There's an 'explosion' in the media over what happened to Shah Rukh at the Newark International Airport (link).
Some said it's not a big deal (Salman Khan: link) prompting me to wonder whether the supposedly hot-tempered actor has mellowed with age or because the incident happened to someone he doesn't care about, in which case I suggest he should just shut up and stop giving unnecessary comments on the matter. Some went overboard by giving irresponsible statements (Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni: link), which makes me go... huh, don't the airports in India frisk people at all?
Some American officials gave examples of how their high-ranking politicians submit to extra security measures without a fuss (link)... but see, those US politicians have nothing to worry about, do they? Since it's just routine checking to them and they know they'll never be detained for days or months or years in one of their own top-secret facilities without any justified reasons, the way us foreigners may be subjected to.
We can be flippant or overly serious about this issue since we're all still free to roam around in our respective countries, but even as we're saying all the above things, there are people who are currently unjustly detained on American soil who have no way to argue their cases and whose countries gave them up to the US authority without so much as a beep. Shah Rukh's case is being looked into because due to his global popularity he represents India whenever he's abroad. But there are thousands (millions?) of us who would be ignored just because we're nobodies.
Malaysia doesn't have too many Khans, but we do have 'bin' in our names for muslim men, which is also a cause of paranoia due to the US (and their allies e.g. Singapore, our next door neighbour) associating it with Ben Laden. Every time this sort of stupid generalization happens, it's almost always made and propagated by Americans, prompting me to mutter "Americans are so stupid" under my breath whenever I read about it on the net or newspapers.
I think this idiotic generalization comes about coz Americans don't get out of their country much. Probably they think their country is the center of the earth and all the evil little green muslim people are out to get them, much like scientists of yore think the earth was the center of the universe and all the evil little green aliens want to eradicate us earthlings.
I just want to point out to them that they've pretty much obliterated parts of some countries to oblivion (Vietnam, Japan, Iraq... to name a few) but American tourists can still happily go in and out of those countries as they please without a shred of prejudice manifested by extra frisking activities or secondary inspections from the local officials. Admit it... years of brainwashing from countless Hollywood movies have conditioned us to accept that Americans are the good guys, superheroes, world saviours, yada yada yada.. and anyone who goes against them are the bad guys, villains, terrorists, et cetera et cetera et cetera.
Needless to say, ol' US of A is the only country that's not on my visiting list.
How are we supposed to eliminate this prejudice? What a question to ask. I mean seriously... what can we do? We're the ones who're prejudiced against. Americans are the ones who should figure this one out instead of sitting there twiddling their thumbs, thinking, "We're so superior to these Third World occupants.. and oh look, they're also Islamic fundamentalists for frigging sakes.. what do they know?" and in the end, nothing gets done... as is usually the case.
I want to ask these people... what does 'fundamentalist' mean? The US is saying it as if it stands for 'terrorist' nowadays and anyone who opposes such a preposterous definition must be a 'fundamentalist' i.e. 'terrorist' too. Such a mind-numbing conclusion comes from a country that's supposedly the most advanced developed nation in the world. Go figure.
I also would like to suggest that the US authority encourage their people to get out of the country more, learn other languages beside US English, get to know other people's cultures, etc. so that the next time some passengers next to you are speaking excitedly about how beautiful your country is in Hindi you won't arrest them under suspicion of terrorism.
On the other hand, when you read comments like the ones here, you can understand what K means when he tells J that human thought is so primitive it's looked upon as an infectious disease by some 'better' galaxy dwellers.
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
This is going to be a long one. Skip it if you don't care...
Apparently this topic has generated enough interest to my lurking visitors that they're coming out of their dark, shadowy corners one by one to express their opinions.
I'm not trying to defend Shah Rukh or justify his actions or words. God knows I've done enough justification in my own dealings, I don't need to take up others' as well. But I think there's something unhealthy with the way the muslims in India and Pakistan have approached this issue.
I remember a case where one of our senior actresses had spouted a serious insult on television towards the Prophet's wife, Siti Khadijah. Malaysian muslims were in an uproar and the station was slammed with emails and angry comments.
A lot of us wrote in, including yours truly, and wanted her to be banned from appearing on that station in the future. She was clearly heard saying the words, a clip of it was even uploaded on youtube so viewers who missed the program could watch it.
