MILLION - MAN PROTEST OVER ANTI-ISLAM FILM

CAIRO: Despite the growing fears among expatriate Egyptian Coptic Christians in the United States over the potential response by Muslims in Egypt toward the Christian minority, those in the country, especially the youth, are joining forces with their fellow Muslims in protests against an anti-Islam film.

On Friday morning, in view of smoldering vehicles and tear gas billowing from the ground, three young Christians covered their face as the gas moved ever closer.

“We will stand by our Muslim brothers in this troubled time. We are all Egyptians,” Farid, a 22-year-old university student and self-described Ultra, or an avid football fan among the many who have taken frontline positions in the current clashes in downtown Cairo, told Bikyamasr.com.

While the minority among the throngs of Muslims in downtown Cairo, they have a strong sense of belonging.

“As Christians, we should feel a responsibility to be here and help support Muslims who are being attacked because it appears to have been Christians and Egyptians who made the film. That is disgraceful,” he added. His two colleagues nodded in agreement.

“If we are disagreeing about other things that’s fine, but right now this violence by the security forces is unacceptable. It was a peaceful protest that was attacked that started this and now we are all needed,” he argued.

Path wrote:Every sane person should not allow this hate speech to occur.

CAIRO: Despite the growing fears among expatriate Egyptian Coptic Christians in the United States over the potential response by Muslims in Egypt toward the Christian minority, those in the country, especially the youth, are joining forces with their fellow Muslims in protests against an anti-Islam film.

On Friday morning, in view of smoldering vehicles and tear gas billowing from the ground, three young Christians covered their face as the gas moved ever closer.

“We will stand by our Muslim brothers in this troubled time. We are all Egyptians,” Farid, a 22-year-old university student and self-described Ultra, or an avid football fan among the many who have taken frontline positions in the current clashes in downtown Cairo, told Bikyamasr.com.

While the minority among the throngs of Muslims in downtown Cairo, they have a strong sense of belonging.

“As Christians, we should feel a responsibility to be here and help support Muslims who are being attacked because it appears to have been Christians and Egyptians who made the film. That is disgraceful,” he added. His two colleagues nodded in agreement.

“If we are disagreeing about other things that’s fine, but right now this violence by the security forces is unacceptable. It was a peaceful protest that was attacked that started this and now we are all needed,” he argued.

.

Sep 15, 4:16 AM EDT Anger for Islam ties players behind prophet film By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press

AP Photo/Nick Ut US Video googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('rectangle_body'); }); Latest News 4,300-year-old pyramid discovered in Egypt Women join fight against female circumcision Cheap electronics threaten Egyptian repairmen Egypt's Christians anxious, anticipate troubles Snark flies in US Embassy-Brotherhood Twitter spat Egypt's ex-PM convicted of corruption Mubarak's last PM referred to trial for corruption Hague pledges resolve of assets dispute with Egypt Buy AP Photo Reprints Multimedia Who Volunteers? A State-by-State Look Multimedia "Harry Potter" Quiz DUARTE, Calif. (AP) -- The shared belief that radical Islam threatens the world brought together an ex-convict, an insurance salesman and a Christian charity in production of a crudely crafted film that ridicules Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad and has incited violent protests across the Middle East. Media for Christ, a nonprofit that raised more than $1 million last year "to glow Jesus' light" to the world, was listed as the production company for the film. Steve Klein, a California insurance salesman and Vietnam War veteran who has spent years protesting at mosques and espousing hatred of radical Muslims, acted as the film's promoter. And Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who authorities say has used multiple names and was convicted of bank fraud, says he managed logistics for the film. Federal authorities have identified Nakoula as the key figure behind the film. A federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film. Most of "Innocence of Muslims" was shot in about two weeks inside a squat warehouse that serves as the offices of Media for Christ, according to Eric Moers, who served as chief electrician for the production. What prompted Media for Christ's involvement isn't known because the organizations' leaders have not spoken publicly. And much about the film remains a mystery, notably who financed it. Media for Christ, which produces a program called "The Way TV," reported spending nearly $650,000 on "TV recording production" in 2011. But the organization did not break down those costs so it's unclear if any of that money was spent on the film. The clumsily produced movie, which looks like a spoof, alternately portrays Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a child molester. Despite its poor production value, the film would have cost at least tens of thousands of dollars to make because of the equipment used and the professional actors and stage hands who were hired. The permit, issued by Film LA, could have cost under $1,000 though details aren't known because the document has been sealed at the request of federal law enforcement officials. Moers said the film took 15 to 16 days to shoot and 90 percent of the work was done at the Media for Christ studios. He said one day was spent at a movie ranch in Santa Clarita, and one day was spent filming at the home of the man he knew as Bacile. Most of the film was shot using a backdrop to simulate other locations. The crew members received sheets with the scenes each day - never a full script - and Moers said there was no mention of the word "Muhammad" throughout the filming. Other actors have come forward to say references to Muhammad were dubbed after the film was shot and they had no idea the film would be so denigrating. "I'd say this was the most unprofessional professional film I've worked on," said Moers, who estimated the cost of production at $100,000. "I don't think anyone took it seriously." He said he was paid with a check issued on the account of Abanob Basseley Nakoula, the 20-year-old son of the purported filmmaker. While Klein has granted a steady stream of interviews and is unapologetic for the film, Nakoula has disappeared since talking to an Associated Press reporter in his driveway Wednesday. And Media for Christ President Joseph N. Abdelmasih has not spoken publicly. Tax records for the charity do not identify any donors other than Abdelmasih, who lent the organization at least $30,000. He did not return phone messages and an email sent to the charity. Kamal Rizk, listed as vice president on federal records, did not return several phone messages. Abdelmasih, a Christian originally from Egypt, has spoken out against radical Islam and participated in a protest against a proposal to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center near the World Trade Center site. The Media for Christ offices are located just off a freeway and next to a mall with big-box stores in the quiet Los Angeles suburb of Duarte. There is no sign on the building identifying the nonprofit. City Manager Darrell George said Media for Christ held a valid business license since 2006 and no issues had ever come up, until authorities confirmed earlier this week that the group was listed on the film permit. One of Klein's platforms was a weekly show on Media for Christ's satellite network, the Los Angeles Times reported. Klein has a long history of anti-Muslim activities. He founded Courageous Christians United, which conducts protests outside abortion clinics, Mormon temples and mosques. He also started Concerned Citizens for the First Amendment, which preaches against Muslims and publishes volumes of anti-Muslim propaganda that Klein distributes. The Southern Poverty Law Center says they have been tracking Klein for several years and have labeled two of the organizations he is affiliated with as hate groups. --- Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles and Gillian Flaccus in Cerritos, Calif., contributed to this report. © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Panda wrote:AnnaEsse,

