How old Muslim jokes can help build global humor harmony

[alienlovechild 75]

In the movie Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, Albert Brooks does a stand-up comedy routine in front of Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. No one laughs.

Muslim reader Wang Daiyou told me Mohammad himself showed playful wit. An elderly woman came to him with a request: "Pray to Allah for me, that I may enter heaven." Mohammad replied: "There will be no old women in heaven." She left the room in tears. Mohammad told his assistant to run to tell her the punchline: "Because old women will be made young again."

My own father, a serious Muslim, loved sharing the Nasruddin Tales, which are 12th century Islamic jokes. Here are three. 1) Nasruddin tells his wife: "I'm going to spend the day plowing and will be home for dinner." His wife responds: "You should never make a statement without adding Insha'Allah, if that is God's will." Ignoring her, Nasruddin sets off. He is struck by lightning, falls off a cliff, washed away by a flood, and carried away by a tornado. He crawls home on his hands and knees, and knocks on the door. His wife asks: "Who is it?" He replies, "Nasruddin, Insha'Allah."

2) Nasruddin falls asleep under a tree and misses an appointment with the mayor. When he gets home, he finds the mayor has scratched the words "IDIOT" on his door. Nasruddin races to the mayor's office and says: "Sorry, I forgot our appointment. Luckily, someone scratched your name on my door."

3) Nasruddin is guest of honor at a dinner. But when he turns up in casual clothes, his hosts tell him to come back in formal dress. Nasruddin returns in a suit and pours the soup onto his clothes. "Meet my jacket," he tells the guests. "It's the guest of honor."

One reader even sent me a modern Islamic joke: A man walking in New York's Central Park sees a rottweiler attacking a little girl. He subdues the dog and saves her life. A passing Fox News reporter says: "You're a hero. Tonight's TV news bulletin will say: `Brave New Yorker Saves Child."' The man replies: "I'm a tourist from Saudi Arabia." That night, Fox News says: "Islamic extremist kills New York dog."

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=15&art_id=93925&sid=26904104&con_type=1

[IndigoSkies 168]

Muslims have sense of humor. They are just not into defiling their God and Prophets. This has nothing to do with sense of humor.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Muslims have sense of humor. They are just not into defiling their God and Prophets. This has nothing to do with sense of humor.

Would you agree that a muslim who threatens violence over displaying their God, is in fact not a muslim at all?

[Peikko 1,575]

Muslims have sense of humor. They are just not into defiling their God and Prophets. This has nothing to do with sense of humor.

Well, yes it does. Satire is an entirely human creation - satire ONLY pokes fun at the frailties and idiosyncrasies of humanity which has nothing to do with defiling God. Satirists are not in the god business.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

[/b]

Well, yes it does. Satire is an entirely human creation - satire ONLY pokes fun at the frailties and idiosyncrasies of humanity which has nothing to do with defiling God. Satirists are not in the god business.

Also wasn't the original reason for not showing the Prophet about avoiding the promotion of idolatry? I definitely don't understand how a satirist's cartoon would promote that.

Edited May 21, 2010 by Sousuke

[peejay 327]

Would you agree that a muslim who threatens violence over displaying their God, is in fact not a muslim at all?

I see you got no response at all. That should answer your question.

[Jenn! 918]

I see you got no response at all. That should answer your question.

Oh so what you're saying is that muslims are violent. Clever, bravo.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Oh so what you're saying is that muslims are violent. Clever, bravo.

That's your interpretation? Wow... just wow.

[Jenn! 918]

That's your interpretation? Wow... just wow.

My bad. I'm sure he meant something totally harmless, in fact probably complimentary towards muslims.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

My bad. I'm sure he meant something totally harmless, in fact probably complimentary towards muslims.

The reason I asked the question above of indigo is because I often hear muslims in these situations condemning the cartoonist but I rarely hear them condemn the violence. This does lead me to believe that they hold the opinion that such actions as reasonable for the situation.

I wanted her to condemn the violence to put my mind at ease and frankly sway my opinion.

[sandinista! 1,816]

[/b]

Well, yes it does. Satire is an entirely human creation - satire ONLY pokes fun at the frailties and idiosyncrasies of humanity which has nothing to do with defiling God. Satirists are not in the god business.

there are people out there who think rape jokes are funny. people out there who think jokes about beating up women are funny. there are even people out there who think nazi/holocaust jokes are funny, i hear. i suspect though, that you wouldn't find that shite funny. does that mean you just "don't get" satire? it's not like they're defiling rape victims, or women, or nazi victims, right? i mean, those jokes are just about humor, right?

[sandinista! 1,816]

The reason I asked the question above of indigo is because I often hear muslims in these situations condemning the cartoonist but I rarely hear them condemn the violence. This does lead me to believe that they hold the opinion that such actions as reasonable for the situation.

I wanted her to condemn the violence to put my mind at ease and frankly sway my opinion.

you don't hear any muslim condemnation of the violence? i can't stumble over an islam-centric blog these days, written by muslims, that isn't criticizing the violence and ugliness. where are you looking? if i'm looking for clean water to drink, i don't limit my search to mud puddles and then complain that there's just no clean water out there.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100519.DC08054&show_article=1

or here,

"Let us pray for the cartoonists who see fit to insult our prophet, that they should understand our love for our prophet and that they should be guided to peace in their hearts rather than animosity for others. Let us pray for our fellow Muslims who react to prophet cartoons with anger or violence, that they should also find peace in their hearts rather than return hate with greater hate."

http://www.ahmedrehab.com/2010/05/draw-muhammad-day-its-not-about-rights-its-about-whats-right/

there are loads upon loads of more examples out there, for those who are looking.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

you don't hear any muslim condemnation of the violence? i can't stumble over an islam-centric blog these days, written by muslims, that isn't criticizing the violence and ugliness. where are you looking? if i'm looking for clean water to drink, i don't limit my search to mud puddles and then complain that there's just no clean water out there.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100519.DC08054&show_article=1

or here,

"Let us pray for the cartoonists who see fit to insult our prophet, that they should understand our love for our prophet and that they should be guided to peace in their hearts rather than animosity for others. Let us pray for our fellow Muslims who react to prophet cartoons with anger or violence, that they should also find peace in their hearts rather than return hate with greater hate."

http://www.ahmedrehab.com/2010/05/draw-muhammad-day-its-not-about-rights-its-about-whats-right/

there are loads upon loads of more examples out there, for those who are looking.

I was refering to this forum. You are actually that voice of reason I was wanting to hear.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Oh, and sandinista, do you agree with my earlier question, "Would you agree that a muslim who threatens violence over displaying their God, is in fact not a muslim at all?" ?

[sandinista! 1,816]

Oh, and sandinista, do you agree with my earlier question, "Would you agree that a muslim who threatens violence over displaying their God, is in fact not a muslim at all?" ?

i would certainly argue that their behaviour is counter to islam's teachings, and the examples we have from the prophet in dealing with far greater offenses than cartoons coming from some frigid, boring little country in northern europe, or an american cartoon that hasn't been funny or creative for at least 10 years, and quite frankly shocked me to hear that this ####### was still on tv. (especially when shows like arrested development get the axe. southland too, damnit.) "ex-communication" is not something i am in a position to do, religiously,it's a complicated affair, and i don't have the right to declare it. but i can and do denounce repugnant, un-islamic responses to vicious bigotry. both gross me out.