Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, accepted damages and an apology this week from World Entertainment News Network for a report that he would not speak with women due to his orthodox Muslim views.
The news agency ran a story in March 2007 that said that Islam was “so sexist and bigoted that he refused at an awards ceremony to speak to or even acknowledge any women who were not wearing a veil.” It further quoted his manager as saying “Mr. Islam doesn’t speak with women except his wife. Least of all if they don’t wear a headscarf. Things like that only happen via an intermediary.”‘
It was false and Islam has promised that most of the sizable damages will be donated to charity.
For the full story, click here.
This was a story about how some in the media slander and libel Muslims and how the Muslim in question was vindicated and donated his winnings to charity. Yet some whackjobs would use this story to further spread lies and propaganda against Muslims and Islam.
This really has nothing to do with religion, it’s all about the political and legal aspects of Islam and sharia law…which clearly discriminate against women and non-Muslims
Mespo,
Thanks for that Cat Stevens treat. I had forgotten about Father and Son and my favorite line, “from the moment I could talk, I was ordered to listen”. That reminds me of current situation with the Bush regime and free speech zones and being arrested at public speeched for wearing shirts of the other candidate. Great stuff and now that I have the link I will visit my old friend often. Maybe Martha H. could learn something from Cat Steven’s words. Maybe not.
Excellent earlier debate:
It is difficult to accept that the “Holy Prophet” Mohammed married Aisha when she was 6-years-old and consummated his marriage with her when she was 9. He was then, 54 years old.
Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3310:
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 64
Narrated ‘Aisha:
that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 65
Narrated ‘Aisha:
that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that ‘Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death).” what you know of the Quran (by heart)’
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 88
Narrated ‘Ursa:
The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with ‘Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
7 martha h
1, July 16, 2008 at 10:38 pm
It is difficult to accept that the “Holy Prophet” Mohammed married Aisha when she was 6-years-old and consummated his marriage with her when she was 9. He was then, 54 years old.
Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3310:
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 64
Narrated ‘Aisha:
that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 65
Narrated ‘Aisha:
that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that ‘Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death).” what you know of the Quran (by heart)’
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 88
Narrated ‘Ursa:
The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with ‘Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
8 Gyges
1, July 17, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Martha,
Not to beat a dead horse, prophet, or king but…
Didn’t King David send one of his most loyal soldiers to the front lines so that he would be killed and David could marry his wife?
Wasn’t the Prophet Elisha supposed to have had two teenagers mauled to death by bears for making fun of his baldness?
A bit more on point: Mary would probably have been around 13-14 when she had Jesus. Which means there’s a possibility that she and Joseph married when she was 12.
Most religions that I know of have parts of their scriptures that they tend to sweep under the rug. I actually think that this is a good thing. It means that most people aren’t dogmatic and inflexible. I think most people will agree that it’s the dogmatic (or fundamentalist) elements are the most likely to use religion as an excuse for violence.
9 Sad, but True
1, July 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I’m sure the moderate Muslims will very soon react to this with the same vigor that the radicals protested those Danish cartoons a while back. /snark
10 Cindy
1, July 18, 2008 at 11:50 am
Gyges, King David’s action was viewed not as exemplary, but as sin for which he suffered great judgment; Elisha only called forth for God (not humans) to deal w/the youth (I think 42 not 2 of them).
In any case, in Islam past and present, it is required to follow the example of Muhammad (i.e., the “Sunnah”), so his sex girls is officially sanctioned. Most of his other marriages were also disturbing for other reasons, particularly the one where he married a captive after forcing her to watch her husband and father tortured and killed. This is one problem presented by Shariah law — it cannot be separated from the Sunnah, and the Sunnah is ugly, very ugly.
11 Gyges
1, July 18, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Cindy,
I stand corrected, I got lazy and didn’t do my research. Thank you for pointing out my errors. I also probably could have used better examples (the David one in particular doesn’t really fit). However my point wasn’t about airing the Bible’s dirty laundry. If I had more then a passing knowledge of them I would have pointed out examples from the Hindu and Buddhist holy writings. I was simply pointing out that there are parts of the Bible that don’t get mentioned that much because they’re of an unsavory character, or don’t match up with modern views.
If the majority of Christians can ignore parts of their holy texts why can’t the majority of Muslims? I’m not saying they do I’m just saying that you should be open to the possibility that a large group of people in a religions might not obey every precept of their faith.
12 Ted Nuggent
1, July 19, 2008 at 12:39 am
GYGES: If the majority of Christians can ignore parts of their holy texts why can’t the majority of Muslims?
Ted: Or more to the point, SINCE Christians DO ignore parts of their holy texts, why DON’T the majority of Muslims?
What Gyges did above (way above) is a classic example of trying to show all religions as “equally bad” and “equally flawed”. But there is no comparing Islam to ANY other religious group today; the only way to compare the “crimes of Christianity” (or any other religion) to “the crimes of Islam” is to rewind for several centuries.
No, our Muslim friends down the street in the US of A aren’t letting lecherous fifty-somethings marry their teenage daughters. But they do it in Iran, and Iraq, and Saudi, and Oman, and Jordan, and Egypt, and Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and Afghanistan. THEIR “PROPHET” did it, and he is held up and the perfect example for all people, in all places, for all times. Meanwhile, the practice has been outlawed in “Christian” nations.
Here is why “Christian Civilization” has prospered, and progressed to the point that everywhere it has laid down roots, the results are freedom, democracy, and secular liberalism: because men like Martin Luther, Voltaire, Robspierre, Benjamin Franklin, Abe Lincoln, etc. etc. MADE it better by standing up against the church-state and helping the cause of freedom.
THe reason why there’s no Reformation afoot in Islam is because of the violent and swift response to would-be social reformers in Muslim nations.
… and, of course, good liberals in the West like Gyges, who do their best to excuse the evil, backward, caveman-culture that even NEEDS to debate the possibility of grown men marrying little girls.
ooops forgot “Oh Very Young.” How could I?
rafflaw:
Couldn’t agree more about Moonshadow, Peace Train, and my favorite, Wild World. Here’s a treat for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNxKnLmOH4
Art always wins out!
Cat Steven is one of my all time favorites. Moonshadow and Peace Train were large parts of my college years. I am glad that he was successful in his libel action. This is the same person who was denied a visa into the united states after having been in the White House on an earlier visit. The logic and sense of the Bush regime is sublime.
Updated Cat Stevens lyrics:
I’m being followed by an NSA letter…
Hard headed President…
Iraqmandu…
War train…
Ruble…
Bushapple gas…
On the road to hiding out…