Jimmy's Corner

Sounds like the Big Pharaoh found some cartoons that "Sum it all" for those violently protesting against the cartoons. The same way I found a cartoon that says it all about the major problem between Muslims and the western societies. Still many idiots extremist fanatics try to pour fuel over the burning controversy, although JP apologized for the cartoons several times and a website was launched by Danish citizens emphasizing the fact that they are against the cartoons and calling for better understanding and respect between the two cultures. Consequently, I believe these loud fiery extremist voice should be shut up with rational calls for more vast effective solutions to end this controversy and intiatea dialogue between the two sides.

Thanks to Sandmonkey I found a link to a very great article by Ahmad 360'east that actually introduces stories that show the reality of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and at the same time include suggestions for Arab governments and activists to show the reality of Islam to the Danish people, and I say to the European societies as well:

In the Islam religion class in school I, as all children in Muslim world, have learned about the life of Prophet Mohammad. I would like to briefly recount three of the ones I remember:

1. His story with the Jewish neighbor who used to THROW GARBAGE at his doorsteps:
The Prophet had this Jewish neighbor. Everyday the neighbor would throw his garbage at the Prophet’s door! Then, one day, the garbage stopped appearing.

The Prophet wondered why and asked people about what had happened to his neighbor. He was told that the neighbor was sick, in bed.

So, the Prophet went and visited his Jewish neighbor to make sure he’s OK and to wish him well. So touched was the Jewish neighbor that he later converted to Islam.

2. His story with the people of Ta’if who’s children STONED him:
One day the Prophet visited the village of Ta’if near Mecca. He was hoping to find support amongst the people of that area after he was shunned by many of his own tribe in Mecca. Instead of support, he was faced by a mob of children, sent by their parents to throw stones at him. He was hit by the hail of stones. He was bleeding, and was barely able to escape into an orchard. He could have asked for God’s wrath to be brought down upon the village, but instead he prayed that one day these people will see the light.

3. His story with his tribe after he conquered Mecca:
When the Prophet’s army finally conquered his hometown Mecca, many of the leaders of his tribe were filled with fear. They feared the conquerer’s retribution. Most of them NEVER BELIEVED in him. They TORTURED and KILLED many of his followers and CONSPIRED TO KILL HIM in the early days of his prophethood.

What did the Prophet do? He told them: “Go. You are free!”

* * *

In the spirit of the life of the Prophet, here are 5 ways how the Muslim world could have responded the the Danish cartoons:

1. Apply to the Ministry of Culture in Denmark to organize a big exhibition about the Life of Prophet Mohammad and Islamic History. The Saudi and other Arab governments would finance this event and promote it in a big way in the Danish media.
2. Invite 100 Danish children to come and live with Arab and Muslim families to learn about life in today’s Arab and Muslim world.
3. Invite the editors of the Danish newspaper to a well publicized cultural debate in Doha, Qatar or Copenhagen.
4. The embassies of Arab and Muslim nations could commission a website in Danish about Islam, contemporary muslim thinkers and life in today’s Islamic world. A dedicated staff would respond to incoming questions and request for information.
5. Subtitle the movie ‘The Message" in Danish and try to get many movie theaters and cultural centers in Denmark to show it.

I add to these suggestions:

• Launching an interactive website in Arabic, English, French German, Spanish, Danish and Russian about the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with all material authorized from top Islamic institutions in the Muslim countries.
• Launching a website defining Jihad and how it is different from terrorism. Emphasizing the fact that Jihad in its real sense a war on terrorism!

There are news that a satellite channel about the reality of Islam is going to be launched and it will be under no governmental control and it is going to be funded by business men's donations. So this is one step in the right path, isn't it?

Voices calming down the situation are getting louder. And I have become confident that any talking about what was right and what was wrong and what should have been done and what should have been not is mere nonsense now. I believe we should talk, and act at the same time, about what should be done and how to narrowen the gaps.

Waiting for your comments!