Blasphemy: Reason behind aggressive

persuasion and Islamic perspective

Posted 23/11/2010 by Dr Jawwad Khan

Once there was a king who suddenly interested in the answers of his 3
questions. He promised a reward for any one who gives the answer. Many
people tried but failed. Then a shepherd came forward and answered correctly.
One of three question, he asked to the shepherd was about his worth. He
asked,” tell me about my worth, while I am sitting on my king’s chair with the
crown on my head. The shepherd said,” 29 pennies” The king amazed to learn
that and asked,” How could my worth become so cheap?” The shepherd said,”
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was sold to Romans for just 30 pennies so
your worth can not be the same or more”.
Whenever i observe the level of “tolerance” and “freedom of speech” in the
west and their absolute prefrence of these values over the honor of prophet
Jesus(pbuh), this story gets refreshed in my mind. In reality west sold Its
prophet and His honor for less than 30 pennies. They not only practice this kind
of “tolerance” and “freedom of speech” but also expect and demand Muslim
Ummah to exercise this behavior in a similar way. As a Muslim we are so
intimidated and so pressurized not only by western world but also by their
uncountable “enlightened moderate” friends in Pakistan. The current example
of stereotype behavior of our govt came when a convicted “maloona” aasia
who was sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, called upon our ‘mela’ and
‘rangeela’ governor Punjab equally ‘malaoon’ Salman Tasir, who calls
blasphemy law as a black law and forwarded a mercy petition on the behaf of
convicted ‘malaoona’ Aasia. Now the news are coming that in spite of court
decision she will be pardoned and will be sent abroad.
The blasphemy is supported, conducted and protected by world governments
on the name of freedom of speech (but mind it, the freedom of speech is
reserved for the blasphemy only do not try it on the issue of Holocaust or you
may get in troubles) The purpose is quite clear, to eliminate the emotional
affiliation of the Muslims with the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).
The purpose is to de sensitize the Muslim population on this serious issue. This
is a form of psy op, a mental reconditioning through a persuasion i.e. One
surrender after another.
50 years ago no one dared to do that because Muslim responded in killing the
blasphemer on the spot. We have enlightened examples of Ghazi Alm uddin
and others. But now things are different, on the one hand Malaoon Shaitan
Rushdi, Tasleema Nasreen, Dr.Wafa Sultan and others are alive, well and
protected. Blasphemous cartoons are being republished again and
again. Facebook announced a drawing competition. Quran a Kareem is burnt in
public places and on the other hand Muslim governments are being persuaded
aggressively to protect the people whoever committed this felony. In
Pakistan they have successfully nullify the blasphemy law. Many Christians
were sent abroad to avoid the death sentence through successive governments.
Internally and externally false propaganda has been initiated of persecution of
minorities. This job is being carried out vehemently by our civil right
organization, bloggers and faction of civil society. Some time i feel that as a
society, subliminally we don’t want to pay much attention to this issue.
When I see the whole campaign, i found one purpose which is to
make Muslims of Pakistan believe that freedom of speech is much superior to
