Comments on: No good deed goes unpunished. I believe …

By: VICTORIA

VICTORIA — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:10:50 +0000

That would be nice.

By: aziz

aziz — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:21:48 +0000

But Aisha loved Muhammad(pbuh), was an adult when she married

yes. surprising that in all of this, the basic flawed assertion goes unchallenged. I shoud do a post on this…

By: historylover

historylover — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:56:25 +0000

Well said Victoria !!!
I too admit I find it extremely difficult to maintain a non emotional ‘rational’ stand on the Prophet (SAW).

By: VICTORIA

VICTORIA — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:38:54 +0000

If the book is, as Ms. Nomani contends- an account that tells the story of Aisha in an empowering and positive way- that is wonderful. But Aisha loved Muhammad(pbuh), was an adult when she married- and it is unlikely that Aisha herself would be pleased with such a characterization.

By: VICTORIA

VICTORIA — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:29:16 +0000

All that I know of this writer or her book is the short paragraph circulating-
I wasn’t born around or trained with a love for the Prophet(pbuh). It was a thing that grew and was cultivated by becoming familar with his story, and actions related through ahadeeth and some Qur’an- and people too, but mostly reading.

His life and responses answered so many questions and experiences about injustice for me- the differences between men and women- we really do think differently in many ways- protecting the weak, which I have certainly been and took pacifism to an extreme in my life- small aspects of social interaction which translate into larger interactions- from individuals to societies- finding a balance between the needs of the individual against the needs of the holistic society-

So- to see our Rasul portrayed in yet another indelicate and maybe degrading light- seems to perpetuate the “your prophet is a pedophile womanizer driven mad by lust” propganda which so permeates America- a sentiment driven by the basest and ugliest of motives- pure prejudice and fear-

I don’t know what this woman’s book contained- but I do know that when I research historical figures- especially religious ones with whom so many have an emotional attachment to- I take extra care to be sensitive to those who love said figure-

I realize that my reaction may be motivated by some emotions too- but they are good emotions, valuable and loving ones- with a desire to see justice and truth- just as I would feel for myself or a family memeber or loved one-

And it would hurt some to see a loved one maligned-
Just because a reaction has some emotional attachment behind it doesn’t mean it is not worthy of consideration.

And just as I would speak for any person I felt unfairly represented- even a stranger- how much more should I speak for and supporting of one whose legacy deserves better treatment.

Personally- let the lady write her book- and I will be better equipped to support, or critique it, as it deserves.

By: Sy

Sy — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:56:30 +0000

Admittedly, I am going off her WashPo OF and WSJ opeds and not her interview, but I am going to assume they are more or less the same, which is to say not really at odds with anything the vast majority of the frequenters of this board have been saying. I don’t really see where Nomani makes any statement as to any potential literary merit to the book, she only makes statements to the effect of the necessity of its being published, which at least willow, aziz, and shahed (and I) agree is?/was the right thing to have done. Where I/we may disagree with her and each other is potential ability to “enrich” or “advance” Islam as she claims this work might do; not that other works could not.

By: ReignForrest

ReignForrest — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:05:09 +0000

Here’s Asra Nomani’s interview with Neal Conan on National Public Radio which strikes me to be precisely how I feel about the story. I’d be interested to know what the denizens of this blog make of it. Muhammad Mushtaq, I want to sincerely thank you for adding to my language. “Sucking crow cock” was new to me – and inventive! Actually, so was “sucking ass”. “Suck” in “He sucks”, despite the apparent intransitivity of the construction, implies an appendage in the FRONT. You’ve kind of taken it in the BACK in “sucking ass”. Perhaps a preoccupation? My thanks are genuine, but the slight attempt at sarcasm is for the purpose of eliciting a few more energetic expressions. Go ahead; there’s no censorship here and anonymity is guaranteed, so your nastiness won’t shame you as in a face-to-face conversation.

By: aziz

aziz — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:49:14 +0000

yeah – Shahed has kindly embedded the Talk Islam main feed at altmuslim. It replaces the Carnival of Brass feed that used to be there, which I am in the process of phasing out (and will have more details about in due course, ince certain administrative matters regarding my blog are sorted out…)

By: VICTORIA

VICTORIA — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:02:09 +0000

On the righthand side, there are 4 boxes- yellow, green, pink then black- in the lower right hand corner 3rd up (which may change)from the bottom under ISLAM NEWS via TALK ISLAM

By: Willow

Willow — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:57:34 +0000

God, I’m not sure I have the guts to wade into that kind of throw-down. So many commenters on the mainstream news blogs have made up their minds about Everything and just want to scream at people. Good for you for getting into it, though.

Where’s the AltMuslim reference? I looked at Shahed’s article on the subject but didn’t see one.