Absolutely Rasunday.

This was orchestrated by those who wish to divide us---and are, unfortunately, succeeding.

For those of you with family in Nigeria, how are things there? Are your families safe? Is there anything constructive that we can do to help?

After death there is no apology. I can not fathom what shall come from this beyond misunderstanding and increased hatred. Unfortunately there are moments in which man must defend himself by use of sword this is not one of them, we can not present ourselves as believers living under the principles of Islam yet contradicted these beliefs and the life of Muhummad (pbuh) on the evening news.

I agree that protest is well within our rights; however, VIOLENT protest is wrong and cannot be supported by the sunnah or the Quran. Nonviolent protest (including offering to educate the cartoonist about Islam) can be supported by sunnah. People who claim to be Muslims but act despicably need to revisit the meaning of Islam. IMHO

news.sbs.com.au daysum=2006-02-15

Assalamu Alaikum to my brothas n sistas
Personally, if I could chop the hands of Mr. Zeiler I would of, but then I remembered the way the trip of Quraysh ridiculed and insulted our Noble Prophet ( peace be upon him) and how this is ancient matter not something new. When the Quraysh trip called our Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) a mad man, a magician, throwed stones at him and his followers, and defaming him with other insults. How did he react? From what I have read all the defamation did not harm our Noble Prophet (peace be upon him). As I already stated the defamation abt Islam and the mockery of the Prophet, sallahaahu alayhi wa sallam, is not something new, but its an affliction through which Muslims should be patient about. Our Noble Prophet have said, ?How strange is the matter of a believer, there is good in all his affairs, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him and he is grateful, then this is good for him, and if a calamity befalls him and he is patient, then this is also good for him? Muslim. Also, Qayyim, May Allah have mercy on him, stated that "Calamities and problems are afflictions and (in reality are) blessing."

As Muslim we know that our deen is put to test every single day. And as far as the protesters are concern, some media report really exaggerated. There were so many peaceful protests that no one took the time to report it, after all why should they? And yeh there were some protesters who took it 2 far. I guess some of those protesters were really passionate abt the deen and made few mistakes. I guess instead of the protest boycotting wud have been better. After all, all Muslims are obligated to repent to Allah and avoid all sinful and acts of disobedience. I hope this situation is the one thing that wud unite all Muslims together (course in a peaceful matter).

Allah says (what means): (And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and lose courage and your strength would depart; and be PATIENT. INDEED, ALLAAH IS WITH THE PATIENT.) QU'RAN 8:46

My friend and I were saying that it would be nice if the cartoonist could attend some classes and learn more about Islam. Some people I know are joining protests, calling for a trial of the cartoonist. I'm not supporting that approach. The only protest I ever went to was for Sierra Leone when everyone refused to believe what the RUF was doing in the country side. Even that was a peaceful one. And I'm also worried about all the low class Muslim workers that are employed by the factories of Denmark and Norway. What will they do when they loose their jobs?

When the Rasul (SAW) was pelted with stones and wounded by the people of Taif, here is his supplication.

"O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and my humiliation before the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom have you entrusted me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair? So long as You are not angry with me, I do not care. Your favour is of more abundance to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger or your displeasure descend upon me. I desire your pleasure and satisfaction until you are pleased. There is no power and no might except by You."

Now look at this compared it to what Muslims are doing.

If Muslims could appreciate the patience required for nonviolent civil disobedience and learn the lessons of our ancestors, it would do a great service to the cause of Muslim empowerment. Rash acts of violence don't facilitate the insight, awareness, and empathy that ushers in longstanding social change.

Rasunday, I couldn't agree with you more!

"My concern is that the behavior executed after this offensive act will become the topic of news media and the origin of this conflict will become a issue of no importance, people will not stop to understand, people will not stop to learn or acquire information that will clearly explain why this act was offensive every news story will now show an angry mob burning buildings in search of something to destroy what created this behavior which I will neglect to place in a box of wrong or right will become the headline yet again why are these people so sensitive so angry."

During Slavery, Civil Rights and of course all era's of Segregation in the US and partnering countries various elements of the European and minority interaction have always lacked a sense of compassion and if it may be stated a void in areas requiring those not affected by racism, prejudice, inappropriate literature/comics television shows etc. to place themselves on the side of those who were, there has been and continues to be a lack of compassion and a desire to understand those who differ from the Euro/Christian norm, there has never been a request for sympathy instead an extension of empathy a basic verbal exchange that presents a level of understanding how certain acts are not a matter of your counterparts being overly sensitive but simply a matter of logical reasons which prove your actions offensive. My concern is that the behavior executed after this offensive act will become the topic of news media and the origin of this conflict will become a issue of no importance, people will not stop to understand, people will not stop to learn or acquire information that will clearly explain why this act was offensive every news story will now show an angry mob burning buildings in search of something to destroy what created this behavior which I will neglect to place in a box of wrong or right will become the headline yet again why are these people so sensitive so angry.