The Sudanese Teddy Bear Saga

"La illaha il-Allah...."

Does it strike to you that it is the most self-boasting of all the messages..like the ads that get flashed all the time on TV screens."the first...", "the best...", "the greatest...." ???

There is no one more dear to us Muslims than the person of Holy Prophet (pbuh). Our belief cannot be complete unless he becomes more dear to us than our own selves, our children, our family, our wealth, and anything that this world has to offer. This standard is established by God and His Prophet themselves.

The truest words ever written on Chowk. Subhan Allah.
Ardent love of The Beloved Prophet is Islam.
Anyone whose heart does not contain this love is not a Muslim whatever the label.

As Iqbal said,
"Aabru-ye maa zi naam e Muhammad ast!"

laddu
La ilaha il Allah Muhammadur Rasul Allah [sal Allahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam] is the absolute Truth.

I do think though that this lady committed an innocent mistake and did not mean to disparage The Praised One, may my parents be his ransom! It was all a misunderstanding whipped up by an increasingly islamophobic Western media and not helped by the naivity of Muslims either.

Of course, the Islamic punishment for anyone who belittles the Habib is death but I don't think any traditional Islamic court would have found her guilty. Allah and His Messenger know best.

Re: # 51

"La ilaha il Allah Muhammadur Rasul Allah [sal Allahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam] is the absolute Truth. "

Naqshu,

Does it ever strike to you that the words "absolute truth" is another self boasting and self advertising expression.

Re: # 52

Naqshu,

Assume that the lady wanted to disparage Mohammad.......so would you like her to be flogged and stoned to death???

Re: # 52

I also think that it was an inncoent mistake on part of the lady teacher. The Sudanese courts should have established the motive or intent first. That also goes with several opportunities to recant before delivering its verdict. In other words the spirit of law establishes that the punishment for blasphemy is only given to those who are found to be repeat offenders or those who refuse to recant.

Re: # 55

truly ji,

Assume there was a mens -rea. What do you suggest then??

Re: # 56

I don't understand your question

she wanted to disparage Mohammad then what you suggest people do?

If mens rea was to be established in this case (and it was clearly not) then the teacher would be subject to the laws of the land. those laws might seem archaic and barbaric to most of us in this case, but people establish laws to suit their own personal belief systems and a mark of civilized society is to comply with local laws, even if you don't agre with them (when in rome...)

there are many laws across the world which seem preposterous to me personally for example graffitti in singapore can get you flogged and having anal sex in alabama can get you 6 months in prison. Needless to say, if I'm in singapore, I wont be tagging any walls and if I'm in Alabama....

Re: # 58

#55 answers your question. Accroding to all 5 schools of jurisprudence of Islamic law, the maximum punishment for blasmphemy is death, but that is the ultimate and it is only given to those who refuse to recant and are repeat offenders. There is a minor difference among these schools; for example Hanfi school of thought gives unlimited opportunities to recant to a repeat offender if he recants everytime. He is spared everytime. The Shaafii school provides 3 opportunities to recant. Some schools spre the offender any punishment whatsoever if he recants and some suggest confinement, fine, imrpisonment and or exile.

If you are interested to know about what Islamic Law of Blasphemy is about please read my article on it:

http://www.chowk.com/articles/5331

I hope that will answer all your questions in this regard.

truly ji,

thanku . I would look forward to see the Islamic justice in action now!!

#60: You yourself have said in the past that Sharia can only be imposed in a "truly Islamic society". Is Sudan a "Truly Islamic" society? If not, should Sharia be even applicable?

Re: # 59

"but people establish laws to suit their own personal belief systems and a mark of civilized society is to comply with local laws, even if you don't agre with them (when in rome...)"

Howsoever barbaric they may be.......so she get stoned to death because her law of land calls for stoning!! Nice logic!!

Re: #63

We're talking from a hypothetical view that she knowingly and deliberately set out out to insult the Prophet Mohammad. If that had been the case, then Yes, she would be subject to the Law of the Land. If that Law called for stoning, hey, thats the way the cookie crumbles. Lesson learnt for all future deliberate blasphemers. Thanks for appreciating my logic by the way. big of you.