Idolatry in Islam
Ever since the publication of some cartoons in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten , there have been largescale protests worldwide.The incident began when an author reported that he was not able to find anybody to illustrate a book on the prophet of Islam.The Jyllands-Posten realising the self-censorship that is rampant in Europe when it comes to depictions of the prophet of Islam and other matters concerning Islam , commissioned a few artists to give their depictions of the prophet for publication.This resulted in a series of twelve cartoons , one of them showing the prophet with a time bomb for a turban and another telling a ragged suicide bomber that heaven has run out of virgins.
Initial protests in denmark hardly had any effect.Then a few clerics took these cartoons to the middle east which soon started witnessing a series of protests.Next as a sign of solidarity with the Danish newspaper , a lot of European newspapers re-published these cartoons.This further incensed the world muslim population and there have been protests all over the world , from middle east , to Libya , pakistan and India.In Syria and Lebanon and many countries Danish embassies have been torched and the Danish flag burnt and the cartoonists have been burnt in effigy.
Violence has claimed lives especially in Afghanistan , Pakistan and India.
India continues to witness major protests and muslims took out a huge procession in Bangalore and shops were looted and burnt in Hyderabad.
Most people have been stunned by the scale and intensity of these protests.Even moderate muslims feel the protests have gone too far.But the question remain why have things turned out to be so violent ?
The fundamental reason for such a violent reaction from the muslims is the glorification and the idolization of the Prophet Mohammad found in the Koran.The Koran depicts the Prophet as the most perfect and the most exalted.He is depicted as someone infallible and flawless , the perfect example for mankind.And there has been this tradition that the Prophet should never be depicted either in sculptures or pictures.Islam prohibits the depiction of not only the Prophet but also the birds and animals as this would lead to Idolatry.But the glorification of the Prophet himself has lead to Idolatry of a differnt kind.
Mohammad has become the Invisible Idol of Islam.The Idol which is worshipped and venerated by millions of muslim worldwide.And they will not tolerate any desecration of the idol in any form whatsoever.One tiny crack , or blesmish to this Idol in their minds ,and it unleashes a frenzy of rage , unknown to any community in mankind.Muslims go wild , completely lose their self control , and indulge in an orgy of violence and arson which is difficult for the rest of mankind to comprehend.
If Islamic scholars and moderates who are very much concerned about the violent nature and excitability of their fellow religionists , want to solve this issue they should take a re-look at the depiction of the Prophet and the kind of idea of the Prophet the muslims hold in their minds.They should act upon this idea and and effect changes to ensure that muslims do not in the future perpetrate idolatry of the worst kind.
Ever since the publication of some cartoons in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten , there have been largescale protests worldwide.The incident began when an author reported that he was not able to find anybody to illustrate a book on the prophet of Islam.The Jyllands-Posten realising the self-censorship that is rampant in Europe when it comes to depictions of the prophet of Islam and other matters concerning Islam , commissioned a few artists to give their depictions of the prophet for publication.This resulted in a series of twelve cartoons , one of them showing the prophet with a time bomb for a turban and another telling a ragged suicide bomber that heaven has run out of virgins.
Initial protests in denmark hardly had any effect.Then a few clerics took these cartoons to the middle east which soon started witnessing a series of protests.Next as a sign of solidarity with the Danish newspaper , a lot of European newspapers re-published these cartoons.This further incensed the world muslim population and there have been protests all over the world , from middle east , to Libya , pakistan and India.In Syria and Lebanon and many countries Danish embassies have been torched and the Danish flag burnt and the cartoonists have been burnt in effigy.
Violence has claimed lives especially in Afghanistan , Pakistan and India.
India continues to witness major protests and muslims took out a huge procession in Bangalore and shops were looted and burnt in Hyderabad.
Most people have been stunned by the scale and intensity of these protests.Even moderate muslims feel the protests have gone too far.But the question remain why have things turned out to be so violent ?
The fundamental reason for such a violent reaction from the muslims is the glorification and the idolization of the Prophet Mohammad found in the Koran.The Koran depicts the Prophet as the most perfect and the most exalted.He is depicted as someone infallible and flawless , the perfect example for mankind.And there has been this tradition that the Prophet should never be depicted either in sculptures or pictures.Islam prohibits the depiction of not only the Prophet but also the birds and animals as this would lead to Idolatry.But the glorification of the Prophet himself has lead to Idolatry of a differnt kind.
Mohammad has become the Invisible Idol of Islam.The Idol which is worshipped and venerated by millions of muslim worldwide.And they will not tolerate any desecration of the idol in any form whatsoever.One tiny crack , or blesmish to this Idol in their minds ,and it unleashes a frenzy of rage , unknown to any community in mankind.Muslims go wild , completely lose their self control , and indulge in an orgy of violence and arson which is difficult for the rest of mankind to comprehend.
If Islamic scholars and moderates who are very much concerned about the violent nature and excitability of their fellow religionists , want to solve this issue they should take a re-look at the depiction of the Prophet and the kind of idea of the Prophet the muslims hold in their minds.They should act upon this idea and and effect changes to ensure that muslims do not in the future perpetrate idolatry of the worst kind.
posted by Debater at
6:29 AM
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