Islamic Reform movement is transforming Turkey AND cartoon
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Islamic Reform movement is transforming Turkey
I was in Turkey towards the end of December, and I had many promising experiences. The country is passing through a very fast religious and political transformation. I summarized those experiences at one of the Turkish forums at 19.org.
I visited Istanbul and Ankara, and met numerous groups of highly educated young men committed to the Quran Alone movement. There are thousands of them. I was received very nicely by more than a dozen of my former friends who are now members of congress or ministers in the cabinet. Many of them had cut communication with me after my rejection of my Sunni religion. Now, I was no more radioactive. They were hugging me and taking pictures with me in the lobbies and restaurants of the Grand National Congress. They even asked me to meet their leader, the Prime Minister of Turkey, my former friend and comrade, but I rejected. I said that I only meet him if he asks to meet me, since I do not want him to perceive me one of those flatters dancing around him.
To my great surprise, I was invited by two religious organizations. The first on was the graduates of Turkish religious schools that produce imams! The other was even a bigger surprise a pro-Iranian political group, led by my former friend and comrade. I took the risk and accepted their invitation. They let me talk for hours and they engaged in a civilized and respectful debate and dialogue. All these were like a dream. In 1986, when I declared that all we needed for our guidance was the Quran, I was rejected with vengeance. When I wrote that covering the face or hair of women is not an Islamic practice, but a cultural practice, everyone was shocked in disbelief. But, now these and many other issues are now discussed and debated in media, schools, books, and streets.
I had scheduled an interview with a TV host (Hulki Cevizoglu) who had in the past interviewed me several times. My appearance no his show had increased his ratings and he had published the transcripts of three or four debates as his best-selling books. However, because of the political connections and audience of his new TV station, he was forced to cancel the interview. Since I rejected the offer of other programs because of my commitment, I missed the opportunity to address millions of people. Nevertheless, my interview with a reporter of Tempo Magazine (equivalent of Time in USA) was published in early January, summarizing the Manifesto for Islamic Reform ( www.islamicreform.org).
Last week, several Turkish TV stations have contacted me for interviews. Some already interviewed me on the phone regarding the cartoon and other issues, such as women praying without headscarf or islamic reform...
I will be visiting Turkey next Tuesday to participate a very popular news program, Teke Tek, of ATV. The program is one of the top news/discussion program and is followed by several millions people living in Turkey and Europe.
During the live show, I intend to announce an award for a cartoon/portrait of Muhammad that would depict him accurately, as a human being, as a messenger of peace. I plan to announce the details of the rules and awards at 19.org. For instance, I plan to suggest the artists to embed some verses of the Quran in their drawings. For instance, the turban or beard could be drawn by using the words of those verses.
I would like to receive your suggestions and advice regarding this issue. Also, I would like to receive your feedback on the following DRAFT article, which I intend to send to American magazines and newspapers for publication.
Muhammad was one of the Messengers of Peace
018110 "Say, "I am but a human being like you, being inspired that your god is One god.... "
004140 "It has been sent down to you in the book, that when you hear God's signs being rejected and ridiculed in, then do not sit with them until they move on to a different subject; if not, then you are like them. God will gather the hypocrites and the unappreciative people in hell all together."
002256 "There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way?"
010100 "? He casts the affliction upon those who do not reason."
017036 "Do not uphold what you have no knowledge of. For the hearing, eyesight, and mind, all these are held responsible for that."
002208 "O you who acknowledge, join in peace, all of you, and do not follow the footsteps of the devil. He is to you a clear enemy."
025030 "And the messenger said, "My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran."
045006 "? So, in which hadith , after God and His signs, do they acknowledge?"
003018 " God bears witness that there is no god but He. ?"
As an islamic reformer or a rational monotheist, I believe that people should have legal right to express their faith and opinion without fear of governments or mobs, I morally condemn the publication of cartoons in Europian media that does not only insult the faith of many Muhammedans (I use this term deliberately and will explain it below), it also distorts the history of a great revolutionary leader that was a model peacemaker and defender of the rights of oppressed, the slaves, and women. Furthermore, it unfairly stereotypes all Muslims as terrorists and barbarians, which might lead to another attrocity in human history. It is like a dejavu. Remember sixty years ago? Jews were considered the source of all evil by Germany, a country with a majority of Christian population. Hitler's racist propaganda machine hypnotised many otherwise nice people.
