French teacher Samuel Paty showed cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on free speech. Several days later he was beheaded by a Muslim migrant. The French government, in a show of solidarity with the teacher & free speech, displayed cartoons of Prophet Mohammad on Buildings.
American Imam, Karim Abu Zaid, gave a lecture that was uploaded in November 2020, shortly after the beheading crisis, to the Muslim community regarding the deep anger Muslims feel regarding insult of the Prophet.
“Someone is insulting, Messenger of Allah [Prophet Mohammad] peace be upon him [PBUH], depicting him in cartoons. The whole Ummha [Muslim community] is rising, is saying we can’t take that… You see I understand if a non-Muslim feels this way because they are not educated about the love. They are not informed about the love which Allah, Glorified & Exalted be He [GEBH] placed in the hearts of every Muslim for Muhammad PBUH. Brothers and sisters in Islam, you need to understand this and non-Muslims don’t understand this. Your success in this world is contingent to realize how much can you mimic, can you copy, Muhammad PBUH in your life. When you eat, you eat with your right hand and you say ‘in the name of Allah’ [bismillah] because he did that. When you sleep you sleep on your right side, and you recite Ayat Kursi [Quran 2:255 “Allah! There is no God worthy of worship except him] because he did that. When you wake up you make a dua [prayer to Allah]. When you get out of your house you make the dua [prayer to Allah]. When you get in your car you say: ‘Exalted is he who has subjected this to us’ Quran 43:14] because he did that. When you enter the bathroom you enter with your left because he did that. You see, your success in this world is in living his character, his legacy. Not only that, being kind. Not only that, being tolerant. Not only that, helping the poor, helping the needy, standing for the truth, upholding your kinship ties. That is who Muhammad is. The one who we’re trying to bring back into our lives, to pray like him, to fast like him, to make wudu [washing ritual] like him, to perform hajj [pilgrimage to Mecca] like him, to pay, zakat [charity] The way he told us to pay the zakat. That’s who he is, brothers and sisters in Islam, for a Muslim. That is why this love is instilled in the hearts. I have no control over it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry I have no control over it… [Angel Gabriel] Jibril will call upon the angels to love him. And then his love will be placed in the hearts of the believers. I have no control over it. I’m sorry. And with love comes jealousy. The love, affection and jealousy are twins. Love, and if you love your wife, if she looks at another man you’re going to be upset and jealous if you have running blood in your veins… So why are we blamed, rebuked, for showing this love?
Yes, there are certain things brothers and sisters in Islam we cannot do. We cannot do. We live here. We cannot do it…
Allah is the one who knows where he places his message. He chose Muhammad PBUH to be the final messenger for humanity and he commanded us ‘Say,[O Mohammad], Praise be to Allah, and his servants whom He has chosen,’ [Quran27:59] And always make sure that you send peace, you talk peace, you respect, you honor the slaves of Allah, the messengers whom he chose, whom he selected… We ask Allah GEBH to protect the Muslims, to protect this religion, to protect those who stand for this religion at this time. There is a time, we live in the time brother and sisters in Islam, it’s very hard to find a standout individuals for this deen [religion of Islam]. Stand out, properly, correctly, wisely. We ask Allah GEBH that we are able to cultivate in the next generation that standout characters for Islam and Muslims. O Allah, the Lord of the Worlds
There are many subtle intricacies that need further explanation in order for the reader to fully appreciate the full meaning of Imam Abu Zaid Karim’s lecture.
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We have heard about the Westerners making fun of the Prophet PBUH and mocking him. What should our attitude be towards that? How should we defend the Prophet PBUH?
…and we are prepared to sacrifice our lives in defence of the Messenger of Allaah PBUH – is nevertheless something which brings us glad tidings of their doom, and tells us that the end of their supremacy is at hand.
When the Muslims besieged a stronghold and its people resisted, then they heard them mocking and reviling the Prophet PBUH, they would sense that victory was at hand, and it would only be a short time before Allaah granted them victory, to avenge His Messenger PHUH.
A clear message was sent to the West: that we Muslims will never accept to see our religion insulted or humiliated, or any transgression against our Messenger PBUH. We will all sacrifice ourselves for him.
It is essential to respond to those who defame the Prophet PBUH
Defaming the Prophet PBUH is a kind of kufr. If that is done by a Muslim then it is apostasy on his part, and the authorities have to defend the cause of Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) by executing the one who defamed him.
