Articles
The following is an article about depictions of Muhammad throughout history, and different Islamic groups' opinions on the matter:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-12
The following is an article about why Muhammad depictions cause such an uproar:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30813742
The following is an article about how not being able to depict Muhammad infringes on free speech:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/01/15/what-we-lose-when-we-cant-depict-muhammad/ (free speech)
The following is an article on the attacks and depictions from the perspective of a Canadian imam:
http://o.canada.com/news/charlie-hebdo-depictions-of-prophet-muhammad-574875
The following is an article about depictions of Muhammad throughout history, and views on the subject from different Islamic groups over time:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/10/drawing-prophet-islam-muhammad-images
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-12
The following is an article about why Muhammad depictions cause such an uproar:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30813742
The following is an article about how not being able to depict Muhammad infringes on free speech:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/01/15/what-we-lose-when-we-cant-depict-muhammad/ (free speech)
The following is an article on the attacks and depictions from the perspective of a Canadian imam:
http://o.canada.com/news/charlie-hebdo-depictions-of-prophet-muhammad-574875
The following is an article about depictions of Muhammad throughout history, and views on the subject from different Islamic groups over time:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/10/drawing-prophet-islam-muhammad-images
Article Critique- Mohammad Mustafa Sajjad:
Why Islam prohibits images of Muhammad
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-12
![Picture](/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523179/4432218.jpg?411)
The article starts off with a large image of the Hagia Sophia, a museum located in Istanbul, Turkey. Hagia Sophia started off as a Greek Orthodox Church, having depictions of Jesus Christ, His mother and other Holy figures made inside the church. Later turning into a mosque, bold Islamic Calligraphy was made on the four corners of the roof of the mosque. The reason why the researcher has chosen to start off the article with the picture of the Hagia Sophia is because what's strange about the place is that neither the images of Jesus Christ were taken off, nor the Islamic Calligraphy, upon the final conversion of the place into a museum. The introduction of the article is to show how both the written representation and visual representation of a religion are equally effective in symbolizing the religion. The author is successful in a choosing a unique building in Turkey as an example to support his neutral perspective about the issue he is about to address. The idea of religious peace, unity and oneness, as shown within the Hagia Sophia as portraits of Jesus Christ hang alongside the name of Allah, the Muslim God. As many people would consider Islam as being very strict and violent about visual representation of Prophets, the author has provided proof of co-operation and consideration among two of the world’s major religions as shown within the museum today. Although showing his neutral perspective about the issue, the author uses the word “horror” to represent Islam’s perspective about Idols as provided within the text of the Quran. The reason for any religion to prohibit something is beyond the human perspective, however, in books of the Abrahamic religions, there is reason for almost anything prohibited for the humans. Using the word “horror” to represent the prohibition of something in a religion can be perceived as disrespect or disregard by the followers of that religion. In the last line of second paragraph, the author provides a direct quotation by Prophet Muhammad, showing dislike to visual representation of almost any living object. In regards to the quote, the author has failed to provide the appropriate citation of this Hadith. Like in everyday writing, a citation proves that the quote or saying is authentic, and the reader can follow the citation to get more information regarding the saying. On the other hand, displaying extensive research, the author then compares the two different groups within Islam, holding different perspectives about depictions. The Sunni’s, following the Quran directly, display more dislike or discomfort regarding the representations, whereas the Shias, display less dislike and more freedom regarding the depictions. The author then goes in detail with the issue of depictions within the Arab countries, and displays exceptional knowledge and awareness regarding the situation in these countries. The author ends the article with another reported action by the Holy Prophet, at the time of the conquest of Makkah, when he destroyed the idols set up in the Holy Place. However, the author incorporates the idea that the Holy Prophet reportedly allowed two idols to stay in the Kaaba, those of Jesus and Mary. Again, the author does not provide the source of this idea, whether it be a direct verse from the Holy Quran, or a reported Hadith by a reliable source. Without proper citation, any quotation or text is considered to be unauthentic and cannot be trusted fully. With Religion being a sensitive topic, small changes can make big differences, and therefore, citation of even little ideas or perspectives should be provided to ensure that the text is valid.
Article Critique- Tom Jacob:
What we lose when we can’t depict Muhammad
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/01/15/what-we-lose-when-we-cant-depict-muhammad/
The article in question has many strong points, as well as some weak points.
To begin with, Reza Aslan, a scholar of religions with a PhD in sociology, claims that the “loudest voices” are those which are most heard in situations like these. This means that people are not always getting a very good general understanding of the issue, which allows the terrorists to win-- as they claim depicting Muhammad to be a heinous crime. The article also shows how many individuals’ freedoms are encroached upon in the past. Individuals are scared to depict Muhammad, even those who do so out of piety, or are simply referring to the depictions from an academic perspective. Reza Aslan mentions that in 1976, a film called “The Message” which tells a story using Muhammad’s eyes as the perspective, so as not to show the prophet’s face (the film was not a disrespectful one). Despite this, a group of Muslims took offense and took 150 hostages in Washington, killing a reporter and shooting a DC council member. In addition, the article mentions how the Yale University Press published a book on individuals’ response to the cartoons, and other depictions of Muhammad-- yet they failed to include any depictions of Muhammad. Aslan offers a different perspective, in saying that by not including these images, an anti-Muslim sentiment is enforced-- once again, letting the extremists win.
The article may have some bias in that Reza Aslan himself is a Sufi Muslim (“Can Muslims Write About Christianity?”), who historically have had little problem with depictions of Muhammad (“The issue of depicting the Prophet Muhammad”). The author of the article also has no formal education in religion, and simply discusses subjects in vogue. According to her own biography on the site, she “blogs about popular culture.” Her articles range from television show reviews to racial-profiling. The article also fails to offer opinions besides that of Mr. Aslan’s, with Alyssa Rosenberg essentially serving as a medium for Reza Aslan’s views. This means that the other side of the argument is not shown, the side which states that depictions are inherently offensive and the reasons why.