In Sudan, be careful what you name your toys

November 29th, 2007 gier

A British teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested last Sunday by Sudanese authorities under the charge of insulting the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The gist of it is that she had asked her students to suggest names for a teddy bear. Several names were put forward and were then put to the vote. In a democratic decision, the name “Muhammad” won an overwhelming majority and was duly bestowed onto the soft and furry toy. Unfortunately, several of her students’ parents objected to the name and reported her to the authorities.

She was then arrested and flung into jail.

It was first reported by the British newspapers on Monday, and the follow-ups on Wednesday carried a statement by a spokesman of the Sudanese Embassy in the UK saying that it’s a “minute” matter and a “storm in a teacup”. However, today there are reports that she will be presented in court to face charges of “insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs“.

This does not affect us directly in Malaysia, obviously, but I just thought I’d mention it on the blog anyway. Mainly because I really felt discomfited by some of the statements made on this issue and am paranoid enough to think that something similar could have easily happened here as well. Take the statement below as reported in The Telegraph:

The Sudanese Assembly of the Ulemas, a semi-official body of top preachers, clerics and scholars, said: “What has happened was not haphazard or carried out of ignorance, but rather a calculated action and another ring in the circles of plotting against Islam.

“It is part of the campaign of the so-called war against terrorism and the intense media campaign against Islam”

I actually trawled Harakah Daily to see if PAS had made any statements on this matter, but I suppose it must have flew past them. Or — hoping against hope here — that PAS too considers the issue to be ridiculous and sees no need to support the Sudanese authorities on this. If that were true, it would be nice if PAS’ leaders could make a statement on the matter.

The core of the issue is one of idolatry, apparently. Also, naming a “lowly bear” Muhammad is seen as an insult to the Prophet, even if, at the same time, naming boys Muhammad is seen as a very good thing. Even if the guy (not the Prophet!) turned out to be a serial killer rapist. As Muslims, we need to sort out our priorities, I think.

Postscript: I was planning to expand more on the issue of idolatry and the embargo on physical manifestations of the Prophet. I had planned to attach a picture of an illustration made by Al-Biruni depicting the Prophet Muhammad preaching the Qur’an in Mecca. But I bottled out, because regardless of any justification I could make[1], I was terrified that I’d get some of the more frothing, righteous elements threatening to Jihad my goldfish.

[1] There is no specific prohibition in the Qur’an of depicting the Prophet in paintings, illustrations or pictures. It is, however, seemingly the general consensus that it shouldn’t be done. Similarly, some Islamic scholars contend that there is no specific instruction in the Qur’an that apostates should be punished by death[2].

[2] It can be generally argued that most moderate Muslims would balk at the idea of killing someone simply because he or she has left the religion. I certainly do.

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