On Current Unrest: There Must Be a Better Way to Express Yourself!
By Nazli Siddiqui
San Antonio, TX
As Middle East burns in the wake of the slanderous film, I am hoping this message would reach readers in that region, in Africa, and South and Central Asia.
I want to share an email received from a Muslim friend who quoted another long-time Muslim friend:
While many Muslims once again fall into the reactionary trap set for them and confirm the thesis of the offending so-called movie, by exploding in rage and violence, we would do well to reflect upon the Prophet’s supplication in Taif. This is the prayer he recited with shoes full of blood, wounds all over his body and after having been insulted, ridiculed and abused by the people of Taif to whom he had taken recourse seeking a place of refuge. Moreover, this occurs after three years of suffering a boycott at the hands of the Quraysh as a result of which Muslims were reduced to eating grass and leaves off of trees.
The Prophet said: “O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and the humiliation I have been subjected to by 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?”
The Prophet continued: “Regarding a person who receives me with hostility, or an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair. So long as You (God) are not angry with me, I do not care! Your favor is of a more expansive relief 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. I seek your pleasure, acceptance and satisfaction only. There is no power and no might except by You.”
If those who claim to love the Prophet(s) 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 a clear instruction as to how a Muslim should respond to our current situation. It is also the only salve by which troubled hearts and souls will find peace.
Joining voice with other Muslim organizations, the Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) in Washington, DC condemned the killing of Christopher Stevens, US Ambassador to Libya and three other Americans in a mob attack in Benghazi, calling it “a horrific act.” PACE is a division of the Muslim American Society (MAS), organized as a civic and educational organization. Its press release states:
“We firmly believe this was a cowardly act totally contradicting the teachings of Islam. If people had objections to a film about the Prophet Muhammad, they should exemplify his character of peace, mercy and forgiveness instead of resorting to murder. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and respects the freedom of expression.”
These views expressed by Muslims and Muslim organizations call upon the sanity of the Muslim masses across the world. An amateur film-maker with a false identity, who has spent time in federal prison for grand fraud, releases a low-budget sleazy movie in July, and advertises it in the Middle East around the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 with the objective of inciting street wrath and igniting a wildfire of murderous unrest. As Muslims play right into the plot, he must be one fulfilled man this moment.
Politics aside, but in the West, including America, the governments do not control the media or independent productions and cannot be held responsible for the acts of individuals. However, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have condemned this film as a violation of Muslim religious sensibilities.
Historically, events like Salman Rushdie’s book, the Danish cartoons, and now this film have caused eruptions of violent protests across the Muslim world, usually resulting into their own bloodshed.
Unfortunately this is not the last time something like this has happened. There is no shortage of sick minds who will continue to play this game, until Muslims can find a disciplined, peaceful, intellectual and more effective way to respond, one that would have been approved by the Holy Prophet himself in his lifetime. Senseless violence in his name is the biggest disrespect to his legacy.
(Nazli Siddiqui is the President of Progressive Staffing Services, em ployment consultant and free-lance writer)
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