ON CHARLIE HEBDO CARTOONS OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
‘JE NE SUIS PAS CHARLIE’
Professor Yashar Nuri Ozturk, 2015
‘The health of intelligence and of the affective sense, moral discipline, and spiritual development are as just as necessary as the health of the body and the prevention of infectious diseases.’ Alexis Carrell, The Man Unknown
In the first place, I put forward a question to France. What do you all understand by the mere word ‘Islam’? Have you ever had an intention or dare to look beneath the surface? Oh, my apologies, if you ever could the majority of you would not be the instrument of the Church for centuries. Such a pity that generation of the brilliant René Descartes does not follow the legacy he left or, more precisely, refuses ‘to doubt, as far as possible, of all things for the sake of truth’. I highly recommend to all French folk to read Meditations of Descartes so as to get rid of the encapsulation of the malicious demon and start the process of disillusionment. As what happened in 2015 and couple days ago had nothing to do with pure Islam and the Quran.
Back to our question, what is Islam? It means none other than ‘surrendering yourself to God’, i.e. peace and purity. All coordinates of being Muslim and Islam are ONLY and ONLY in the Noble Quran and not the deceiving interpretations of it.
Say, “We have believed in God and in what was sent down to us, to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus and all the prophets by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we devote ourselves to Him.”
The Quran, 2:136
Yes, these lines are from the Luminious Book which is the first one in the history of religion accepting and acknowleding the existence of other faiths.
What is more, the freedom of speech does not confer the right or prerogative to discriminate, segregate or insult any of the messengers, in this particular case, the cherished and loving memory of an amazing Muhammad. After all, dig deeper and you will realize that he was delivering message to the whole monotheistic communities.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
The Bible, Numbers 23:19
I am sure neither Quran nor Muhammad need your appreciation, however, EVERYONE OUGHT TO RESPECT.
You might argue, Muslims are associated with terrorists and barbarity. Those who behave and act fundamentally at odds with Qur’an cannot be called Muslims. So, first and foremost, KNOW THY ENEMY.
Consequently, the current appearance of governmental buildings in Paris covered with cartoons of Muhammad in no way can be a source of pride. Quite the contrary, it is essentially the outcome of obscurantism and ignorance.
Albert Einstein used to say that ‘only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I am not sure about the former.’
I pray to God to bring you back to your senses! Amen!
EPILOGUE
In one of the columns of newspaper Hurriyat, Turkish philosopher and theologian Professor Yashar Nuri Ozturk (1951–2016) writes, ‘While contemplating over basic concepts of the Quran, Ali Izzetbegovic identifies the following, ‘It is not: ‘’Believe and you will be a good man,” but the reverse: “Be a good man and you will believe.” (Izzetbeghovic, Islam Between East and West, 126)
The religion which is not within the realms of morality, will transform into the model and slogan; the belief that is not totally absorbed by the consciousness will lead to allegation and stubborness. The slogan is the instrument of personalities failing to be in a chance with being praised for producing a value and as a result are trying to be satisfied by praising or swearing those who do.
The sloganeering is a passion towards divinizing the model. Once this passion is embodied, the religion ceases to represent peace and serenity as well as morphs into the tool for the purpose of contentment of desires and hatred.
In such a case, how should a faith and religion be engaged in our lives? The Islamic prophet clarifies this by a timeless message: “”I was sent for refining the moral beauties.”
Source: https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ahlak-ve-slogan-10827743
The English translation of the excerpts of the article dated from January 22, 2009 used for my Epilogue was made by myself.
