WHY do they hate Islam? "This is the question that continues to come to mind on seeing some non-Muslim powers insist on blaming Islam for any crime committed by a person that happens to be a Muslim, a matter that one never sees happening with followers of other religions. For example, if a Christian or a Jew commits a crime or a terrorist act against some citizens or targets in the US or any other country, we never see the media refer to their religion or accuse all their fellow Christians or Jews of terrorism. It is only the Muslims and Arabs who should assume the guilt of any criminal or terrorist belong to their same religion or race for committing a crime in the Western world. It is really astonishing that even after eleven years have passed since the terrorist assault on the World Trade Centre in New York, some people continue to blame all Muslims and Islam for the crime, despite it being carried out by a terrorist movement, al-Qaeda, which has, similarly long harmed Muslim countries. Do they really misunderstand Islam or just seek to trigger the anger of the more than one billion Muslims throughout the world against the West to enhance enmity and even create causes for launching new wars against more Muslim Countries? What could more prompt the anger of Muslims than producing a film defaming image of their beloved Prophet Mohammed or calling to put him on trial! For all Muslims, the Prophet Mohammed is the messenger and teacher that Allah (the Almighty) instructed us to follow his steps and obey his instructions in the same way that we are following Allah's instructions. Thus obeying the Prophet forms the main part of obeying the Creator whose love for His messenger made Him impose the condition on persons who seek to entering Islam to testify that: ‘There Is no God But Allah and that Mohammed is His messenger'. So, it is very disturbing for any Muslim seeing anyone that dares to utter a word of offence against his or her Prophet. However, this does not give Muslims the excuse to punish all non-Muslims, especially Americans, for the major harm such actions have caused us when insulting our Prophet. Even if the reaction to protest against the American official passivity in letting such a movie be made or said trial be conducted under the pretext of freedom of expression while actually representing clear desecration of religion. One wonders why this same freedom of expression has not been respected when it relates to Israel that anyone daring to criticise its deeds in the Occupied Territories would be accused of anti-Semitism? It is worth mentioning that it is not just the Muslims who defend the Prophet Mohammed (BPUH). Many reputable Western thinkers have done likewise on reading his history. In his famous book “The Heroes," the Scottish writer and historian Thomas Carlyle wrote about the Prophet Mohammed: "Mohammed was the man of truth and fidelity, true in what he did, in what he spoke, in what he thought; always meant something, a man rather taciturn in speech, silent when there was nothing to be said, but pertinent, wise, sincere when he did speak, always throwing light on the matter... "A poor shepherd people roaming unnoticed in the deserts since the creation of the world; a hero prophet was sent down to them with a word they could believe; see the unnoticed became world noticeable, within one century afterwards Arabia is at Granada on this end; at Delhi on that; glancing with valour and splendour and the light of genius, Arabia shines through long ages over a great section of the world." George Bernard Shaw, the Irish writer also said of Mohammed: "I have always held the religion of Mohammed in high estimation of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capability to the changing phases of existence which can make itself appeal to everyone. I have prophesied about the faith of Mohammed that it would be acceptable to the Europe of today. The medieval ecclesiastics either through ignorance or bigotry painted Islam in the darkest colours. They were, in fact trained to hate the man, Mohammed and his religion. To them, Mohammed was anti-Christ. I have studied him – the wonderful man, and in my opinion, far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the saviour of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness. " The famous French historian Alphonse de Lamartine said about him: "Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires, of one spiritual empire, that is Mohammed. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask: Is there any man greater than he?" For Muslims there is indeed no man greater than he is. So it is very aggravating for any Muslim when Mohammed's name or image is insulted. Nevertheless this does not give anyone the right to harm or assault others in defence of the noble Prophet. Actually, we are causing him great harm if our love for him prompts us to harm others and cause their death such as the American envoy to Libya while protesting against the injustice and offence some non-Muslims caused us by denigrating our Prophet. Isn't it enough to just to protest peacefully in front of the American missions the world over for allowing those irresponsible acts against our Prophet? By such an action we would be raising our cause and acquiring world respect. Meanwhile, by assailing American embassies in such a barbaric way, we are giving a bad image of Muslims and Islam. Besides, Allah who supported His Prophet in his life against the infidels, is the One that would raise his name in the world till the Day of Judgment. But if the whole world is ranged against the Prophet of Allah, as was the case in the past, and scoffs at all that is sacred, the sense of Allah's presence and protection outweighs all and the Truth of Allah endures for ever.
