Muslims, what is YOUR opinion on the teddy bear scandal?

Question

I've heard many people's opinions already and I of course have my own, but I would like to know what Muslims, specifically, think about the issue?

In case you haven't heard:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/sudan_british_teacher

Intelligent answers only please!

Answer 1

My my, look at all this ignorance and hatred. You ask for intelligent answers from Muslims, yet this has provoked an opportunity for non-Muslims to express their rude, biased opinions instead. I see this every single day. What a pity.


As a Muslim, I CONDEMN, yes, you heard me, CONDEMN, all the charges brought up against this woman. The Sudanese government is responsible for the current unfortunate tragedy in Darfur. It is doing totally unislamic things. Muslims are the target, for heaven sakes! So why are people so quick to assume that the whole "teddy bear" incident was mandated by Islam? The very Sudanese government that coordinates the gloomy situation in Darfur is the same that is doing this to the poor teacher. Those actions were NOT Islamic. A simple talk could have solved the whole thing, but western reporters are looking for more, more to debase Islam and undermine it... Remember, this is propaganda. Propaganda is one of the most effective war tools. And look at this site (and way beyond) every day, full
of hatred and ignorance about Islam, people constantly bashing Islam and questioning us Muslims and demanding answers or else they will assume the answers themselves.

Thanks for asking this question. Perhaps I will be the only Muslim who will answer. But I will star this and pehaps my contacts will answer as well.


EnglishDenise:

Go get a job or something. The media is the absolute WORST source of information when it comes to the truth about Islam. It is called propoganda; the media for the past decade or so, but especially and much more vigorously after September 11, has consistently bashed Islam and provided half-truths, if that. People like what they hear as it gives them a reason to hate Islam and be proud. The media has made soo many ignorant and you are obviously no exception.

Yogini Eggnogini:

Can I hug you?? Thank you so much for your answer...you are one less ignorant person we Muslims have to worry about. I love your answer...thank you so much for sharing a glimpse of our (Muslims) pain...Thumbs up!


EDIT:

(I have here copied a well-written passage from Tayena GG and have changed the words around slightly as to not completely plagiarize her work, I think as Muslims defending ourselves she will not mind it).

"What she did was very offensive, naming a teddy bear Muhammed. It may have not been her that had named the teddy bear, since it is said that her student had named it Muhammed, but in Islam making any graven image of animals or humans is forbidden. The teddy bear is not a living thing, so naming it after Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was offensive. Would it be offensive to Christians if someone named forget their children--but a TEDDY BEAR Jesus Christ? Is this alright? Or would it be blasphemous? It might not cause an uproar, but those who are informed will certainly be substantially disturbed and will not go on without further notice of change, or they will do something about it.

HOWEVER, I am not saying I agree with the punishment she was given--the maximum number I heard was 200 lashes. However, people are constantly inferring that they are considering an execution/extreme torture, but they certainly are not. She was sentenced to jail for 15 days; it was the apparently irate townspeople who protested for such a punishment. The government actually ended up DISagreeing to that kind of punishment because such an action is actually FORBIDDEN in Islam, given the circumstances of the "crime" in which she had committed.

They had taken this teddy bear scandal WAY out of proportion. I really do believe that it was an honest mistake and she had not deserved it. I know it was offensive but putting her in jail was not what should have taken place. She is a human being and so we all make mistakes, especially that I believe it was an honest mistake and had not been done on purpose.

People are being so ignorant about the situation and blaming it on Islam, when really, killing her would have been a major sin. There have been many hateful comments against muslims, but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. If only people could understand that Islam does not promote violence, and if certain muslims act violently it is not because their actions are mandated or encouraged by Islam."

Tayenna GG

Answer 2

Firstly, I am Muslim.
My answer will be long, so please take the time to read all of it, since I took the time to write it. :)

I think that if you will be travelling to another country or planning on staying there for some time, you should at least take the time to research about the country and the laws, this way it would prevent any punishment of some sort. If the woman had known of the laws and what not to do, she would have known what she was getting into.