But we didn't burn her effigies or her posters or magazines that carry her pictures. We didn't take to the street to protest her appearances in other shows or channels. After she gave a public apology, the Malaysian muslims sort of just leave her alone. Nobody harasses her with all manners of demeaning articles. She's an actress, not an Islamic scholar. If she's erred and has apologised, what more could we want? Her head on a platter broadcasted to the entire nation?
Maybe the muslims in India and Pakistan, in their adulation of Shah Rukh, have probably forgotten that he's risen to fame through his acting career. His antics in movie songs with his leading ladies are really steamy... but apparently that's okay. I cringe everytime he gives his opinion of what Islam is, and what his view on God is... but it seems no one there raises an eyebrow. Or what about when he acts as a Hindu character, Christian character, Sikh character... and proceeds to 'pray' at all the respective places of worship in several scenes of his movies? In RNBDJ, he even gave a show of prostration in front of the Golden Temple! But I didn't hear any uproar from the muslim communities in India and Pakistan over it. Which makes this explosive reaction towards a misprint of his interview rather incomprehensible to me. And I want to laugh when I read that they want to annul his marriage... now? After all these years?
This is completely my opinion on the matter. If you don't agree, you can comment and give your opinion. But if you're going to be anal and hysterical all over my post, I'll delete your comment. Your heated argument is not as important as you think it is, you know. The world will go on as selfishly as it has for thousands of years even if none of us knew your existence.
I've loved Shah Rukh since I caught him in KKHH. When I read up on him, I found out that his wife is a Hindu and that he's married her in a Hindu traditional wedding. Later I read that he's married her in an Islamic wedding as well (you have to understand that I come from a country where marriages between muslims and non-muslims are forbidden, and with good reasons too). But I sort of ignored that and continued to be obsessed with him. Then, I had the misfortune of watching Guddu and I was so appalled that I left his fandom.
Fast forward 8 years, and I'm older and wise enough to understand that life does not function the way I want it to. The world is messy because humans are messy. We know we should do certain things but we don't because we can't be bothered. We know certain things have to be approached in certain ways, but we blatantly ignore it because it's too fussy. We know certain laws are in place because it's good for the general population, but we break them coz it's more fun that way. We know certain things are taboo because it has been forbidden, but we do it anyway coz it makes us feel good. We justify a lot of things because the alternative is simply something we can't live with. We want, we need, we desire... and all else can take a backseat because it should happen to someone else. Not us.
Shah Rukh is the product of his environment, as much as he is the product of his own good sense. Were he to be born in Malaysia, he would have been a different person. Even if he were to be a successful actor here, his life would have been different. The person he is now, I have to say this with complete sincerity, would not have existed.
There're quite a few muslim actors in India, but the only one who has ever spoken publicly and very affectionately of Islam is Shah Rukh. Others just sort of sweep it under the carpet. It's just a 'thing' they're born with that they can't do anything about. He's the only actor who has professed to reading books on Islam because he wants to understand his religion better. The change from the angry son who raged at God for taking away his beloved mother from him to a willing and eager student of Islam is breathtaking. It should be appreciated, not chided.
In the course of his discourse about Islam-related matters, he may have said things he shouldn't because that was his understanding at the time. It's like a pupil who, in his eagerness to show how he has improved, gives answers that may not be exactly what the teacher wants. But are you a 'teacher'? Do you know more about Islam than he does? If you are as ignorant as the next person, who are you to sit infront of your TV monitor and judge him every time he speaks?
I remember the case of a Badwi who pissed in a mosque. When the Prophet's companions wanted to turn the guy out, he said to let the guy finish pissing first, and then proceeded to turn the unfortunate incident into an opportunity to teach his companions how to clean up the mess. If this incident were to happen in India or Pakistan during the current political climate, what would have happened? Would the guy be lynched by an angry mob and his castrated penis burnt as example for those who dare to piss in our places of worship? You want one of your own to respect the Prophet, but you seem to have no frigging clue of the spirit in which the Prophet had conveyed Islam to us.
