Respecting religious sentiments
Respecting the feelings and sentiments of each other is a noble virtue. The basic ethics, morals, principles and decency are the assets of human beings. And every religion of the world – be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, or Judaism – they all teach, promote and highly recommend these noble virtues and ethics.
These values guarantee the promotion of love, harmony, tolerance, respect and brotherhood in the society, which will ultimately result in a serene, tranquil, secure and peaceful environment.
Every heart is inclined towards good and every good-natured person wants peace established in the world. And when we analyse and examine the current situation in the world we find that many are restless in attaining this objective of peace. Yet, we keep seeing certain individuals, organisations and powers engaged in destroying peace and spreading spite, animosity and malice, building walls and fences of hatred. And sometimes they even target and challenge the prophets of God and founders of religions. History of mankind is full of such people who have adopted a brazen attitude towards the messengers of God and holy personages of the world’s faiths.
Recently, certain elements using the slogans of liberty and freedom of speech have made a foul, provocative and false film about the Prophet Muhammad.
As a result of this, there has been a violent reaction among various organisations and countries. To vent their anger and displeasure, they have resorted to furious protests, often leading to arson and destruction of private and public property.
There were also attacks on foreign embassies and their staff, and in Libya the American ambassador together with three other staff members were killed.
I believe that killing, burning flags, creating general turmoil, or going on strike is not an acceptable way to protest. Like many other world religions, Islam also extremely discourages such actions.
We strongly condemn any reactions which create disorder and destroy peace. This reaction shows no respect to the Holy Prophet Muhammad. On the contrary, it goes completely against his teachings and practices.
A recent film which mocks the Prophet Muhammad hurt the feelings of Muslims. It was only intended to hurl insult and hurt the feelings and sentiments of Muslims. This attitude of prejudice, hatred and malice gained nothing except destroying peace.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat strongly condemns the making of the extremely contemptible, provocative, and blasphemous film about the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
We believe that free speech is a valuable right – but not at the cost of the much higher value of, and right to life. We appeal for mutual respect, honour and dignity and to establish the true sense of respect and honour for all the prophets and founders of religions.
Let me make it clear that Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy in this world nor vests such authority in anyone. There is not a single verse in the Holy Koran or a single example from the practices of the Prophet Muhammad, for the punishment of blasphemy.
Islam teaches its followers to be kind, respectful to others and must take care of the feelings and sentiments of the people of other faiths. It strongly discourages indecent behaviour and indecent talk, or hurting the sensitivity of others. Muslims are required to remember they should abstain from any actions that may cause others to feel hurt. And they should never compromise the peace of the world.
As far as Islam is concerned, it sets a fundamental article of faith and that is to believe in all the prophets and messengers of God, without exception, and they are required that they should make no distinction between them by accepting some and rejecting others.
The Holy Koran states: “This Messenger of Ours believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers: all of them believe in Allah, and in His angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, saying, ‘We make no distinction between any of His Messengers’.” (2:286)
I will conclude by quoting the founder of our community who summarised the Islamic belief of paying great respect and honour to all the messengers, prophets and founders of different religions:
“One of the principles which forms the basis of my belief refers to the established religions of the world. These religions have met with wide acceptance in various regions of the earth. They have acquired a measure of age, and have reached a stage of maturity. God has informed me that none of these religions were false at their source and none of the prophets impostors.
“This is a beautiful principle, which promotes peace and harmony, and which lays the foundation for reconciliation, and which helps the moral condition of man. All prophets that have appeared in the world, regardless of whether they dwelt in India or Persia or China, or in some other country, we believe in the truth of them, one and all.”
Mr Atif is president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Charles Grixti
Sep 19th 2012, 19:23
Certain religious sentiments, such as death for apostasy or blasphemy, public stonnings for adultery, limb amuptations, second class status of non-Muslims and women, death for homosexuals, marraige to girls as young as 9 years etc to name just a few, and inciting murder and hatred (see Muslims parade with placards calling for beheadings of those that insult their religion and the fatwaa on Sir Salman Rushdie) do not deserve our respect but our derision.
What is more, you never hear of the moderate Muslims come out to support freedom and human rights and to reel in their outrageous rabidily enraged brethren.
John Azzopoardi
Sep 19th 2012, 11:32
My hope is always that after so much religious violence in Europe through the centuries and we have finally come to live in peace in terms of religion we will live in peace. Thus, we strongly reject any form of religious fanatism and totally reject muslim fundamentalist in our midst. My hope is that the culture of fundamentallism is controled by our courts if it raises it head. We just want to live in peace.
