Muslims worship Muhammad…

[Pazuzu bin Hanbi]

OK, now no muslim would state that they worship Muhammad. They may even believe that they worship Allah alone, but their actions and creedal testimonies put Muhammad in a position that other religions reserve for God. Even Yeshua‘ in the Bible, and ancient Assyrians, as well as other pagan groups, exhorted that we as people imitate God to achieve the Good Life. Yeshua‘, for example, repeatedly states that people should copy God’s sense of mercy, justice, etc. Muslims, however, do their utmost to emulate Muhammad.

A couple of quotes. The first from the excellent contemporary scholarly book called Muslims: Their religious beliefs and practices by Andrew Rippin (don’t let the title fool you — he delves deep into the various elements that have combined to form Islam from its pre–history to the present day and includes current scholarship on Islam, challenging traditionally–accepted views on Islamic ‘history’):

While Muslims may think those who deny the existence of God or who utter blasphemies about Him are misguided, such discussions will not offend in the same manner in which discussions over Muhammad will. Those who insinuate evil of Muhammad or who cast aspersions on him are considered to be insulting Islam. This, upon consideration, is not surprising.

I know this myself, from having grown up in an Islamic community. It means muslims put Muhammad at the centre of Islam, not Allah! And the reactions Rippin notes above made me recall a passage I read in an autobiographical work by Ziauddin Sardar, a well–written and witty, not to mention interesting, book called Desperately Seeking Paradise. In this extract Sardar details his reaction to reading Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses:

Rushdie had plundered everything I hold dear and despoiled the inner sanctum of my identity. Every word was directed at me and I took everything personally. This is how, I remember thinking, it must feel to be raped… The life of the Prophet Muhammad is the source of Muslim identity. Muslims do not merely emulate his character and personality and follow his sayings and actions: it is the Prophet Muhammad who provides them with the ultimate reason for being a Muslim.

I do wonder if he or others would react like this if someone spoke out against Allah as opposed to Muhammad. Presented for your consideration: the reaction of muslims worldwide to the Danish cartoons (nobody lampooned Allah, only Muhammad), and the case of the Teddy Bear Named Muhammad (I recall some sources referring to this as ‘blasphemy’ — surely only a crime against God ranks as blasphemy?).

[Ms_Maryam]

I find this highly offensive as a Muslim. I can symphatized if the argument was that .. "Muslims love Muhammad (pbuh) too much.. " but it's not. The claim is that we worship him, which is completely ludicrous.

If one was to look at the basic teachings of Islam and the sayings of the Prophet, it would be apparent that he even said that he was just a human being not to make the same mistakes others did by making him a deity, like people have made Jesus (pbuh), and worshipping him.

And what does having Muhammad's (pbuh) name in calligraphy prove?

[Goat]

I find this highly offensive as a Muslim. I can symphatized if the argument was that .. "Muslims love Muhammad (pbuh) too much.. " but it's not. The claim is that we worship him, which is completely ludicrous.

If one was to look at the basic teachings of Islam and the sayings of the Prophet, it would be apparent that he even said that he was just a human being not to make the same mistakes others did by making him a deity, like people have made Jesus (pbuh), and worshipping him.

And what does having Muhammad's (pbuh) name in calligraphy prove?

By itself, nothing.

However, as was pointed out that many many prayers to God must include 'and his prophet Mohammad', and when people get upset and violent over to what they think are insults and blasphemy, it is to a perceived insult to Mohammad and not Allah.

Mohammad might be be worshiped as God/Allah, but the amount of devotion given to him has reached 'worship' proportions. Many things I feel are unjust, and incorrect are being justified in many parts of the world in Islamic communities because "Mohammad did it". Marrying a 9 year old girls by 50 year old men happen in some of the Islamic countries to this day and is justified by the actions of Mohammad. I feel arraigned marriages between someone that young is wrong.

When someone almost gets killed because they name a Teddy bear Mohammad, yet every other male child is given that name, I have to say it goes into Mohammad worship, not just 'love too much'.

[Ms_Maryam]

I find this highly offensive as a Muslim. I can symphatized if the argument was that .. "Muslims love Muhammad (pbuh) too much.. " but it's not. The claim is that we worship him, which is completely ludicrous.

If one was to look at the basic teachings of Islam and the sayings of the Prophet, it would be apparent that he even said that he was just a human being not to make the same mistakes others did by making him a deity, like people have made Jesus (pbuh), and worshipping him.

And what does having Muhammad's (pbuh) name in calligraphy prove?

By itself, nothing.

However, as was pointed out that many many prayers to God must include 'and his prophet Mohammad', and when people get upset and violent over to what they think are insults and blasphemy, it is to a perceived insult to Mohammad and not Allah.

Mohammad might be be worshiped as God/Allah, but the amount of devotion given to him has reached 'worship' proportions. Many things I feel are unjust, and incorrect are being justified in many parts of the world in Islamic communities because "Mohammad did it". Marrying a 9 year old girls by 50 year old men happen in some of the Islamic countries to this day and is justified by the actions of Mohammad. I feel arraigned marriages between someone that young is wrong.

When someone almost gets killed because they name a Teddy bear Mohammad, yet every other male child is given that name, I have to say it goes into Mohammad worship, not just 'love too much'.

