"Blasphemy" Shifting Paradigms...
 

As the Oxford Dictionary states
"[B]The action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk[/B]
and the Merriam Webster Dictionary as
[B]Irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable[/B]
and most appropriately by the same Dictionary as
[B][I]Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for deities, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable.[/I][/B]

[B]Status of Blasphemy in other religions [/B]

Among Jews and Christians, the "Book of Leviticus" (Old testament) states that

[COLOR="Purple"]"The Jewish law is based on the case of the blasphemer, one of the mixed multitude that went out of Egypt with the children of Israel (Lev. xxiv. 10-23). He blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; was sentenced to be taken without the camp; and it was decreed that all who heard him should lay their hands upon his head, and that all the congregation should stone him. The judgment in his case was formulated in a general law in verses 15 and 16."[/COLOR]

[B]What if any heathen has done a blasphemy, or any Jew has abused the names of heathen gods?[/B]

[COLOR="purple"]Although, according to Jewish law, a Jew who blasphemed a heathen deity was not guilty of the crime of blasphemy, Josephus ("Ant." iv. 8, § 10, after Philo, "Vita Mosis," 26; ed. Mangey, ii. 166) to the contrary notwithstanding, yet a heathen might be guilty if he blasphemed the name of the Lord (Baraita Sanh. 56a). The crime of the heathen blasphemer, though subjecting him to the penalty of death, did not oblige the Jewish by-standers to rend their garments. The Talmud bases the custom of rending the garments in such cases upon the Biblical precedent in II Kings xviii. 37)[/COLOR]

Means if any Jew has done the crime, he will not be punished and on contrary to it, if any heathen has done the crime, he will be punished.

In [I]Hinduism[/I] their is no such consistent law is present.

In [B]Buddhism[/B], it speaks about the reaction of Lord Buddha if someone used to insult him. According to it, the Lord Buddha appreciated to not indulge in such discussion or even if any such thing happens, forgive them.

[B]Status of Blasphemy in Islam[/B]

There is no clear verse present in Quran and no Hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is present which can describe the punishment of Blasphemy.
In Sunnah one such example is present

[COLOR="purple"]The Prophet said, "Who is ready to kill Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf who has really hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Muhammad bin Maslama said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you like me to kill him?" He replied in the affirmative. So, Muhammad bin Maslama went to him (i.e. Ka'b) and said, "This person (i.e. the Prophet) has put us to task and asked us for charity." Ka'b replied, "By Allah, you will get tired of him." Muhammad said to him, "We have followed him, so we dislike to leave him till we see the end of his affair." Muhammad bin Maslama went on talking to him in this way till he got the chance to kill him. Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:270, see also Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:369, Sahih Muslim, 19:4436 Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:45:687 Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:271 [/COLOR]

But this is just one example (having two facets as well) as against dozens in which Holy Prophet (PBUH) forgiven all

1. Stoning of Holy Prophet PBUH by Taif hooligans.
2. Garbage thrown by an Old Lady.
3. Hide of dead animal thrown on him while praying.
4. Abusing him with words like "Majnoon" ""Fabricator" "Liar". There are nearly 200 places in Quran but along with them there is no punishment present.

In all such cases Holy Prophet (PBUH) forgiven the culprits and not only forgiven but prayed for their forgiveness from Allah and to show them the right path...

[B]Stance of Ehl-e-Sunnat WalJamaat[/B]

State is responsible for the punishment of such people according to the law. Individuals are not allowed to take the law in their hands according to Shariah. There will be investigation regarding this and if the person in question is found guilty, he or she will be sentenced to death by the state.

[B]Case of Ka'b ibn Al-Ashraf[/B]

He was a Madiniite and there was a treaty among the people of Madina that there will be no collusion with the Makkahns.
Ka'b ibn al Ashraf has colluded with Makkahns, taken money from Abu Sufyan to mock the Holy Prophet PBUH and the martyred Muslims.
His murder was more political then personal in nature.
One more cause of his murder is said to be when all Jewish tribes were accused for treason against the state of Madina. And for treason there is always a sentence of death in every religion,nation and country even in the present time.

