In the speech in Germany on Tuesday, the Pope referred to criticism of the Prophet Mohammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus.
The emperor said everything Mohammad brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
Using the terms "jihad" and "holy war", the 79-year-old Pope said violence was "incompatible with the nature of God".
2006-09-16 22:36:08 · 19 answers · asked by John S 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm muslim and i didn't get offended by his statement coz i have heard similar statements from our end too. I found the danish cartoons quiet offense on the other hand but the only way we can express our unhappiness is by peaceful ways.
The holy prophet was insulted in person by so many people in his life and he never lifted a finger or said anything. Islam is about submission to Allah and not being threatened by mere humans.
There are elements in the muslim world which use these issues to incite hatred and coz of them the entire world media shows us as some kind of barbaric race from another planet. It's unfortunate that i find people say so many things about my religion but that's life, by them saying it i won't die. My faith is in God and not in mankind.
Peace out!
2006-09-16 23:49:30 · answer #1 · answered by Fez 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Worldwide leader of Catholic community quoting an 14 century emperor, that a major religion in the world with millions of followers worldwide, is evil and inhuman and it has not given anything good to humanity is really in poor taste. By quoting this he has not contributed anything positively to good-will between Christians and Muslims.
Apology is not something to be demanded but which have to be offered willingly.
2006-09-16 23:10:35 · answer #2 · answered by inin 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Every Muslim was driven from Spain, or put to the sword, or forced to convert, whereas the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church remains in Istanbul to this day. Indeed, if comparisons are the issue, Muslims consider Christianity's record to be the darker of the two. Who was it, they ask, who preached the Crusades in the name of the Prince of Peace? Who instituted the inquisition, invented the rack and the stake as instruments of religion, and plunged Europe into its devastating wars of religion? (Huston Smith, The Illustrated World's Religions )
2006-09-16 23:04:49 · answer #3 · answered by BeHappy 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How about ALL religious leaders apologise to everyone - religion had brought so much misery and bloodshed, they should hang their heads in shame. If the bishop of Rome read all of his scriptures instead of edited highlights, the nature of god that emerges from the page of the bible is of a violent, petty, vindictive moron. The sooner the world grows up and puts such nasty fables behind it the better.
2006-09-16 22:56:22 · answer #4 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Pope said nothing wrong and merely quoted someone else to illustrate that violence is wrong. The Muslims took offence, probably because they know that they are violent people filled with hatred and that they want to kill or maim all non-Muslims. He should not apologise. When are we going to see Muslim leaders apologising for terrorist attacks in New York, Madrid, London and elsewhere? When will they apologise for the beheading of hostages who had gone to Iraq to help the people there?
2006-09-16 22:44:31 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your Pope should have looked into his Bible first, which he knows better than anyone else like the back of his hand, to see the level of violence and barbarity. Is he ignorant of the tenets and the true teachings of Islam? The answer is also No. His comments were carefully calculated and measured.
Jihad, as presented in the Qur'an implies the striving towards the ideal. This jihad, particularly involves change in one's self and mentality. It may concern the sacrifice of material property, social class constraints, and even emotional comfort, solely for, salvation and the worship of God alone.
QUR’AN: ( Ad-Duha 4:93), (Al-An`am 6:135), (An-Nahl 16:11), (Aal `Imran 3:30), ( An-Nisaa' 4:124).
Jihad also includes striving for and establishing justice. Before someone can strive for justice in their community, justice must be one of their main religious and moral principles.
Jihad may also reflect the position of Islam regarding crisis management and enforcement of humanitarian international laws. Fighting a war in the name of justice or Islam - to deter an aggressor, for self-defense, or to establish justice and freedom to practice religion - would also be considered jihad.
(Al-Hajj 22:78), (Al-Baqarah 2:256), (An-Nisaa' 4:124),
(An-Nisaa' 4:65)
*{O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe God, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, God takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard [this commandment], then God is Fully Cognizant of everything you do.}* (An-Nisaa' 4:135)
Since this verse shows that God accepts only justice, fighting in the name of God is fighting in the name of justice. But, contrary to many people's interpretation, jihad is anything but a "holy" war.
In the light and essence of Islam and the Qur'an, there is no war that is holy; under any circumstances whatsoever. In fact, the whole text of the Qur'an and the religion of Islam revolve around the concept of peace, not war. To many people's ignorance, Islam is also a word that share the same root of the Arabic word salam, meaning "peace". According to Islam, war is unholy; jihad must mean anything but "holy" war.
(Al-Anfal 8:60-61), (Al-Hajj 22:39-40), (Al-Baqarah 2:244 and Al-Hajj 22:78), (An-Nisaa' 4:74:75), (An-Nahl 16:90), (Al-Hujurat 49:13).
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE&cid=1123996015820
2006-09-16 22:50:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
u and ur Pope are forgiven for everything u did, tell him i said that.
as far as apologies are concerned. i think u know who needs to give more apologies apart from muslims. oh come on, when did India get its Independance or say Africa, just 40 yrs back --have u forgotten it so easily.? also if the world started asking for an apology, then u would give the whole world an apology until eternity. just look within urselves before playing pin-pointing game.
2006-09-16 22:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by marissa 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Muslim misinterpret what the pope says and make the pope statement as an excuse to cause trouble all around the world
2006-09-16 22:40:02 · answer #8 · answered by arveen paria arasuk 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely not. I think the Muslim community has made Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus' point very well.
2006-09-16 22:49:19 · answer #9 · answered by Colorado 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
lord have mercy save us from the interminable rants against Muslims. Have we nothing else to discuss and does anyone think we will read a 15,000 word essay of repetitious slogans? You have no idea you are doing exactly what people in control want you to do, like marionettes, you comply with the slightest tug on the strings,knee-jerk reacting when trained as the pavlovian dogs do....................get some rest and return to sanity.
asfor apologies, have you apologized to the American Indians? the Black Amercans? the families of Iraqi and Afghan civilians dead from invasion? the palestinian villagers and children starving and w/o medicine? we can go on and on, but I haven't heard these apologies, come forth with them.............
2006-09-16 22:47:46 · answer #10 · answered by FoudaFaFa 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