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It is disgraceful to see Prophet Mohammad being used in such a derogatory way. The Charlie Hebdo attack was a tragedy, but these terrorists are not representative of Islam. Muslims should not be scapegoated into this category. Publishing the cartoons again is being paraded as a sign of defiance to terrorists but it is deliberately insulting and offensive.
FEED THE POOR
Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.
“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
Like others, we as Muslims respect freedom of speech, but not when it incites hatred. There are other ways to show solidarity and unity against the 2015 attack. As an imam, I am urging everyone to work together to counter this false narrative and not give rise to those that seek to exploit it. Extremists look to divide us, but we must not play into hateful rhetoric.
Imam Qari Asim
Islamophobia adviser to the UK government
University students in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu hold placards during a demonstration against satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo. PHOTO: REUTERS