Nevertheless, the reaction of Sunni and Shiite masses around the world has nothing to do with the precepts of Islam. The exaggerated reaction, the violent protests, the gun-touting mouth-foaming angry mobs underscores the fact that they do not care about the teaching of the Quran. Besides, they are oblivious of the realities of the world they live in.
The angry and occasionally violent protests have only helped the agenda and propaganda of Evangelical warmongers who betray the message of peace and love of their idol, Jesus. The Evangelical crusaders hope to flood the Middle East with blood in order to prepare for the coming of Messiah. Their bloody dreams have now overlapped with the interest of global powers. The angry crowds in the Middle East have sent this message to them "If you insult our prophet Muhammad, we will leave our homes and workplaces and fill the streets yelling, screaming, and even killing. You can easily push our buttons. The cost of irritating and agitating us for you is close to nothing; but you may make us jump and scream in anger for weeks in our dirty and dilapidated streets."
The powerful coalition of multinational corporations, religious organizations and political groups that duped the US military to a destructive and cruel occupation in Iraq is now engaging in psychological warfare to depict Muslims barbarians. In order to justify the occupation of resource rich lands, destruction of their infrastructure, killing and torturing their natives, they wish to agitate the extreme elements of the Islamic world so that they dehumanize them in the eyes of their citizens. After the fall of communism, the global hegemony decided to create another monster. They could hit several birds with the same stone. They could easily reach their imperialist goals, Christianize the demoralized masses in the Muslim world, and depict them as barbarians and terrorists (the recent propaganda buzzword), deserving to be wiped out from the face of earth. Those rowdy protesters, acting like wild cavemen, provides the best opportunity for the imperialist ambitions. Though they are unsophisticated trouble makers, they are gullible and petty criminals compared to their Western opponents who possess enormous destructive power, unlimited greed, and cunning propaganda in justifying their aggressive wars, their plundering of the resources of other countries and their killing and torturing of their civilians. The Western media especially searches and carefully picks the ugliest and angriest faces in the crowd to stereotype the entire Muslim population. It is not farfetched to expect the Western covert-operation personnel acting as agitators.
On the other hand, the religious leaders of the reactionary protesters are acting with hypocricy. When similar critcism or insults directed to Jesus, Moses or the revered leaders or gods of other people they have no reaction, while the Quran considers Jesus and Moses as selected messengers and prophet of God. It also asks Muslims not to discriminate among the messengers. When Taliban destroyed the sculptures of Budhist Gods, Muslims around the world remained silent. In fact, the religious ones celebrated the news. Worse than that, in Western world cartoons are being published depicting God, occasionally with disrespectful humor. According to the Quran, only the depiction of God is blasphemeous, since God does not look like anything His creatures imagine. How can a believer in the Quran, a follower of Muhammad react to desparaging cartoons in such a manner which contradicts the advise of the very book they profess to believe?
The only unforgivable sin, according the Quran is the sin of associating other powers/idols to God. To fulfill His promise of testing humans with their free choice, God allows this biggest sin to be committed. If the greatest sin against God is allowed, and those who deprive others from excercising their freedom of choice are condemned, then who can in the name of the same God force others regarding the expression of their belief or disbelief. Billions of people, including Sunnies and Shiites, commit all kinds of idolworship. For instance, they pray for the intercession of the prophet or saints, they prohibit many God's blessings in the name of God, they deprive women of their God-given rights, they worship meteorites or black rocks, they ask help from graves of their religious idols, etc. Unfortunately, Muslim clerics and their followers have sunk deep in the qugmire of ignorance and polytheism. The progressive teachings of Islam cannot be represented and defended by those who do not respect the message of the Quran. They are prophetically described by verse 2530 of the Quran.
In verse 4140, the Quran recommends us to passively protest those who indulge in mockery of our faith by leaving their presence. Furthermore it recommends us not to cut the relationship with them; we should turn back in peace and continue our dialogue when they come to their senses and are able to engage in a rational discourse. What do the so-called Muslims do? They do the opposite. By demonstrating an aggressive and belligerent behavior, they oppose and disrespect God's instruction in their Holy Book, which they give only lip service. Interestingly, the aggressive and belligerent attitude and behavior is listed as a characteristics of the enemies of Muhammad. How ironical that today's so-called Muslims demonstrate many of the traits of Muhammad's enemies. They have trade the Quran with fabricated hearsay stories (hadith books), sectarian jurisprudence, and fatwas.
