Can Muslims take criticism of the Prophet?

[gambit]

REZA ASLAN stuns foxnews presenter about his bookTHE LIFE&TIMES OF JESUS OF NIARETH - YouTube

The book is not critical of Jesus Christ, quite the opposite

It does not matter. Keyword search for you: '**** christ'.

If we can tolerate that garbage, we can tolerate anything. Whereas the Muslims cannot tolerate even scholarly and objective mild criticisms of Islam and Muhammad.

 

[Awesome]

Rebooted into a new thread for the relevant discussion initiated by @gambit.

 

[Sedqal]

It does not matter. Keyword search for you: '**** christ'.

If we can tolerate that garbage, we can tolerate anything. Whereas the Muslims cannot tolerate even scholarly and objective mild criticisms of Islam and Muhammad.

What we see in Europe and America in not criticism but demonizing and that is true for both Muhammad and Jesus. In the garb of freedom of speech religions (and religious figures) are intentionally targeted and ridiculed.

Most Muslims are open to criticism as it is well understood that Muhammad is not considered a prophet by both Jews and Christians, but there is a violent minority which regrettably gets more air time and defines the silent majority too. (I'm not shifting the blame here, that violent minority comes from us and its our responsibility to tackle that)

 

[gambit]

The real question is not 'Can Muslims tolerate criticisms of Islam and Muhammad?' Rather, the real question is: 'WILL Muslims tolerate...?'

Quite often in life, a person can be so stubborn about a particular thing that it is perceived that the person CANNOT do that thing. The word 'cannot' implies inability. Some animals do not have opposable thumbs, so they CANNOT grasp objects the way primates can. The word 'cannot' clearly implies the lack of willful intent.

This is obviously not applicable to Muslims. They are human beings. Some of them converted to Islam, clearly willful intent to change a set of core principles. So it is not true that Muslims cannot tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad. It is they WILL NOT. They have every right to that willful intent.

So the inevitable question is: Should the Muslims tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad? And please spare us the stale line about the difference between 'legitimate' criticism and insult. Like it or not, an insult is a criticism. The worst kind, yes. The most immature kind, yes. The most intellectually shallow kind, yes. But that is precisely the point: The Muslims SHOULD be able to tolerate even the most crass and intellectually shallow of criticisms, aka insults, the same as how the Christians are able to do. It is not a sign of weakness but of intellectual and moral might.

 

[Jackdaws]

No, they can't. Why else the blasphemy laws?

 

[RazPaK]

This is stupid. Jesus is also a prophet of Islam. Reza is not speaking on Jesus as a muslim, but as a religious scholar who got degrees right here from USA.

 

[Jackdaws]

The real question is not 'Can Muslims tolerate criticisms of Islam and Muhammad?' Rather, the real question is: 'WILL Muslims tolerate...?'

Quite often in life, a person can be so stubborn about a particular thing that it is perceived that the person CANNOT do that thing. The word 'cannot' implies inability. Some animals do not have opposable thumbs, so they CANNOT grasp objects the way primates can. The word 'cannot' clearly implies the lack of willful intent.

This is obviously not applicable to Muslims. They are human beings. Some of them converted to Islam, clearly willful intent to change a set of core principles. So it is not true that Muslims cannot tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad. It is they WILL NOT. They have every right to that willful intent.

So the inevitable question is: Should the Muslims tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad? And please spare us the stale line about the difference between 'legitimate' criticism and insult. Like it or not, an insult is a criticism. The worst kind, yes. The most immature kind, yes. The most intellectually shallow kind, yes. But that is precisely the point: The Muslims SHOULD be able to tolerate even the most crass and intellectually shallow of criticisms, aka insults, the same as how the Christians are able to do. It is not a sign of weakness but of intellectual and moral might.

I agree with this view - however, it has taken the Western nations eons to arrive at this juncture. Look at how long Christianity has been around and still only 50-60 years ago - the KKK in America was at its pomp. Intolerance is universal - there will always be intolerant people - simply because it is politically correct to allow criticism doesn't mean that the population is tolerant. My issue is with state sanction for intolerance through the absurd blasphemy laws.

 

[SwatCat]

For Muslims Prophet and GOD are like shock absorbers in their life problems, so they cannot take any insult on any of the two. These guys get strength by saying it is GOD's willing and so it happened just in case of trouble.

Interesting thing is they openly criticize others beliefs who also think the same as muslims. People like Zakir Naik openly say that Lord Ganesh is not GOD and roam freely in India.

 

[Dubious]

The real question is not 'Can Muslims tolerate criticisms of Islam and Muhammad?' Rather, the real question is: 'WILL Muslims tolerate...?'

Quite often in life, a person can be so stubborn about a particular thing that it is perceived that the person CANNOT do that thing. The word 'cannot' implies inability. Some animals do not have opposable thumbs, so they CANNOT grasp objects the way primates can. The word 'cannot' clearly implies the lack of willful intent.

This is obviously not applicable to Muslims. They are human beings. Some of them converted to Islam, clearly willful intent to change a set of core principles. So it is not true that Muslims cannot tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad. It is they WILL NOT. They have every right to that willful intent.