I couldn't agree with you more on the last part. But do you think Islam, that teaches not to kill one innocent person, really teaches to kill someone for naming a Teddy bear Muhammad?

I feel this is neverending though. The Muslims are using twisting Islam for their own personal wants and the Non Muslims will always look at them, mistaking their actions for the teachings of Islam.

[muhammad rasullah]

So what you are saying is that just because these to frames are next to each other with O Allah and O Muhammad written in arabic that muslims worship The prophet Muhammad ...

So if I am a Muslim and I have the stylized name of Allah and a statue of the Buddha on the same shelf at the same height it is not an affront to Allah if I simply say, "Oh I don't worship the Buddha" ?

Again this is an example of the limited knowledge you have about Islam! Because if you were a muslim you wouldn't have a statue of buddha because it is prohibited to have statues in your home as a muslim, also the making and purchasing of statues is as well. So your question makes no sense! No matter if its hypothetical!

[Rathpig]

Because if you were a muslim you wouldn't have a statue of buddha because it is prohibited to have statues in your home as a muslim, also the making and purchasing of statues is as well.

Oh, I understand very well.

An above example shows a fetish and statue made from a name. This is said not to be "worship", however cleverly it is equivocated and disguised, but the mere existence of another statue would be anathema because it obviously represents worship.

To understand the hypocrisy of Islam, one must only take an objective view of Islam.

[Rathpig]

... mistaking their actions for the teachings of Islam.

The "teachings of Islam" are what Muslims do. Islam is neither clearly codified or objective. Numerous sects exist, and numerous interpretations exist. Because religion is a subjective fantasy, all of these various modes are correct merely by their existence.

Sunni Islam is no more the "correct" version than Shia or Sufi. It is all a superstitious construct and cannot be said to have objective truth value.

[McCulloch]

The "teachings of Islam" are what Muslims do. Islam is neither clearly codified or objective. Numerous sects exist, and numerous interpretations exist. Because religion is a subjective fantasy, all of these various modes are correct merely by their existence.

Sunni Islam is no more the "correct" version than Shia or Sufi. It is all a superstitious construct and cannot be said to have objective truth value.

Off topic, but could we then also say, "The teachings of Christianity are what Christians do. Christianity is neither clearly codified or objective. Numerous sects exist, and numerous interpretations exist. Because religion is a subjective fantasy, all of these various modes are correct merely by their existence.

Evangelicalism is no more the "correct" version than Catholicism or Mormonism. It is all a superstitious construct and cannot be said to have objective truth value."

[muhammad rasullah]

Because if you were a muslim you wouldn't have a statue of buddha because it is prohibited to have statues in your home as a muslim, also the making and purchasing of statues is as well.

Oh, I understand very well.

An above example shows a fetish and statue made from a name. This is said not to be "worship", however cleverly it is equivocated and disguised, but the mere existence of another statue would be anathema because it obviously represents worship.

To understand the hypocrisy of Islam, one must only take an objective view of Islam.

Well the thing is that buddha is an actual person a statue made of a person that is what a statue is! Second buddha is actually worshipped as a God.

Thirdly you have little knowlegde of Islam because every muslim must say when accepting Islam that I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship but ALLAH and I bear witness that the prophet muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is the MESSENGER OF ALLAH. Now you tell me how a messenger sent by Allah is Allah himself?
If you can explain that then I will believe you?

[muhammad rasullah]

... mistaking their actions for the teachings of Islam.

The "teachings of Islam" are what Muslims do. Islam is neither clearly codified or objective. Numerous sects exist, and numerous interpretations exist. Because religion is a subjective fantasy, all of these various modes are correct merely by their existence.

Sunni Islam is no more the "correct" version than Shia or Sufi. It is all a superstitious construct and cannot be said to have objective truth value.

RIGHTTTTTTT
But the evolution theory is? Way to go!!!!
We all came from nothing going nowhere for no reason! We evolved by changes that are each independent of one another going in an unknown direction for no reason. Where are better characteristics are chosen and the rest not over millions of years from ape to Human being, speaking no language to speaking english, from dog like animal to a whale. Yea your explanation of things are MUCH better..

[Goat]

Because if you were a muslim you wouldn't have a statue of buddha because it is prohibited to have statues in your home as a muslim, also the making and purchasing of statues is as well.

Oh, I understand very well.

An above example shows a fetish and statue made from a name. This is said not to be "worship", however cleverly it is equivocated and disguised, but the mere existence of another statue would be anathema because it obviously represents worship.

To understand the hypocrisy of Islam, one must only take an objective view of Islam.

Well the thing is that buddha is an actual person a statue made of a person that is what a statue is! Second buddha is actually worshipped as a God.

Thirdly you have little knowlegde of Islam because every muslim must say when accepting Islam that I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship but ALLAH and I bear witness that the prophet muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is the MESSENGER OF ALLAH. Now you tell me how a messenger sent by Allah is Allah himself?
If you can explain that then I will believe you?

Really?? Since when? Buddah is a god? From http://en.allexperts.com/q/Buddhists-94 ... ists-1.htm

2. Do Buddhists think Buddha is God?
No, we do not. The Buddha did not say he was a god.
There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear. The Buddha says:
"Gripped by fear men go to the sacred mountains,
sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines".