Cii News, Pic: Nassr Nasser (AP) | 17 September 2012

The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS)said Muslims need to observe Islamic morals in dealing with cases such as the grotesque anti-Islam film that has gained worldwide infamy.

The five point document highlighted the greatness of the Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), criticised the film, Innocence of Muslims, called for legal action to be taken against the producers and for responsible protest action to be carried out.

The International Union for Muslim Scholars headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, was founded in 2004 and consists of a panel of high ranking Islamic scholars.

It is headed by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi and claims to represent Muslims around the world.

The statement notes that the film, “…will never affect the greatness of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) who – according to Almighty Allah’s witness – was of great moral character, “a mercy to the world” and an illuminating lamp.”

It also called the production a, “heinous provocative act, which fans the embers of bigotry and hatred among peoples.”

The Film was considered an insult that disregards the feelings of the Muslims all over the world.

The IUMS called on Muslim citizens in America and other countries to bring the creators of the film before court.

They also requested the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “to institute legal proceedings against those who insult the entire humanity through defaming the Messenger of mercy to the whole world.”

Ten people have been killed in violent riots across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia since Friday in protests at various western embassies.

The IUMS called upon the, “Muslims everywhere to observe Islamic morals in dealing with such cases, since [Allah says in the Qur'an] ‘And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another’ (Fatir 35; 18). Hence, it is impermissible to generalise or to punish the innocent for the sins of the guilty. Rather, they should change the “International Judge Muhammad Day” into an “International Know the Messenger Day”.

Cii’s resident Mufti, Abdool Kader Hoosen, said this is not the first time the character of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was attacked. It happened during, as well as, after his life.

“They want to extinguish the effulgence of Allah, but Allah tells us that the religion of Islam will spread to every part of the Earth…They fear the Islamisation of the West,” he said.

He added that hypocrisy exists in that those who have criticised the death of the US ambassador in the Libyan riots remained silent at issues like the torture of Guantanamo inmates or the murder of Afghan civilians as was the case on Sunday morning. Eight women and girls were killed while collecting firewood in Afghanistan’s Laghman province.