Public Comment

As a Muslim I categorically condemn the Charlie Hebdo tragedy that killed 12 innocent civilians in the name of defending the honor of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him). Why am I condemning this crime? Because the Quran 5:32 clearly states that if a person killed one it is like if he killed the whole mankind. As a Muslim, I, too feel hurt when someone offends Prophet Muhammad. However, I feel more offended when those so-called Muslims respond violently to defend the honor of the man they greatly respect because Prophet Muhammad himself never retaliated against those who insulted him both by using abusive words and hurting him physically. 

Here is an example of how the Prophet Muhammad responded to being ridiculed. Once returning from an expedition, a hypocrite used abusive words insulting Prophet Muhammad. Responding to this, his companion was very upset and asked him if he could kill that hypocrite. Prophet Muhammad did not allow his companion to kill the man who insulted him. This incident clearly shows that even the Prophet himself did not avenge those who mocked him. 

Those who use free speech to ridicule religious figures like Prophet Muhammad are ignorant because they ignore the content of their message. Those Muslims who respond violently (which is also cowardly) or those Muslim clerics like Anjem Chaudry who believe in punishment for blasphemy are also ignorant because they do not consult the Quran as to how a Muslim should respond to such insults. The Quran (4:140) clearly states that when someone mocks Islam, prophets of God, or Muslims, a Muslim must not retaliate nor just remain silent. Instead, a Muslim must make a rebuttal to the opponents about the teachings of Islam, the character of Prophet Muhammad, and be a peaceful person to personify the meaning of Islam which means peace. 

Now, let’s pull out the red card. Free speech is not the problem. The problem is the content of the message behind that free speech or freedom of expression. As a Muslim I am fortunate because my religion values freedom of expression while it also teaches me to speak in decent manner and respect others’ sentiments. Likewise, Islam is not the problem in the case of the Charlie Hebdo attack. The problem is with the culprits who interpreted the Islamic teachings in their own way and forgot that even the Prophet Muhammad himself never retaliated when someone attacked him. 

As a member of the fastest growing Islamic sect, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I am fortunate because the founder of my community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, taught me to defend the honor of the Prophet Muhammad with patience, prayer and civilized dialogue. To me, anyone who insults others’ sentiments in the name freedom of expression is like a ‘virus’ in the society. So if one does not want to be infected with the ‘virus of ignorance’, one should find out more about the man whom Charlie Hebdo satirists made fun of—the Prophet Muhammad. After all which sane person equates freedom of speech or freedom of expression with hate and mockery?