The Enigmatic Silence of the Majority of Muslims on Blasphemy

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 12 May 2023 Dr Martin Luther King once said in his speech, “In the end, we'll remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Representative Photo ----- Following the execution of two men in Iran for relinquishing Islam and spreading atheism, a US-based ex-Muslim scholar wrote that though the whole world is condemning the theocratic Iranian regime and criticising Islam for its idea of blasphemy, majority of Muslims across the world have kept mum on this issue. Agreed, for a Muslim, broaching this subject of blasphemy is tantamount to walking on eggshells, this measured silence on their part is also undesirable. I'm not criticising but the truth is before you to see. Dr Anburaj, Messrs Chari and Bajaj (all non-Muslims) chose to comment on blasphemy, but no Muslim said anything about it. Silence is often a tacit consent. At least, it's construed as a consent and complicity in an insidious crime. Public memory is very short and it often lacks tenacity. So, let me remind you of yet another execution for blasphemy that too happened in Iran, an execution-happy country. The Norway-based group, Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported that an Iranian was executed in 2013 for questioning the Koran's narrative on the life of the prophet Jonah in the belly of a whale! The western world condemned. Salman Rushdie, Anthony Grayling and others slammed Iran. But Muslim intelligentsia chose to remain silent. Why? Because, Muslims, even the 'educated' ones, believe that whatever nonsense is enshrined in 6, 234 verses of the Quran is infallibly and unquestionably true. The same episode of the prophet in the fish-belly is there in the Bible. But only the morons among them believe in it. Most of the Christians laugh and scoff at this. But, Muslims will not call it a fib because the Quran states it! Ergo, no Muslim will openly condemn executions for questioning the Koran, Muhammad and Allah. Muslims across the world must raise their voice in unison against blasphemy, stand in solidarity with those persecuted by Islam and other faiths and demand that the Quran be edited immediately to get rid of the bunkum it's rife with. Not just Islam but any religion, which is anti-humanity and an antithesis to reason and basic human intelligence, must be extirpated along with its paraphernalia. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/silence-majority-muslims-blasphemy/d/129760 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism