What is the deal with this aspect of Islam? (soul, hell)

[XAAX]

I have had this question for years. Ever since I saw Cat Stevens go from a peace loving hippie to a fanatical idiot stating that because someone said something about Muhammad, he should die. I believe the exact comment was “He who defames the prophet must die”. Or something along those lines. Anyway, can someone who knows about Islamic belief tell me what was the deal.

Do all muslims think this way or was this just an extremist sect of muslims? Kind of like the fire and brimstoners of the Christians. Also another that is bugging the hell out of me. Why can’t people show pictures of Muhammad? I think that it very ridiculous if that is the case. Someone please explain…

[Comprehend]

Originally Posted by PREACH THE NETT

I have had this question for years. Ever since I saw Cat Stevens go from a peace loving hippie to a fanatical idiot stating that because someone said something about Muhammad, he should die. I believe the exact comment was “He who defames the prophet must die”. Or something along those lines. Anyway, can someone who knows about Islamic belief tell me what was the deal.

Do all muslims think this way or was this just an extremist sect of muslims? Kind of like the fire and brimstoners of the Christians. Also another that is bugging the hell out of me. Why can’t people show pictures of Muhammad? I think that it very ridiculous if that is the case. Someone please explain…

I am pretty sure that Islam teaches that it is improper to show images of anything. That is why they use shapes and patterns in their artwork. I think it is beautiful. However I don't think they should hold people not of their religion to this standard.

[sister M]

Originally Posted by PREACH THE NETT

I have had this question for years. Ever since I saw Cat Stevens go from a peace loving hippie to a fanatical idiot stating that because someone said something about Muhammad, he should die. I believe the exact comment was “He who defames the prophet must die”. Or something along those lines. Anyway, can someone who knows about Islamic belief tell me what was the deal.

Do all muslims think this way or was this just an extremist sect of muslims? Kind of like the fire and brimstoners of the Christians. Also another that is bugging the hell out of me. Why can’t people show pictures of Muhammad? I think that it very ridiculous if that is the case. Someone please explain…

If people that are non Muslims say or do something, let's say due to their right to use freedom of speach in their own countries, it is not for Muslims to go violent.

But in my opinion I will not sit silent, I will also use my freedom of speach too, to answer back. How it affects me as a Muslim. What Islamic teachings say for instance about pictures and the significance for Muslims concerning this.

But of course non Muslims cannot be forced to follow the Islamic teachings in their own countries, that is common sense.

What I would like to see on the other hand, is a respectful behaviour instead of the 'need' to violate other faiths. That there will be limit, a humah/respecful/tolerant limit that says 'here but not further'.

If the usage of freedom of speach is only used to humiliate it is of no value at all as I see it.

[sister M]

Originally Posted by comprehend

I am pretty sure that Islam teaches that it is improper to show images of anything. That is why they use shapes and patterns in their artwork. I think it is beautiful. However I don't think they should hold people not of their religion to this standard.

Yes most Muslims, not all, but most follow the teachings that say not to draw pictures of images with a soul in it.

The other issue I have already written about in my input just before this one. You're welcome to read it. If it is unclear just ask.

[fullyveiled muslimah]

The reason why the making of images is haram in islam is so that the opportunity for the worship of idols does not arise. One cannot worship the image of anything if it doesn't exist. This is especially for the prophet. If there were pictures of him or anything of his likeness somebody somewhere would worship it. It would start as simply showing love for the prophet and snowball from there. Next thing you know people will be bowing to it and kissing it and praying to it and worshipping it. Maybe not the people who first made the image, but a generation or two afterwards probably will. The ruling about not making images is an old one. It dates back to and even further back than the ten commandments. This extends even so far as to take pictures of family or what have you. Some people worship their family members or ancestors and keep pictures of them specifically for that purpose. So Allah, being strict about idolatry, made the creating of images of people and animals haraam. It is forbidden even if the original intention was not for worship, because later on if the image survives other people may or may not worship that image.

I have never heard about "he who defames the prophet must die". I don't know where thats from. The prophet himself responded with kindness on many occasions where he was directly defamed and/or humiliated.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by PREACH THE NETT

I have had this question for years. Ever since I saw Cat Stevens go from a peace loving hippie to a fanatical idiot stating that because someone said something about Muhammad, he should die. I believe the exact comment was “He who defames the prophet must die”. Or something along those lines. Anyway, can someone who knows about Islamic belief tell me what was the deal.