Regarding his marriage to a Hindu, I'm not saying it's right. In fact, from my POV, it's not. But see, you can't punish an individual due to a fault in the system. India has placed a regulation allowing marriages between muslims and non-muslims to take place. I don't need to tell you this, but Shah Rukh is not the only actor who has married someone not of his faith. If the officials were to succeed in annulling his marriage and make his children illegitimate, they would then have to go one by one through the whole crowd to annul everyone else's, including the senior couples in the industry. And that's only in Bollywood. What about the ones outside the industry? This is a case that can't be won simply because of the sheer number of the people who have the potential to be involved. Shah Rukh may be too dignified to drag others' names into the muck just to state his case, but the names are there for the taking just the same.
This is the way I've approached the matter about Shah Rukh and Islam. Whenever he says something that makes me cringe, I continually remind myself that this is his INDIVIDUAL opinion. It is not an admonition, nor is it a call for other muslims to do/say/think the same. It is certainly not a fatwa. And there're plenty of times when he's gonna say the wrong things, not because he wants to be insulting, but because he's simply made a mistake or because he understands certain things differently than I do. Or in fact, maybe because the approach in the mazhab he follows is different than mine. I was told there's a mazhab that allows the keeping of dogs in the household. I don't follow that mazhab, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go to the followers of that mazhab and tell them what they're doing is wrong.
And people, no matter how BIG Shah Rukh is over there... please bear in mind that he is an actor. Not a leader of the people. Not an Islamic scholar. And certainly not a spiritual adviser. He is probably the most brilliant public figure I've ever known, but he is not perfect. He does not have a 100% success rate in everything he does. Please allow him his apologies when he's made a mistake. He has already apologised over a mistake that he has NOT committed. It was a typing error by the magazine, and as such should NOT be laid at his door. I want him, as I'm sure we all do, alive and active for a very long time. And he's already so guarded in his interviews nowadays. Do you want him to shut up completely?
I read how much people in Pakistan love him, but I also heard that there'll be some sort of demonstration in Pakistan over this matter. It's the same thing in India. They love him, and yet there're all sorts of effigy-burning activities going on there as well. Naturally, as an outsider... I'm confused. These people need to know that their publicity stunts also did a lot of damage to their image, not just giving them their coveted 15-minutes of fame. Shah Rukh maybe Indian by birth, but he is also ours. We have the right to love him too and be angry whenever he's unjustly subjected by his own people to violent treatments that he does not deserve over a mistake that he did not do.
I can't control a raging mob who's bent on defending a cause that does not need defending. All I can say is, don't try to mask your ignorance and inadequacy with violence. Islam shines through our knowledge and taqwa, not through the flares of our unadulterated anger. Shah Rukh has also given a new interview that touched on topics of controversies, and as a person who experiences the other side of the spectrum on a daily basis, the things he said are always as phenomenally logical as only he can say them.
I'm not trying to defend Shah Rukh or justify his actions or words. God knows I've done enough justification in my own dealings, I don't need to take up others' as well. But I think there's something unhealthy with the way the muslims in India and Pakistan have approached this issue.
I remember a case where one of our senior actresses had spouted a serious insult on television towards the Prophet's wife, Siti Khadijah. Malaysian muslims were in an uproar and the station was slammed with emails and angry comments.
A lot of us wrote in, including yours truly, and wanted her to be banned from appearing on that station in the future. She was clearly heard saying the words, a clip of it was even uploaded on youtube so viewers who missed the program could watch it.
But we didn't burn her effigies or her posters or magazines that carry her pictures. We didn't take to the street to protest her appearances in other shows or channels. After she gave a public apology, the Malaysian muslims sort of just leave her alone. Nobody harasses her with all manners of demeaning articles. She's an actress, not an Islamic scholar. If she's erred and has apologised, what more could we want? Her head on a platter broadcasted to the entire nation?
Maybe the muslims in India and Pakistan, in their adulation of Shah Rukh, have probably forgotten that he's risen to fame through his acting career. His antics in movie songs with his leading ladies are really steamy... but apparently that's okay. I cringe everytime he gives his opinion of what Islam is, and what his view on God is... but it seems no one there raises an eyebrow. Or what about when he acts as a Hindu character, Christian character, Sikh character... and proceeds to 'pray' at all the respective places of worship in several scenes of his movies? In RNBDJ, he even gave a show of prostration in front of the Golden Temple! But I didn't hear any uproar from the muslim communities in India and Pakistan over it. Which makes this explosive reaction towards a misprint of his interview rather incomprehensible to me. And I want to laugh when I read that they want to annul his marriage... now? After all these years?
