The Issue of Blasphemy

It is a fact that certain Western groups have engaged in propaganda against Islam, using print and electronic media to distort its image. It is also a fact that some Western thinkers and writers have provided the most compelling response to these attempts to tarnish Islam’s image. One noteworthy book, spanning 280 pages, titled “Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam” by Karen Armstrong, was first published in 1991 in London by Victor Gollancz Ltd. Another recent publication in London aims to dispel the myth that the West began presenting Islam as its enemy after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Interestingly, this myth is more prevalent in the Muslim world than in the West. The book, titled “Islam and the Myth of Confrontation” by Fred Halliday, initially published in 1995, offers valuable insights and is highly recommended for those interested in understanding the history of enmity. The book has also been translated and published in Arabic. The Retraction of the Fatwa by Muslim Scholars The incident surrounding Salman Rushdie exposed a grave weakness among Muslim scholars and intellectuals. Their immediate and uninvestigated reaction to such news often leads to humiliation. This impulsive response is unquestionably unIslamic. The Quran and Hadith explicitly forbid believers from hastily responding to reports without verifying their accuracy, as it may unwittingly harm others, leading to subsequent regret (Quran, 49:6).