Re: Innocent of Muslims move causes outrage
Asalaamu Alaikum,
From Hamza's facebook;
Here are some of my reflections concerning the recent insults against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace). [We have prepared a formal response and it will be sent out soon.]
* Self-defeating: Freedom to Insult *
The 19th century British philosopher and thinker, John Stuart Mill argued that the main basic justification of freedom of speech is that truth is advanced in the competition of ideas, and that the competition of ideas can only occur within liberty. From this justification the following objectives of freedom of speech have been discussed by thinkers:
- acquisition of knowledge,
- acknowledgement truth,
- accounting governments and individuals,
- intellectual and scientific progress.
Conversely, neo-liberal thinkers seem to deny their own tradition, and exclaim that insults, bad language and degradation is necessary for the achievement of the objectives of freedom of speech. Under scrutiny, this perspective is self-defeating and is uncivilised.
Taking the recent disgraceful insults and degradation of the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) as an example, it can be argued that it defeats the very justification and objectives of the liberal notion of freedom of speech. Freedom to insult which includes the use of degrading language and visual obscenities actually contradicts the very foundation of freedom of speech. For example, in order to acquire truth and facilitate progress good argumentation is required, and this argumentation must be couched in human language. Insulting and using degrading language or imagery does not facilitate truth and progress. Imagine, the physicist Stephen Hawking explaining String Theory using pornographic imagery or President Obama swearing during his inaugural address.
Accounting governments and individuals also requires good argumentation. If I were to go up to Tony Blair or George Bush and use vile language would I successfully bring them to account? Of course I wouldn't. In order for me to do so I would need to articulate a positive case against their crimes and injustices. With these, and there are many other examples, insults and degradation defeats the very objectives of speech.
Therefore, if freedom to insult actually negates the objectives of freedom of speech, then shouldn't freedom to insult be restricted? [Obviously there must be conditions to this and it is in the context of achieving the objectives of speech. Also, there are many restrictions to speech in secular liberal nations, for example there are libel laws, product defamation laws, hate speech laws, noise pollution etc. So logically freedom of speech doesn't really exist! What exists is speech or expression in the context of law and society's values - this is a more coherent definition.)
The recent video of the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) has not achieved any of the objectives of freedom of speech. It has just gone against the very moral norms of both traditions, East and West. It is a pathetic display of immorality, an explicit unwillingness to engage in intellectual discussion and an expression of unjustified hatred.
* The Values of Islam *
The values of Islam emanating from the Qur'an and Prophetic traditions pave the pathway to progress, truth and accountability while maintaining good etiquette and upholding the best of all manners. The Islamic values evokes the search for truth,
"And do not mix up the truth with the falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know it." Qur'an 2:42
"…and enjoin on each other truth." Qur'an 103:3
"Do they not examine the realm of the heavens and the earth and whatever God has created?" Qur'an 7:185
"O Mankind, We created you from a male and female and made you into different tribes and nations in order to know one another…" Qur'an 49:13
"When it is said to them: Follow what God has revealed, they say: No we follow the ways of our fathers – What! Even though their fathers understood nothing…" Qur'an 2:170
Concerning accountability Islam promotes accounting the unjust ruler and preventing evil,
“The best of all jihad is a word of truth to a tyrant ruler” Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace)
"Let there be among you people that command the good, enjoining what is right and forbidding the wrong. They indeed are the successful." Qur'an 3:104
When the Islamic values were implemented in the Muslim lands progress was an inevitable product of the Islamic civilisation, for instance the historian Robert Briffault in "The Making of Humanity" explains how progress was not only evident in Islamic history, but European growth was facilitated by the Islamic civilisation,
“For Although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic Culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the permanent distinctive force of the modern world, and the supreme source of its victory, natural science and the scientific spirit.”
In the Islamic paradigm, all of these objectives of freedom of speech are achieved within a framework of morality and decency. The Qur'anic values speak for themselves,
"…and they shall enjoy honour and dignity" Qur'an 37:42
"O believers, let not people ridicule other people…nor insult one another…" Qur'an 49:11
"Spy not and defame not others…" Qur'an 49:12
"God does not love the public utterance of evil speech…" Qur'an 4:148
“Do you not see how God sets forth a parable? A good Word is like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach to the heavens - It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord. So God sets forth parables for mankind, in order that they may receive admonition. And the parable of an evil Word is that of an evil tree: It is torn up by the root from the surface of the earth: it has no stability.” Qur'an 14: 24-26
* An invitation to intellectual debate and dialogue *
The Islamic tradition is no stranger to debate and dialogue. Islamic scholarship has produced volumes on theologically sensitive issues. The foundation for Islamic scholarship, the Qur'an promotes debate and dialogue,
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best." Qur'an 16: 125
Throughout the medieval period intellectual debates were the norm. For instance, the practical application of astrology was subject to deep philosophical debate by Muslim scholars and scientists. In the 8th century a group of people labelled as the Dahriyya emerged (the modern equivalent of what we now call Atheists), and the famous jurist and founder of the Hanifi school of thought, Abū Ḥanīfa is supposed to have refuted such Dahrīs in public discussions.
In this light an invitation to intellectually discuss the life of the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) is open to anyone who is sincere. However, judging by the recent degrading video, it already seems that the authors have lost the debate, as those who resort to immorality and degradation usually have no argument at all.
* A final note to the Muslims *
Any Muslim whose heart is filled with love, love of God and His Prophet (upon whom be peace), will naturally hate such manifestations of evil. We must speak out against any insults to our Prophet (upon whom be peace), this applies to all Prophets (and we must not harm or kill!). We must use this opportunity to tell the world who our beloved Prophet (upon whom be peace) was, and invite them to his message,
"Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that you might bring mankind out of darkness into the light by permission of their Lord - to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy." Qur'an 14:1
"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." Qur'an: 21:106-107
Please read the paper by Adnan Rashid "Islam's War on Terror" that clearly shows how the teachings of our beloved Prophet (upon whom be peace) is one of the best things that happened to mankind. It highlights the effective security, justice and tolerance the world enjoyed for centuries. Here is the link
http://www.iera.org.uk/research4_6.html.
