Medina News Network (MNN): A young housewife who is charged in Medina with insulting Islam and showing contempt for religious beliefs will be brought to court on Friday, the Shariah court has announced. Aisha bint Abu Bakr was arrested after complaints that she had named her toy horse "Sulaiman"."It is true." Her husband, Muhammad, is reported to have confessed. "I entered the house and I saw her playing with her dolls and toy horses. When I asked her what game she was playing, she answered 'Sulaiman's horses'."
In her defense statement, Aisha stated that she did not intend to cause offense, and only mentioned that "Sulaiman's horses also had wings" in reply to a query by her husband as to why her toy horses had wings.
Some Islamist groups are also upset at Muhammad's reaction to his wife's 'travesty'.
"Rather than admonishing Aisha, Muhammad laughed until his molar teeth could be seen." A community member commented under anonymity. "His failure to 'correct' his wife is clearly another insult to our Prophet."
Medina's top clerics have called for the full measure of the law to be used against Ms. Aisha and labeled her actions part of a Meccan plot against Islam.
But in Mecca, the Islamic Human Rights Commission was among the many (secret) Muslim groups to call for her immediate release.
Chairman Abbas ibn Muttalib said: "Both the Government of Medina, and the media, must refrain from using Islam and Islamic principles to legitimise this fiasco, which may result in the unjust conviction of an innocent person, and which will only lead to the promotion of Medinaphobia and further demonization of Islam." He also stressed that Islam was the fastest growing religion in Arabia.
In a separate news, charges were filed against Aisha's husband Muhammad himself for insulting the name of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. During the treaty of Hudaibiyah, Muhammad was reported to have crossed out the words "Muhammad the Prophet of God" and replaced it with "Muhammad son of Abdullah".
In issuing the arrest warrants for Muhammad and Aisha, the lead prosecutor stated: "We are an Islamic nation that cannot tolerate, be silent or be lax when someone, whoever he or she is, insults our Prophet and sanctities."
19 comments:
sigh.......*shakes head*
Nicely done!
soo....... is she going to be whipped too, like the brit?
It's so creey - so soon after the teddy bear case - suddenly all these case are propping up!
Farah
It was nice to read an entry like this one instead of the usual complaining types.
In reply to Isheeta's comment, it turns our that the brit isn't going to be whipped after all...thank GOD.
Oh and Farah- this entry was supposed to be a joke. It isn't a true story of a real case, but it was made up to show the absurdity of what the Sudanese government is saying. But then again, the Sudanese gvnt isn't the best when it comes to upholding Islamic ideals itself-you know, with the genocide going on and all...
subhanAllah what's this world coming to
So sad. sf
Sheesh...for God sake...
Salaam,
A very amusing piece, loved the take on it!
Though without being rude, your first paragraph says A'isha RA named the horse Sulaiman. She didn't. Your second paragraph gets it right by explaining she RA mentioned Sulaiman AS had a horse like it.
That aside, you make an important point.
Geeki: Sometimes what I would like to do as just grab hold of these people and give them a shake... "wake up dump people! use SOME common sense!"
Mousehunter: Thanks, I thought rather than the usual "oh look silly muslims" again, I would pick up two incidents from the Prophet's own life and try and word it how it may look today.
Isheeta: hmm there is no specific punishment written for this act (which may or may not be a crime) but 40 lashes sounds good?
Farah: Ah actually this was a satire. I am referring to two incidents that occurred during the Prophet's lifetime. First, Aisha his wife naming her doll games "Solomon's horses", and second when the Prophet saw no problem in crossing out "this is a treaty between Muhammad the Prophet of God and Mecca" and rewording it to "This is a treaty between Muhammad the son of Abdullah and Mecca" because the Meccans objected.
In other words I am asking "What Would Muhammad Do?".
Anon (8.25): I think the Sudanese government should be the last government to talk about justice and fairness etc. They depend on aid from the West and yet here people are saying Down With the West. Same in Bangladesh. Today they are accepting US aid and helicopter help. Tomorrow someone will insult some Sahabi and there will be "Down with the USA" protestors.
Sf: It is indeed. If the news reports are true and there's nothing more to it than meets the eye (unlike the Saudi gangrape case) then it's indeed a sad case.
Sumera: I guess next time we will just call it Junior.
Smee: Ya the point I am trying to make is some people are stupid in the Muslim world who see everything as an insult to Islam when there are far more important and genuinely serious things to be worried about. See this post of mine.
As an aside, Aisha did name her whole game "Solomon's horses" and the dolls had horses which she called "the horse of Solomon". I don't think there was any specific toy she referred to as "Solomon" himself.
Hehe, excellent satire at work here! As soon as I read Aisha bint Abu Bakr, I was like, wow, what a coincidence. As I read along I started to chuckle and knew it was going to be a good read. Very creative, me thinks recent events have tweaked your writing skills perhaps? ;)
Oh My Word. That has to be the funniest take I've ever read on it. I have to show it to my mom who came in to ask my opinion this morning.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. I had totally forgotten that story about Aisha raa.
Mango: thanks... recent events eh.. lol
Actually another friend also made the same comment as he was reading - he was like wow someone named Abu Bakr has a daughter called Aisha... and then of course got it.
