It is this double standard and hypocrisy by western governments that inflames the Muslim world against their policies and practices, especially with respect to Israel's invasions and genocide against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Criticizing Israel for its illegal occupation, inhumane siege of Gaza, massacring Gaza's children, demolishing thousands of homes, destroying hospitals, clinics, schools, churches and mosques, depriving the population of food, water and medicine, it's massive abuse of human rights and defiance of International laws, and much more is unacceptable, censored, hateful, and strongly defended by western governments and the media as "Israel's right to self defense", a right that its victims are denied.
Muslims are strictly forbidden from carrying out any violence or calling for death threats against the perpetrators of hate against the Prophet. The Holy Quran forbids such violence and directs Muslims to endure and be patient as the Holy Prophet endured during his lifetime.

"And, whenever they heard frivolous talk, having turned away from it and said: "Unto us shall be accounted Our deeds, and unto you, your deeds. Peace be upon you – [but] we do not seek out such as are ignorant [of the meaning of right and wrong]." (Quran: 28:55)

"Believers (Muslims), stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others toward you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear God. For God is well-acquainted with all that you do." (Qur'an 5:8)

The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) and the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE) condemned the death threats issued by Al Qaeda and other small extremist groups against Lars Vilks, the Swedish cartoonist, and Ulf Johansson editor in chief of the paper that published his cartoon of the Prophet with a body of a dog. Such hate must be met with patience and a strong educational outreach program to tell the truth about Islam and its beloved Prophet Muhammad (p).


Perpetual racism, arrogance, and ignorance of Islam in the west are the combustible ingredients for assured mutual destruction of our planet. The lack of any sacredness in the west that belies the misguided application of free speech against the "other" rests on the premise that if I hold nothing sacred and I damn my own faith and religious figures then I have the right to damn yours and if you are civilized like me you will accept such racist rantings as free speech. That is the rational of fools who've surrendered their superficial intellect to misguided stupidity.

It's not enough that the west has annihilated, bombed, and committed holocausts across the globe against the "other"; now the "other" must endure the verbal and written bombs upon their faith, culture, and traditions.

What conceivable civilized aim can be achieved by denigrating a Prophet of 1.6 Billion Muslims? Why aren't Muslims retaliating with the same vile hate against Judeo-Christian religious founders such as Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them both, or the Torah and Gospel? Because Muslims believe and revere these two prophets and the original holy revelations they received.

The least that can be expected from "civilized" people who wish to criticize a faith is to have a working knowledge on the subject to confer some credibility for their critique. Such knowledge of Islam is sorely missing in the West, thus such critiques are frivolous and meaningless.
Both the Danish and Swedish cartoonists who drew the vile cartoons of the Prophet were unknown entities until they entered racist contests concocted by two small papers in a competition to defame and demonize a most exalted person. After the controversy these two men achieved the celebrity status that has eluded them for decades.

But what of this man, Muhammad (p), who for centuries became the object of racist depictions by people who knew nothing about him in Christian Europe and in the U.S. (Read: "Muhammad in Europe", by Minou Reeves)

The British Historian Michael H. Hart in his book: "The 100: Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History" chose Muhammad (p) as the most influential human being in history. He wrote:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential
persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he
was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the
religious and secular level."

The famous French writer, poet, and politician Alphonse le Lamartine (1790-1869) in his book, "Histoire De La Turque", wrote of Muhammad (p):

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the
three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in
modern history with Muhammad"?

The renowned Professor of Comparative Religion Karen Armstrong wrote a book in 2006 entitled "Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time"

There are endless biographies, books, speeches and statements on Prophet Muhammad (p) by renowned authors around the world that exalt his person, his unshakeable spiritual beliefs, morality, ethics, compassion, mercy, and extraordinary leadership.

TBC...

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 15^th, 2010 at 11:22pm:

There will be no lasting peace among the religions without the surrender of their respective claims to primacy, their sense of mortgage on the truth, their arrogation of the right to proselytize and the abolition of penalty for apostasy. Until then, dialogue will only be tactics in aid of cynical objectives.

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 15^th, 2010 at 11:22pm:

If god's primary concern was that humankind know each other, he would not have created nations, tribes and language barriers.

So, either you must accept that your god is a liar who did not expect any critique of his or the Koran was (clearly) written by humans (without the need for a god) who did not expect the same.

And serves only to highlight what you fear most.

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 6:41am:

Many paths to the One... Not one path to the One.

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 6:41am:

Intellectual Cowardice. If you reject what I believe I will beat you to death.

Surely "ultimate truth" is incontrovertible and requires only that the apostate see this (for surely this fact would be clear). On the other hand if he finds that another religion (or the state of non-belief) is more true or more effective, why should he not be permitted to seek god/happiness the best way he can? Of course that would require religions to relinquish any claim to religious primacy.

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 6:41am:

There's always a way to contort the illogical, if that's what you need to do. Differences are the very essence of division and hostility. What is the point or the meaning of division where there is no difference?

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 6:41am:

No, I understood the point of the verse..

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That is a very, very good question. It may come down to the need people have to believe, perhaps a little brainwashing as a child, maybe something lacking in their lives that is "filled" by religion, maybe a feeling of belonging....there's probably a whole range of reasons, and many are no doubt quite valid. The idea that religion is the ABSOLUTE truth is not one of them. (although I can understand why people delude themselves into believing this)

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I don't see how my belief that my path is the only correct one affects others. Why would you want to enforce upon people that they hold other paths to be just as true? Why would I choose a path, if I though other paths were just as valid?

If I choose a brand of cereal because I believe it's the tastiest, must I also consider all other cereals equally as tasty?? I'm sorry but I don't. That's just the way life is, your ideas are artificial and not practical.

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No it's more a matter of if you abandon your community and join with another then you have betrayed us.

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Correct that's why he's given time to contemplate and to be educated about the facts. Very few people were ever executed for this under Islam, because 1) few people reject Islamic teachings anyway and 2) when confronted with the truth, they cannot deny it.

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It's not illogical at all though. What would be illogical is us all being made as carbon copies of one another, which according to you would be the correct way.

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To the shallow minded, perhaps. Difference is the means by which things attract usually, as they always say "opposites attract". If it weren't for our differences, even within a race or even family, then we'd have no way of differentiating one another or recognising or perhaps even loving one another.

I'm really quite surprised by your lack of depth on this one helian.

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I don't think you did, and I don't think you thought about it's ramifications for identification, recognition, admiration, imprinting and the entire way human society functions.

jordan484 wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 11:06am:


Spot on Jordan, It is for muslims at least, more a case of;
An angel came down to earth and told this guy that Brand X, is THE tastiest cereal, and god says that this is the only cereal you should eat.
Also, if any body ever tastes Brand X, but decides they like another cereal better, they must be killed.
Also studies have shown that Brand X also appears to have some worrying side effects, where it makes men wish to subjugate the women in their society, and for the women to accept that as a fair price to pay for the right to eat Brand X.
Another side effect is that some seem to get so addicted to Brand X that they babble incoherently and make extreme demands to see Brand X become the only cereal available on the planet.

So, I guess I will stick with Corn Flakes.