If Muslims do really love Muhammad and respect him, they should have shown more negative reaction to the sources of hadith and sunna, such as Bukhari, Muslim, Ibni Hanbel, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Ibni Majeh, and Kafi, including numerous commentaries based on them, such as Ibni Kathir. In those and many other sectarian books, Prophet Muhammad is falsely depicted as a torturing sadist, as a warmonger, as a tyrant, as a sex maniac. Somehow, they are receptive to all the insults and defamation directed to Muhammad if they come in the form of a "holy hearsay" (holy hadith) story from a guy with a long Arabic name who hypocritically praise Muhammad before he spews them. Muslims have become an irrational group that is defined by verse 10100.
Two years ago, I started thinking on a computer animation film about Muhammad's life. As a preparation for this project, I decided to organize a drawing competition. In October 2004, I posted an announcement at www.19.org and some Internet forums, for a Drawing Competition regarding Muhammad's portrait. I did not have much money to offer nor I had money to advertise it. So, my announcement received only a few entries. I had multiple reasons and goals for that announcement. One goal was to expose and challenge the contradictory and hypocritical nature of the following Sunni teachings. Here are the reasons I listed for that failed, perhaps untimely competition
The traditional reason against depiction of animated objects, or human face fear of idolization of those who are depicted in illustrations is a lie.
The "authentic" hadith (hearsay) regarding vision of Muhammad in dreams contradicts the position of the followers of such hadiths. That anyone who sees Muhammad in his or her dream would be actually seeing him since according to the hadith devil could not imitate his vision. What if the illustrator claims to have seen the image in his or her dream?!
They are hypocrites or have double standard by not reacting to pictures, sculptures, and statues of other prophets, such as Jesus.The are hypocrites in their idolatry. They, put Muhammad's name next to God in Shahada, while the Quran mentions La ilahe illallah (there is no god, but the God) thirty times without adding Muhammad's name to it, and the only Shahada containing Muhammad's name is attributed to hypocrites (631). In contradiction to the Quranic injunction (7218 ), they place Muhammad's name and the names of early leaders next to God in places of worship. They promote Muhammad beyond messengership and make him a partner with God in issuing and defining islam ( 729; 1652; 392-114, 4221, 985) .... According to the Quran there is no difference between associating a NAME to God or worshipping a picture (5323). (During Muhammad's time Meccan mushriks did not worship statues as claimed by fabricated hadith. They believed in intercession of angels and holy people.)
No one will worship the illustration if they were already not ignorant idolaters. Since people worshiping Jesus should not stop us mentioning his name or drawing an imaginary illustration of him, similarly people worshipping Muhammad's NAME should not stop us mentioning his name or drawing his picture. As we learn from the Quran, Prophet Solomon had pictures, statues and sculptures in his mansion (3413).
The next step is to make a computer animated feature film about Muhammad's life. In that film, Muhammad will be represented by a human drawing, rather than by a camel, as it was the case in the movie "The Message", where Anthony Quinn played Hamza, Muhammad's uncle.
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Peace Edip,
thank you for your nice article though I hoped to read more about the changes which take place in Turkey. Maybe you can write some more about it some other time?!
You asked about our suggestions on the following
During the live show, I intend to announce an award for a cartoon/portrait of Muhammad that would depict him accurately, as a human being, as a messenger of peace. I plan to announce the details of the rules and awards at 19.org. For instance, I plan to suggest the artists to embed some verses of the Quran in their drawings. For instance, the turban or beard could be drawn by using the words of those verses.
I would like to receive your suggestions and advice regarding this issue. Also, I would like to receive your feedback on the following DRAFT article, which I intend to send to American magazines and newspapers for publication.
Now I don't find that a wise idea at all, especially not in these times!
You wrote that there are thousands of God-aloners in Turkey nowadays and that you are accepted more and more. Why destroying this with something people are not ready for yet? I'd say go step by step and don't fall with the door in one's home. Being too radical may deter the people who are open to the God-alone movement.Thats my advice.