Molly: thank you. I am on the "What would Muhammad (PBUH) do" thing now.
brilliant. :D
what disturbs me about the Sudan situation is the total lack of common sense - I mean, if the parents had just gone and talked the poor lady and taken some time to explain that naming the teddy after the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) might be perceived as "insensitive", this fiasco might never have happened.
Then again, I'm probably being too optimistic about people in general. :/
OMG Mezba, we should make those bracelets like they used to make. Instead of "WWJD" it will be "WWMD"
Except well... I'm thinking thats a little too close to "WMD".
*sigh* we're screwed.
Aisha said that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came back from the battle of Tabook or Khaybar, and there was a curtain in her alcove. The wind blew and lifted the curtain, showing some dolls with which ‘Aa’ishah was playing. He said, “What is this, O ‘Aa’ishah?” She said, “My daughters.” Among them he saw a mare with wings made of leather.” He said, ‘And what is this that I see in the midst of them?” She said, “A mare.” He said, “What is this on it?” She said, “Wings.” He said, “A mare with wings?” She said, “Have you not heard that Sulaymaan had a horse with wings?” She said, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled so broadly that I could see his eyeteeth.
_____________________________
Now speaking of “What Would Muhammad Do?”, brother Ibrahim Hooper wrote a good commentary with the same title that you can read here:
http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=777&&ArticleID=23869&&name=n&&currPage=1
Given the ongoing controversy over the jailing of British teacher Gillian Gibbons in the Sudan for “insulting Islam,” perhaps it is time to remind us all how the Prophet himself reacted to insults, both real and perceived.
Even if Ms. Gibbons had the intent to cause insult, which does not seem to be the case, Islamic traditions include a number of instances in which the Prophet had the opportunity to retaliate against those who abused him, but refrained from doing so.
“You do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them with forgiveness and kindness.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
That description of the Prophet Muhammad is a summary of how he reacted to personal attacks and abuse.
Muslims are taught the tradition of the woman who would regularly throw trash on the prophet as he walked down a particular path. The prophet never responded in kind to the woman’s abuse. Instead, when she one day failed to attack him, he went to her home to inquire about her condition.
In another tradition, the prophet was offered the opportunity to have God punish the people of a town near Mecca who refused the message of Islam and attacked him with stones. Again, the prophet did not choose to respond in kind to the abuse.
A companion of the prophet noted his forgiving disposition. He said: “I served the prophet for ten years, and he never said ‘uf’ (a word indicating impatience) to me and never blamed me by saying, ‘Why did you do so or why didn't you do so?’” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Even when the prophet was in a position of power, he chose the path of kindness and reconciliation.
When he returned to Mecca after years of exile and personal attacks, he did not take revenge on the people of the city, but instead offered a general amnesty.
In the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, God states: “When (the righteous) hear vain talk, they withdraw from it saying: ‘Our deeds are for us and yours for you; peace be on to you. We do not desire the way of the ignorant’. . .O Prophet (Muhammad), you cannot give guidance to whom you wish, it is God Who gives guidance to whom He pleases, and He is quite aware of those who are guided.” (28:55-56)
The Quran also says: “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knows best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance.” (16:125)
Another verse tells the prophet to “show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.” (7:199)
These are the examples that Muslims should follow as they express concern at the publication of insulting cartoons or at misperceived actions of a well-meaning teacher.
After the Danish cartoon controversy and allegations of Quran desecration at Guantanamo Bay, CAIR initiated educational campaigns as a peaceful, constructive response. This is an approach that people of all faiths can appreciate, as it helps us move toward respect and religious tolerance.
SEE: http://cair.com/explorethequran/ and http://cair.com/muhammad/
This most recent episode can be used as a learning opportunity for people of all faiths who wish to promote mutual understanding. It can also be viewed as a “teaching moment” for Muslims who want to emulate the Prophet through the example of their good character and dignified behavior.
As the Quran states: “It may well be that God will bring about love (and friendship) between you and those with whom you are now at odds.” (60:7)
This week’s unfortunate incident in the Sudan points to the need for an increased level of dialogue between ordinary people in the Muslim world and the West.
The complaint brought against Gillian Gibbons was an inappropriate use of Sudan’s legal system to deal with what was in essence a disagreement between parents and a teacher. Ms. Gibbons should never have been charged. She should be released immediately.
Asalam Alaikum
You made a good point here.
this was super...you really had me going...i thought it was real!
the teddy bear case made me want to scream...thank God the woman was not punished. when will muslims wake up?!
Rafee: I would say sadly that common sense is not that common after all! Then again, maybe there is more to this than it meets the eye. The BBC has some great stuff about it.
Molly: Sigh indeed.
Anon: sure.
Suroor: I thought you would!
Ummali: I just hope the rest of the muslim community gets it. I would probably be villified in Sudan if I wrote something like this there.
Ijtema: thank you. For everyone, the link is http://www.ijtema.net/2007/12/04/blasphemous-horse/.
Anisa: haha several others said the same thing!
Well she did spend a few days in jail but I guess that's better than 40 lashes or death. Sad.
Salaam Alaikum,
Fantastic post, thank you.
Alhamdulilah, The Prophet Muhammed (saw) was a wonderful, amazing man. How sad that so many miss the point of following his Sunnah.
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