Everything representing a school of thought, a creed or an ideology, in the term of the Quran, is its ‘Shiaar’ or symbol. All the states have some special symbols, necessary to be honoured. Their flags, national anthem, uniforms of their armed forces, police and other departments are such emblems. Official insignias, stamps, currency notes and coins are also the special marks of the countries which they want them to be shown deference. Their respect is actually identical to honouring the state itself. Likewise all the religions have some particular symbols. Profaning them is thought a religious desecration. Church and the Cross are the symbols of the Christianity. Brahmanism is known by top lock, cross thread and temple. ‘Kara, Karpan and Kais’ (Bracelet, small sword and long hair) are special identities of the followers of Sikh religion. Communism chose hammer and sickle as its sign.
Islam, as a religion and a perfect system and complete code of life, also has its meaningful symbols. The most substantial of all of its hallmarks is Ka’bah and As-Safa and Al-Marwah, two mountains a little away from its north east and south east corners. Holy Quran and the ‘zaat’ (self, personality) of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad SAW is, no doubt, among the most important identifications of Islam. Major rites and rituals of Ibadaat are included in the symbols of Islam.
Islam requires them to be sanctified. “…And whoever honours the symbols (rites) of Allah, indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” (Al-Hajj:32)
As a precautionary measure to let not Allah, Himself, or any of His signs be insulted in any way, the Quran, in Surah Al-An’am: 108, very clearly, bars us from profaning what the non-believers worship or follow. Islam does not allow its followers to show contempt for any of the religions and their leaders. Very interestingly, all the Prophets, whom ‘the People of Scripture’ own to be only theirs, are in fact very dear and revered to us also. But, unfortunately, it is not someone else but mostly ‘the People of the Scripture’ (Jews and Christians) are out to ridicule and take all or some of the symbols of Islam as mockery and fun for them, sometimes in sacrilegious sketches in the newspapers, magazines and on the pages of popular social websites and sometimes in the writings of their intellectuals. The Quran and our Holy Prophet SAW has been a particular target of their mischiefs.
This unpleasant ridiculous phenomenon of mocking we observe and experience these days, is not a new thing of only this time. Long ago during the lifetime of our Holy Prophet SAW ‘the People of the scripture’ used to demonstrate their evil manner of mocking the rituals of Islam.
“And when you proclaim the call for As-Salat (prayer), they take it but as mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.” (Al-Maaidah: 58)
The main motive behind this mischievous behavior is their unreasonable hostility and malice toward Islam. At present we find that kind of maliciousness and spitefulness clearly evident in the Western media. Evil designs of profanation of the Holy Quran by one of the American pastors, Terry Jones, are part of that ugly agenda. In the absence of definitiveness of thinking due to their resent about Islam and the Prophet of Allah, as the Quran points out, may they be having the feathers of high intellectuality and sagacity in their cap but actually their understanding does not come up to the mark of the criterion set by the Quran. Their Fisq (fearless disobedience) is the great reason for lowness of their profundity.
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