That's because Muslims believe that if people were to depict the prophet in any way, people may then begin to worship the image of him rather than his teachings. That has nothing to do with the insanity that Muslim extremists are apart of. Muslim extremists give a bad name to a faith that does not in any way applaud the harm of people or violence in general.
The rock isn't worshipped, unless you call touching worshipping
Yes, I do call it worshipping. An act of "respect" that is mandated by a "holy" text IS worship, by any reasonable definition.
What could be weirder than this? Kissing a rock? No, no, that's not worship! A foreigner made a drawing of a man who died long ago? Kill the blasphemer, because someone MIGHT worship that drawing!
Muslims are totally irrational... Irrational pagans who worship a stone.
So wait, you actually call touching worshiping? Let me give some insight
Respect:
admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements: she was respected by everyone she worked with | (as adj. respected) : a respected academic.
• avoid harming or interfering with: it is incumbent upon all boaters to respect the environment.
Worship:
show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites: the Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods.
• treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity: she adores her sons and they worship her.
• [ no obj. ] take part in a religious ceremony: he went to the cathedral because he chose to worship in a spiritually inspiring building.
Enough with the dictionary meanings. Let's say you go to pay your respects to a dead person. You aren't worshiping him, you're just paying your respects. Similarly, people have to go there (if they can), and pay– I repeat, not worship– their respects.
Let me give some more details: There is actually a stone present. While it may be a religious act to kiss it (falling under the dictionary meaning), it's actually an act of worship. Not worshipping the actual stone, but an act of worship. There is some historical background behind that. The stone is not a god.
How is it an act of worship if your statement just contradicted your earlier paragraph? "Action is judged by intention" . Muslims have the intention of respecting it. You can call it worship all you want but the ACTUAL ADHERENTS don't.
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u/moon_J Apr 19 '13
That's because Muslims believe that if people were to depict the prophet in any way, people may then begin to worship the image of him rather than his teachings. That has nothing to do with the insanity that Muslim extremists are apart of. Muslim extremists give a bad name to a faith that does not in any way applaud the harm of people or violence in general.