This is completely my opinion on the matter. If you don't agree, you can comment and give your opinion. But if you're going to be anal and hysterical all over my post, I'll delete your comment. Your heated argument is not as important as you think it is, you know. The world will go on as selfishly as it has for thousands of years even if none of us knew your existence.
I've loved Shah Rukh since I caught him in KKHH. When I read up on him, I found out that his wife is a Hindu and that he's married her in a Hindu traditional wedding. Later I read that he's married her in an Islamic wedding as well (you have to understand that I come from a country where marriages between muslims and non-muslims are forbidden, and with good reasons too). But I sort of ignored that and continued to be obsessed with him. Then, I had the misfortune of watching Guddu and I was so appalled that I left his fandom.
Fast forward 8 years, and I'm older and wise enough to understand that life does not function the way I want it to. The world is messy because humans are messy. We know we should do certain things but we don't because we can't be bothered. We know certain things have to be approached in certain ways, but we blatantly ignore it because it's too fussy. We know certain laws are in place because it's good for the general population, but we break them coz it's more fun that way. We know certain things are taboo because it has been forbidden, but we do it anyway coz it makes us feel good. We justify a lot of things because the alternative is simply something we can't live with. We want, we need, we desire... and all else can take a backseat because it should happen to someone else. Not us.
Shah Rukh is the product of his environment, as much as he is the product of his own good sense. Were he to be born in Malaysia, he would have been a different person. Even if he were to be a successful actor here, his life would have been different. The person he is now, I have to say this with complete sincerity, would not have existed.
There're quite a few muslim actors in India, but the only one who has ever spoken publicly and very affectionately of Islam is Shah Rukh. Others just sort of sweep it under the carpet. It's just a 'thing' they're born with that they can't do anything about. He's the only actor who has professed to reading books on Islam because he wants to understand his religion better. The change from the angry son who raged at God for taking away his beloved mother from him to a willing and eager student of Islam is breathtaking. It should be appreciated, not chided.
In the course of his discourse about Islam-related matters, he may have said things he shouldn't because that was his understanding at the time. It's like a pupil who, in his eagerness to show how he has improved, gives answers that may not be exactly what the teacher wants. But are you a 'teacher'? Do you know more about Islam than he does? If you are as ignorant as the next person, who are you to sit infront of your TV monitor and judge him every time he speaks?
I remember the case of a Badwi who pissed in a mosque. When the Prophet's companions wanted to turn the guy out, he said to let the guy finish pissing first, and then proceeded to turn the unfortunate incident into an opportunity to teach his companions how to clean up the mess. If this incident were to happen in India or Pakistan during the current political climate, what would have happened? Would the guy be lynched by an angry mob and his castrated penis burnt as example for those who dare to piss in our places of worship? You want one of your own to respect the Prophet, but you seem to have no frigging clue of the spirit in which the Prophet had conveyed Islam to us.
Regarding his marriage to a Hindu, I'm not saying it's right. In fact, from my POV, it's not. But see, you can't punish an individual due to a fault in the system. India has placed a regulation allowing marriages between muslims and non-muslims to take place. I don't need to tell you this, but Shah Rukh is not the only actor who has married someone not of his faith. If the officials were to succeed in annulling his marriage and make his children illegitimate, they would then have to go one by one through the whole crowd to annul everyone else's, including the senior couples in the industry. And that's only in Bollywood. What about the ones outside the industry? This is a case that can't be won simply because of the sheer number of the people who have the potential to be involved. Shah Rukh may be too dignified to drag others' names into the muck just to state his case, but the names are there for the taking just the same.
This is the way I've approached the matter about Shah Rukh and Islam. Whenever he says something that makes me cringe, I continually remind myself that this is his INDIVIDUAL opinion. It is not an admonition, nor is it a call for other muslims to do/say/think the same. It is certainly not a fatwa. And there're plenty of times when he's gonna say the wrong things, not because he wants to be insulting, but because he's simply made a mistake or because he understands certain things differently than I do. Or in fact, maybe because the approach in the mazhab he follows is different than mine. I was told there's a mazhab that allows the keeping of dogs in the household. I don't follow that mazhab, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go to the followers of that mazhab and tell them what they're doing is wrong.
