Some of those who have previewed the new book Jewel of Medina have described it as “very ugly, stupid piece of work”.

In this statement Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain denounces the release of the new book as a continuation of the propaganda campaign against Islam in line with earlier attacks on the hijab, the offensive cartoons of Prophet Mohammed (saw) and the calls to the ban the Quran.

 

The latest provocative attacks on Islam and Muslims are set to follow the publication of a book titled ‘The Jewel of Medina’ scheduled for October 2008. It is a book rejected for publication in the USA, but the British publishers of the hysterical anti-Islamic diatribe ‘Londonistan’ have decided to publish it, under the pretext of free speech.

 

Although the exact contents and nature of the insult to Allah’s Messenger (SAW) and the Mother of the Believers Aishah (RA) is not known, but media reports give some idea of what may be in store. Texas University Professor, Denise Spellberg, did see an edition and said it "made fun of Muslims and their history" describing the book as a "very ugly, stupid piece of work" and saying “You can't play with a sacred history and turn it into soft core pornography." We wait to see what will actually emerge.

 

Yet there is little doubt that publication will be a launch for the next in the series of attacks on Islam that we have become used to in the West - to add to the attacks on the Hijab, the offensive cartoons against the Prophet (SAW), the calls to ban the Qur’an and other insults we have seen over the last 2 years. These are all examples of the so-called 'tolerance' and 'moderation' of western values oft repeated by politicians.

In the light of the coming attacks on Islam, it is very important that Muslims be aware of the agenda and respond in the best Islamic way.

Part of their agenda is to intimidate Muslims so as to push us to accept the western value of free speech. They want us to follow the argument that we may dislike the insults, but we should absolutely accept the right to be insulted and worse still passively accept insults of those things we hold sacred. This is unacceptable for several reasons.

Firstly, Islam does not permit the celebration to wantonly insult anyone's sacred beliefs the way we see Islam insulted by secularists in the modern day.

Secondly, the famous hadith of the Prophet (SAW) that obliges changing munkar, obliges us to hate the munkar in the heart if the munkar cannot be changed by the hand or by words. Hence, it would be impossible to appreciate the value of unlimited free speech that allows such insults of Islam without falling far below the ‘least of Iman’ mentioned in the hadith.

Thirdly, western free expression is a value that has caused great harm in society. In Europe, insults of the blessed Prophet ‘Esa (Jesus) son of Maryiam (AS) are now common place. Christians in the west have become used to such insults and usually say little. However, societies that so easily abuse the best people in human history also bemoan the lack of respect for parents, teachers, authority and indeed each other in their societies - and fail to see any link between the two. Moreover, unlimited freedom of expression is a freedom to insult, and a free license to insult others cannot produce a decent harmonious society. At the very least this explains why secular Europe is so unable to tolerate diversity; and worst Europe’s history shows how this freedom to insult rapidly slips into the freedom to persecute others.

On the other hand responding to such deliberate provocation with threats of violent action simply plays into a trap set by the publishers - who no doubt hope to make millions from the controversy attracted by a 3rd rate book. Anyone who falls into this trap would simply complete the work of the enemies of Allah and His Messenger.

So how should Muslims respond?

1. Firstly, we should know that there will never be any defence of the honour and dignity of Islam without the Islamic Khilafah -a government that will act and speak to defend Islam and Muslims on the world stage. Today Western leaders fanatically defend their values of freedom and democracy which equate to nothing more than occupation and exploitation. Where is the Muslim leader who stands up to defend our beloved Prophet SAW? Where is the Muslim leader who stands up to the daily insults against Islam?

When the Khilafah existed, western governments thought twice before allowing mockery and insults against Allah and His Messenger. So, the need today is the re-establishing of the Islamic Khilafah, the method of unity and leadership of this Ummah. The current regimes in the Muslim world - such as the Al Saud family - who have used their influence to have fraud investigations - in the UK - into their own suspect business activities suspended, remain silent over the insults to Allah’s Messenger.

All Muslims should join the call for the Khilafah, for it is the only way to ensure these matters are truly dealt with. Indeed, the frequent attacks on Islam should make us redouble our efforts towards establishing the State which upholds the dignity of Islam.

2. Secondly, we should address these issues with effective arguments and protests that show to the wider society the fruits of their values that allow insults to Prophets and Messengers, which has caused a systemic disrespect in society that they have no solutions for. We should do this through letters, articles, phone calls in the media, petitions, talks, debates and - if necessary - vocal protest on the street.

3. Muslims should take this opportunity to educate the world about who the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) really was - the best of creation, and the best of examples. Many people will ask questions about the true nature of our beloved Prophet and we should harness this opportunity to answer their questions.

It could be that the response to this book and other disgusting insults is similar to that to Geert Wilders’ foolish film - that people view him and his film as the pathetic worthless trash that they are. But, it could be that the response of the society to this book is like that to the filthy Danish cartoons - some politicians and the media uphold the issue as a celebration of free speech and in so doing society collectively celebrates the insult to Islam. In such a situation, Muslims should mobilise themselves collectively, and not only vocally condemn the action, but also openly declare in front of Allah (SWT) that they are free from blame on this issue.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain will be working throughout the Muslim community in the UK to raise awareness on this issue and unify the community to respond in the most effective manner, Inshallah.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُونوا أَنصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآَمَنَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ
 
O ye who believe! Be helpers in the cause of Allah, even as Jesus son of Mary said unto the disciples: Who are my helpers for the cause of Allah? They said: We are helpers for the cause of Allah. And a party of the Children of Israel believed, while a party disbelieved. Then We strengthened those who believed against their foe, and they became the ones that prevailed. [TMQ 61:14]   - http://www.hizb.org.uk/

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