So What’s the Big Deal With Drawing the Prophet?
I can’t understand why the media, the west and everyone else who engaged in the “Let’s Draw Muhammad” contest recently couldn’t, in all their secular intelligence, attempt to first UNDERSTAND and then to act instead of the other way round. I am also extremely disappointed with Zapiro for simply “jumping on the bandwagon” which is very unlike him. The Zapiro I’m used to has deep insight, sharp wit and gets to the heart of the issue at hand. Zapiro’s cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) shows only deep ignorance… but I’ll analyse that later.
First, let’s get to the heart of the matter. Why are Muslims going crazy when this happens? Well, at the essence, we do not draw the Prophet Muhammad or represent him in any way or form even though we do have detailed, verified and ratified descriptions of him because it is mentioned in the Quraan not to fall into the trap of our Christian Brethren and end up worshipping the Prophet instead of God. Secondly, Muslims believe in ALL of the prophet’s of God – Moses, Jesus, Noah, Jonah, Adam, etc. (peace be upon them all) and we don’t DRAW any of them.
But still… why is there so much passion in this issue? well look at the content. The depictions are ignorant and horrible. There is no mistaking the intent behind them. It more represents some Hard-line Iranian ‘Terrorist’ Mullah than have any insight into the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims LOVE the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), I mean truly love. For Muslims he is the ultimate example of what a human being is supposed to be. We actually implement the idea that whenever we’re faced with any situation in life the question is automatically… “Well, what did the Prophet (pbuh) do?” You can’t underestimate this point, it leads to the next point in this issue.
Let’s make it personal. Take someone you truly love and would do anything for… say it’s your mother. Now, if someone was talking badly (or drawing nasty pictures) of your mother but did it amongst themselves and, obviously, they have a right to say what they want. It’s all absolutely fine. But when someone comes up to you and waves it about in your face and swears your mother to your face, what would you do? Yes, it is the ultimate example we need to follow to hold our peace and deal with it in an intelligent and civilised manner (in fact this is what the Prophet (pbuh) himself would have done. But being realistic… Your first move would be a punch in the gut of the offending perpetrator. This is the line between having the freedom to say what you want, but respecting the people around you.
Personally, this is the first time I’m writing about this because I can’t believe people’s stupidity and ignorance. In this day and age! For God’s sake (no pun intended) is everyone getting Stupider? Why can’t anyone else see this? Regarding the drawings themselves, I refuse to join any action AGAINST them on Facebook and shout out slogans, etc. because that only fuels the fire of the same idiots who created the group in the first place. I’ve IGNORED them from the beginning and I implore all other Muslims to do the same, or even better, start telling these people who the Prophet (pbuh) was, his example and what he means to them. This is the perfect opportunity.
Finally, I pray… that intelligence dawns on both sides of this conflict. It’s a shame on humanity that BOTH sides are acting like this. Let’s grow up.
Link to original Photo of Zapiro at launch of his book ‘Pirates of Polokwane’
I agree 100% with your sentiments. I’m disappointed yet again at the (what seems to be the proliferation of) irresponsible journalism in South Africa. Its like everyones out looking for controversy or a story to sensationalise. We shouldn’t feed this kind of propaganda. I think Zapiro just wanted attention because he knew full well what he was getting into and his own words “I thought I could get away with it” is testiment to that. SA media cannot use the excuse of ‘freedom of speech’ to justify blatant disrespect. RESPECT and TOLERANCE are all we really have as a nation. I wish we could get rid of all the morons so intent on dividing the nation instead of uniting it.
rightly said
Battling to find a standpoint on this, so many opposing questions flying through my thoughts..
@Azra, if freedom of speech was limited by “respect and tolerance” then where do we draw the line? Do we say that Zapiro shouldn’t draw anti-israel cartoons, as they offend zionists? Do we say that the Zuma cartoons were inappropriate as they offended both him, his family, his “followers” – surely his party people have some love for him and many called it offensive. Where do we draw the line between satire and comic and respect and tolerance?
Other Q, do we expect the world to live by our religious ideals and standards? If so, then why aren’t we furious with the homosexuals for being homo? Surely that angers God more?
Random ramblings.. mixed feelings..
Like you’ve mentioned the central focus on this issue should be INTENT. It’s obvious that those drawing/caricaturing the Prophet, have a motive to hurt those that deeply care for his respect.
Well said :)
I think it again boils down to the concept of freedom of expression. Zapiro’s cartoon was not as inflammatory as the others – but in his view, it’s his right to freely express himself. And perhaps he forgot the companion to this freedom: the responsibility that comes with freedom.
Khalid Baig actually wrote something very nice about it, which I’ve pasted in my latest post.
@Faizal –
I’m sorry, but I do not see the similarities between drawing the Prophet SAW aka reference to Islam and Israel/Zionism. Zionism has nothing to do with religion and is pure politics. Alot of Palestinians that are persecuted are Christian and Jewish too.
Attacking Zuma too, has nothing to do with religion, its Politics.
Since when did it become OK to attack Islam as a religion? People have to learn to distinguish between CULTURE, POLITICS and RELIGION. I don’t see anyone drawing caricatures mocking Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism.
Freedom of Speech, politics, culture and what-what. Just leave God out of it.
In theory yes, prophets shouldn’t be worshiped instead of gods. But this is just a theory, and indeed a large amount of Muslims do worship Mohammed to absurd extents. (In order to be politically correct, which shouldn’t be needed, I will point out that distortions like this happen in all religions: take for example the Catholic saints and the miraculous powers that they are supposed to have in the eyes of many. Is it really needed that every time we say something about Islam we have to compare with other religions?). So this is another factor to consider when understanding the anger generated by the cartoons, I think.
I was prompted to comment by the author saying that Mohammed is not to be worshiped and at the same time his strong commitment to send peace to every prophet every time that they are mentioned in the post, but not a remotely similar treatment for God (and why only similar, since he/she is supposed to be infinitely above Mohammed in the “worship ranking”!)
One more thing: Azra said above “I don’t see anyone drawing caricatures mocking Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism.” Before I even heard much about Islam, many years ago, my first such experience was a T-shirt in a plane: “Jesus saves” and below Jesus depicted as a goalkeeper. Disrespectful? Sure it was for some people. It’s not so difficult to find this about religions other than Islam, it’s just the fashion so it comes to us through the mainstream media that surrounds us all.