan and Br V S Muhammad Ameen alongwith Brs Abu Tahir and Br Noorul Hasan (representatives of SIO)

The committee has chalked out a 14 point programme for the Units and circle and a 20 point programme for the activities at zonal level.

Samarasam would bring out a special issue on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It has also been decided to conduct a zonal Essay Competition for the college as well as higher secondary school students. 

Besides various activities such as press conferences, VIP meets, corner meetings, Hall meetings, Symposium, Ulema meet, and exclusive programme for non-Muslims would be carried out in massive scale throughout the nook and corner of the state. 

Jamaat has planned to distribute the book "The Prophet of Islam" by Prof Ramakrishna Rao and also its tamil version "Manuda Vasantham". Please send us the suggestions as also pray for the success of the campaign.

Six steps to respond to "Innocence of Muslims"

In the light of the recent movie that was spread, insulting the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Islam, and after some Muslims added to the insult and proved their opponents' accusations, I tend to ask myself a simple yet fundamental question:

What would he have done in a similar situation?

Did he face a similar situation, to begin with?

Of course he did, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) faced a lot of difficulties and hardships during his life, and defamation and insults. After a quick review of these incidents, we can come up with an action plan of six steps:

Step 1: Take it easy! "They are talking about someone else"

Read Also: The Prophet’s Patience Al-Azhar Scholars on Prophet Film and Muslims' Reaction IUMS Calls for Positive Reactions to Prophet Film Why Prophet Muhammad Is My Role Model Muhammad: A Mercy for All

Umm Jameel bint Harb, the wife of Abu Lahab, who is mentioned in the Qur'an (Al-Masad 111:4-5), made up some verses of poetry to defame the Prophet by changing his name to "Mothammam" (i.e. the insulted one) as opposed to "Muhammad" (i.e. the praised one). She said verses like:

We disobey "Mothammam",

And refuse his matter,

And reject his religion.

Poetry at that time was THE media, these verses were spread everywhere, repeated by kids and by travelers in the deserts, so it had a huge effect. Umm Jameel's short poem made some companions sad, angry, and helpless, especially in the early days of Islam when they were weak. Here comes the great attitude of the praised one, peace and blessings on him, whom I sacrifice my family and my soul for. He told the companions:

Isn't it amazing how Allah is protecting me from the Quraish's insults? They are cursing and swearing at "Mothammam", and I am "Muhammad"! (Al-Bukhari) 

The first step in answering or reacting to any insult against our Prophet, to any act of burning the Qur'an by a bigot, to any tweet or to any YouTube comment is to take it easy, rationalize the situation, don't let your anger lead your steps. In a beautiful hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) redefines strength:

The strong is not the one who overcomes people by use of his physical strength; rather he is the one who controls himself while in anger. (Al-Bukhari)

Step 2: Find the "Oprah Winfrey" of your time

I envy Hassaan for his role in supporting Islam through his media and art work.

After you take it easy, rationalize your steps and prepare a counter attack, using the same resources of the bigots, the same media outlet. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)  used poetry in his long campaign of spreading Islam and answering these insults. Hassan ibn Thabet was one of those poets (media figures) who can be considered the Oprah Winfrey of his time. He was wealthy, his words were heard, and his verses reached many places and knocked many doors in the Arab community that adored poetry. His style was unique in defending Islam and the Prophet, while attacking Quraish (the main tribe in Makkah that was opposing the Muslims and leading the pagans) in their ego; Instead of attacking their beliefs in being idol worshippers (which is something they were proud of), he used to remind them about their lost battles, their weak points in terms of lineage, and other known sources of dishonor. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had many statements and ahadith that showed gratitude to Hassaan and his poetry:

Oh Allah, give him (Hassan ) the support of the holy spirit (Angel Gabriel) (Muslim)

Reply on their defamation, because it is tougher on them than arrows (Muslim) 

(Got the hint from the Prophet? Your poetry is more effective than missiles, arrows, and bombing embassies!!)
Whenever I read these ahadith, I envy Hassaan for his role in supporting Islam through his media and art work. I ask myself: where is the Hassaan ibn Thabet of our time? Who is the lucky person who will receive a copy of Hassan's supplication, through a video, an article, or a well-presented argument?

Reaction to Innocence of Muslims: "Know this man"

Here is a documentary film on the life and teachings of the Prophet of Islam. It has been uploaded a year before. But for those who are eager to acquaint themselves with the noble personality of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) it would be as refreshing as rain in a lazy Sunday afternoon.
 

Here

Libyans rescued US ambassador Christopher Stevens

An amateur video appears to show Libyans trying to rescue US ambassador Christopher Stevens from a room filled with smoke at the US mission where he was found unconscious after last week's attack by a mob protesting against a film that denigrates the Prophet Mohammad. 

The video, which appeared on the internet and a copy of which was obtained by Reuters in Benghazi, confirms reports that suggested the US envoy died of asphyxiation after the building caught fire.

The footage also sheds new light on the circumstances of the ambassador's death, apparently showing for the first time that some of the people who forced their way into the US compound later tried to rescue Stevens after they found him lying alone, with no security detail, in one of the rooms in the building. 

The video shows a group of young men who had earlier stormed the compound telling other protesters by the light of torches and mobile phones that they had found someone who appeared to be a foreigner lying on the floor.

"There is someone inside ... He is a foreigner, he is a foreigner. Take him out," said one man, shouting for help.

"Bring him out, man! Bring him out," another said.

"The man is alive. Bring him out, man. Bring him out," said a third.

"Alive, Alive! God is Greatest," the crowd cried. Someone called for a car.

"Make space, is there someone who is a medic around? Anyone who can get a car quickly?" another man can be heard saying.

Stevens and three other embassy staff died when gunmen attacked the US consulate and a safe house in the eastern Libyan city on Tuesday night. The attackers were part of a crowd blaming America for a film they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad.