And people, no matter how BIG Shah Rukh is over there... please bear in mind that he is an actor. Not a leader of the people. Not an Islamic scholar. And certainly not a spiritual adviser. He is probably the most brilliant public figure I've ever known, but he is not perfect. He does not have a 100% success rate in everything he does. Please allow him his apologies when he's made a mistake. He has already apologised over a mistake that he has NOT committed. It was a typing error by the magazine, and as such should NOT be laid at his door. I want him, as I'm sure we all do, alive and active for a very long time. And he's already so guarded in his interviews nowadays. Do you want him to shut up completely?
I read how much people in Pakistan love him, but I also heard that there'll be some sort of demonstration in Pakistan over this matter. It's the same thing in India. They love him, and yet there're all sorts of effigy-burning activities going on there as well. Naturally, as an outsider... I'm confused. These people need to know that their publicity stunts also did a lot of damage to their image, not just giving them their coveted 15-minutes of fame. Shah Rukh maybe Indian by birth, but he is also ours. We have the right to love him too and be angry whenever he's unjustly subjected by his own people to violent treatments that he does not deserve over a mistake that he did not do.
I can't control a raging mob who's bent on defending a cause that does not need defending. All I can say is, don't try to mask your ignorance and inadequacy with violence. Islam shines through our knowledge and taqwa, not through the flares of our unadulterated anger. Shah Rukh has also given a new interview that touched on topics of controversies, and as a person who experiences the other side of the spectrum on a daily basis, the things he said are always as phenomenally logical as only he can say them.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Just musing...
Maybe the non-muslim fans of Shah Rukh are angry too regarding the fatwa issued against him that refers to him as kafir (i.e. non-muslim). All I can say is, please refrain from commenting about something you understand nothing about. The more you comment, no matter that it was written in good intention, you will definitely insult the muslim fans with your remarks, whatever it is. And no matter how you try to justify your remarks later or apologise, the damage has already been done. "Silence is golden" is really a true and tested adage in this case.
See, I know nothing about Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and other religions of this world other than what I saw of the followers, what I read in books/magazines/papers, and what the followers of those religions told me themselves. I have my own opinion regarding those religions, which I will never in a million years make public or even say to the respective followers. I don't follow their faith, nor do they follow mine. Knowing about other religions does not make you knowledgeable about it. You have to spend some time believing and following in their paths to have an inkling of what the religions are about. That's why I respect people who study religion in order to seek the light of truth, not to pass exams or just obeying their parents or, God forbid, studying it in order to manipulate/hide/overcome the teachings and spread lies and untruths.
To explain what a fatwa is, a simple definition does not suffice. I'm no Islamic scholar myself, and I hold fatwa issued by our religious leaders in high-esteem. But there are conditions that must be fulfilled in order for a fatwa to be issued, and in the opinions of the other Islamic scholars published in several papers (this is also my opinion), these conditions have not been fulfilled. Accusing another muslim of apostasy is a sinful thing to do, but apparently the accusers are so sure that they'll go to heaven and the other guy is going to hell to come out with such statement. We have such things happening in our country too. Fools exist everywhere on earth.
I don't understand what it is about Islam that evokes so much fear in the hearts of people, muslims and non-muslims alike. But I think the negativity surrounding Islam stems from ignorance, lethargy to learn, impatience to triumph, political milage and competition for power. Embracing Islam means leaving the world behind, but it also means governing the earth. Saying that finding a balance between the two is difficult is actually a gross understatement. Many things happen to us in the course of our lives that we justify a lot just to keep on going. Shah Rukh justifies a lot between his belief and his work/personal life, but I think it's no more than any of us would have done. Far from it for me to say that he's going to hell because he marries a Hindu or because he's an actor... I mean, I have no idea where I'm going myself even though I wear a veil and and don't drink alcohol/eat non-halal food and refrain from socializing freely with men and pray 5 times a day and fast during Ramadhan and save my money to go for Hajj. Everytime I watch a Hollywood movie where the characters die and 'go into the light' I find myself thinking... "boy, they have it easy".
So long as Shah Rukh declares that he is a muslim, then I see no reason why anyone would want to accuse him of not being one. I believe that God knows what's in our hearts. Let Him be the judge of our deeds and determine our final resting place.