Regards
warda -
Salaam Edip,
While I am glad to hear of your reception in Turkiye,and the growth of Quran Alone,I agree with Warda,take it one step at a time..a portrait/caricature of Muhammed or a movie/animated show may do more harm than good for the Quran Alone movement...As for the cartoon,if you do one,why have Muhammed in it,have just quotes appearing where Muhammed would be...
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Peace,
Once again History repeats itself with the Turks making the most advances in comparison to the rest of the so called "Muslim" world.
I felt a great deal of relief hearing that the Qur'anic approach to Islam is finally being taken seriously somewhere in the Muslim world.
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For instance, they pray for the intercession of the prophet or saints
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During Muhammad's time Meccan mushriks did not worship statues as claimed by fabricated hadith. They believed in intercession of angels and holy people.
I have a question about this point. Why is it that we cannot ask help of saints or angels or holy people - and I do mean ask for help and not worship as some do? If I am hungry, I will ask my fellow man for some food, so if I am in need of some spiritual favour, why may I not ask an angel or believing jinn for help, while realizing that ultimately my getting food or anything else is in the hand of God? Why not be allowed to work together with the rest of God's creation, seen or unseen?
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Peace Claurianta,
While you are waiting on a reply from EY,just thought I would inject my thoughts.. D
I see nothing wrong with asking for help from living beings,but if they are dead and buried they cannot be of any help,Only Allah can interced and answer prayers..Angels are merely messengers and submitters to Allah and can only do as they are told by Allah..so bypassing Allah and going directly to angels for help would be useless imo,and an act of placing partners with him....Once we ask Allah for help,then he can use angels in his act of helping us if he so choses..And as far as saints and prophets go,If I am correct they cannot hear our prayers in the first place because they are not gods,so it would be a waist of time to ask them anything...
PeaceFor instance, they pray for the intercession of the prophet or saints
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During Muhammad's time Meccan mushriks did not worship statues as claimed by fabricated hadith. They believed in intercession of angels and holy people.
I have a question about this point. Why is it that we cannot ask help of saints or angels or holy people - and I do mean ask for help and not worship as some do? If I am hungry, I will ask my fellow man for some food, so if I am in need of some spiritual favour, why may I not ask an angel or believing jinn for help, while realizing that ultimately my getting food or anything else is in the hand of God? Why not be allowed to work together with the rest of God's creation, seen or unseen?
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Peace Claurianta,
While you are waiting on a reply from EY,just thought I would inject my thoughts..
I see nothing wrong with asking for help from living beings,but if they are dead and buried they cannot be of any help,Only Allah can interced and answer prayers..Angels are merely messengers and submitters to Allah and can only do as they are told by Allah..so bypassing Allah and going directly to angels for help would be useless imo,and an act of placing partners with him....Once we ask Allah for help,then he can use angels in his act of helping us if he so choses..And as far as saints and prophets go,If I am correct they cannot hear our prayers in the first place because they are not gods,so it would be a waist of time to ask them anything...
PeaceWell, I suppose that leaves us with the believing jinn... who do have free will as far as I understand, so would it not make sense to work together with them as opposed to just ignore or demonize them?
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Well, I suppose that leaves us with the believing jinn... who do have free will as far as I understand, so would it not make sense to work together with them as opposed to just ignore or demonize them?
Aah the jinn,sorry cant be of any help there,as I am not to educated about them yet..but I seem to think that the same ...not to have partners with Allah...would still apply here..as we are to only go before Allah for our spiritual help...I would have to see what others and the Quran have to say about working with them to be able to give a better answer..but I wouldnt trust one being that some are evil and could mislead us.
Peace
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Aah the jinn,sorry cant be of any help there,as I am not to educated about them yet..but I seem to think that the same ...not to have partners with Allah...would still apply here..as we are to only go before Allah for our spiritual help...I would have to see what others and the Quran have to say about working with them to be able to give a better answer..
Peace
Could you point me to where in the Koran it says that we should ONLY go to God for spiritual help? My personal view (which may be erronous) is that we have to realise that God is our last resort and the ultimate provider, but just like we should help and seek help from our fellow human beings, we should also help and seek help from Gods other creations. No?
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Could you point me to where in the Koran it says that we should ONLY go to God for spiritual help? My personal view (which may be erronous) is that we have to realise that God is our last resort and the ultimate provider, but just like we should help and seek help from our fellow human beings, we should also help and seek help from Gods other creations. No?