[B]Muslims' Unjustified reaction towards Blasphemy[/B]

[B][COLOR="purple"]Firstly[/COLOR][/B]

Individually or in a mob the lynching of any person accused of blasphemy is not allowed and state is responsible for punishment.

[B][COLOR="purple"]Secondly[/COLOR]
[/B]
There are certain sects among Muslims as well in which there is a practice of "Organized Blasphemy" (as the definition implies) against the sacred personalities of religion. And the followers of such sects are in millions.

There are dozens of books written by Authentic and reverend Muslim (Both Shia and Sunnis) Scholars in which there are certain sentences which can be taken as clear "Blasphemy" against even "Holy Prophet PBUH"...And the followers of such scholars are in millions as well.

When there are wolves in our hordes then why we are blaming people of other religions, ignorant to our traditions and customs?

[QUOTE=RAO RAMEEZ;778356]As the Oxford Dictionary states
"[B]The action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk[/B]
and the Merriam Webster Dictionary as
[B]Irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable[/B]
and most appropriately by the same Dictionary as
[B][I]Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for deities, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable.[/I][/B]

[B]Status of Blasphemy in other religions [/B]

Among Jews and Christians, the "Book of Leviticus" (Old testament) states that

[COLOR="Purple"]"The Jewish law is based on the case of the blasphemer, one of the mixed multitude that went out of Egypt with the children of Israel (Lev. xxiv. 10-23). He blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; was sentenced to be taken without the camp; and it was decreed that all who heard him should lay their hands upon his head, and that all the congregation should stone him. The judgment in his case was formulated in a general law in verses 15 and 16."[/COLOR]

[B]What if any heathen has done a blasphemy, or any Jew has abused the names of heathen gods?[/B]

[COLOR="purple"]Although, according to Jewish law, a Jew who blasphemed a heathen deity was not guilty of the crime of blasphemy, Josephus ("Ant." iv. 8, § 10, after Philo, "Vita Mosis," 26; ed. Mangey, ii. 166) to the contrary notwithstanding, yet a heathen might be guilty if he blasphemed the name of the Lord (Baraita Sanh. 56a). The crime of the heathen blasphemer, though subjecting him to the penalty of death, did not oblige the Jewish by-standers to rend their garments. The Talmud bases the custom of rending the garments in such cases upon the Biblical precedent in II Kings xviii. 37)[/COLOR]

Means if any Jew has done the crime, he will not be punished and on contrary to it, if any heathen has done the crime, he will be punished.

In [I]Hinduism[/I] their is no such consistent law is present.

In [B]Buddhism[/B], it speaks about the reaction of Lord Buddha if someone used to insult him. According to it, the Lord Buddha appreciated to not indulge in such discussion or even if any such thing happens, forgive them.

[B]Status of Blasphemy in Islam[/B]

There is no clear verse present in Quran and no Hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is present which can describe the punishment of Blasphemy.
In Sunnah one such example is present

[COLOR="purple"]The Prophet said, "Who is ready to kill Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf who has really hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Muhammad bin Maslama said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you like me to kill him?" He replied in the affirmative. So, Muhammad bin Maslama went to him (i.e. Ka'b) and said, "This person (i.e. the Prophet) has put us to task and asked us for charity." Ka'b replied, "By Allah, you will get tired of him." Muhammad said to him, "We have followed him, so we dislike to leave him till we see the end of his affair." Muhammad bin Maslama went on talking to him in this way till he got the chance to kill him. Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:270, see also Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:369, Sahih Muslim, 19:4436 Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:45:687 Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:271 [/COLOR]

But this is just one example (having two facets as well) as against dozens in which Holy Prophet (PBUH) forgiven all

1. Stoning of Holy Prophet PBUH by Taif hooligans.
2. Garbage thrown by an Old Lady.
3. Hide of dead animal thrown on him while praying.
4. Abusing him with words like "Majnoon" ""Fabricator" "Liar". There are nearly 200 places in Quran but along with them there is no punishment present.