the sacredness, honor and dignity of the most revered Prophet Mohammed
(peace be upon him). The purpose of the post is to recall the Islamic injunction
regarding this sensitive issue and to re sensitize the ummah again. We need to
look again the collection of Ahadith and views of all four school of thoughts
and most eminent scholars of Islam on this issue.
QURAN E KAREEM
Let us examine again the honor and dignity of a prophet in the lights of Quran e
Kareem. Quran says in Sura Alhujrat -verse 2 (49:2)
‫ض َأن‬ٍ ‫ضكُْم ِلَبْع‬ ِ ‫جْهِر َبْع‬ َ ‫جَهُروا َلُه ِباْلَقْوِل َك‬ ْ ‫ي َوَل َت‬ ّ ‫ت الّنِب‬ِ ‫صْو‬َ ‫ق‬ َ ‫صَواَتُكْم َفْو‬ ْ ‫ن آَمُنوا َل َتْرَفُعوا َأ‬ َ ‫َيا َأّيَها اّلِذي‬
َ ‫شُعُرو‬
‫ن‬ ْ ‫عَماُلُكْم َوَأنُتْم َل َت‬ْ ‫ط َأ‬
َ ‫حَب‬ْ ‫َت‬
“O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet (
‫)ممم مممم مممم مممم‬, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak
aloud to one another, lest your deeds should be rendered fruitless while you
perceive not”.
In Sura Al Noor verse 63 (24:63) Quran asks:
‫ضا‬
ً ‫ضُكم َبْع‬ ِ ‫عاِء َبْع‬ َ ‫ل َبْيَنُكْم َكُد‬
ِ ‫سو‬ ُ ‫عاَء الّر‬ َ ‫جَعُلوا ُد‬ ْ ‫ل َت‬ّ
“Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad ‫ممم مممم مممم‬
‫ )مممم‬among you as your calling one of another”.
In sura Al Maeda verse 33 (5:33) Quran says:
‫طَع َأْيِديِهْم‬
ّ ‫صّلُبوا َأْو ُتَق‬
َ ‫ساًدا َأن ُيَقّتُلوا َأْو ُي‬
َ ‫ض َف‬ِ ‫ن ِفي الَْْر‬ َ ‫سَعْو‬ ْ ‫سوَلُه َوَي‬ُ ‫ل َوَر‬ َّ ‫ن ا‬َ ‫حاِرُبو‬ َ ‫ن ُي‬
َ ‫جَزاُء اّلِذي‬َ ‫ِإّنَما‬
‫ظيٌم‬ِ‫ع‬ َ ‫ب‬ ٌ ‫عَذا‬ َ ‫خَرِة‬ ِ‫ل‬ْ ‫ي ِفي الّدْنَياۖ َوَلُهْم ِفي ا‬ ٌ ‫خْز‬ ِ ‫ك َلُهْم‬َ ٰٰ‌
‫ض ۚ َذِل‬ِ ‫ن الَْْر‬ َ ‫ف َأْو ُينَفْوا ِم‬ٍ ‫ل‬ َ‫خ‬ ِ ‫ن‬ ْ ‫جُلُهم ّم‬ُ ‫َوَأْر‬
“The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and
do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their
hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land.
That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the
Hereafter”.
In Sura Al Ahzab verse 57 (33:57) Quran says:
‫عَذاًبا ّمِهيًنا‬
َ ‫عّد َلُهْم‬َ ‫خَرِة َوَأ‬ِ‫ل‬ ْ ‫ل ِفي الّدْنَيا َوا‬ ُّ ‫سوَلُه َلَعَنُهُم ا‬ُ ‫ل َوَر‬ َّ ‫ن ا‬َ ‫ن ُيْؤُذو‬ َ ‫ن اّلِذي‬
ّ ‫ِإ‬
“Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger ( ‫ممم مممم مممم‬
‫ )مممم‬Allah has cursed them in this world, and in the Hereafter, and has
prepared for them a humiliating torment”.
In Sura Al Tauba verses 65-66 (9: 65-66), Quran says:
‫ل َتْعَتِذُروا َقْد َكَفْرُتم‬
َ ‫سَتْهِزُئوَن‬
ْ ‫سوِلِه ُكنُتْم َت‬ُ ‫ل َوآَياِتِه َوَر‬
ِّ ‫ل َأِبا‬ْ ‫ب ۚ ُق‬
ُ ‫ض َوَنْلَع‬
ُ ‫خو‬ ُ ‫ن ِإّنَما ُكّنا َن‬
ّ ‫سَأْلَتُهْم َلَيُقوُل‬
َ ‫َوَلِئن‬
َ ‫جِرِمي‬
‫ن‬ ْ ‫طاِئَفًة ِبَأّنُهْم َكاُنوا ُم‬
َ ‫ب‬ ْ ‫طاِئَفٍة ّمنُكْم ُنَعّذ‬َ ‫عن‬ َ ‫ف‬ ُ ‫َبْعَد ِإيَماِنُكْم ۚ ِإن ّنْع‬
If you ask them (about this), they declare: “We were only talking idly and
joking.” Say: “Was it at Allah (‫)مم ممم‬, and His Ayat (proofs, evidence,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations) and His Messenger ( ‫ممم مممم مممم‬
‫ )مممم‬that you were mocking?”
Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of
you, We will punish others amongst you because they were Mujrimun
(disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals.)
‫عّد َلُهْم عََذاًبا ّمِهيًنا‬
َ ‫خَرِة َوَأ‬
ِ‫ل‬ ْ ‫سوَلُه َلَعَنُهُم الُّ ِفي الّدْنَيا َوا‬ُ ‫ل َوَر‬ َّ ‫ن ا‬َ ‫ن ُيْؤُذو‬ َ ‫ن اّلِذي‬
ّ ‫ِإ‬
Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger (‫ )صلى ال عليه وسلم‬Allah has
cursed them in this world, and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a
humiliating torment. (sura Al Ahzab-verse 57)