Security personnel abandoned Stevens during the attack, US officials said, in the chaos of smoke and gunfire that ensued.

The footage shows Stevens lying on the floor in a smoke-filled room after protesters had stormed the compound and set fire to its buildings.

Minutes later he was pulled out of the room through a window, and then placed on the courtyard's stone tile floor. A young man is seen putting his hand on his neck to check if he was breathing.

A protester wearing a white T-shirt who had carried Stevens out of the room was hugged by a fellow protestor in a traditional expression of gratitude.

Seconds after the protesters found Stevens was alive, a young man in the background can be heard shouting: "Take him to my car, bring him to my car."

A doctor on duty in the emergency room at the Benghazi Medical Centre that night has said local civilians brought in the ambassador at around 1 a.m. While the doctor performed CPR for 45 minutes, Stevens died of asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation. His body was later returned to US custody.

"On his own"

Fahd Al-Bakoush, a young activist who took the video, said he saw the ambassador "moving his lips and his eyes moving and his body darkened by smoke."

Bakoush told Reuters the storming of the embassy happened shortly after several armed Libyan guards at the entrance refused protesters' demands to enter the compound and take down the US flag.

He said the violence began after shots fired from the compound to scare demonstrators provoked angry protesters outside, prompting hardline elements within the protesters to throw home made grenades and fire RPGs.


Bakoush said he only realised the next day that it was the ambassador who had been found and was surprised that he was left on his own in the villa with none of his aides.

"I did not expect the ambassador to be on his own and I had thought the ambassador had been the first to escape," he said.

A spokesman for President Barack Obama said last week that officials had no evidence the attack was pre-planned, an assertion which has added to confusion over the incident. Immediately after the attack, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, were widely quoted as saying they believed the attack was well-planned and organised.

A report in IBN-Live Here  and Here

Reaction to "Innocence of Muslims" movie : DVDs on Prophet Muhammad in 30 languages

Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo has launched a campaign to introduce Prophet Mohammed to the world by distributing DVD’s in 30 languages, explaining the message of Islam and the life of the Prophet.


At the same time, Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Barr, member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau, has appealed on Muslim producers to use their artistic talents to create productions of the highest standards of quality, in all languages, to highlight aspects of greatness in the Messenger of God, to introduce him to the peoples of the whole world, and to use those productions to compete at international art festivals of all kinds.


"We must introduce the Prophet in an appropriately positive manner. When defending the Prophet, we must begin by understanding his life and his personality. Those who do not quite appreciate Prophet Mohammed must learn about him first, before talking about him. We should inform people about the Prophet, instead of pushing them away from him, from Islam."

Here

Mamata Bannerjee steals the thunder from UPA-II

First time ever, Mamata Banerjee could transfer her characteristic unpredictable gambit to a larger uncertainty of political economy. Using what matters in Bengal politics, which is a pro-people, pro-minority and anti-Centre stance, she succeeded in showing the UPA-2 its footloose practices to the point of breaking it. In the eye of the storm is the opening of the retail trading for FDI and withdrawal of subsidy for gas and hiking of diesel prices, all a recipe for marginalization of the poor and the minorities in a corporate dominated economy of India.

Politics of reforms, here again, exhibits its hazy means-ends relationship. No government, howsoever powerful it may be, can assume an overriding decision-making power in matters of bringing foreign funds, as it erodes domestic legitimacy. Bereft of popular acceptance, reform measures that create an inevitable insecurity and crisis in livelihood of ordinary citizen eat into the credibility of the Government. Even if it is a government in majority, or it is in minority, either way, reforms sacrifice both the government and the people. In this sense, reforms make the most achieving government hostage to its antics and throw the stakes of its citizenry into the winds. Mamata decided not to be a part of such a process of gambling with the people and pulled the plug.

In her twenty odd minutes of press conference to declare the withdrawal of support from the Central Government, she established an uncanny but real linkage between Centre’s economic follies with communal riots in Assam. She sounded like a practical politician in linking up the tragedy of commons at the hands of UPA government with its Assam counterpart which could not prevent a preventable riot. That Mamata’s well known acceptance of victims and provisions for sheltering them in relief camps is not just a mere public show off came out in her serious concern about Assam riots, which she didn’t dither to call ‘communal’. Indeed Mamata could see the invisible link between economic reforms and communal politics as it is played out at a stone’s throw by the Congress. Her announcement that her ministers will resign after Jumma Namaz on Friday makes her a darling of the masses in Bengal. Indeed there are many dimensions to her apparently inexplicable act of connecting Assam riots to FDI in retail and the overall policy drift of the UPA.

It is increasingly clear that in the course of riots, Bengali speaking Muslims of the East Bengal origin has been the only target, large number of whom have to cross over to neighbouring state of West Bengal for shelter.

Except making whatever public announcements, Congress as the ruling party, both at the centre and the State didn’t have any qualms to take them back home. Just as the Congress party unilaterally passed a cabinet decision to allow entry of FDI in retail in great peril to the existence of small traders in the very sector, in the same way, they have left scores of displaced victim at the mercy of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration. The criterion of land record to decide whether someone is an Indian or not in Bodoland not only violates the principle of no harm to the already harmed, but it contributes to turning genuine Indian citizens into stateless persons. The ruling party is dancing to the tune of BTC and failing to uphold constitutional principles.

In such an hour of crisis, Mamata not only withdrew support from UPA, but by raking up the issue of communal riots in Assam, she brought the truth out of claustrophobic interpretations given to Bodoland riots. Although she didn’t elaborate, but anyone can relate mention of protesting against Assam communal riots to the actually existing reality. As a glaring example of how UPA’s policies are skewed towards the marginalized and minority-ized sections of society, Assam riot stands out as one example of neglect and injustice by the Central Government.