Robert Calafato
Sep 18th 2012, 22:42
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
Dalai Lama
Martin Cassar
Sep 18th 2012, 19:43
Quote:
And every religion of the world – be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, or Judaism – they all teach, promote and highly recommend these noble virtues and ethics.
---------------------
Never old to learn! Is Hinduism a religion as well? If the answer is yes. can any one enlighten me what the Hinduism's god has created please? A one single example would be sufficient for me. Thank you
Robert Callus
Sep 18th 2012, 16:37
@ Patrick Zammit
Islam, like Cristianity (even more actually) has hundreds of different denominations and sects. The way you try to pin "what Muslims think" by providing a link on religion in Saudi Arabia, shows a serious lack of knowledge.
In fact, if you searched wikipedia a little more you would have found that the Ahmadiyya denomination to whom Mr Atif belongs, is barely present in Saudi Arabia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya_Muslim_Community#Demographics
Patrick Zammit
Sep 19th 2012, 07:36
Mr Atif is speaking for Islam in general;
"Islam teaches its followers to be kind, respectful to others and must take care of the feelings and sentiments of the people of other faiths."
"Muslims are required to remember they should abstain from any actions that may cause others to feel hurt. And they should never compromise the peace of the world."
97% of the population in S Arabia is Muslim. What Saudis do is also done in other Muslim countries. So, he cannot generalize and say that Islam respects others be they other Muslims or otherwise.
I know perfectly well that their are innumerable sects of Muslims and so was not waiting for you to tell me so.
GL Calleja
Sep 18th 2012, 13:01
Mr Atif nobody has the right to offend any religion or their leaders. On the other hand if Islam thinks that this movie clip is an insult to the Prophet Mohammed, then Islam should take it up with the makers of that film and not use it as an excuse to murder four innocent people. If your religion dictates no violence no killings, then why all the destruction and hate towards the West because of the actions of one person. Something or someone instigated this uprising and I don't have any doubt that it has anything to do with the movie clip, but it had a lot to do with 9/11. Islam should practice what they preach and they should not let extremists lead them by the nose. There was no call for murder and no riots and burning of property to justify the making of this movie clip. Very few Islam Leaders tried to stop the turmoil and some even encouraged it. No Mr Atif, things are not right on the westernfront and you know it. Four innocent people are dead and their families have to carry that burden. Burn all the flags you want but that will never burn democracy. You have to practice what you preach. Islam owes the American people and the world a huge apology. And to those four families that lost their Dad, husbands, sons and brothers, May God bless them.
Antoine Vella
Sep 18th 2012, 12:37
So Islam does not prescribe any punishment for blasphemy (a small detail ignored by the Islamic authorities of Pakistan who clearly have never read the Koran).
What about the punishment for murder ? Because Muslims have murdered several people in their "protest". Are the families of the victims justified in seeking revenge, according to Sharia law?
GL Calleja
Sep 18th 2012, 13:17
And what about the persecution of women and gays? Who was it that said " there are no gays in Iran?" Religion should never be used as a convenience or as an excuse..
Patrick Zammit
Sep 18th 2012, 11:44
If Muslims show tolerance of other religions, why does the Wikipedia entry for "Saudi Arabia" carry the following?
"freedom of religion is neither recognized nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice" and that "government policies continued to place severe restrictions on religious freedom".[210] No faith other than Islam is permitted to be practised, although there are nearly a million Christians – nearly all foreign workers – in Saudi Arabia.[211] There are no churches or other non-Muslim houses of worship permitted in the country.[210] Even private prayer services are forbidden in practice and the Saudi religious police reportedly regularly search the homes of Christians.[211] Foreign workers have to observe Ramadan but are not allowed to celebrate Christmas or Easter.[211] Conversion by Muslims to another religion (apostasy) carries the death penalty, although there have been no confirmed reports of executions for apostasy in recent years.[210] Proselytizing by non-Muslims is illegal,[210] and the last Christian priest was expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1985.[211] There are some Hindus and Buddhists in Saudi Arabia. Compensation in court cases discriminates against non-Muslims: once fault is determined, a Muslim receives all of the amount of compensation determined, a Jew or Christian half, and all others a sixteenth."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia#Religion
Please choose the reason of your report below: