This is not the way to counter such issues. Certainly its a very good example set by our people but in the mean time we should also realize to this very fact that we have to do something that can make them think for any future blasphemeous actions, a knock out punch!!!!

I am not an extremist but on these type of situations i will rather love to be one. Those cartoons are not acceptable by any means nor are the reactions of our people.

Prophet (PBUH) said: "Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy"

-Tanya Ahmed

Aslamoaliakum,

We all know what is happening but we 1st consider being a muslim nation that what should be our reaction.I want to share a letter to editor in dawn.

Cartoon protests



“YOU do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari) That description of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a summary of how he reacted to personal attacks and abuse. Islamic traditions include a number of instances of the Prophet having the opportunity to strike back at those who attacked him, but refraining from doing so.

These traditions are particularly important as we witness the current outrage in the Islamic world over cartoons initially published in a Danish newspaper that are viewed as an intentional attack on the Prophet.

Peaceful and not-so-peaceful protests have occurred from Gaza to Indonesia. Boycotts have targeted companies based in Denmark and in other nations that reprinted the offensive caricatures.

All of us, Muslims and people of other faiths, seem to be locked in a downward spiral of mutual mistrust and hostility based on self-perpetuating stereotypes. As Muslims, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves the question: “What would the Prophet have done?”

Muslims are taught the tradition of the woman who would regularly throw trash on the Prophet as he walked down a particular path. The Prophet never responded in kind to the woman’s abuse. Instead, when she one day failed to attack him, he went to her home to inquire about her. In another tradition, the Prophet was offered the opportunity to have God punish the people of a town near Makkah who refused the message of Islam and attacked him with stones. Again, the Prophet did not choose to respond in kind to the abuse.

Even when the Prophet was in a position of power, he chose the path of kindness and reconciliation. When he returned to Makkah after years of exile and personal attacks, he did not take revenge on the people of the city, but instead offered them a general amnesty.

In the Holy Quran, God states: “When (the righteous) hear vain talk, they withdraw from it saying: ‘Our deeds are for us and yours for you; peace be on to you. We do not desire the way of the ignorant’. O Prophet (Muhammad), you cannot give guidance to whom you wish, it is God Who gives guidance to whom He pleases, and He is quite aware of those who are guided.” (28:55-56)

Another verse tells the prophet to “show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.” (7:199)

These are the examples that Muslims should follow as they express justifiable concern at the publication of the cartoons. This unfortunate episode can be used as a learning opportunity for people of all faiths who sincerely wish to know more about Islam and Muslims. It can also be viewed as a “teaching moment” for Muslims who want to exemplify the prophet’s teachings through the example of their good character and dignified behaviour in the face of provocation and abuse.

We should protest at all forums and in all ways but we should not destroy the lives, property and the freedom of those who are not even remotely connected to this event. Let us not be emotional and analyze the whole situation objectively.

DR M RAFIQUE GOODA
Karachi

courtesy DAWN

Take care,

AllahHafiz.

We Muslims are advised not to retaliate in a harsh manner, but to respond to such profanity with dignity and honor, without resorting to frenzy and violence.



It is said that
Don’t kill the evil-doer but eliminate the root-cause of evil so that nobody repeats that evil.

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Life is a kaleidoscope of flaws, desires, emotions and mishaps__ YHK