P/S:
If you want to comment to my blog, at least please leave a name behind, if not a link, for a personal touch. I have this severe aversion towards reading comments signed by 'Anonymous'. I really don't like this 'Anonymous' guy/gal, whoever he/she is, and I hope I'll never have to run into him/her in my blog ever again.
See, I know nothing about Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and other religions of this world other than what I saw of the followers, what I read in books/magazines/papers, and what the followers of those religions told me themselves. I have my own opinion regarding those religions, which I will never in a million years make public or even say to the respective followers. I don't follow their faith, nor do they follow mine. Knowing about other religions does not make you knowledgeable about it. You have to spend some time believing and following in their paths to have an inkling of what the religions are about. That's why I respect people who study religion in order to seek the light of truth, not to pass exams or just obeying their parents or, God forbid, studying it in order to manipulate/hide/overcome the teachings and spread lies and untruths.
To explain what a fatwa is, a simple definition does not suffice. I'm no Islamic scholar myself, and I hold fatwa issued by our religious leaders in high-esteem. But there are conditions that must be fulfilled in order for a fatwa to be issued, and in the opinions of the other Islamic scholars published in several papers (this is also my opinion), these conditions have not been fulfilled. Accusing another muslim of apostasy is a sinful thing to do, but apparently the accusers are so sure that they'll go to heaven and the other guy is going to hell to come out with such statement. We have such things happening in our country too. Fools exist everywhere on earth.
I don't understand what it is about Islam that evokes so much fear in the hearts of people, muslims and non-muslims alike. But I think the negativity surrounding Islam stems from ignorance, lethargy to learn, impatience to triumph, political milage and competition for power. Embracing Islam means leaving the world behind, but it also means governing the earth. Saying that finding a balance between the two is difficult is actually a gross understatement. Many things happen to us in the course of our lives that we justify a lot just to keep on going. Shah Rukh justifies a lot between his belief and his work/personal life, but I think it's no more than any of us would have done. Far from it for me to say that he's going to hell because he marries a Hindu or because he's an actor... I mean, I have no idea where I'm going myself even though I wear a veil and and don't drink alcohol/eat non-halal food and refrain from socializing freely with men and pray 5 times a day and fast during Ramadhan and save my money to go for Hajj. Everytime I watch a Hollywood movie where the characters die and 'go into the light' I find myself thinking... "boy, they have it easy".
So long as Shah Rukh declares that he is a muslim, then I see no reason why anyone would want to accuse him of not being one. I believe that God knows what's in our hearts. Let Him be the judge of our deeds and determine our final resting place.
P/S:
If you want to comment to my blog, at least please leave a name behind, if not a link, for a personal touch. I have this severe aversion towards reading comments signed by 'Anonymous'. I really don't like this 'Anonymous' guy/gal, whoever he/she is, and I hope I'll never have to run into him/her in my blog ever again.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
uh oh... here we go again~
Have they even read the interview that contains the supposedly outraging religious sentiments? Here, I'm pasting it in my blog for your benefit:
According to you who is the most impressive figure in history?
There are lots of them, some negative ones like Hitler, then Napoleon,Winston Churchill and if I can call it history, then Prophet Mohammed and from recent time — Nelson Mandela. And there are the nice ones like Gandhiji and Mother Teresa.
This reminds me of his interview when he supposedly told Gavaskar to buy his own team, hmmm. IMO, to look at the reply above from Shah Rukh's POV, it has to be divided thus:
Now they're registering complaints againts SRK. I was so blah about it, I registered to Hindustan Times just to give this comment:
I find muslim religious groups in India incomprehensible. First, they threw flamming bottles at his house over some song lyrics they haven't even heard. Now they're registering complaints over a statement that I'm sure they haven't even bothered to read. Because if they've read it as I have, they'll find there's nothing 'outraging' about it. I should know because I'm a practicing muslim who pray 5 times a day and I'm not outraged. SRK gave a sensible answer to a question, and I have no idea how it suddenly became an “outraging religious sentiments”. I'd like to suggest to these publicity-hungry outfits, to find out first what in the world they're registering complaints about before embarrassing themselves infront of the whole world. Coz anything to do with SRK always finds itself in the front pages of international news.