ً‫خُذوا َوُقّتُلوا َتْقِتيل‬

ِ ‫نۖ َأْيَنَما ُثِقُفوا ُأ‬
َ ‫ّمْلُعوِني‬
Accursed, they shall be seized wherever found, and killed with a (terrible)
slaughter.( Sura Al Ahzab- Verse 61)
SAHIH AHADITH

Let us also look into Sahih Ahadith and see what we can find regarding the
sensitivity of this issue.
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: on the day of the conquest of Mecca:
There are four persons whom I shall not give protection in the sacred and non-
sacred territory. He then named them. There were two singing girls of al-
Maqis; one of them was killed and the other escaped and embraced Islam.
(Sunnan Abu Dawud 14:2678)
Narrated Sa’d ibn AbuWaqqas: On the day of the conquest of Mecca, Abdullah
ibn Sa’d ibn AbuSarh hid himself with Uthman ibn Affan. He brought him and
made him stand before the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), and said: Accept the
allegiance of Abdullah, Apostle of Allah! He raised his head and looked at him
three times, refusing him each time, but accepted his allegiance after the third
time. Then turning to his companions, he said: Was not there a wise man
among you who would stand up to him when he saw that I had withheld my
hand from accepting his allegiance, and kill him? They said: We did not know
what you had in your heart, Apostle of Allah! Why did you not give us a signal
with your eye? He said: It is not advisable for a Prophet to play deceptive tricks
with the eyes.
(Sunan abu daud -38 : 4346)
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to
abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. He forbade her but
she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night
she began to slander the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and abuse him. So he
took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who
came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the
morning came, the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was informed about it. He
assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this
action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping
over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the
Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she
used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I
rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from
her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage
you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her.
Thereupon the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Oh be witness, no
retaliation is payable for her blood.
(Sunan abu daud -38 : 4348)
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was
payable for her blood.
(Sunan abu daud -38 : 4349)
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: Allah’s Apostle said, “Who is willing to kill Ka’b
bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?” Thereupon Muhammad
bin Maslama got up saying, “O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like that I kill
him?” The Prophet said, “Yes,” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Then allow me
to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). “The Prophet said, “You may say it.”
Then Muhammad bin Maslama went to Kab and said, “That man (i.e.
Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has troubled us, and I
have come to borrow something from you.” On that, Kab said, “By Allah, you
will get tired of him!” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Now as we have
followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how his end
is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel load or two of food.”
(Some difference between narrators about a camel load or two.) Kab said,
“Yes, (I will lend you), but you should mortgage something to me.”
Muhammad bin Mas-lama and his companion said, “What do you want?” Ka’b
replied, “Mortgage your women to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our
women to you and you are the most handsome of the ‘Arabs?” Ka’b said,
“Then mortgage your sons to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our sons
to you? Later they would be abused by the people’s saying that so-and-so has
been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That would cause us great disgrace,
but we will mortgage our arms to you.” Muhammad bin Maslama and his
companion promised Kab that Muhammad would return to him. He came to
Kab at night along with Kab’s foster brother, Abu Na’ila. Kab invited them to
come into his fort, and then he went down to them. His wife asked him, “Where
are you going at this time?” Kab replied, “None but Muhammad bin Maslama
and my (foster) brother Abu Na’ila have come.” His wife said, “I hear a voice
as if dropping blood is from him, Ka’b said. “They are none but my brother
Muhammad bin Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A generous man
should respond to a call at night even if invited to be killed.” Muhammad bin
Maslama went with two men. (Some narrators mention the men as ‘Abu bin
Jabr. Al Harith bin Aus and Abbad bin Bishr). So Muhammad bin Maslama
went in together with two men, and sail to them, “When Ka’b comes, I will
touch his hair and smell it, and when you see that I have got hold of his head,
strip him. I will let you smell his head.” Kab bin Al-Ashraf came down to them
wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume. Muhammad bin Maslama said. ”
have never smelt a better scent than this. Ka’b replied. “I have got the best
‘Arab women who know how to use the high class of perfume.” Muhammad
bin Maslama requested Ka’b “Will you allow me to smell your head?” Ka’b
said, “Yes.” Muhammad smelt it and made his companions smell it as well.
Then he requested Ka’b again, “Will you let me (smell your head)?” Ka’b said,
“Yes.” When Muhammad got a strong hold of him, he said (to his
companions), “Get at him!” So they killed him and went to the Prophet and
informed him. (Abu Rafi) was killed after Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf.”
(sahih bukhari- 59: 369)
Note: Ka.b bin al Ashraf, was a Jewish leader and he was a very eloquent poet.
When the news was carried to Madina of the victory of the Muslims in the
battle of Badr and Ka.b ibn al Ashraf heard of that news he said:
If this news is true, then being under the earth is better for us, then being on
top of it.. Meaning, it is better for us to die. What good is there in living after
the Kuffar of Qurayshhave been defeated.And he started making poems in
which he would lament the loss of the Mushrikeen and he would also speak
against the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the
Muslims.Then he went on to Makkah to present to them his poetry and to also
join them in their losses.And he went further and started mentioning Muslim
women in his poetry.
Narrated Al-Bara bin azib: Allah’s Apostle sent a group of Ansari men to kill
Abu-Rafi. One of them set out and entered their (i.e. the enemies) fort. That
man said, “I hid myself in a stable for their animals. They closed the fort gate.
Later they lost a donkey of theirs, so they went out in its search. I, too, went out
along with them, pretending to look for it. They found the donkey and entered
their fort. And I, too, entered along with them. They closed the gate of the fort
at night, and kept its keys in a small window where I could see them. When
those people slept, I took the keys and opened the gate of the fort and came
upon Abu Rafi and said, ‘O Abu Rafi. When he replied me, I proceeded
towards the voice and hit him. He shouted and I came out to come back,
pretending to be a helper. I said, ‘O Abu Rafi, changing the tone of my voice.
He asked me, ‘What do you want; woe to your mother?’ I asked him, ‘What
has happened to you?’ He said, ‘I don’t know who came to me and hit me.’
Then I drove my sword into his belly and pushed it forcibly till it touched the
bone. Then I came out, filled with puzzlement and went towards a ladder of
theirs in order to get down but I fell down and sprained my foot. I came to my
companions and said, ‘I will not leave till I hear the wailing of the women.’ So,
I did not leave till I heard the women bewailing Abu Rafi, the merchant pf
Hijaz. Then I got up, feeling no ailment, (and we proceeded) till we came upon
the Prophet and informed him.”
(Sahih Bukhari-Book52, Hadith 264)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: On the day of the Conquest, the Prophet entered
Mecca, wearing a helmet on his head. When he took it off, a man came and
said, “ibn khatal is clinging to the curtain of the Ka’ba.” The Prophet said, “Kill
him.” (Malik a sub-narrator said, “On that day the Prophet was not in a state of
Ihram as it appeared to us, and Allah knows better.”
(Sahih Bukhari Book 59, Hadith 582)
Note: Abdullah ibn Khatal had these two slave girls who used to sing against
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), they would
hold concerts in Makkahsinging against the Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him). These two slave girls were on that list along
with another slave girl that belonged to Abu Lahab.First of all let.s talk
about Abdullah ibn Khatal, he actually was hanging to the cloths of the
Ka.bah and one of the companions rushed towards him and killed him!
OPINION OF THE MOST RENOWNED AND EMINENT SCHOLARS
OF ISLAM:
Imam Abu Hanifa:
“Muslim speaking against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) should be executed and if it is a non-Muslim who doesn.t
have a contract he should also be executed.”
Imam Ahmed:
“Whosoever abuses the Prophet (Peace be upon him) our “FINDS HIS
FAULTS” then whether he was (previously) Muslim or not, then it is binding
to “KILL HIM” and my opinion is that his repentance is not to be accepted
rather he is only to be killed”