As a statesman of a very different kind who can listen to the ground, her decision to send minister’s resignation to the Prime Minister after Friday prayer carries a lot of meaning both nationally and internationally. Nationally it marks a strong anti-Hindutva stance. It also communicates a message of peace, brotherhood and love for the Muslims that a country polarized tends to forget. It also is a re-affirmation of solemnity of Islam in the face of deliberate attempts to the film-ic mischief. Mamata establishes the right chord of concern for the helpless victims of communal clashes in Assam by connecting her FDI protest with deeply emotional pronouncements about Friday resignations. She couched the idiom of protest in terms of practical Islam that overcomes the otherwise meaninglessness of political acts such as entry and exit.

Mamata’s exit has thrown up challenges to other secular and anti-communal forces and parties to evolve a common strategy. Far from being clear about the impact of these reforms, parties like Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are calculating each other’s response and playing a zero sum game. In such a situation there could again be a kind of reconsolidation of parties within UPA just for the sake of avoiding an early election. Such a mutual bickering is going to affect the polity in a negative way as continuation of UPA is going to bring a policy regime that does not care for the minorities and the marginalized.

Prasenjit Biswas in Two Circles. Here

"Islamic Dawah is the best option to prevent the recurrence of dirty American film": Ameer-e-Jamaat

Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari has severely condemned the American film blaspheming the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). Terming the release of this film as an act of hurting the Muslims of the world, he expressed grave concern over the fact that America fails in making concerted efforts to contain such anti-Islam activities in spite of expressing displeasure over them. 

The Jamaat chief expressed his confidence that conspiracies to tarnish the image of Islam and denigrate the personage of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) have failed earlier also. And even now no country or group, despite investing talents and resources, can harm the truth of Islam and the majesty of the Prophet who is the Mercy to mankind. Therefore, people should keep from destructive activities aimed at spoiling world peace and try to understand the Message of Peace and Salvation Islam gives and the position of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) as Mercy to all the worlds. 

Declaring the protests, being staged in Muslim countries against the heart-rendering American film, as Muslim masses’ love for and close affinity with their faith and the Messenger of God, the Jamaat leader said the Muslims should prove themselves as Khair-e-Ummat (the best nation) and Ummat-e-Wast (the moderate nation) in every action and every measure they take, and keep from every approach that can bring a bad name to the position and greatness of the community. It would not be right that the crime is committed by one and you punish someone else; it tarnishes the image of Islam.

The Jamaat Ameer appealed to the Islamic Movements and organisations world over to realise the Dawah responsibilities much more so that the common masses might be acquainted with the teachings of Islam, and the ignorance and misapprehensions of the world about Islam, its way of life and the Holy Messenger be allayed and the incidents like the release of the American film might not be repeated in future.

அகிலங்களுக்கெல்லாம் அருட்கொடையாய் வந்த இறைத்தூதரின் கண்ணியத்துக்கு ஊறு விளைவிக்கின்ற வகையில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட அமெரிக்க திரைப்படத்தை ஜமாஅத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த் அகில இந்தியத் தலைவர் மௌலானா சையத் ஜலாலுத்தீன் உமரி கடுமையாகக் கண்டனம் செய்துள்ளார். உலகம் முழுவதும் இருக்கின்ற முஸ்லிம்களின் உள்ளங்களைக் காயப்படுத்துகின்ற செயல் இது என்றும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். இஸ்லாத்துக்கு எதிரான இத்தகைய நடவடிக்கைகள் குறித்து அதிருப்தியும் ஆட்சேபமும் அழுத்தமாகப் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட பிறகும் இது போன்ற அடாத செயல்களைத் தடுத்து நிறுத்துவதில் அமெரிக்க அரசாங்கம் தோல்வி அடைந்திருப்பது குறித்து அவர் பெரிதும் வேதனைப்பட்டார்.

இஸ்லாத்தின் மாண்பையும் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் மகத்துவத்தையும் கொச்சைப்படுத்து-கின்ற சூழ்ச்சிகள் இதற்கு முன்பும் தோல்வியையே தழுவி இருக்கின்றன. இப்போதும்கூட எந்தவொரு நாட்டாலும் அல்லது சமூகக் குழுவினாலும் - அவர்கள் தங்களுடைய ஆற்றல்களையும் வசதிவாய்ப்புகளையும் வளங்களையும் முழுமையாகப் பயன்படுத்தினாலும் - இஸ்லாம்தான் சத்தியமானது என்கிற உண்மைநிலையையும் அகிலங்களுக்கெல்லாம் அருட்கொடையாய் வந்த அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் மகத்துவத்தையும் இம்மியளவுகூட ஊறு விளைவிப்பதில் வெற்றி அடையவே இயலாது.  எனவே உலக அமைதியைப் பாதிக்கக்கூடிய நடவடிக்கைகளிலிருந்து முற்றாக விலகி இருந்தவாறு அமைதி, ஈடேற்றத்திற்கான இஸ்லாத்தின் செய்தியையும் அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) அகில உலகங்களுக்கெல்லாம் அருட்கொடையாய் இருக்கின்ற சிறப்பையும் புரிந்துகொள்வதற்கு முயல வேண்டும்.

உள்ளங்களைக் காயப்படுத்துகின்ற அமெரிக்க திரைப்படத்திற்கு முஸ்லிம் உலக நாடு-களில் நடத்தப்பட்டு வருகின்ற ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களும் போராட்டங்களும் தங்களுடைய மார்க்கத்தின் மீதும் அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) மீதும் அவர்களுக்கு இருக்கின்ற அளவிலா அன்பையும் இணையிலா பற்றையும் வெளிப்படுத்துகிறன என்றும் அவர் தெரிவித்தார். அதே சமயம் கைரே உம்மத் - சிறந்த சமூகம் என்றும் உம்மத்தே வஸ்த் - நடுநிலை மிக்க சமூகம் என்றும் இறைவனால் அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட முஸ்லிம் சமுதாயம் அந்தத் தகுதிநிலைக்கு இயைந்தவையாகவும் அதற்கு சான்று அளிப்பவையாகவும் தம்முடைய அனைத்து செயல்-பாடுகளையும் அமைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்றும் சமுதாயத்தின் தகுதிக்கும் அந்தஸ்துக்கும் மகத்துவத்திற்கும்  சற்றும் பொருந்தாத யாதொரு வழிமுறையிலிருந்தும் முற்றாக விலகி இருத்தல் வேண்டும் என்றும் அவர் அறிவுறுத்தினார். குற்றத்தை ஒருவர் செய்திருக்க, இன்னொருவரைத் தண்டிப்பது சற்றும் பொருத்தமற்றதல்ல. இது போன்ற செயல்களால் இஸ்லாம் பற்றிய சித்திரம் சிதைக்கப்படுகின்றது என்றும் அவர் சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளார்.

