My first reaction to this most disrespectful diabolical abuse against a man who is not here to defend himself would be: Go to hell, you ignorant fools. You’ve no business badmouthing My beloved Prophet in this way. 
 

On retrospection, the person of Muhammad, peace be upon him, deserves more than that. He is too important to be taken lightly. Before I jump the gun, I first have to know who I am talking to. What kind of relationship do these empty heads have with Muhammad? Or God? Or any other prophet of God, for that matter? What’s their status? Believers? Atheists?  Ignorant Fools? Or just diehard blasphemers?
 

Muhammad is beyond reach. No amount of badmouthing will taint his holy personality. God is sufficient for Him. The tricky part here is that whoever did this heinous crime has only succeeded in hurting my feelings and the feelings of the many believers who populate this planet; that definitely being the goal of the mischief makers.
 

So what do I do? Pay the perpetrators back in kind by drawing cartoons of what they hold most dear? The good question is what would such people hold dear? Their God? Their prophets? Musa? Isa? Ibrahim? That itself is a big question since I can’t be sure of what they hold dear. But then again isn’t their God my God, too? Should they believe in any prophet, wouldn’t that prophet be my prophet, too? I am a Muslim, you must understand, I believe in Allah, in His Angels, in His Messengers, in His Books, so how could I mock any of that I hold dear?  
 

Unlike people of other faiths, there isn’t a single prophet of God that I don’t believe in. I believe in all and respect them all. So my hand is tied. I just don’t have the liberty to poke fun at a prophet of God, so what do I do?

 

Remember, I am a follower of the last Messenger of God, I am an example to the rest of humanity. I am one who knows Muhammad, I can’t talk to someone who doesn’t know him in the same fashion I would talk to one who knows him. So, even though I am sufficiently motivated to strike back, have lost some much needed sleep tonight as I try to formulate my thoughts, the more I think through the matter the more convinced I become that what I need the most in this trying moment, is to employ reason and wisdom. That’s what my prophet would do. Patience is indeed a blessing from Allah. So I keep my emotions under wraps and pray to God to guide the erring.
 

That is what God would want me to do. That’s what Muhammad did in the face of aggression. He remained patient, throughout; replaced hatred with love, hard-heartedness with compassion, aggression with peace, and darkness with light.
 

Muhammad was not like you and me. He was a prophet of God. He was not only a Messenger, he was also a wise leader and a teacher, and a student of God. And by Allah, did he have a most Perfect Teacher!
 

So even though I am seething with anger, I do not want to deprive Muhammad’s assailants the goodness of this most radiant Personality. Muhammad is not just my prophet, he is a Messenger to the whole world. And his Message a Message to all the worlds until the Last Day. This is the Truth, and anyone who evades it will be doing so at his own loss.
 

Unlike previous revelations that came before him, like that of Isa son of Mariam, Musa, and the many prophets before them (peace be upon them all), Muhammad’s message is intact word for word, in its original language, pure Arabic, and it’s by the Grace of God, that it’s accessible to everyone, layman and ruler, student and teacher, ignorant and scholar, Priest and Rabai. So if you have an iota of wisdom, are able to think independently and are honest in your love for your Maker, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t pick up this book and see for yourself in all honest what we Muslims have been saying the past 1400 plus years.
 

A Muslim, I am a firm believer in the beauty of the human nature and intellect. Because God created man, man must be good in his essence. That’s why I am taking this opportunity to air my grievances and give the devil-influenced attackers and the uninformed alike, a golden chance to rethink their approach. If greatness of character and decency had form they would personify Muhammad. Once someone asked Mother Aisha, a mother of the believers, to describe Muhammad, her answer was: He is a walking Qur’an. Yes, Muhammad was indeed a walking Qur’an, for he not only gave good news, he spread light, truth, mercy, love, compassion, wisdom, justice, knowledge, he internalized these sublime qualities and himself became one with the Message of Light.
 