In all such cases Holy Prophet (PBUH) forgiven the culprits and not only forgiven but prayed for their forgiveness from Allah and to show them the right path...

[B]Stance of Ehl-e-Sunnat WalJamaat[/B]

State is responsible for the punishment of such people according to the law. Individuals are not allowed to take the law in their hands according to Shariah. There will be investigation regarding this and if the person in question is found guilty, he or she will be sentenced to death by the state.

[B]Case of Ka'b ibn Al-Ashraf[/B]

He was a Madiniite and there was a treaty among the people of Madina that there will be no collusion with the Makkahns.
Ka'b ibn al Ashraf has colluded with Makkahns, taken money from Abu Sufyan to mock the Holy Prophet PBUH and the martyred Muslims.
His murder was more political then personal in nature.
One more cause of his murder is said to be when all Jewish tribes were accused for treason against the state of Madina. And for treason there is always a sentence of death in every religion,nation and country even in the present time.

[B]Muslims' Unjustified reaction towards Blasphemy[/B]

[B][COLOR="purple"]Firstly[/COLOR][/B]

Individually or in a mob the lynching of any person accused of blasphemy is not allowed and state is responsible for punishment.

[B][COLOR="purple"]Secondly[/COLOR]
[/B]
There are certain sects among Muslims as well in which there is a practice of "Organized Blasphemy" (as the definition implies) against the sacred personalities of religion. And the followers of such sects are in millions.

There are dozens of books written by Authentic and reverend Muslim (Both Shia and Sunnis) Scholars in which there are certain sentences which can be taken as clear "Blasphemy" against even "Holy Prophet PBUH"...And the followers of such scholars are in millions as well.

When there are wolves in our hordes then why we are blaming people of other religions, ignorant to our traditions and customs?[/QUOTE]


[B]What kind of barbaric people are we Pakistanis? Christian couple accused of blasphemy were burned alive. Just take a moment & imagine yourselves as the couple in this story and really think about that.

In Pakistan where it is well known that the Blasphemy Law is used and misused according to whims and wishes, no non-Muslim would dare to do such an offense called 'Blasphemy'.

This law must be repealed.We should ignore people who are guilty of blasphemy and tell them that the greatest man whom you are targeting in your acts of blasphemy is the one who has taught us to ignore what you are committing.


[/B]

Media systematically propagandizes against the blasphemy law in Shar'iah, any unjust attempt to hurt minority is deplorable, agreed, but the way media defames Pakistan and Islam is suggestive of malice, funded propaganda against us. Some "evil" Christians of the West desire blasphemy law be repealed in Pakistan; this country was founded in the name of Islam, with Allah, the Mightiest and His law, being the Sovereign in Pakistan, hence no whatsoever propagandized morality can override the rule of Allah. For further guidance, consult the Constitution, if anyone has issues with the blasphemy law.

Blasphemy law should repealed. There should be no such law in existence. No matter how modified a law we have, Muslims of Pakistan who are choke-full with religious fanaticism (including their conspiracy-afflicted "educated" and "moderate" apologists who have set new standards in ignorance and bigotry) will continue to "misuse" (an apologist's word, not mine) it.

There should be no such law. Period. Anyone trying to act as judge and "punishing" a blasphemy accused should face the law. This is the only way to deal with this evil.

The blasphemy law does never state to hang or lynch the convict allegedly. The state is responsible to make such decisions provided a proper evidence. The lack of educating people and lack of law and order prevalent in a society gives rise to such issues. Such incidents pose Pakistani Muslims no less than a barbaric nation globally. These convicts do not actually make any harm to our religion but it's we, who are maliciously representing our religion to the world. According to the reports, the mosques and mullas have fanned the issue so they are equally responsible for blood feud of the couple as the mobs are. Please educate the mullas and the nation about the rights of minorities.

