FOR anyone who loves Holy Prophet Muhammad( peace be upon him), this film is offensive, crude and extremely vulgar.

It has deeply hurt Canadian Muslims to know that there are people who can take such an evil advantage of our most cherished value of freedom of expression and opinion.

Equally then we must also acknowledge openly and clearly that the rage and violence being displayed on the streets in Muslim countries by some is not in accordance with our beloved Prophet’s teachings and practices.

The killing of a diplomat is in direct conflict with the principle of giving diplomats a safe passage, honourable audience and compassionate hospitality, as was the norm of Islamic states from time of the Prophet onwards.

Those who think that their attacks on US embassies are justified must look into the life of the Prophet and ask how did the Prophet respond to slurs, slander and physical attacks.

Have the Muslims of Pakistan forgotten Taif, and the Prophet’s supplication for those who taunted him, pelted him with stones and left him thirsty, bleeding and hurting?

Have they forgotten the general amnesty on the fall of Makkah? Have they forgotten the story of the woman who threw garbage on the Prophet and he still nursed her to health.

Feel sad. Yes, express your anger. Yes, march in protest. Yes, send letters of protest and disgust to the US administration. Yes, by all means, these are your rights under the freedom of expression.

But to resort to violence and hate in the name of the most honourable man who was given the title of ‘Mercy to the universes’, and to kill in the name of protecting Islam, a religion sent to teach humanity compassion, justice and equality of all of humanity, is an affront to our Prophet, our faith and to every Muslim.

We cannot silence every bigot or hate-monger but we can show with our patience and our reaction that Islam cannot be hurt with name calling, or the Prophet maligned by slander.

Many have tried extinguishing the light of Islam through history and they have all failed. Our faith still flourishes and the life of our Prophet, his teachings and examples still inspire millions.

Let us not succumb to anger and violate the very principle our Prophet lived by.

SHAHINA SIDDIQUI Canada President/Executive Director Islamic Social Services Association Inc.-Canada Winnipeg Manitoba