Anti-Islam Pamphlet Shocks Aussie Muslims?

By Rizwan Khatik - Tue Jan 03, 4:32 pm

The distribution of an offensive pamphlet depicting a Muslim man physically abusing a woman and a child and alleging that the practice is condoned by the Islamic teachings is sparking a storm of condemnations from Australian Muslims.

“We are sad about it, we don’t agree with the booklet or its logic,” Yusef Mansuri, the vice-president of the Islamic Society of the ACT, told Canberra Times on Tuesday, January 3.

“But that said, Australia is a democratic country and people are entitled to express themselves.”

Offensive pamphlets were distributed to homes throughout Queanbeyan during Christmas holidays.

The pamphlet, entitled Is Allah Like You?, depicts a Muslim man physically abusing a woman and a child and an Islamic elder condoning the violence as acceptable in his faith.

Drawn as comics, the story goes till the man converts to Christianity and learns the error of his ways.

The pamphlets were published by Chick Publications, a United States-based evangelical company.

Yet, it was not clear who distributed the pamphlets as several church groups in the town denied responsibility.

The word “beating” of wives is used in a verse of the Qur’an, but scholars maintain it does not mean “physical abuse”.

Scholars stressed that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) generally used to discourage his followers from taking even this measure.

There is no record of the Prophet striking one of his wives; rather, he would withdraw when angered.

In Islam, the marriage of a man and a woman is not merely a financial and physical arrangement of living together but a sacred contract, a gift of God, to lead a happy, enjoyable life.

onislam.net