[QUOTE=Mohammad Ali;778433]Media systematically propagandizes against the blasphemy law in Shar'iah, any unjust attempt to hurt minority is deplorable, agreed, but the way media defames Pakistan and Islam is suggestive of malice, funded propaganda against us. Some "evil" Christians of the West desire blasphemy law be repealed in Pakistan; this country was founded in the name of Islam, with Allah, the Mightiest and His law, being the Sovereign in Pakistan, hence no whatsoever propagandized morality can override the rule of Allah. For further guidance, consult the Constitution, if anyone has issues with the blasphemy law.[/QUOTE]

I agree. But there is need to reform this society of misusing the law. The panacea to exempt the cruelty and injustice propelling from this law is by applying the metaphor 'tit for tat'. Those who take the state's responsibility on their shoulders should be killed publicly the way people are killed by their hands or less be punished of life imprisonment.

[QUOTE]But there is need to reform this society of misusing the law.[/QUOTE]

There should be no law of death penalty in the first place. As pointed out in the original post (and made amply clear by history) there is no such precedence from the life of the Prophet and early Islam. The current blasphemy laws of Islam are based on an extremely narrow interpretation of Quranic verses which hardly makes any sense. At most, people who desecrate Quran and commit blasphemy (if substantial evidence is there) can face the fine or imprisonment of a few months, that is, after they are given the option of retraction and apology. But death for such a crime is nothing but barbarity which has become a hallmark of modern-day Muslims.

So this black law, as it exists, needs to be abolished. A law that is itself barbaric will inevitably be "misused".

Why this blunder always happened in Punjab Why ?????:oo:oo:oo:oo

Bushra, if the state itself utterly fails to assume responsibility for acting against the wrongs of its subjects, whether it be right or wrong, individual citizens will come forth to enforce the law. In Salman Taseer's case, he was the representative of state, he did not let the law take its course, she was sentenced to death as per law and he intervened partially in favor of the convict; meaning to say, the state in place of administering the law, is letting off the criminal here, what naturally or choicelessly led a citizen to take the law into his own hands. For clarification purpose, I do not support an individual's enforcement of the law, only so long as the state does bring to book the accused of this shameful crime, timely.

Now what I am implicitly against is some Roman Catholic Church in the West or paid servile flatterers of the West in Pakistani media dictating this Islamic Republic of Pakistan to repeal the law just because it guards the honor of Holy Prophet (endless peace and abundant blessings of Allah be upon him), that is what I am innately against and shall, till I breathe my last, be, "fortunately", along with the mass majority of Pakistan that lacks means to come register their views on social media in opposition to yours' or your likes'.

I appreciate you agreed to my standpoint, though the agreement was, to an excessive degree, meager. :)

I would support the cause of repealing blasphemy law, rather there should be no law at all in Pakistan. Even traffic cops 'misuse' the trafic laws to gain bribes on daily basis hahaha :D. Let there be a fight and the winner establish the new order :D.

But anyways, most of the deaths that have occurred in popularized cases of blasphemy were lynchings, there have been very few convictions. It means that it is a popular trend in some areas of the country, there is very little persecution by the state. Neither we have had any radical government which could use this law to persecute minorities. Even the most religiously zealous regime, compared to others, that of Zia ul Haq which enacted this law, didn't appear to make any extensive use of this particular law to meet it's ambition of curbing political opposition. It means directly condemning presence of a law which is perceived as sign of a Islamic State by the people is counterproductive and it fuels religious tensions. You need to deal with the popular trend first and then be a watchdog over the actions of the state in implementing this particular law I suppose :D.

But a problem can only be solved by a people who see the problem and make a resolve to solve it. We are a people who create problems for ourselves and then make cries to gain attention and free stuff. That's the survival strategy of people living in this part of the world :D. If you can notice it, it happens everyday, everyone is crying but yet there is no solution to any problem, rather no problem at all, because everyone knows the problems are artificial and there is always someone to blame :D.