முன்னெப்போதும் இல்லாத அளவுக்கு இஸ்லாமிய அழைப்புப் பணி தொடர்பான தம்முடைய பொறுப்புகளை உணர்ந்துகொண்டு, அவற்றை நிறைவேற்றுவதில் கவனம் செலுத்துமாறும், பொதுமக்களுக்கு இஸ்லாத்தின் உண்மையான செய்தியும் போதனைகளும் சென்றடையவும், இஸ்லாத்தைக் குறித்தும் இஸ்லாம் எடுத்துரைக்கின்ற வாழ்க்கைத் திட்டத்தைக் குறித்தும் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரைக் குறித்தும் உலக மக்கள் மத்தியில் காணப்படுகின்ற அறியாமை அகல்வதற்கும் தவறான கருத்துக்கள் களையப்படுவதற்கும் உறுதி செய்யுமாறும் ஜமாஅத்தின் அகில இந்தியத் தலைவர் உலக இஸ்லாமிய இயக்கங்களுக்கும் அமைப்புகளுக்கும் வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்தார். இஸ்லாத்திற்கு எதிரான அமெரிக்கத் திரைப்படம் போன்ற சூழ்ச்சிகள் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் தலைதூக்குவதைத் தடுப்பதற்கு இதுதான் சிறந்த வழி என்றும் ஜமாஅத் தலைவர் அறிவித்தார்.

Here

A S Panneerselvan is new Readers' Editor of The Hindu

It is pleasing to note that veteran journalist of Chennai Br A S Panneerselvan has been appointed as the Readers' Editor of The Hindu. I have been reading Panneerselvan since his Outlook days.

From Outlook he shifted to visual media and provided strength and dynamics to Sun TV where he functioned as Managing Editor. He was also attached with Indiaweek, a weekly magazine popularly launched by Business India for some time.

We wish him all success. 

More Here

Tips to counter "Innocence of Muslims" movie

The dirty film by name "Innocence of Muslims" has enraged the Muslims all over the world. The following is a useful discussion on this issue.
Hats off to the youth behind this initiative.

Freedom of Expression or Freedom to Blaspheme?

FREEDOM of expression must not be confused with freedom from the consequences of expression. Exercising freedom and abusing it are not the same. The latter forfeits the former. Just because we are free to express ourselves, it doesn’t free us from the responsibility for what we express. We are responsible for what we say and do and for the consequences thereof and so must consider carefully what we want to express. This is the basis of what we call civilized socially responsible behavior. 

India's accidental Dairy King

He was a man who saw the world as a conflict between the clever and the foolish, and took the side of both to push his plans through. In his final years, he became a lumbering patriarch with an illuminated face and dark twinkling eyes, who was very aware of his greatness but chose his words with care in a nation where humility is the only permissible form of pride. 

When he was young, a friend took him to an astrologer who discerned people’s fate by measuring their shadows at noon. The shadow astrologer, obviously, worked far from the Equator. Mr. Kurien recounts the experience in his  memoirs, “I Too Had a Dream,” which he wrote with the journalist Gouri Salvi. The astrologer foretold an extraordinary career.

It was an accidental career. He arrived in Anand reluctantly in the summer of 1949 as a government clerk. Circumstances soon made him the general manager of a farmers’ cooperative, the Kaira District Milk Producers Union Ltd.

He swiftly increased the cooperative’s milk production, but to expand it further he needed a scientific breakthrough. He had to find a way to convert buffalo milk into milk powder, which the leading dairy experts of the time said was impossible. But, with the help of a friend who was a chemist, he achieved the seeming miracle. Mr. Kurien implied in his memoirs that the supposed impossibility of converting buffalo milk into powder was a myth created by the Western world, which had abundant cow’s milk and wanted other nations, like India, to continue to import its milk powder.

Over time, Mr. Kurien’s stature rose. Some of the most important politicians in the country, including prime ministers, stayed in his house when they visited Anand. The first time Jawaharlal Nehru stayed with them, Mr. Kurien and his wife, Molly, refrigerated a rose so that the prime minister could put the fresh flower in his buttonhole, as was his style. But soon the couple got tired of all the fuss around dignitaries. Once, a very tall governor was to visit, and his security detail complained that the bed in Mr. Kurien’s guest room was too short. In response, Mr. Kurien asked his excellency to sleep diagonally.

In the late 1950s, Mr. Kurien decided to market the produce of the cooperative through a brand name, and that led to the creation of one of the most enduring Indian brands, Amul Butter. Amul’s billboard advertisements, which play on current affairs, are a parallel historical record of modern India. So endearing is the brand that even The Times of India, which does not grant any corporation free mileage on its editorial pages and even blurs images of company logos in its editorial photographs, carries images of Amul’s billboards when the brand is in the news. Mr. Kurien’s obituary was, inescapably, accompanied by the images of Amul’s billboards in several newspapers.

Rahul Da Cunha, whose advertising agency designs the Amul advertisements, was 6 when he first met Mr. Kurien. At that meeting, he told me: “Dr. Kurien gave me a big box as a gift. I opened it and found just papers. At the bottom was a small cube of Amul cheese.”