Imam Malik:
“If someone says that the button of the Messenger of Allah (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) is dirty, then he should be executed!.Even if it
is as small as saying that, then this person should be executed”
“Whether Muslim or Kafir that doesn.t make difference he should be killed
without warning!”
Al Waqidi mentions an incident; the Caliph Haroun ar Rasheed asked
Imam Malik about a man who had spoken against the Messenger
of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Ar Rasheed told
Imam Malik that the Fuqaha. of Iraq gave him a Fatwa to flog this man.Imam
Malik was angry and said,
“O Ameer al Mumineen, how can the Ummah survive when its Prophet is
cursed! Whoever curses the Prophets should be executed, and whoever curses
the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) should be flogged!.
Ibn e taymiyah:
Whoever curses the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) -a Muslim or a non Muslim- then he must be killed!”
“and this is the opinion of the general body of scholar”
“Muhammad bin Sahnun (rah) said: There is consensus (ijma) amongst ulama
that anyone who insults the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and finds his defects
then such a person is “KAFIR”and there is promise of Allah’s torment upon
such a person and in sight of Ummah the ruling regarding him is to “KILL
HIM” rather whosoever doubts in Kufr of such a person then he/she commits
kufr himself. The research in this matter is that anyone who abuses the Prophet
(Peace be upon him) is Kafir and he is to be killed unanimously, this is
“MADHAB OF ALL 4 IMAMS” Ishaq bin Rahwiyah and others have
mentioned this Ijma. If the abuser happens to be a Dhimmi (non Muslim living
in Muslim land) then according to Imam Malik (rah) and people of Madina he
is to be killed as well.”
“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sometimes chose to
forgive those who had insulted him, and sometimes he ordered that they should
be executed, if that served a greater purpose. But now his forgiveness is
impossible because he is dead, so the execution of the one who insults him
remains the right of Allaah, His Messenger and the believers, and the one who
deserves to be executed cannot be let off, so the punishment must be carried
out”.
Al-Saarim al-Maslool, 2/438