I'm Muslim but I don't understand why it is wrong to call a teddy bear Mohammed?

Question

I know that most normal Muslims think it is wrong to punish that teacher because she made an innocent mistake..

But people still say it is sinful to call a teddy bear Mohammed because it is name of the prophet (pbuh)


But I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY this is wrong!!!

We call boys all the time Mohammed and it is a common surname. And people use for a business name too (sometimes on shops where they sell things that are not too good like a newsagent that sells porno, booze an' lottery tickets)

So why is it just wrong to call a Teddy bear Mohammed? When I was little I had a Stuffed rabbit called Mohammed because I liked that name, my parents didn't tell me there was something wrong with it.


Can anyone explain what is unislamic. I don't want to make sin
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071128/tpl-uk-sudan-prophet-43a8d4f_14.html

Answer 1

I bet you didn't know that the Yamster (Yahoo Hamster in the karate uniform) is named Mohammed, did you? Yahoo is afraid that if word gets out then non-Muslims will get mad assuming Yahoo is favoring Muslims and Muslims will get mad because they think it's disrespectful.

Answer 2

I think you and your parents are doing fine, sweetie. You're not sinning. Different families can be more strict or more easy going about religion, and it still makes you Muslim. Don't let anyone else try to talk you out of it, or tell you that you're not "Muslim enough."

It turns out that the government and the religious bodies are enraged because the prophet's name as been applied to an animal. It also turns out that Muhammad is a very common name for boys in Sudan, with no insult perceived or intended.

This all boils down to a rather simple case of anthropomorphism. It means giving human characteristics to something that's not. Take Beauty and the Beast, take out all the villagers, look at everyone else and there you go. Or for another example, take your favorite teddy bear growing up. If you loved it, you named it.

Western tradition obviously has deep roots in anthropomorphism. Attributing human personalities to the greek pantheon provided a vehicle for both answering the tough spiritual questions as well as understanding weather patterns. Symbolizing human morality through avatars has been used from Aesop's fox to Andersen's gentleman collar. Even now, it can provide a measure of temporary solace: when's the last time you begged your car to start? Huh...maybe that's just a starving artist thing.

Do any of you remember the old Disney version of Robin Hood? Robin's a fox, Little John is a bear (Baloo actually), and everyone else is some other wacky critter. So how many kids saw that movie and ended up racist? Uh huh. Exactly. The folks on Seasame Street look the way they do for a very developed reason. It's a fantastic tool to teach about cultural differences, which quite frankly is exactly what the world needs right now.

Now I'm not going to pretend to know much about the eastern world. I've been studying their children's stories only, and haven't learned enough to know what I'm talking about. I'm also not going to pretend that christian kids naming the bear Jesus wouldn't ruffle a few feathers.

But those kids named a beloved toy and imaginary male friend by a regionally common male name. Whether it's culturally appropriate isn't my place to say, it's not my culture. But if folks think their intention was anything more than that, if they think the teacher came up with this assignment to teach those kids hatred, they're thrusting their own baggage onto it. They're reading waaaay too much into it.

It'd be cool if parents sat down with their son or daughter, talked to them about why that might be seen as offensive. Let them know that any other name is fine, but that one holds a special meaning, and why it does. But if those kids ask why boys can still be named Muhammad, they'll either need a good internal grasp of the distinction or they're going to have some backpeddling to do. These kids are doing the best they can, and so was their teacher. It's parents' jobs to pony up and do the same.

Answer 3

Its just that Muslims luv Prophet Muhammad more then the parents or anyone on the earth and would dislike anyone name an animal even a teddy bear as Muhammad Hence Non Muslims should be careful Although i dont agree with the punishment as the non muslim lady should be given a warning but we really dont know what is truth there. Best regards!

Answer 4

Whilst I agree no harm or offense was intended you can see how this could be taken the wrong way If you accept the two different countries have entirely different cultures.

One sees a teddybear as an object of a childs adoration and something that he will love and value for much of it's young life, and the other knows only that a bear is a fierce grizzly creature.

If you then call this representation of a fierce wild animal with the name of your most holy prophet, it can be easily misunderstood.

Lets hope every one realises a simple mistake was made, and normal relations are restored soon.

Answer 5

I don't understand it either.
6 and 7 year-olds chose the name and then voted for it. The teacher just went along with what they wanted!
Chiefs of the Muslim Council of Britain are totally against this too, and agree that it's ridiculous!
Maybe it's because the teacher is British.. I don't know.

Answer 6

I am new to this so forgive me if I stumble a bit. My understanding is that there are to be no images of people or animals, including childrens toys. Some people I know in the US have modified this so that the toys are OK as long as they do not have faces (especially true for dolls). Among Christians in Latin countries, Jesus is a very common name; and all Christian countries use saints' names, as a sign of homage and respect. So, I would expect that the problem with using the name of the Prophet (pbuh) would be a notion of its being somehow disrespectful if applied to a lower life form - ie an animal. Please feel free to correct my reasoning....

Answer 7

As I have pointed out in someone else's question, it seems that Islam can take the high moral ground when it comes to Mohammed when ever they choose to!!!

Would that Jesus could be defended, when His Name is used as a curse, as blaspheme in films, etc on a daily basis!

Would we be allowed to demonstrate? Would we be allowed to burn effiges? Would we be allowed to put out contracts on the perpetrators?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are expected to 'turn the other cheek' and forgive... forgive... forgive!!!

Even in our own country if we stand up for what is right when it comes to our faith, we are slapped down by the 'pc brigade'! We can't do anything because we might just upset other faiths who live here! Well what about the peopel who have lived here for centuries, without forcing their beliefs onto other people within our country - particularly violently?

Love in Jesus,

Margi

Answer 8

if i ever get teddy bears, one will be called jesus, one will be called buddha, one will be called mohammed and one will be called krishna....they can all have a tea party...hehe
anyways, the tradition of naming teddy bears is a western thing, heck teddy (theodore roosevelt) bear...I didn't even know they had teddy bears in Sudan...but a teddy bear is a teddy bear, you give it a name, you hug it, carry it around with you everywhere you go...the thing is with teddy bear's we often give them names that are interesting to us, names that are common in our cultures so why not have a teddy bear mohammed and another lady teddy bear called fatima? they're common names in those cultures and also names tend to help express our attachments because we choose names that we like...
Namaste...

Answer 9

im just as confused as you are..coming from a strictly religious and practising muslim household,i have been trawling through books,and seek advice frm scholars regarding this incident..
never heard anything like it...

i speak as muslim,it was the kid who choose the name,not the teacher..she wasn't too know,i think someone in school must have had something agaisnt her too take this and complain..Media are also playing part in ISLAMPHOBIA!

Answer 10

It's not like other religious beliefs , the truth is when u taste Islam and learn about what Muslims were doing in the birth of Islam you gonna know this :
1- To have faith you must love your prophet Mohamed more than yourself , parents and all people . Mohamed name is written on the throne of GOD companion after "there is no GOD else Allah and Mohamed is the Prophet of Allah" that's why Adam knew that Mohamed is the much person been loved by GOD .
2- Friends of Mohamed was trying to do very hard to help him in his path of prophecy they was preferring to catch arrows and die to not let it touch him .
3- Mohamed is one of best names on earth it does mean laudable in English. just choose best you have to describe your prophet the last prophet on earth .