Assalam alaikum, On June 16th 2007 Salman Rushdie received a Knighthood in the Queen`s birthday honors. Amongst the reactions is that of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, a prominent scholar and chairman of the Senate religious affairs committee in Pakistan who said, "In response to this step, Muslims should confer the title of Sir to bin Laden and Mullah Omer". Excuse me? Since when does one injustice allow you the right to encourage another?
Quick recap. In 1988 Salman Rushdie authored the Satanic Verses a text which claimed a number of insulting themes to Islam (though nowhere near as insulting as some literature which is widely available on the internet). In 1989, he was the recipient of the famous fatwa from the Ayotollah in Iran calling for his death. Since then, he has lived, protected by British security with a flourishing literary career. The UK has an honour system, something unique given our heritage which recognize exceptional achievement or service: MBE, OBE, CBE, Knight/Dame and Companion of Honour. Some famous Knights include Bill Gates, Terry Wogan and Zaki Badawi. Prophet Muhammad advised us to speak the truth, even if it is unpleasant, so I wonder about the predicament we find ourselves in. Here is a man who has clearly incited hatred by insulting at least one fifth of the worlds population, the Muslims. Yet at the same time, he is clearly skilled in writing winning the Booker Prize in 1981 ought to be a testimony to that. So I ask myself of the wisdom of those who honoured him with a Knighthood in an era where interfaith relationships are strained. Allah Almighty says in the Quran, "Allah does not love the public utterances of evil speech (al jahr bi'l-su min al-qawl), except by one who has been wronged. Allah is ever Hearer and All knowing .". While the first part of this verse criticizes evil speech, a caveat has been placed to the one who uses such speech as a reaction to circumstances where they have been unjustly treated. This is followed by a reminder that Allah Almighty Hears and Knows all the things that we choose to do, a reminder for those who think they can make a false claim. Did Salman Rushdie utter `evil speech` when he wrote the Satanic Verses? In my personal opinion, I believe he did. But what should be our response as Muslims? What are the manners that Islam teaches us? What is the example of our Prophet Muhammad? When a man named Umayya ibn Khalaf met the Prophet then insulted him, the following verse was revealed, "Woe to every slandering backbiter, who has gathered wealth and increased it, and thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No, he will be thrown into the devouring fire." When Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith recites some stories after the Prophet recited some verses of the Quran, claiming that the Quran was nothing more than old stories repeated, Allah Almighty revealed the following verse, "When Our signs are rehearsed to him he says, stories of the ancients which he has copied down'" When Abu Jahl, the long time enemy of Islam, foolishly said to Prophet Muhammad, 'By God, Muhammad, you will either stop cursing our gods or we will curse the God you serve', Allah Almighty revealed this verse, "Do not curse those to whom they pray to other than God, in case they curse God wrongfully out of ignorance..." In fact there are many other examples of how people at the time of the Prophet Muhammad not only insulted the Prophet, but also Islam. And I have been trying to understand exactly how it is a Muslim person should respond to such insults. At the battle of Uhud, it is reported that Hind was not only singing and dancing over the bodies of the dead Muslims, but she also cut open the body and chewed on the liver of the Prophet`s uncle, Hamza, a famous warrior. How did Prophet Muhammad react to her actions? Was she attacked? Did the Prophet issue a death threat on her? Was her house burnt down? None of the above. In fact we find the Prophet taking the higher road, so much so that by the day of the Conquest of Mecca, Hind took a complete 180 degrees, she accepted Islam. And in fact, later, the famous scholar Ibn Hajr pointed out that she gained a high position of authority and became `gifted in her judgment`. I do not see the Prophet Muhammad calling for a death penalty against any of the people who insulted him or Islam. What I do see is the Prophet taking the advice of Allah Almighty who said " and those who swallow their anger and forgive others are elevated to the rank of the virtuous (muhsinin)" Actually, whenever I think of Salman Rushdie and the Satanic Verses I remember the Quran where Allah Almighty says, "And do you make it your livelihood to denounce it (ie the Quran) as lies?" One of the companions of the Prophet, Ibn Abbas said, "Do not engage yourself in bitter speech with a learned person or a fool. The former is likely to defeat you and the latter is likely to abuse you" After the Satanic Verses were published, what should have happened was an educated and comprehensive response, rubbishing the false claims contained therein by the Muslim scholars who are capable of doing so. Not only would this have countered Rushdie`s claims but, if done correctly would support interfaith dialogue something we need much more of today. Prior to June 16th this year, the British Honour system held a degree of respect and integrity for me, I saw it as a way of recognizing individuals who have made certain positive contributions to society. The inclusion of a man, any man, who has caused so much aggravation and tension worldwide as a recipient implies both a misjudgment as well as slipping standards. To me, all that has happened is that the British honour system has lost some of its honour. Then, when the chairman of the State religious affairs committee in Pakistan has the child like audacity to suggest Muslims respond by titling Osama Bin Laden with Sir, I feel nothing but shame. True, both Salman Rushdie and Osama bin Laden share many things in common: they both hold incorrect and unjust interpretations of Islam, they both attack the world`s communities, and they both rely on the fame of one another for their own successes. The truth is, that most Muslims do not care about Salman Rushdie and his Satanic Verses, for we can find many more insulting texts on the internet. More importantly, and a greater truth is, that the majority of the worlds Muslims do not fit the stereotype misrepresentation common in the media, that simply isn`t who we are. If it was, the world would have been destroyed many years ago. So how should we react? As Muslims we need to learn more about Islam, more about our Prophet, see how he responded to people who insulted Islam, and to engage dialogue. We need to press for a distinction between freedom of speech vs freedom to insult. But above all we need to use the Wisdom which Allah Almighty has bestowed upon us to help us not only improve ourselves but help those around us by setting a good example. One which relies on using the very faculties which Allah Almighty uses in the Quran to distinguish between believers and non-believers: our ability to question, to understand, to comprehend, to differentiate and above all, to be just. Allah Almighty says, "O believers, forbear and vie in forbearance and steadfastness; and fear Allah so that you may prosper" And may Allah Almighty have mercy and guide us all, amen. fi amanillah, wa salam, f