So I say to you, O you who are ignorant of this man and this Prophet of God, pray for Knowledge.
 

And do bear with me when I tell you that, mildly put, what you have done leaves much to be desired. This is a blasphemy and an abominable act, one that’s punishable by the Divine, i.e. if the doer does not repent and ask his Lord for forgiveness. Our Lord is not only a forgiving Lord, He is most merciful, most lenient with man, had He been not so, I very much doubt there would remain a single sinner on the face of this earth. But God does not use our standards and limited judgments. Nor does He switch off the sun or withhold blessings from the sinner. He gives without condition to all, irrespective of their relationship with Him. He gives respite to all and the sinner is given plenty of time to repent. How perfect our Lord is! Indeed how Magnanimous!
 

But since Muhammad’s detractors have yet to consider the significance of their earthly life, have yet to ponder the darkness of a world without God’s Light, and have certainly not employed common sense before they made fools of themselves, I invite them all to get a glimpse into the person of a fine human being whose life is an inspiration, a guiding light, a perfect model; whose only mission in life was to rescue man from his selfish self, so as to unite the made with the Maker.
 

Needless to say, anyone who fights Muhammad is fighting a losing battle. Muhammad is high above anything anyone can say, placed as he is on a plane lofty and sublime, where evil never shall touch him, nor slander, nor defamation ruffle his holy person.
 

While he walked on earth, a humble servant of God, Muhammad’s pure teachings were met with fury, derision and blind opposition. The Elite of Mecca were not about coming down from their high horses. They had slaves to do their bidding, poor women at their beck and call, and idols to satisfy their hunger for delusions; thanks to the Idols a booming Tourism and Trade flourished, which the greedy clang to with desperate determination.
 

So when Muhammad gave the good news of a single God, and said those they worshipped were but simple stones and rocks, the haves of that time turned violent. When he told them, Stop killing your daughters, they became even more arrogant. When he said, There is no difference between you and your slaves, they said: Have you gone mad, Muhammad? Aren’t we the Chiefs of Mecca? When he said: Justice, please, Justice, they said: we’ve had enough of you, Muhammad.  When he read out the brilliant Verses of the Holy Revelation, they clapped to drown out God’s words. The hitherto respectable man whom they dubbed Al-Amin, the Trustworthy, and who had lived among them for forty good years had suddenly become a Liar. True to form, they erupted into character assassinations, used the day’s Media to their advantage and disseminated misinformation. They called Al-Amin, a Liar, Deceived,  Sorcerer, Soothsayer, Mad, and a Fabricator; they laid in wait at the corners of Mecca unsuspecting folks coming to town from outlying places so as to frighten people away from the pure Teachings of Islam. Lying, deception, half-truths, these became mighty tools under their unscrupulous disposal.
 

What transpired then is in fact, in terms of malice and plain opposition, no different from what this gentle servant of God has to endure even today. Lying and Arrogance are games that are as old as Satan himself.
 

But God was on his side, Muhammad did not choose himself, he was chosen by his Lord to bring humanity out of darkness into the light. And God wasn’t about leaving his chosen alone. He comforted him, Do not take it personally, it’s not you they hate. It’s the Message of Truth,  Righteousness and Piety, that’s what they can’t stomach. So hang in there, things shall change for the better. And Truth shall overcome falsehood, to this end Allah says in the Holy Quran (what means),
 

“Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).” (Holy Qur’an, Chapter #61, Verse #8)
 

“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).” (Chapter #61, Verse #9)
 

For twenty three years while God’s Last Word to man was revealed for the benefit of humanity, Muhammad and his companions struggled against all odds, sacrificing life and property, and were so terrorized, persecuted, and maligned by their own people that they
 

had to migrate three times just to stay alive (and keep alive God’s message for humanity).
 