I'll have to see if I can find what you ask,I cannot recall at the time if it specifically says that word for word,but it does say not to setup partners with Allah,and this would be doing that by asking others besides Allah for help in spiritual things...
Here are 2 surahs on the jinn1850 And We said to the Angels "Submit to Adam." So they all submitted except for Satan, he was of the Jinn, so he disobeyed the order of his Lord. "Will you take him and his progeny as allies besides Me, while they are your enemy?" Miserable for the wicked is the substitute!
6112 We have permitted the enemies of every prophet, human and Jinn devils, to inspire in each other with fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
Here is one surah I came across about seeking only God
1336 And those to whom We have previously given the Scripture rejoice at what has been sent down to you, but there are some of the groups that reject parts of it. Say "I am only ordered to serve God and not join any partner with Him. To Him I pray and to Him is the return."
These may be of some help also
1753 And say to My servants to speak that which is best. The devil plants animosity between them. The devil was to mankind a clear enemy.
1754 Your Lord is fully aware of you, if He wishes He will have mercy on you, or if He wishes He will punish you. And We have not sent you as a guardian over them.
1755 And your Lord is fully aware of who is in the heavens and the Earth. And We have preferred some prophets over others, and We gave David the Psalms.
1756 Say "Call on those you have claimed besides Him. For they have no power to remove harm from you or shift it."So calling on others beside Allah is useless,no one can change or alter things for us by answering prayers,even if they could hear them.Only THE GOD has such powers...
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Aah the jinn,sorry cant be of any help there,as I am not to educated about them yet..but I seem to think that the same ...not to have partners with Allah...would still apply here..as we are to only go before Allah for our spiritual help...I would have to see what others and the Quran have to say about working with them to be able to give a better answer..
Peace
Could you point me to where in the Koran it says that we should ONLY go to God for spiritual help? My personal view (which may be erronous) is that we have to realise that God is our last resort and the ultimate provider, but just like we should help and seek help from our fellow human beings, we should also help and seek help from Gods other creations. No?
Peace bro
the Quran was clear, the prophet had another role in addition to delivering the Quran, He has to explain to us what we will differ in, this is what the Quran says not me neither the sunni
peace
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Peace everyone,
Ive suggested it before im doing it again that instead of making an animated movie of "Muhammad and his life", which would perhaps only provoke the Hislamics more and bring no real benefits, we should make a 3d animated movie of how finally the supressed Quran Alone Muslims set themnselves free from the Hislamics and form their own country which i hypothetially term as "Quranistan". Bro Arnoldyasin and myself thought the name of the movie to be "The Rising" so as to attract people. I suggest it to be a 3 hr movie, dividing it into three parts. In the first part it should mention how supressed the Quran Aloners are and how they finally manage to get free. The 2nd part should involve the setup of "Quranistan" and its laws based on Quran Alone. Finally in the third part the implemenatation of those laws and how they work. That i think would be best. In this way everyone will know how secure and happy a life could be ina country ruled by people who follow the Quran Alone. GOD Bless! -
The only unforgivable sin, according the Quran is the sin of associating other powers/idols to God.
I would change it to "associating partners/idols with God".
Also, its a shame you seem to continually promote 19.org within your monotheist work. This is your decision of course, but it has and will continue to lead to a lack of wider support.
Wakas
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he Hislamics and form their own country which i hypothetially term as "Quranistan"
Interesting name. Sounds too much like Pakistan though. We had this project in our american gov't class in which we had to create our own country and government. I called mine Verusterra (land of truth). Another name i thought of was Pacisterra (land of peace).
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Good article EY, I wish I have read it before posting another thread about the cartoons. I have been reading alot about the WW1 and the Young Turks. What do you think about them? Do we need samesort of people/movement to get rid of the mullas etc etc now?
Dear bmbmm
Yes, indeed, we need a better group than Young Turks. Though he is idolized by a group and demonized by another, Ataturk was a monotheist who prepared Turkey for the message of the Quran alone.
I read a posting by your regarding discrimination in employment. Please send me a private email to [email protected] about your whereabouts. I might help you finding some contacts in your area.
Peace,
Edip -
Also, its a shame you seem to continually promote 19.org within your monotheist work. This is your decision of course, but it has and will continue to lead to a lack of wider support.
i second that .
salam.I second that too.