Mr. Kurien, who was probably the most famous dairy administrator in the world, didn’t like drinking milk.

Manu Joseph in The New York Times. Here

Obama, FDI, Manmohan Singh and lies

For U.S. President Barack Obama there could be nothing more cheering. The ‘underachiever’ now goes to the presidential polls with a lot of confidence — India’s decision to open up FDI in multi-brand retail comes as a shot in the arm for the beleaguered American economy and will obviously boost his poll prospects. 

Mr. Obama certainly knows what is good for the U.S. economy; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also knows what is in America’s interest. Mr. Obama, for instance, wanted to stop outsourcing to protect U.S. jobs. No amount of persuasion from India changed his mind. Similarly, knowing how important FDI in retail is for him, he had pitched for a new wave of economic reforms. It was surprising to see Mr. Obama telling India what is good for us.

Aided and abetted by TIME magazine and credit rating agencies like Standard&Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s, India finally buckled under global pressure. What is little known is that India was also under a G-20 obligation to remove all hurdles to the growth of multi-brand retail.

But is FDI in retail really good for India? Will it improve rural infrastructure, reduce wastage of agricultural produce, and enable farmers to get a better price for their crops? While a lot has been said and written about the virtues of big retail, let me make an attempt to answer some of the big claims. 

Agriculture: The Prime Minister has repeatedly projected FDI in retail as a boon for agriculture. Unfortunately, this is not true. Even in the U.S., big retail has not helped farmers — it is federal support that makes agriculture profitable. In its last Farm Bill in 2008, the U.S. made a provision of $307 billion for agriculture for the next five years.

Where is the justification for such massive support if big retail was providing farmers better prices? And let us not forget, despite these subsidies studies have shown that one farmer in Europe quits agriculture every minute.

The second argument is that big retail will squeeze out middleman and therefore provide a better price to farmers. This is again not borne by facts. In the U.S., some studies have shown that the net income of farmers has come down from 70 per cent in the early 20th century to less than four per cent in 2005.

This is because big retail actually brings in a new battery of middlemen — quality controller, standardiser, certification agency, processor, packaging consultants etc. It is these middlemen who walk away with the profits and the farmer is left to survive on the subsidy dole.

Monopolistic power enables these companies to go in for predatory pricing. Empirical studies have shown that consumer prices in supermarkets in Latin America, Africa and Asia have remained higher than the open market by 20 to 30 per cent.

And finally, the argument that multi-brand retail will provide adequate scientific storage and thereby save millions of tonnes of food grains from rotting. I don’t know where in the world big retail has provided backend grain storage facilities?

FDI is already allowed in storage, and no investment has come in. Let it also be known that even the 30-per-cent local sourcing clause for single-brand retail has already been challenged and quietly put in cold storage by the Ministry of Commerce. 

Employment: The Indian retail market is estimated to be around $400 billion with more than 12 million retailers employing 40 million people. Ironically, Wal-Mart’s turnover is also around $420 billion, but it employs only 2.1 million people. If Wal-Mart can achieve the same turnover with hardly a fraction of the workforce employed by the Indian retail sector, how do we expect big retail to create jobs? It is the Indian retail sector which is a much bigger employer, and big retail will only destroy millions of livelihoods

State government’s prerogative: Very cleverly, the Central government has allowed the State governments the final say in allowing FDI in retail. This may to some extent pacify those State governments opposed to big retail. However, the industry is upbeat and knows well that as per international trade norms, member countries have to provide national treatment. Being a signatory to Bilateral Investment promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPAs), India has to provide national treatment to the investors. Agreements with more than 70 countries have already been signed. State governments will, therefore, have to open up for big retail. Industries will use the legal option to force the States to comply.

And more importantly, let us look at how the virus of big retail spreads, even if the promise is to keep it confined to major cities. Recently, a New York Times expose showed how Wal-Mart had captured nearly 50 per cent of Mexico’s retail market in 10 years. What is important here is that as per the NYT disclosure “the Mexican subsidiary of Wal-Mart, which opened 431 stores in 2011, had paid bribes and an internal enquiry into the matter has been suppressed at corporate headquarters in Arkansas”.

In India, we are aware that Wal-Mart alone had spent Rs.52 crore in two years to lobby, as per a disclosure statement made in the U.S. It has certainly paid off.

Devinder Sharma in Ground Reality and The Hindu

Defending the honor of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)

From the very early part of the prophethood of Muḥammad [saws], there is a very amazing and remarkable story of love, commitment, dedication and devotion.  In the very early part of the mission of the Prophet [saws] before the preaching was public, the people close to and around the Prophet [saws] started to embrace the faith and belief.  The books of seerah mention the number of believers was now ranging from anywhere from 38-40 people.  These are the first 40 believers and included many of his own close family members and close personal friends and close friends of those initial believers.  It was a very close and small tightknit circle.

One of these first believers was al-Arqam b. Abi al-Arqam , who was hosting the Prophet [saws] and his companions within his own home so that they would have a place to pray and a place to learn and a place to congregate.  This is the famous dar'l-Arqam (the house of Arqam).

Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr was a leader of his people even before Islam.  He is a leader of this ummah of course, but he was a leader before Islam and was well-respected in the Makkan community.  He was considered one of the seniors of the community.  He was someone to whom people would take their problems.  He was someone who would intermediate in conflicts and would step in and settle disputes.  On top of that, it is said that Abu Bakr was a man of wealth and dignity and honor.  The books on the life of Abu Bakr tell us that even before Islam he was well known not to consume alcohol, not to be publicly intoxicated, not to engage and indulge in fornication and adultery.  He was a man of very high esteem and high honor and great dignity even before Islam.  Regardless of the general culture of Makkah at that time, which had deteriorated very badly at that time, Abu Bakr was respected very widely because of this personal standard of dignity and honor and self-respect.

