Muhammad, Jesus and Moses are our revered values

For some unknown reasons, some groups who dub themselves as Muslims are acting so as to serve the very ends of these provocations. They seem not to have learned their lesson from the similar incidents of the past. Who can claim that this attitude complies with the following hadith of our Prophet: "A [smart and wise] believer does not get a second bite from the same [snake] hole"? It is the duty of Muslims to refrain from acting in a way that does not comply with the very spirit of Islam, isn't it? In retrospect, who can claim that the problem is only with the film in question?

Of course, this demonic film that is rife with vulgarism throughout may have various purposes. For instance, it may be aiming to deal a fatal blow to the Arab Spring's reviving effect on people and turn the popular quest for freedom and democracy into a baneful quagmire. Or it may be aiming to undermine the very grounds of mutual understanding created between Eastern and Western civilization, and particular between Islam and the West, especially after the election of Barack Obama as the US president. In this way, they may be seeking to give another push to the Clash of Civilizations propaganda spearheaded by Samuel Huntington. Or the very purpose of this film might be to weaken Obama's election campaign for a second term. One or more or all of these aims or any other factor that is not listed here may be among the targets of this nefarious plan. But do certain “Muslim” groups have to walk into every heinous provocative trap? Aren't Muslims supposed to act with a dignity or glory that befits Muslims and Islam? Does our Prophet approve uncivilized and violent behavior, the killing of innocent people, the overstepping of boundaries set by religion or the triggering of chaos, violence and anarchy?

As the latest incidents tragically indicate, it is the duty of everyone to caution the Muslims who are not acting in an attitude that befits Islam. But what about the Western world? Are they completely innocent? Don't they see it is problematic to treat every ignoble attempt to humiliate sacred values of religion within the scope of freedom of thought and expression and consecrate these mean attacks against sacred values? What about attitudes pious Christians and Jews adopt in the face of such attacks? Apparently unable to comprehend the protests against the abusive attacks against our Prophet, some Westerners may say: "We cannot understand why you are giving such strong reactions against the humiliations or insults against Prophet Muhammad. Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus and others are already being ridiculed or denigrated in many books, films, songs or cartoons. But unlike what Muslims would do, we treat them as part of freedom of thought and tolerate them. Why don't Muslims act in this way?"

First of all, I must note that it is perfectly natural and understandable for Muslims to protest the insults against their prophets and sacred values. What matters here is not about protesting, but how to protest. And it is extremely problematic for pious Christians or Jews to tolerate the insults against their own sacred values. But what about Muslims keeping silent about the attacks against the sacred values of Christians and Jews? Isn't it problematic as well? Of course it is. In the final analysis, Islam's sacred values or holy figures do not consist only of Prophet Muhammad. All prophets preceding Prophet Muhammad as well as the authentic values they have introduced to humankind are sacred for Muslims as well, aren't they? Therefore, aren't Muslims supposed to lend support to Prophet Jesus, Prophet Moses and other prophets who are left undefended by insensitive Christians and Jews?

Of course they are. But have you ever witnessed Muslims protesting the insults or humiliation against other prophets than Muhammad, despite the fact the Holy Quran makes countless references to them? Don't we have responsibilities to raise our voice also against the attacks against the prophets who are considered sacred, but forsaken by Christians and Jews? If Muslims had exhibited the same reactions and protests they would exhibit against insults against Prophet Muhammad also against Prophet Adam, Prophet Seth, Prophet Enoch, Prophet Noah, Prophet Hud, Prophet Saleh, Prophet Abraham, Prophet Lot, Prophet Ishmael, Prophet Isaac, Prophet Jacob, Prophet Joseph, Prophet Job, Prophet Shu'ayb, Prophet Moses, Prophet Aaron, Prophet Elijah, Prophet Dhu'l-Kifl, Prophet David, Prophet Solomon, Prophet Jonah, Prophet Zachariah, Prophet John and Prophet Jesus, then Islamophobes and Satan's human apprentices who try to secure support from Christians and Jews to their anti-Islamic campaigns would not be able to act so freely, would they?

As seen in the recent developments, if Muslims try to convince Google to remove the videos and contents that ridicule or denigrate not only Islam and Prophet Muhammad, but also other venerable prophets from YouTube, I am sure they will be more successful. When Muslims also start to be sensitive about the attacks against Prophet Jesus and Prophet Moses, I am sure true believers of Christianity and Judaism will start to exhibit the understanding and sensitivity Muslims expect from them. Perhaps then, the request filed by the White House and other authorities with Google for the removal of the ignoble film from YouTube, which seems to be unnoticed by the corporation, will acquire a supra-religious identity, and Google will not be able to remain indifferent to such requests. In a climate where Muslims are also sensitive toward Prophet Jesus and Prophet Moses, the plans to revive the clash of civilizations thesis will be foiled and all mean efforts to sow the seeds of hate among cultures and faiths and otherization of certain groups via religions will remain ineffectual.

So I am asking Muslims and practitioners of other religions: Is it hard to do what I say above in order to fend off this devilish scheme targeting religions and sacred values?