Muslims: How do you defend this?

Question

I am not trying to start anything nasty here, but please look at (not gory or anything):

http://www.faithfreedom.org/Gallery/16.htm

Please don't respond by pointing out the fact that priests do this too. But in Western countries, that sort of behavior is shunned, and illegal. Violators are put into jail. It looks like this is completely acceptable in Islam. Please explain!

Ok, 1) I did not take the photo
2) I did not create any slanderous comments about it
3) I was asking a question on Yahoo Answers, isn't that the point
4) Why are some of you so angry with your replies?

Salafee: Thank you for your response. Perfect example of a proper, informed reply.

Jenn: Aren't Shiia Muslims?

Hayaa: I simply stumbled across this page. How on earth would you know if I am using it as a reference source? You started off sounded informed and unbiased, but then started making baseless accusations.

Answer 1

No, it looks like the sheikh is just giving a little boy a kiss as would a father or mother give a son, but people captured it on camera and can make it seem however they want the image to be portrayed as.

Answer 2

Why to defend this?... he is responsible about what he is doing but IN NO WAY he represents me whether that kiss was innocent or not.
On the other hand, I would like to confirm again that those young boys in heaven that Quran talks about are ONLY to serve the people in Heaven just like the waiters do in resturants and hotels...it is not about sex at all...
Homosexuality is prohibited in Quran per the example of the people of Lot. You can have a look on the verses [7:80-81], [26:165-166].

For more information, you can check out te link:
http://www.submission.org/sex/homosexuality.html

Peace!

Answer 3

It looks like Anti-Islamic proganda to me. Someone is twisting things here, its known that homosexuals are banned why would someone even worse than that be allowed?

There is a lot of rubbish about Islam on the internet if you want to know what Islam is all about read the book below, Unveling Islam

Answer 4

I agree with salafee above--it just looks like he grabbed him real quick in the moment and kissed him--i've seen older ppl do this all the time -all over the world

don't put YOUR cultural presumtions on others

EDIT: you can take pretty much any picture and add commentary to bring something out of it that ppl would normally not even notice. Even without commentary, you can have a webiste with a certain titile for a certain audience and put up a photo and they will generally see it in one certain way becaue they have their preconceived ideas about it. how about magazines etc that show what women are 'supposed to look like' --they hardly ever put any pics of african americans or latinas on the covers too --this affects the way ppl see things--i actually caught an oprah show about this recently (and I usually don't)...it was about how the more often you see something in the media you believe it unless you can seperate yourself from the situation and therefore you tend to be fairly prejudice without even realizing it

Answer 5

Actually, it IS acceptable in Muslim communities for an elderly person to kiss a young child. Heck, they kiss adults too! When I first converted to Islam at 19 I was smothered in kisses by older ladies, lol! A few of them I even consulted when I was approached with marriage offers (and an extremely wise decision on my part!!). I think perhaps it's like others mentioned, a type of parental love for the children. I also think it's a bit of a psychological feat: they are reminded of their innocent youth and are embracing their own childhood just as much as embracing this child.
It's also exactly what sis Fez said, we are so guided by what we see, that if this image were to appear with a caption about an imam at a gathering in support of orphans, no one would think an ill thought. Even if they were a little offset by the man kissing the boy on the mouth (not common in western culture), it still would never have come to mind that this man is a pedophile, and it certainly wouldn't have come to mind that Islam supports pedophilia and homosexuality.
I have to ask you how you defend yourself referring to such an outright slanderous website for your information. I really wonder why people go to such sites to get their information and rely on it as truthfulness. Not just you, don't feel on the offense. On my own behalf, even if I were curious about a religion I didn't particularly like or like the idea behind (say satanism), I certainly wouldn't rely on websites that have nothing to say about the reality of the religion, and everything to say to persuade people that they are right and the Satanists are wrong. It just doesn't make sense when you're looking for real information. Yes, it would make sense if you were looking for something that supported your ill opinion, but there isn't much reality in the bad things people like this say anyways. Besides, would you go to a janitor to learn about brain surgery?

Edit: I apologize if I offended you. I made that accusation because this website is used by people who are highly biased against Islam and will believe anything anyone says as long as it supports their opinion. I connected you with that and I do apologize for jumping the gun. You were respectful with your question and I appreciate that.

Answer 6

This is just more anti-Islamic propaganda. No where in the Quran does it say that homosexual behavior is OK. No where in the Quran does it say that Muslims will have sex with boy-servants or 72 virgins. Stop spreading lies. You should research about what your saying. Just because ignorant people spread lies does not mean you have to be ignorant with them. Download a copy of the Quran and read it. You may be surprised that half of what you heard is not true.

This link that you have provided 90% are Shiia, Bhai and Jews. These are not Muslims. These are people who have different beliefs then Muslims. Islam does not preach violence or the killing of innocent people. Suicide is a sin.
NO, Shiia are not Muslim, they are Shiia.
read below!!!
With the advent of Islam in Arabia, the polytheists, Jews and Christians had to retreat as they could not withstand the challenge thrown by Islam to accept the reality of monotheism. These forces particularly the Jews were most vociferous in their opposition to Islam. As they were not in a position to challenge Islam openly, they resorted to strike from within. It was Abdullah bin Saba, a Jew, who pretending to be a Muslim coined and propagated the Divine right of Ali Bin Abi Talib, to the Caliphate as the successor to the prophet Muhammad(pbuh), by virtue of his position as the son in law of the Prophet (saws). By and by the idea was turned in to a doctrine and those professing it called themselves as Shi'ites. So as you can see these Shiia like the Christians are mislead.

Answer 7

That sort of behavior is illegal in most Muslim countries as well (maybe all, I just don't know). In Morocco, several teachers were jailed last year for having sexual relations with students - both male and female students. The law protects children here too.

That picture looks like an aberration, if you ask me. Perhaps it was innocent, perhaps not, but it's NOT the norm in Islamic culture.

Answer 8

I agree with hayaa_bi_taqwa, Lavender, and FEZ...

A small kiss on the lips is nothing sexual... westerners find it sexual...
older ppl are usually like that... they kiss u on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyes... they grab the young and give them tons of kisses...
I remember when I was a kid... my grandparents would grab me and kiss me so hard... bcz I lived in another country and visited them once a year... they missed me...

Answer 9

I agree with the second answer.
Also, u r asking us 'how we will defend this', but u gotto understand that we r only responsible for our OWN actions, we r not responsible or the actions of others, Muslim or not.

Answer 10

rofl, there is nothing to defend. I looked thru several of the pictures and the only thing that should be defended is the foolish/disgusting captions written under them.