We also need to acknowledge the fact that people who are attacking Islam get their ammunition from books of Seerah and Hadith ! Clean them up. Muslims find some material there unsuitable but since they can't seem to explain it, they would rather people shut up under threat of violence.
I recently read an article by Tawfik Hamid. Attempting to understand why Muslims react to real of perceived insults to the Messenger, he says
"....Confrontation between Delusions and Reality
On one hand, many Muslims strongly believe that Mohamed is the best human being in everything and the best role model for mankind {Quran 3321 There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often}. In some Muslims' minds, these feelings can reach the level of delusions. On the other hand, mainstream Islamic books teach that the Prophet married a child of 6 consummated marriage at 9 years old , used to have sex with 9 wives in one night , had romantic feelings toward the wife of his adopted son and that a Quranic revelation made his son in law divorce his wife so that Mohamed can marry her. Furthermore, authentic Hadith books mentioned that Mohamed killed all the men of some Jewish tribes, took the wife of the Jewish leader to have sex with her after killing her husband , and that he encouraged the killing of a respected old lady called Um-Querfa in an extremely brutal manner because she criticized him.
Many Muslims feel disgusted of such stories, but they have to suppress their feelings and live in their 'Delusions' that Mohamed is the best role model for the world. The recent film depicted these stories in a way that released the suppressed conscious from its inhibition - and thus created a confrontation between the 'Reality' (as described in authentic Islamic books) and the 'Delusions'. It is known that confronting Delusions with Reality can cause severe agitation. This complex mental phenomenon may explain the aggressive and furious reaction of some Muslims in response to the film. ...."
In support of his views above, he provides references to Seerah and Hadith Books.
Wow...I never viewed it like that. It makes total sense, though. Almost like someone having to come to terms with a mental illness like schizophrenia (can you imagine learning that the people you have been talking to aren't real?). Then you factor in that so many people believe and practice the same thing...how is it possible for it to be wrong when everyone else is doing it?
Thanks for sharing that.