Abu Bakr was also a genealogist, a specialist of knowing people's lineages, the tribes and families and family trees.  He knew people and where they came from.  He was one of the first few people to accept Islam.  He was the first adult male to accept Islam.  According to the majority of scholars of sirah and hadith, the way they reconcile all of the narrations is that Abu Bakr may have been the fourth person to accept Islam after Khadijah, 'Ali, and Zayd b. al-Harithah .  He was the first person to pray publicly by the side of the Prophet .

To give you a little bit of insight into their relationship with one another, there are narrations about the life of the Prophet and childhood of the Prophet that tell us that the Prophet and Abu Bakr had been best friends since the age of ten.  There is a report that goes back all the way to the time when the Prophet was ten years old that talks about the friendship with Abu Bakr .  At a minimum, they had been best friends for 30 years.

On top of that, he was a man of very great honor and dignity and respect.  That is why when the Prophet presented the message to Abu Bakr, the narrations say that Abu Bakr asked the Prophet , “I haven't seen you coming and sitting with the people for the last day or so.  What's going on?  Is everything okay?”  When you don't hear from a close friend for a day, then it is cause for concern.  You immediately call them and drive over to their house and ask if everything is okay.  Abu Bakr didn't see the Prophet for a day / day and a half, and he grew concerned about his best friend, so he went to the Prophet and said, “What is going on?  Is everything okay?”  The Prophet of Allāh told Abu Bakr about the message.

I'll tell you what Abu Bakr did when he heard the message through the words of the Prophet . The Prophet says in a narration that: “Any time I presented this religion, this deen, this īmān, this Islam to anyone, they always took a moment to think.  They always hesitated for at least a little bit.”  Even 'Ali was a child, but he told the Prophet , “I need to sleep on it.”  The Prophet said, “Anyone I presented this religion to took a moment to reconsider things except for Abu Bakr .  He immediately embraced the faith.”

One time Abu Bakr and 'Umar – and this happens amongst friends, colleagues, and coworkers – had a dispute over a matter.  When it was brought to the Prophet , because of the overwhelming love that he had for Abu Bakr , he tells all of the sahabah that “I came and called all of you to Islam, and all of you initially said, 'You lie,' except for Abu Bakr.  I told him the message and he said, 'You speak the truth.'”  This is why the Prophet gave him the title of al-Siddiq.

This is a man of great love for the Prophet .  This is a man who recognized the truth faster and quicker than anyone else.  This was also a man who was willing to stand up for the truth before anyone else.

Spreading the Message of Islam

There is a beautiful story that when the number of Muslims reached about 40 and when the house of Arqam was popping at the seams and completely full of people, Abu Bakr told the Prophet of Allāh , “The time has come that we go and make a public appearance.  It is time, O Messenger of Allāh.”  The Prophet didn't prohibit him and didn't forbid it and didn't say “no,” otherwise it would have been a command.  The Prophet of Allāh told Abu Bakr , “I think we should be a little bit more cautious.”  Abu Bakr said, “No, O Messenger of Allāh.  I feel confident.”  He said, “Let's go.”

These forty believers are a very small minority in a big city.  They march into the Haram, and the narration says that to try to put themselves in a position of safety and security, they all scattered about in the Haram and looked for a few other members of their tribe or their family and went and stood next to them.  Why?  Because there was so much tribal loyalty and affiliation at that time that even if they disagreed with what you were doing or saying, if someone from another tribe tried to harm or hurt you, your tribespeople would say, “He is ours.  We'll take care of him.  If he needs to be slapped around, we will do the slapping, and you don't touch him.  He is our family member.”  There was enough tribal pride.  It was a strategic move.
They scattered about and found some people of their tribe and family even if they weren't believers to just be somewhat protected because these were very overwhelming odds.

The Prophet of Allāh sat down as well.  Abu Bakr was the first public spokesperson.  We talk about PR and wanting to make a statement in the media and a spokesperson.  The first spokesperson for Islam was Abu Bakr .  The first spokesperson on behalf of the Prophet and the first public endorsement the Prophet received was from Abu Bakr .  He stood up and presented the message to them.

The narrations tell us that the people attacked and jumped Abu Bakr viciously.  A few dozen other sahabah who were scattered around in the Haram came under attack.  Everybody was being beaten, but no one was beaten worse than Abu Bakr .  One of the leaders of Quraysh, 'Utbah b. Rabi'ah, took off his shoes and when Abu Bakr was knocked down, he sat on his chest and started to pound him on the face with his shoes.  The narration was specific and said that he was targeting his nose.  It broke his nose so badly and severely that the whole face of Abu Bakr was covered in blood.  He was disfigured and people couldn't even recognize him until finally the family of Abu Bakr realized what was going on. 

They stepped in and dispersed the mob and carried him home.  Everybody was certain that he was going to die.  The family of Abu Bakr, the majority of which were non-believers, swore that if he dies, they would kill 'Utbah b. Rabi'ah in retribution.  The case was that severe and his condition was so bad.

When he was taken home, it is said that when his mother and family members saw him, they started to uncontrollably cry.  The narration says that he was unresponsive for a day.  Allāh knows best.  It might have even been a coma.  His family members gathered around him and kept trying to talk to him and resuscitate and revive him somehow until finally Abu Bakr opened his eyes after a day.

Everyone gathered around, and the first words out of the mouth of Abu Bakr were, “What happened to the Prophet ?”  The last thing he remembered was that he was speaking in front of people and the Prophet was sitting there and then a mob broke out and there was pandemonium.  The last thing he saw was the Prophet sitting in the middle of a riot.  He didn't know what happened to the Prophet .  The first thing he asked was, “What happened to the Prophet ?”

His father, Abu Quhafah, who was blind and the other family members were so disgusted that they started to curse him and they walked out.  They said, “This man is helpless!  It is pointless with him!”  Before they left, they told his mother, who was called Umm'l-khayr, “Look after him, feed him.”  They gave her advice on how to bring him back to good health.