What she did was very offensive, naming a teddy bear Muhammed. It may have not been her that had named the teddy bear, since it is said that her student had named it Muhammed, but in Islam making any graven image of animals or humans is forbidden. The teddy bear is not a living thing, so naming it after Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was offensive.

HOWEVER, I am not saying I agree with the punishment she was given. People continuously keep saying that they are considering an execution but they are not. She was sentenced to jail for 15 days, it is the towns people whom protested to execute her. The government disagreed because it is AGAINST Islam.

I completely disagree with what had been done on to her. They had taken this teddy bear scandal WAY out of proportion. I really do believe that it was an honest mistake and she had not deserved it. I know it was offensive but putting her in jail was not what should have taken place. She is a human being and so we all make mistakes, especially that I believe it was an honest mistake and had not been done on purpose.

People are being so ignorant about the situation and blaming it on Islam, when really, killing her would have been a major sin. There have been many hateful comments against muslims, but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. If only people could understand that Islam does not promote violence, and if certain muslims act violently it is not because of Islam.

Thank you for taking the time to actually see our view, the majority of us are against it. I hope I helped, seeing that there are not many muslims that answered your question. =]

Answer 3

This scandal shouldn't have gotten started in the first place. It's a load of crap, and I don't want to be bothered with it.

First, it was the cartoons. Now, it's a teddy bear. What next? None of this is important to me. Being a devout, practicing Muslim is.

Answer 4

I know and very sorry to say that , if any one makes silly fun on the name of JESUS peace to be upon him it will not disturb any Christian,okay are all names really finished?is intention good to be in Muslim country and joke about their prophet after what happened in Denmark? ,what do u think about a Muslim made fun of JESUS name in Denmark and it upset Christians shall another Muslim repeat it in Sudan ?if u considered what happened is scandal what is ur opinion about decency and politeness when people insist to make fun of others great love and respect ,that is their Prophet.Muslims respect Jesus,and all other Prophets.a respectable thing others can't apply or understand.

Answer 5

All the Muslims I know are horrified by the fanaticism and condemn the Sudanese Islamist behavior as un Islamic and "ridiculous, even laughable, if the crazies were not serious and bloodthirsty" as a Muslim i know said..

I think that tourists and others from the West should avoid going to any country with an Islamist jihadist regime.

Answer 6

harley, NO if you send this idea to Vermont they'll throw it in the trash. How do I know? I live here. I live amongst very peaceful Muslim neighbors and shop owners and so do many towns in this state. How dare you and anyone else start singling out Muslims! It's like the KKK except it's against the Muslims. That region of the world is a mess. And to the person who wants to talk about them flying planes into our buildings. YES, that is HORRIBLE. It is also HORRIBLE that the U.S. has killed 10,000s of thousands of Muslim civilians in their quest for 'democracy'. There are atrocities on all sides but I can tell you that the hatred I have seen on this board today is sickening. I am sick of it. The small protest (they called it SMALL) does not represent all of Khartoum. How ridiculous! There are dangerous zealots everywhere. One happens to occupy the oval office. We should be more frightened of what that yahoo will do next.

Answer 7

I am not Muslim, I know you aren't going to read this answer but so be it!

I believe the "Teddy Bear Scandal" as you so colorfully called it is ridiculous. Why is it such a big deal? There are men throughout the middle east called Muhammad.

Answer 8

My understanding would be that it is because they do not want their religious dogma to brake down.

That is the same strategy used by many other religions, and by the Radical Communism to keep alive a revolution that doesn't exist anymore.

It is either that or the fact that humanity has lost the rationality.

Answer 9

I'm not a Muslim but I think the Muslims are very serious about their religion to take it this far, they appear not to ignore things like we do here about religion.

Answer 10

It's a good question Spiffs. I don't qualify to answer your question, but i'd love to see an explanation that clearly justifies a crime against humanity (the teacher).

Call me cynical, but this archaic and misguided decree has demonstrated how ludicrously dangerous Muslim religion can be for the human race.

Yogini: correction. "How dare you and anyone else start singling out Muslims!"

Oops. I think you'll find it was Muslims that singled out an innocent teacher.

Is that your best shot?


Unbelievable