Like all the prophets before him, Sacrifice and non-stop Struggle in the cause of God were things that came with the package of being a servant of God. The good news is:  Muhammad was not the first prophet that fell under the biting sword of stupid Mockery and blind Malice. Prophets before him were mocked and persecuted, and some even killed. Isa, son of Mariam (aka Jesus) peace be upon him, had himself a narrow escape; had Allah not rescued him the Jews could have executed him there and then. All praise is to Allah, Isa son of Mariam is alive and will come back towards the end of times to set the record straight, once and for all. 
 

The following verse from the Holy Qur’an is proof of just how tried the believers of all times were, and still are: “Or think you that you will enter paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!  (Qur’an: Chapter #2, Verse #214).
 

God also said: “Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs. (the Holy Qur’an: Chapter #3, Verse #186)
 

Muhammad the Man:
 

His name was Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin AbdulMutalib. He was born in the city of Mecca in the year 571. Muhammad’s father, Abdullah, passed away before his son was born and his mother Amina when just at the age of six. Henceforth, he was taken care of by his grandfather who also passed away when the little boy Mohammad was a mere child of eight. Thereafter, his paternal uncle Abu Talib took over the burden of raising his nephew. From a very young age Muhammad exhibited a quiet, calm, thoughtful character, never for a moment joining in the merriments and the filth of Idol-worship. Very much like his ancestor, Abraham before him, he instinctively turned away from this senseless occupation.  Mohammed was humble, honest and generous, had a soft spot for his follow man, loved small children and was a most perfect human being so much so that his community admired and appreciated his exceptional qualities. He came to be known by the Title: Al Amin, meaning: The Trustworthy, The Truthful. That was Muhammad long before he became a Prophet. Those who later came to accept his message, like the noble Khadija who knew him intimately, the gentle Abu Bakr, the lion hearted Umar, the brave Hamza,  Othman Bin Affan, the innocent child Ali, the former slave who knew him only too well, Zaid, and the scores of sincere modest followers who flocked to his side, in the face of sure death and tribulation.
 

Al Amin As Siddiq, they called him. At the age of twenty five Muhammad married a noble woman from the society. She was forty years old, a clever business woman of high standing. He had traded for her and she was so taken in with him by virtue of his honesty, integrity and fine personality that she proposed to him citing his good qualities as a most decent human being. And knowing Khadija’s purity, great reputation and high status in terms of goodness and morality Muhammad accepted the offer. Theirs was a blissful marriage and they had together six children. Two boys who died in early and four daughters.
 

To know more about Muhammad the Messenger I invite you all to this wonderful internet resource: http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/index.shtml
 

I urge you all to ponder the facts that are on the table and ask you personally to seek God’s help to make you understand the finer points of life.
 

I also invite all garbage peddlers, unthinking recyclers and their unsuspecting victims, authors of suspect works, and co-authors in the defamation act of a most decent character, a heartfelt poem which is somewhat a humble summation of what this Mighty Messenger of God really means to multitudes of believers who happen to be one fifth of the world’s population.
 

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=12449&id=170242
 

Needless to say, we live in a society that's fast becoming a single village, and it's most appropriate for all thinking humans to respect each other for the sake of peaceful and brotherly co-existence in our world. It’s God’s wisdom that we all share one world, let’s not drive ourselves to perdition.

 

Muhammad is not here with us in person today, but he is here with us through the message he so faithfully handed down to us. Having fulfilled his obligations, He is right now with His Lord and his life is one of Felicity and Peace, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon his holy person, his holy family and blessed companions.
 

Backbiting and slandering are pitiable traits that reflect on the doer’s lowly nature. I pray to Allah to save humanity from the wiles of Satan. He was arrogant and a liar and his mission is to destroy all that is good and holy in man. But he won’t succeed unless we let him.
 

Thank you all for lending me your hearts and minds,
 

And I say to the multitudes of Muslims who love Muhammad with all their hearts and minds to pray for patience and follow Allah's injunctions,
 

"Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!  
(Holy Qur'an: Chapter #41, Verse #34)
 

Ms. Safi Abdi
A concerned Muslimah