So the inevitable question is: Should the Muslims tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad? And please spare us the stale line about the difference between 'legitimate' criticism and insult. Like it or not, an insult is a criticism. The worst kind, yes. The most immature kind, yes. The most intellectually shallow kind, yes. But that is precisely the point: The Muslims SHOULD be able to tolerate even the most crass and intellectually shallow of criticisms, aka insults, the same as how the Christians are able to do. It is not a sign of weakness but of intellectual and moral might.

And I had answered we WILL AND CAN if it is CRITICISM not bashing under the hood of criticism...

The speech you quoted in post 1....he CRITICIZED Islam as Jesus is our prophet too and we believe he was saved BEFORE BEING CRUCIFIED...but the guy looked at it in the point of view of History....instead of theology!

As for the prophet, what would you wish to criticize...give us an example ....

No, they can't. Why else the blasphemy laws?

blasphemy laws are MOSTLY BASED ON CULTURE....Mind you honor killing existed in MANY CULTURES from India to Arabia to Africa! (that being just 1 example)

 

[SwatCat]

And I had answered we WILL AND CAN if it is CRITICISM not bashing under the hood of criticism...

The speech you quoted in post 1....he CRITICIZED Islam as Jesus is our prophet too and we believe he was saved BEFORE BEING CRUCIFIED...but the guy looked at it in the point of view of History....instead of theology!

As for the prophet, what would you wish to criticize...give us an example ....



blasphemy laws are MOSTLY BASED ON CULTURE....Mind you honor killing existed in MANY CULTURES from India to Arabia to Africa! (that being just 1 example)

Just a cartoon on Mohammed and Muslims went on rampage, just like they are mad.

 

[qamar1990]

It does not matter. Keyword search for you: '**** christ'.

If we can tolerate that garbage, we can tolerate anything. Whereas the Muslims cannot tolerate even scholarly and objective mild criticisms of Islam and Muhammad.

you can criticize the prophet all you want but if you insult him just for the sake of insulting then you will have have to deal with the consequences of your actions.

 

[atya]

Muslims don't mind having civilised discussions on Islam or taking part in open debates. However, we can't tolerate blasphemy such as drawing pictures or direct insults made without any logic or thought. If you know about Islam and you disagree then we don't mind discussing it.

I believe this answers you question. Thread closed.

 

[Dubious]

The real question is not 'Can Muslims tolerate criticisms of Islam and Muhammad?' Rather, the real question is: 'WILL Muslims tolerate...?'

Quite often in life, a person can be so stubborn about a particular thing that it is perceived that the person CANNOT do that thing. The word 'cannot' implies inability. Some animals do not have opposable thumbs, so they CANNOT grasp objects the way primates can. The word 'cannot' clearly implies the lack of willful intent.

This is obviously not applicable to Muslims. They are human beings. Some of them converted to Islam, clearly willful intent to change a set of core principles.

May I know who accepts a religion to be change it? Usually people accept it because they see truth and like its principals...Unlike those who like to weight out on the basis of WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING....

So it is not true that Muslims cannot tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad. It is they WILL NOT. They have every right to that willful intent.

So the inevitable question is: Should the Muslims tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad? And please spare us the stale line about the difference between 'legitimate' criticism and insult. Like it or not, an insult is a criticism.

Let me give you an example you may understand better...If I say you mom is soo fat she shakes the earth when she walks...What form of criticism is that? It is not...it is A CLEAR INSULT!

The worst kind, yes. The most immature kind, yes. The most intellectually shallow kind, yes. But that is precisely the point: The Muslims SHOULD be able to tolerate even the most crass and intellectually shallow of criticisms, aka insults, the same as how the Christians are able to do. It is not a sign of weakness but of intellectual and moral might.

Christians TOLERATE EVERYTHING....they have allowed anything and everything to enter into the bible (by editing be it addding or deleting verses based on how they want it instead of accepting it as it is...what form of tolerance is that?) and STILL CALL IT WORD OF GOD?!

 

[Sedqal]

The real question is not 'Can Muslims tolerate criticisms of Islam and Muhammad?' Rather, the real question is: 'WILL Muslims tolerate...?'

Quite often in life, a person can be so stubborn about a particular thing that it is perceived that the person CANNOT do that thing. The word 'cannot' implies inability. Some animals do not have opposable thumbs, so they CANNOT grasp objects the way primates can. The word 'cannot' clearly implies the lack of willful intent.

This is obviously not applicable to Muslims. They are human beings. Some of them converted to Islam, clearly willful intent to change a set of core principles. So it is not true that Muslims cannot tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad. It is they WILL NOT. They have every right to that willful intent.

So the inevitable question is: Should the Muslims tolerate criticisms to Islam and Muhammad? And please spare us the stale line about the difference between 'legitimate' criticism and insult. Like it or not, an insult is a criticism. The worst kind, yes. The most immature kind, yes. The most intellectually shallow kind, yes. But that is precisely the point: The Muslims SHOULD be able to tolerate even the most crass and intellectually shallow of criticisms, aka insults, the same as how the Christians are able to do. It is not a sign of weakness but of intellectual and moral might.

If by tolerating you mean that they should not get violent I agree though crass and intellectually shallow defines hate speech not criticism.

 

[SwatCat]

blasphemy laws are MOSTLY BASED ON CULTURE....Mind you honor killing existed in MANY CULTURES from India to Arabia to Africa! (that being just 1 example)

Wrong, Blasphemy laws are based on Religion not based on ethnicity or culture.