MUSLIMS DECRY VIOLENT REACTION TO INFLAMMATORY CARTOONS

[PsychoDad]

Muslims decry violent reaction to inflammatory cartoons

By Okolo Rashid
Special to The Clarion-Ledger

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/FEAT04/603110308

In the wake of the cartoon controversy, I thought I would share with you the stand that many Muslims around the world have taken. I do this because mainstream media very seldom captures this side of the story.
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What I want to talk about is not how wrong that was and what it means and why. Instead I would like to share excerpts from a Jumuah Khutbah (Friday Sermon) by Imam Luqman of the United Kingdom that was adopted "unofficially" by Muslims worldwide and circulated via the Internet and the Muslim media. It is a message to the global Muslim community.

Imam Luqman's sermon focused on how Prophet Muhammed responded to ridicule, as he reminds Muslims of Prophet Muhammed's prayer at Ta'if. (Ta'if is a village about 50 miles southeast of Makkah where Muhammed went to preach and was beaten severely)

Muhammed recited this prayer after he was forced to flee from the insults and physical abuse of the people of Ta'if, wherein his slippers were filled with blood and wounds covered his entire body.
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"O Allah! I complain to you of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and my humiliation before the people. O most merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too, to whom have you entrusted me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affairs? So long as you are not angry with me, I do not care. Your favor is of more abundance to me. I seek refuge in the light of your face, by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest your anger or your displeasure descend upon me. I desire your pleasure and satisfaction, until you are pleased. There is no power and no might, except by you. Amen."

Imam Luqman admonishes Muslims for exploding in rage and violence and confirming the thesis of the offending cartoons and thus, falling into the reactionary trap set for them.

[IndyOp]

1. Thank you - I appreciate your sharing this.

There was an excellent segment about the 'cartoon controversy' on Air America's State of Belief last week (or the week before). The show's host Rev. Welton Gaddy is a leader of the Interfaith Alliance and he includes diverse viewpoints each week - Ghandi's grandson one week and a young Imam the next. It gives me hope.

This is a key part of Imam Luqman's message taken from the article above:

Imam Luqman admonishes Muslims for exploding in rage and violence and confirming the thesis of the offending cartoons and thus, falling into the reactionary trap set for them.

Muslims are called upon to reflect upon Prophet Muhammed's supplication in Ta'if.

In the Feb. 24, 2006, issue of the Muslim Journal, Luqman wrote: "If those who claim to love the Prophet so much that they are willing to infringe upon prophetic conduct with their blind rage and fury would reflect upon this prayer, it would be a guiding light for them and clear instruction as to how a Muslim should respond to our current situation. It also is the only salve by which troubled hearts and souls will find peace ..."