“Although there is nothing new in most of the criticisms leveled against Islam and its Prophet, we can observe that some of them have assumed academic standard and we should deal with them in the same way, conducting necessary research,” said M. M. Akbar, chief editor of Sneha Samwadam monthly that aims to propagate the message of Islam in Kerala.
He was addressing a press conference in Jeddah.
He denounced the move by enemies to project Muslims as terrorists and extremists. “We have to face these criticisms in a rational manner instead of getting provoked and reacting emotionally,” he said and cited the example of a college professor whose hand was cut off for publishing a question paper denigrating the Prophet.
“Some non-Muslim intellectuals are thinking that we Muslims react emotionally to smear campaigns because we don’t have the knowledge to confront the critiques rationally,” Akbar said while describing his organization’s plan to hold a seven-month campaign to highlight the life and teachings of the Prophet.
He disclosed plans to organize a variety of programs in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries during the campaign period, targeting Indian expatriates from the state of Kerala.
A mega quiz program involving Malayalis all over the world would be held in the end and a number of fabulous prizes would be distributed among the winners. Non-Muslim participants will be given special prizes.
Akbar, who is author of several books, emphasized the importance of the campaign. “There are deliberate efforts by enemies to discredit the Prophet and tarnish his image,” he said, referring to a book written by Robert Spencer. K. P. Ramanunni, a well-known Indian writer, opened the campaign by launching the website www.muhammadnabi.info.
“This website offers an opportunity for Muslims to challenge the criticisms leveled against their beloved Prophet. Once the Malayalam content of the website is completed, we’ll publish the same in English and other languages,” Akbar said. Despite the smear campaign, Islam is spreading fast all over the world.
Akbar deplored the move to establish a multimillion-rupee mosque in Kerala to venerate the Prophet’s hair.
“The majority of Muslims in the state have opposed this plan as it goes totally against the Prophet’s teachings. Nobody has built a mosque before to keep the Prophet’s hair and nobody tried to do business using the holy hair. It will create a bad impression about Islam,” he said referring to the controversial project spearheaded by Kanthapuram Abubacker Musliyar.
