It was 2006, and I can remember the wave of hatred and anger spread all over the world when Danish newspaper published something which they better should never tried to. In Pakistan there were so many violent protests against the issue, though people of my land destroyed our own assets just to show the anger. I can remember that a perfect date was chosen for the protest in Lahore.
The same is going to happen again. This all started with the South Park controversy. It created enough fire that could cover a large area and now the mother of all social media web sites have become the battle field. Anti Muslims have taken another step to show there hatred towards Islam.
There is an event on facebook named “everybody draw Muhammad Day”. And this event is a result of create hatred and enjoy the fight policy of some evil brain. Many Muslims are asking to boycott facebook on May 20th when this event is going to take place. As I have been confused about how to react to this I also planned to do the same until I read Blog Post of Disco Maulvi this morning, he says:
But why stick to just a one day boycott? Why not boycott until Facebook sits up and notices? Is our love for the Prophet so meager that it warrants staying off Facebook for just 24 hours? And where does this love for the Prophet disappear to when we blatantly ignore his teachings day in and day out? Do we boycott ourselves for not loving and respecting the Prophet by obeying his teachings? And does not the Quran tell us that all Prophets are equal and we should not distinguish between any single one? So why don’t we protest when South Park regularly depicts Jesus (AS) in its cartoons? Just some food for thought for us all as we stay off Facebook on 20th May.
In search of a proper course of action I put myself into a debate. My friends from the twitter world Rumaisa Mohani, Usman Rizwan, Ali B, Maho A Choaudhri, Abid Beli, Sabir Khalid, Saad AKA Kursed, Muhammad Ali Yaqoob, Ayeshah Alam, Dr. Awab, Akram Khan, and Rabab Khan joined in this debate. There were many points rised by these people; I am sharing a few of them here
- The point of protest comes when we r worth of it!
- Facebook Ko Takalluf Ha Humsay Agar!! Hum Bhi Be Bas Nahi — Be Sahara Nahi !!! http://bit.ly/9LiEtp
- we protest for one day and then what?back to same old routine of nothing ‘saving’ Islam !
- Tell me the advantage of spreading that msg to block that page??
- if really care about protesting over this sick event,then why not quit all the forums made by them?twitter,fb?
- we shdnt be avoiding it..speaking gives u the strength even if u rnt strong
- Make a group… call more than those 35,000 ppl, to condemn this
- speaking strength?how strong did we get in the past so many years by mere speaking?no change w/o practicalityFight on media with media only.
- what abt “WE Condemn Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” ?
- so in a nut shell change must have to emerge within
- Yes, the protest should be loud. Suggesting that it’d against both instigators.
- change must start from within, tolerance must start from within – restraint from withinchange must start from within, tolerance must start from within – restraint from within
- thay are also creating pages only.. so we can fight back.. whats the harm in it !!
- I disagree. They r constantly instigating such things and incite Muslims to violence
- Crused war already started after 9/11 dost but we dont want to awake as we busy in our daily life
- this time I suggest ignoring or quiet letters of protest expressed in a clear manner
- if they still don’t listen just ignore. And walk on in peace. Their words cannot
- damage us or our religion. Our violent actions do
- i am quitting it forever
- Quit this, quit that,u can quit everything,wont make any difference
- no DONT LEAVE FACEBOOK.Stay there.we have a right on the media too!
- World is not a good place to live either, so do we leave it.
- We can spread our Religion best things through Facebook
- ap ye page rukwa sektay hain ?
- i like the suggestions of this guy on the issue http://bit.ly/8ZypSu BRILLIANT – im all for it
So many points and so many suggestions but in the end what I can figure out is that to change one has to change himself, create an example out of yourself. This debate have solved a mystery to me and remove the confusing I was facing. Tolerance is the weapon which can be utilized against such situations. However one must have an attitude which do not let other misjudge the tolerance as cowardness.
This event is an example of discrimination towards Muslims and Islam, and the master minds must be having an eye on us that how we react to it, I know how much I love my religion and I do not need to show a certificate to any one but I believe that first I have to be the real Muslim and create an awareness what Islam really is and make these people who follows activities such as this draw event realize how much wrong they think about Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
Here I am sharing a video which actually helped me in busting the mystery and understanding what actually my course of action should be.
I agree with the idea this young Muslim has put and i think it might be the best and must suitable thing to do at this time.
This whole event remind me the historical incident when people of Taif Stoned Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. and Hazrat Jibraeel asked for His (SAW) permission to destroy the whole valley, even at that time Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W. Prayed to Allah to forgive them as they know nothing. This proves that how tolerance can create a world wide revolution in few years.
Practicing discrimination along with creating hatred and coating this whole activity with freedom of speech color is the idea of these people, raising voice against it a good step as we know how important it is to us when something like that happened but it is only the one side solution and not a long time solution. However, Creating awareness is the need of hour as the people in dark have now idea how good actually light is as they know nothing so they have no idea what they are doing.
We have to act in sensible manner right now and rather then leaving the battle field we should use the same ground to defend the pride and spread the light. I would like to share this peace written by one of my favorite blogger, Sana Saleem in her Blog post at Dawn.Com says:
Let’s act rationally once and for all, and help change the trend of the freedom-of-speech excuse being used to justify discriminatory campaigns. Most importantly, let’s sort out the issue of representation. The Muslim community at large – and not a fringe, extreme element – should retain the power to decide how to react to such situations. If our stance is that of peaceful condemnation, then we must rid ourselves of those who behave otherwise. The “Draw a Muhammad Day” campaign appears to be nothing more than a desperate attempt to incite and provoke Muslims – let’s not give them the satisfaction.
at the end i want to say one thing, what ever they do and what ever they try we have to have a strong faith in our self and our religion. for us each and every day should be “Everybody Follow Muhammad S.A.W. Day” and this 20th may is no different.
p.s On face book Rumaisa Mohani initiated an event called “WE Condemn Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” and link is here. And the link to the group mentioned in the video is here:
by now when i am writing it there is a news that the page on face book has been banned in Pakistan. here
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