Many of us condemn certain aspects of the Islamic religion. Millions travel to Mecca every year to worship Mohammed yet

these same people are capable of the most barbaric punishments for a crime committed, which we "Christians" abhor.

God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child. God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.

They sometimes even call the Muslims ‘Muhammadans’ in a derogatory way. This claim however is untrue, and has no foundation at all. Muslims love the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), respect, and honor him. Yet this does not amount to worship, shall we say that just because we love our family, and that we shall defend their rights and honor means that we worship them?

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) even taught the Muslims to not over-praise him:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 654:

Narrated 'Umar: I heard the Prophet saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."

Here the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) explicitly teaches the Muslims to not over-praise him, and he gets very specific by what he means, he says that we should not over praise him as the Christians do with Jesus. As we all know many Christians worship and revere Jesus, they believe he is God, and that he is the one in whom their salvation lies.

This narration of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would be enough to end the false claim that Muslims worship Muhammad (pbuh), and/or are taught to.

We read another narration this time from the Caliph Abu Bakr, before quoting the narration it must be known that Abu Bakr was the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) right hand man, he became the leader of the Muslim nation after the Prophet's death. Logically if Muslims worship Muhammad (pbuh) then we would find that his right hand man, and one of his closest companions to be worshipping him, yet instead we see this:

Whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad? Muhammad is dead. But whoever worshipped Allah? Allah is alive and will never die.

After uttering this statement Abu Bakr then recited the following passage from the Noble Quran:

003.144 
: Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then Turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude.

Here we have the explicit proof that Muslims don't worship the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and on top of this we see we are not taught to worship him, rather we are to worship Allah.

So let us summarize what we have so far:

-The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught us not to over-praise him

-Abu Bakr the prophet's right hand man did not worship the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), rather he called for the exact opposite

-The Quran teaches us to not worship Muhammad (pbuh), but to worship Allah

With that said, let us now look at the passages in the Quran that explicitly teach us to worship Allah alone, not worship Allah and Muhammad (pbuh):

003.051 
"'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"

072.018 
"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah

011.123 
To Allah do belong the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him goeth back every affair (for decision): then worship Him, and put thy trust in Him: and thy Lord is not unmindful of aught that ye do.

006.088 
This is the guidance of Allah: He giveth that guidance to whom He pleaseth, of His worshippers. If they were to join other gods with Him, all that they did would be vain for them.

002.116 
They say: "Allah hath begotten a son" :Glory be to Him.-Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders worship to Him.

020.014 
"Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.

003.064 
Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).

018.110 Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.

Many more verses could be added, but the point is clear, Allah in the Quran teaches us to worship him alone, and to not join any partners with him.

If any critic wants to persist in claiming we worship the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), then I set forth these challenges:

-Show a single Quranic passage that commands Muslims to worship Muhammad (pbuh)

-Show a single hadith that commands Muslims to worship Muhammad (pbuh)

-Show any companion that worshiped the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with the consensus of the other companions (pbuh)

It shouldn’t be so hard right? After all, if your making a claim, you should be able to back it up.

And Allah Knows Best!