If you’re looking at Islam through Northern Nigeria you’d most probably dislike Islam.

Muslims who support such violent or oppressive responses to blasphemy are missing two important points. One is that it is them, not the blasphemers, who are defaming Islam, by presenting it as an immature tradition that has little room for civilized discourse.

The second point is that their zealotry is not as religiously grounded as they think.

To see this, one must look at the Quran — the most fundamental and only undisputed source of Islam. Most notably, throughout all of its 6,236 verses....

it never tells Muslims to silence blasphemy with force. It tells them only to respond with dignity.

This appears in the Quranic verses that addressed the tensions between the earliest Muslims and other communities nearby. “....

....You are sure to hear much that is hurtful from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with God,” one such verse tells Muslims, only to add, “If you are steadfast and mindful of God, that is the best course.” [3:186]

Another Quranic verse holds up as model Muslims “those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace.’” [25:63] Yet another verse addresses the issue of mockery, telling Muslims that when they hear people who ridicule “God’s revelations,”....

....they should just “not sit with them.” [4:140]

However, as Islamic jurisprudence developed over the centuries, much was added to the spirit of the Quran, based often on dubious reports about the words and deeds of the prophet.

However, as Islamic jurisprudence developed over the centuries, much was added to the spirit of the Quran, based often on dubious reports about the words and deeds of the prophet. Blasphemy, in particular sabb al-rasul, or “insulting the prophet,” gradually became a capital crime

All Muslims of good faith should stand against the decision to sentence that musician to death for blasphemy...Also, they should tolerate those who really do blaspheme and at most “not sit with them,” as the Quran counsels.

They should walk away, saying, “Peace.”

Blasphemy laws don’t exist to protect God, they exist to protect the fragile ego of extremists and corrupt clerics.

Islam is truly a religion of peace, it’s just sad we have certain radicalized people with extremist mindset twisting the words of the holy book.

https://twitter.com/faruqbashar/status/1293175592972505092?s=21 for those asking me about Yemen, Pakistan e.t.c here you go https://twitter.com/faruqbashar/status/1293175592972505092