Could you maybe find a source for this? It's the first time I've heard this sort of thing attributed to him, and it seems out of character considering his comments and demeanor during an interview I saw last year.

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by Booko

[/font]Could you maybe find a source for this? It's the first time I've heard this sort of thing attributed to him, and it seems out of character considering his comments and demeanor during an interview I saw last year.

He was kind of roped into signing the fatwaa against Salman Rushdie during the furor over Rushdie's book. This is why he is on the no-fly list to North America as well.

Regards,
Scott

[XAAX]

Originally Posted by Booko

[/font]Could you maybe find a source for this? It's the first time I've heard this sort of thing attributed to him, and it seems out of character considering his comments and demeanor during an interview I saw last year.

Originally Posted by London Gernal

Salman Rushdie controversy

Originally Posted by London Gernal

On February 21, 1989 Yusuf Islam addressed students at Kingston University in London about his journey to Islam and was asked about the controversy in the Muslim world and the fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution. He claims to have only stated the legal consequences from the Qur'an - that blasphemy is a capital offense - and not actually have made any claims of support for the fatwa. Newspapers quickly denounced Yusuf Islam's "support" for a possible assassination of Rushdie. The next day he released a statement saying that he was not personally encouraging anybody towards vigilantism.[23]

However, the New York Times reported on May 23, 1989 that Yusuf Islam was to be on a British television courtroom-style program, "A Satanic Scenario,"[24] the following week, and was quoted as saying:

[that rather than go to a demonstration to burn an effigy of the author Salman Rushdie,] I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing.[25]

[If Rushdie turned up at my doorstep looking for help,] I might ring somebody who might do more damage to him than he would like. I'd try to phone the Ayatollah Khomeini and tell him exactly where this man is.[25]

On March 8 1989, while speaking in London's Regents Park Mosque, when asked by a Christian Science Monitor reporter how he would "cope with the idea of killing a writer for writing a book" he is reported to have replied:

In Islam there is a line between let's say freedom and the line which is then transgressed into immorality and irresponsibility and I think as far as this writer is concerned, unfortunately, he has been irresponsible with his freedom of speech. Salman Rushdie or indeed any writer who abuses the prophet, or indeed any prophet, under Islamic law, the sentence for that is actually death. It's got to be seen as a deterrent, so that other people should not commit the same mistake again.[26]

He added that if Rushdie should manage to escape the death sentence he would still have to "face God on the day of judgement."[26]

He has never retracted his statements about Rushdie, but, in a 2000 Rolling Stone[27] interview, he was asked to explain his position on the fatwa controversy and said:

I'm very sad that this seems to be the No. 1 question people want to discuss. I had nothing to do with the issue other than what the media created. I was innocently drawn into the whole controversy. So, after many years, I'm glad at least now that I have been given the opportunity to explain to the public and fans my side of the story in my own words. At a lecture, back in 1989, I was asked a question about blasphemy according to Islamic Law, I simply repeated the legal view according to my limited knowledge of the Scriptural texts, based directly on historical commentaries of the Qur'an. The next day the newspaper headlines read, "Cat Says, Kill Rushdie." I was abhorred, but what could I do? I was a new Muslim. If you ask a Bible student to quote the legal punishment of a person who commits blasphemy in the Bible, he would be dishonest if he didn't mention Leviticus 24:16[28].

Furthermore, he states his position on his personal spiritual website, starting as follows[29]:

I never called for the death of Salman Rushdie; nor backed the Fatwa issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini - and still don’t. The book itself destroyed the harmony between peoples and created an unnecessary international crisis.

When asked about my opinion regarding blasphemy, I could not tell a lie and confirmed that - like both the Torah and the Gospel - the Qur’an considers it, without repentance, as a capital offense. The Bible is full of similar harsh laws if you’re looking for them[30]. However, the application of such Biblical and Qur’anic injunctions is not to be outside of due process of law, in a place or land where such law is accepted and applied by the society as a whole....

The question is. If I say Muhammad is evil. Are muslims going to want to kill me? Sadly this has been the case for Rushdie.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

He was kind of roped into signing the fatwaa against Salman Rushdie during the furor over Rushdie's book. This is why he is on the no-fly list to North America as well.

Oh, I remember the brouhaha over his plane being redirect