Ref:- (i)- Hyper-sensitivity of Muslims over Quran and Prophet Mohammad will be tempered for ever

(ii)- Christians and pre – eighties Hindus have not been so sensitive at all, over ill-informed slights against their religion

(iii)- Muslims are in no position to raise any reasonable demand from USA in present controversy

(iv)- US government in no position to do any thing about any of Muslim's demand

(v)- Further violence in Muslim countries against US (& Allies) citizens will harden the position of powerful Christian West.

(vi)- US Election year will not allow Obama to give any real or perceived concession to Muslims.

(vii)- This blessing in disguise for Islam, will be good for Hindus also.



The 14 minute trailer of a Hollywood film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ which is 'blasphemous' and portrays Prophet Mohammad in poor light in relation to His 11 marriages (including allegedly with a minor) has triggered outrage amongst the Muslims across the world, but it has a positives side also of this controversy, as given below:-

(1)- It is clear to every body that any adverse comment on the marriages of Prophet Mohammad is mischievous to say the least. These marriages were in accordance with the customs and the need (due to war lot of ladies were getting widowed and needed support through marriages hence not only Prophet Mohammad but others also married war widows) of the time in Arab (Mecca, Medina) world.

(2)- As far Prophet Mohammad's marriage with minor it cannot be said the ‘marriage’ in true sense of the word at the time of minor age of the bride, as is the custom in present day India also. In the State of Rajasthan of India too any body can go on the auspicious day of Aakha Teej (Akhshay Tritiya) when hundreds of thousands of so called ‘child marriage’ takes place but bride remains at her parent's house and goes to husband’s house after another ceremony (Gauna) after her menstruation period starts. The same was the case in Prophet Mohammad’s marriage with Lady Ayesha.

(3)- Therefore there is no reason why Muslims should be so hyper – sensitive when any other religionist or person pass ill – informed adverse comment on the marriages of Prophet Mohammad. Moreover the followers of every religion knows the value and importance of their religion and the practices, believes etc of their religion and if others can't appreciate these then it is the loss of those who hurl these slanders and not of those who faithfully practice the religion.

(4)- Here the example of Hindus is quite educative. Before eighties (before the time of Ram Janm Bhoomi – Babri Mosque dispute which triggered communal Hindutva organizations like VHP, RSS, BJP, Shiv Sena, Bajrangdal etc in socio – political life of India who started emulating the fanaticism of Muslims), the Hindus were not at all sensitive about any adverse comment on their religion. People have been taunting Digamber Jains that their saints remain and move naked even amongst ladies, Digamber Jains and other Hindus (worshiping Lord Hanuman) do not allow women to worship the idol (Pratima / Murti), Hindus still worship animals (Lord Hanuman the monkey, Ganapati the elephant etc) and the genitals of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Lingam and Yoni Pattam), any number of Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon practiced promiscuity etc. etc. But Hindus for time unmemorable have never been sensitive and never felt offended against such ill-informed and mischievous criticism of their religion.

(5)- Similarly Christians are also not at all sensitive toward the criticism of their religion by other people, to the extent it is found in Muslims even in cases where comment is very minor which is perceived to be against Quran / Prophet Mohammad.

(6)- Therefore by any reckoning the hyper-sensitivity of Muslims over any perceived adverse comment (how so ever minor) on Quran or Prophet Mohammad was in the need of course-correction. Because it has been damaging the Islam itself. Hence the present trailer controversy is going to be a blessing in disguise for Islam for the simple reason that in future Muslims world over will not over-react so foolishly (as is the case in Pakistan also where there is death sentence for even very minor so called disrespect to Prophet Mohammad or Quran), violently and comically over every unimportant comment of other religionists on the elements and revered symbols of Islam.

(7)- This blessing in disguise has become possible primarily due to the fact that in this trailer controversy even if ~ 1.6 billion Muslims of the world come on street / road in demonstrations against USA, the Muslims are in no position to demand any thing from USA because film is still not complete (hence no question of any ban on film) and in this age of formidable social media the trailer will simply not disappear from Internet by any government action.

(8)- Secondly, even as per international law this trailer does not come under the category of ‘hate speech’. Because Muslims (against whom hate is allegedly spread) are not being killed (rather on the contrary Christian Americans the US Ambassador in Libya, Chris Stevens and others have been killed). Moreover people are not killed in USA hence US Courts have no jurisdiction to take cognizance over demonstrations and killings in other countries, mainly the Muslim countries world over.

(9)- And last but not the least, even if the powerful provisions of US Constitution (which goes to any length in order to protect the freedom of expression) is ignored for the time being, this US Election year will see to it that no concession(real or perceived) is given to Muslims especially when Muslims have already killed US diplomat & staff in Libya and are further threatening to kill and harm the US citizens (and other US interests) in Muslim and other countries. This unwarranted violent reaction of Muslims across the world to a non-issue is bound to suck-in other powerful Allies of USA (remaining Christians of the West) too in this controversy and Obama (who is already projected by opponents as weak and over accommodating towards Muslims) will hardly be in a position to give any real or perceived concession to Muslims in this election year.

Therefore this trailer controversy is going to be a blessing in disguise for Islam because the hyper-sensitivity of Muslims over Quran and Prophet Mohammad will be tempered for ever and which will be very good for the sound health of Islam. Incidentally, it will benefit present day Hinduism also a part of which, as enumerated above (emulating the fanatic Muslims) has unnecessarily and absurdly become hyper-sensitive on religious / cultural issues in India.


Hem Raj Jain
USA
(Author of 'Betrayal of Americanism')
E Mail :jainhemraj59@gmail.com