When the mother came back inside and tried to treat him, he said, “What happened to the Prophet ?”  She said, “I don't know, son.”  He said, “Go to Umm'l-Jameel (who was the sister of 'Umar b. al-Khattab and a believer who was hiding her Islam) and ask her.”  It is a very lengthy narration, but she goes there and she asks Umm'l-Jameel, who has to maintain her secrecy, and says, “I don't know what you are talking about.”  She says, “Can you at least come see my son?  He is dying.”

She goes to see Abu Bakr and imagine what his condition must have been.  These were people who were used to war and used to sword fighting and brutality.  When she saw Abu Bakr, she shrieked.  Imagine what his face was like!  She shrieked when she saw him and panicked.  Finally, Abu Bakr says, “What happened to the Prophet ?”  She said, “He is safe and he is okay.”  Abu Bakr took an oath. Imagine the physical condition he is in.  He took an oath and said, “I swear by Allāh, I will not eat anything, I will not drink a sip of water until I am able to lay my eyes on the Prophet and he is okay.”  His mother started to cry and said, “Son, why do you do this?”  Eventually realizing he wasn't going to budge, Umm'l-Jameel and his mother Umm'l-Khayr literally carry Abu Bakr at night to the house of Arqam.

When Abu Bakr walks through the door, the Prophet of Allāh sees Abu Bakr .  What you would normally expect the story to say is Abu Bakr hugged the Prophet and kissed him and cried on his shoulder.  The Prophet ran to the door and hugged Abu Bakr and held him and carried him and kissed him on his head.  The narration said that the Prophet cried on Abu Bakr's shoulder.  Abu Bakr told the Prophet , “I would give up my father and my mother for you, O Messenger of Allāh.  I don't care what they have done to my face as long as you are okay.”

In Light of Current Events

This is a story of true love and of compassion and of respect and of honor and of īmān above everything else.  I bring this story up and wanted to talk about this because of what has transpired over the last week or so.  This is not something that is completely new to us, but nevertheless this is something that we have to understand.  We must understand not just through emotional rhetoric and not through a PR statement and not through a photo-op but this is something we have to understand in the light of the Book of Allāh and the life of the Prophet .

The Messenger of Allāh is a pillar of our faith.  We believe in him.  This is something very profound!  He means a whole lot to us and is very important to us, and his disrespect and him being slandered and disrespected and when people speak about him inappropriately, it is something very hurtful to us.  If it was not and if we could sit there and watch a video being violent and disrespectful towards the Messenger of God and it wouldn't churn our stomach and wouldn't make us upset and we wouldn't have to stop it, then we have a problem in our īmān.

I had heard about the video, but because I know myself, I can't read that material and can't watch it because I feel like I am physically incapable of doing so.  It is too much to bear.  One of my students insisted and started to play it and in twenty seconds, I had to get up and leave the room; I couldn't take it.  If we weren't offended or insulted by it, then we have a problem in our own īmān.  There is no doubt about that fact.  As you have probably heard and as it has probably been stated numerous times, but it is important that it is stated here from the minbar on the day of Jumu'ah so that we all understand and internalize this, we also have to understand how to react and how to respond and how to deal with these emotions.
I'm going to present three basic things to you.

Character and Behavior of the Prophet

The first thing I would like to present to you is the character and behavior of the Prophet himself.  On Twitter and Facebook I see all the young people interacting “what would Muḥammad do.”  Let's not just have a hashtag.  Let's not say it because it is popular and it's cool.  What would the Prophet of Allāh do?  What did he do?

I will first talk about the outlook of the Prophet when he looked at the world, which included his lovers and haters.  It included his fans, believers, and followers, but it also included the people who despised him, hated him, and worked against him.  How did he view the world?  What was the lens of the Prophet ?

There is a narration that is in both Bukhāri and Muslim where Abu Hurayrah says, “I heard the Messenger of Allāh saying, 'My example and the example of all of humanity [he didn't say believers], our relationship and our interaction is a man standing in front of a burning fire.  When the fire grew a little and became bigger, and then the little insects [like moths coming to a flame – there are insects and creatures that are attracted to the fire and sometimes they don't realize, to their own detriment, and keep coming closer and closer to the fire until they fall in it and burn] are starting to flock and fly towards the flame.  The man starts to shoo the bugs and flies away, trying to scatter them away and fend them off from the fire, but these creatures are overwhelming this man and there are too many and just one man running around trying to catch all of them and stop all of them from falling into the fire.  They themselves are going forward and falling headfirst into this fire and burning themselves.  [Then the Prophet turns the example onto us]  I am trying to grab ahold of y'all, O mankind, from behind you. [Meaning:  I'm so overwhelmed that you are actually getting past me, and I'm not able to catch you before you get to me.  You are passing me and I'm reaching back trying to grab ahold of your clothes from behind so that I can pull you back from the fire.]  But you keep going headfirst and falling into the fire.'”

I want you to sense the desperation in this example and analogy.  This isn't something that someone comes up with very casually.  This is an expression of what somebody feels in his heart.  This is pain and anguish.  This is torture to live life in this way.  That is why it is no surprise that the Prophet of Allāh goes to lay down in his bed after serving humanity and preaching to humanity and saving humanity all day long and he is barely able to lay down and close his eyes for a moment and then says, “I have to go.”  He stands up and spreads his hands before Allāh and cries all night for humanity's sake.

This is the outlook of the Messenger of Allāh on the world that he lives in.  This includes the people who hate him and who speak ill of him.  We talk about what would the Prophet do in a situation where he is being wronged and slandered.

There is another narration mentioned by a few different books of hadith.  It is narrated in the Mustadrak of Hakim and the Sahih of Ibn Hibban and by al-Tabarani in his collection of hadith.  It is a very lengthy story.  The Prophet had gone to Zayd b. Su'na, who was a Jewish businessman, to buy something from him.  The Prophet did not have the payment ready at that time, so he fixed a payment date with him.  The man came back before the payment due date.  The narration says the Prophet is sitting with his companions.  He literally tears through the congregation.  Imagine somebody who is walking straight through and shoving people aside angrily.  He walks right up to the Prophet , and the narration says he literally grabs his clothes.  If somebody did that to us, what would we do?  We would tackle him.

