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Let’s build a bridge over troubled waters

Good memories of that country are fresh in my mind till now. I still remember how the Danish Students Union rushed to our help (I and four other students from different parts of the world) when the police department ordered us to leave the country as our visit visas expired. Now, the Student Union called its members for an urgent conference to discuss our case and came out with a decision to fight for our cause, since we were all legally enrolled at the university. First, they contacted the police to solve the matter amicably, but when the police refused, they brought the matter up to the Press. The newspapers ran out the story extensively for a whole week, mentioning how many female students volunteered even to marry these students (I and others) on a proforma marriage basis, in order to enable us to remain in the country, according to the Danish law of Immigration. If I’m not mistaken, the matter was later brought before the parliament. But I decided to leave Denmark after all, because I do not like troubles. Most Arabs do not like troubles. We are truly a peace- loving people, endowed with the virtue of patience, but we tend to defend ourselves when we are occupied by a foreign army or when our most sacred symbols are attacked, simply because we have a great respect for other creeds and prophets.

During the time I spent in Denmark, I discovered many good qualities about the Danes. I came to know that they are honest, hospitable, very kind, simple and straightforward people. I touched in them a genuine desire to know about other cultures. They always opened their hearts and minds to new ideas, never being antagonistic to alien beliefs or creeds. Their open-heartedness and open-mindedness enabled them to accept, with respect, other cultures and faiths. I, a Palestinian Arab, had never been looked down upon or ill-treated in that lovely country. Therefore, I was really shocked to know that Jyllands-Posten ridiculed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). All I can say in this regard is that this is really not Danish. I understand the anger that swept the Islamic world because the personality of the Prophet is extremely beloved and revered by every Muslim. Still, I do not approve of the burning of embassies or of any other violent acts. This matter should be resolved through a constructive dialogue between cultures. I do not agree with Samuel Huntington’s or Bernard Lewis's call for ‘Clash of Civilisations’ either.

These cartoons show ignorance on the part of the cartoonist of the real personality of the Prophet, because if he read about him or if he knew who he really was, he would have never ridiculed him or said anything bad about him. He does not seem to know that a great Danish thinker by the name of Filip Van Dehren, (1847-1913) born in Odense, who was a noted Danish historian and Orientalist spoke, with respect, of the Prophet. Sinersten, the Swede, born in 1866, did the same and so did Gustav Ill of Sweden (1746-1792) who fought Russia and spread in Sweden the principles of the French revolution. He spoke well of the Prophet. He said in his book ‘Islam in Hijaz’. “The basis of Islamic religion is very simple, that is: there is no God but Allah (pure monotheism). Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the one who brought forth this truth. Nothing in this truth clashes with or contradicts the present day knowledge; therefore this religion deserves to be followed.”

If you do not believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a Prophet, you are free to believe what you want because the Holy Quran tells us “There is no compulsion in religion,” but, at least, you could have respected him for his achievements as a great reformist, as a personality who stands behind a great civilisation, namely the Islamic civilisation.

At one point in history, the Arabs and Scandinavians came in touch with each other. Read the letter of lbn Fadlan or the history of Edgar, the Viking King of Sicily. I am a vehement supporter of dialogue between civilisations. To this end, I and my co-author Dr Wafaa AI Chaer have just finished writing a book in English entitled ‘Islam: A Continuation of Judaism and Christianity’. We planned to publish it in the United States or Great Britain, but now we would like to publish it in Denmark. It is a good opportunity to let the Danish people know more about Islam and its link with Judaism and Christianity. The book includes a chapter about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). You can help me in this endeavour which will be a good sign on your part to counter the effects of the cartoons which put the Arabs and Islamic worlds on the other edge of the sword with Denmark for the first time in their history.

Daoud Tahboub is a Dubai based writer. He also sent this as an opinion piece to Jyllands-Posten.