What Shah Rukh has to say about it:
"Obviously, I think that there is no figure in history more important than Prophet Mohammad. Also being a Muslim and standing up for the tenets of Islam is my most important agenda.... and if they have seen my interviews, etc on TV about Islam, then the people who are objecting, should realise that what has appeared is a writing error not a thought or view that I believe in. Prophet Mohammad is the most important positive figure in Islam... and anyone who questions my view on that, is doing it for just creating a controversy." (Source)
EDIT:
I'm not sure why my blabbering, unimportant post is pasted in a pakistanidefence forum (yeah, I'm tracking your comings and goings) but if you're THAT interested in my puny worthless opinion, these are the follow-ups to it. It's sort of my reply to the comments pasted below and today is the last post I've written on this issue...
This is going to be a long one. Skip it if you don't care...
Well, I hope you guys are satisfied now...
According to you who is the most impressive figure in history?
There are lots of them, some negative ones like Hitler, then Napoleon,Winston Churchill and if I can call it history, then Prophet Mohammed and from recent time — Nelson Mandela. And there are the nice ones like Gandhiji and Mother Teresa.
This reminds me of his interview when he supposedly told Gavaskar to buy his own team, hmmm. IMO, to look at the reply above from Shah Rukh's POV, it has to be divided thus:
- Impressive leaders of nations - Hitler (negative); Napoleon and Winston Churchill (positive)
- Impressive historical figures in general - Prophet Mohammed (long ago), Nelson Mandela (recent)
- Historical figures who were not involved directly in determining the politics of their countries but are impressive because of their peaceful approach towards the people - Gandhiji, Mother Teresa
Now they're registering complaints againts SRK. I was so blah about it, I registered to Hindustan Times just to give this comment:
I find muslim religious groups in India incomprehensible. First, they threw flamming bottles at his house over some song lyrics they haven't even heard. Now they're registering complaints over a statement that I'm sure they haven't even bothered to read. Because if they've read it as I have, they'll find there's nothing 'outraging' about it. I should know because I'm a practicing muslim who pray 5 times a day and I'm not outraged. SRK gave a sensible answer to a question, and I have no idea how it suddenly became an “outraging religious sentiments”. I'd like to suggest to these publicity-hungry outfits, to find out first what in the world they're registering complaints about before embarrassing themselves infront of the whole world. Coz anything to do with SRK always finds itself in the front pages of international news.
What Shah Rukh has to say about it:
"Obviously, I think that there is no figure in history more important than Prophet Mohammad. Also being a Muslim and standing up for the tenets of Islam is my most important agenda.... and if they have seen my interviews, etc on TV about Islam, then the people who are objecting, should realise that what has appeared is a writing error not a thought or view that I believe in. Prophet Mohammad is the most important positive figure in Islam... and anyone who questions my view on that, is doing it for just creating a controversy." (Source)
EDIT:
I'm not sure why my blabbering, unimportant post is pasted in a pakistanidefence forum (yeah, I'm tracking your comings and goings) but if you're THAT interested in my puny worthless opinion, these are the follow-ups to it. It's sort of my reply to the comments pasted below and today is the last post I've written on this issue...
This is going to be a long one. Skip it if you don't care...
Well, I hope you guys are satisfied now...
I'm not interested to dissect a movie star on the subject of his faith and religious practices, coz seriously... that's such a ridiculous notion it's not even funny. If you want to have a role model whom you can look up to in terms of his strong adherence to the tenets of Islam, I suggest you turn away from the cinema halls and head towards the mosques/some religious institutions, coz usually that's where guys like that can be found... or else you're running a risk of being laughed off as hypocrites.
Shah Rukh makes his living romancing women on-screen, and to suddenly turn him into an ambassador of Islam is so... I can't even find the word to express my feelings about this bizarre concept. Maybe this sort of concept only finds acceptance in his subcontinent, so who am I to judge? I'm just an outsider who loves Shah Rukh Khan the actor. I know nothing about Shah Rukh Khan the person (what I got from his interviews is still his public persona so I essentially have no clue what he's like in real real life), nor am I so eager to know that I'm willing to stalk him 24-7 just to satisfy my curiosity. But hey, it's your life and you can spend it however you want to.
Signing off with love,
Ami
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