He grabs the Prophet of Allāh .  Imagine that!  He says, “Where is my money?  You Banu Hashim, you people are notorious for not paying people back on time.  Pay up!  I don't trust you!”  subḥānAllāh!  The Prophet of Allāh is letting everyone cool down and relax.  'Umar draws his sword and says, “Give me the word, O Messenger, and I'll finish him right here where he stands.  You speak to my prophet and my messenger like that?!”

The Prophet of Allāh says, “Sheath your sword, ya 'Umar.”  He turns his attention to 'Umar b. al-Khattab and says, “'Umar, me and him didn't need someone to jump into the situation ready to spill blood.  That's not what we need.  We needed something else.  You should have told me that I should pay this man back properly.  And you should have told him to properly ask for his money [like scheduling an appointment and saying, “Brother can you please pay me because I have some bills to take care of and I would really appreciate it.”]  You should have advised me to pay properly and you should have advised him to ask properly and not jump in the middle and say you are going to finish him.”  Then the Prophet said to 'Umar, “And give him his right back and then on top of that, from yourself, I want you to give him an extra gift because you threatened him and treated him badly.  How dare you speak to somebody like that!  I want you to make it up to him and do something nice for him.  You don't treat people that way!”

That is what the Prophet did.   That is his standard.  That's number one.  None of the emotional rhetoric.  I know that here are two sentiments amongst the ummah.  I know that one sentiment is:  “We have to watch ourselves and think this through and make sure what type of a political statement it makes.  There is PR and media.”  Then there is another sentiment of the ummah: “We are tired of all this and don't want to do any more photo-ops.  We are tired of appeasing people and the truth is the truth.  We need to do what is right.”

Both sentiments are human reactions, but both sentiments need to turn back and look at the life of the Prophet .  Allāh said, “Take what the Messenger gave you and leave what he told you to leave.”  We need to look at the Prophet for guidance.  We want to defend him, so defend him by means of his guidance and his teachings.

That is the first thing I wanted to present.  This is something consistent throughout the life of the Prophet .  The narrations go on endlessly from the du‘ā’ that the Prophet made after Ta'if when he was abused and beaten at Ta'if and bled at Ta'if.  The du‘ā’ he made for those people afterwards was for guidance.  What did the Prophet do at the conquest of Makkah?  He was compassionate, merciful and forgiving towards these people.  This is a consistent thing throughout the teachings of the Prophet .

Ignorance

The second thing is that there will always be ignorant people on the face of this earth.  This is a reality of life.  Stupid is as stupid does.  There were ignorant people at the time of the Prophet who would say, “Yes, this is the truth, but I still want to oppose it.”  There is no reasoning with that man.  That is why the Qur'an and the precedent of the Messenger of Allāh even give us recourse in that matter.  You will be addressed by ignorant people and just say, “I am not going to stoop to your level, sir!”  It is not showing respect to that person but is respecting yourself.  “I will go about my business, but I will not engage in this nonsense and this ignorance.  I don't have time for this nonsense.”

This is the second thing we need to understand.

Telling People about the Prophet

This will be my concluding point.  How do we fix this issue and how do we solve this problem?  There has to be a more tangible solution.  We need to go out there and tell people about who the Prophet is.  We need to have written material, online material, public forums, symposiums, campaigns.  We need to inform humanity about who Muḥammad was and what he means to us.  We need to give them the truth about the Prophet .

Before we take that step – and this is the part that might sting a little and will be a bitter pill to swallow, and I apologize for anyone I offend.  I'm talking to myself – I cannot go and cannot speak to humanity about who the Prophet unless I know what I'm talking about first.  What do we know about the Prophet ?  It's not for me to ask you or for you to test me.  Ask yourself!  Do you really know about the Prophet ?  Do you really know his life?  Could you properly educate people about who the Prophet is?  Could you answer the questions that people would have about the Prophet ?  Could you?

I need to ask myself and go look in the mirror, and it isn't going to be fun.  A self-assessment never is, but it is important.  If the answer comes back as it does to me, “no, I don't,” then it is about time I got a little serious about this.  It is about time that I stop jumping and screaming when an incident occurred and actually dedicate my life to following the example and knowing who the Prophet is.

It is very important!  There are tons of resources.  The excuses in our times are gone!  We have scholars in your midst.  Sit and learn from them.  If you want a book, there are books.  If you want to read online, it is online.  A humble little effort that we started was taking into consideration the lowest common denominator:  someone who is very busy and doesn't have a lot of time or resources at all.  I started conducting a weekly seerah class, and we record the audio and put it online for free.  You can sign up so that it automatically downloads to your phone.  You can listen to it while you drive.  An hour a week – that's it, but you know who the Prophet is and what he stands for.

It is very important that we take this step to educate ourselves and our families and our communities until we become an educated community.  Then, we most definitely have to make noise.  But then we make the right type of noise.  We don't just go out there and yell and scream for the sake of yelling and screaming. 

Everywhere you turn, you see a Muslim talking about who the Prophet is.  Everywhere you look, you see a Muslim exemplifying the character of the Prophet .  Everywhere you look, you see a Muslim starting a project that brings to fruition and materializes one of the visions or instructions or guidance of the Prophet .  We better humanity, society, and the world we live in by means of the Prophet .  This is a practical plan and course of action.

May Allāh grant us the proper understanding of who the Prophet is and allow us to serve the deen properly.

Khutbah by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda | Transcribed by Sameera 

Excerpts from the transcript of Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda's khutbah "Defending the Honor of the Prophet Muḥammad (salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam)." The transcript is slightly modified for the sake of readability and clarity.

From Muslim matters. Here Jazakallah, Amathullah.
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