Anyone who watches the simpsons knows that they mock almost all religions. But they stay very clear of mocking Islam. Alot of people, both Muslims and non-muslims have asked the question: why not mock Islam too. The author of “The Gospel according to the Simpsons.” (a book I own) guesses that it is because the writers that are represented on the staff poke fun of each other and at themselves. And that possibly there is no Muslim on staff. Some others speculate that the reason is because Muslims can’t take a joke thus they need to tip toed around. They often cite rioting due to the publishing of the cartoons attempting to demonize Muhammad as proof.

I tried to post my theory on someones blog but their authentication system was messed up so I’ll just share what I wante to say here:I’m a Muslim… and I think I can shed some light as to why the Muslim world can’t handle a joke about Islam. First of all you have to understand that the Satire that is used in the West is part of Western culture and has its roots in western thought and philosophy. The East (or the other side of the world), esp the Muslim world does not take raunchy, balsphemous, and other topics lightly. Aside from being sinful this kind of humor is corrosive to all moral sensibilities.The Danish Cartoons were seen as a direct assault on prophet Muhammad and by extension on Islam. Muslims do not like how Jesus (also a prophet of islam) is mocked in the west. We believe the prophets were chosen by God and were the best of mankind so out of respect we would never mock them. This includes Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad and many others.In the west I think we have become very desensitized. We ought to learn about the world beyond our hemisphere and treat others as human beings who have differing cultures and attitudes from us. (I say this as a simpsons watching American Muslim). I’d also like to think that Islam as a religion isnt made fun of on the simpsons, because there is nothing to make fun of But I do think Muslims would not mind if the cultural issues regarding Muslims are made fun of… but not when it comes to the religion itself. There are Muslim comedians you know, and they do poke fun of the Muslim community (but not of islam itself).

There are some nutty Muslims out there who think that the Simpsons is
an evil cartoon which was made to corrupt society. They always make
mention of Matt Groening being an anarchist. That does not prove
anything. If anything it makes him that much better at social
commentary because he sees the flaws in the system and in society.
Secondly they quote some things homer has said in the past: For example
One time Homer was in trouble so he pleaded for his life by saying
“Jesus, Allah, Buddha!”. Now some took offence to that. Why be offended
hes showing something very true. Someone who is otherwise irreligious
when put in a life threatening situation calls out to God. This shows
man’s natural inclination to seek the divine. If that message is not
Islamicly compatible then I don’t know what is. In another episode
Homer was training to become a body guard and this conversation
transpired: Bodyguard
coach: “As a personal
bodyguard, your only loyalty is to your protectee, not
anything else, not even Muhammed”. Homer: “Not even during Ramadan?”. I
think that was hilarious! Again Muslims take offence, but they are
missing the point.. they are showing that Muslims give loyalty to
Muhammad (S), always without question. While Christians are not so
solid in their loyalty to Jesus (they won’t defend him when he is
mocked or parodied). So the fact is that Muslims would not agree to
leave their loyalty to Muhammad for a second, while a Christian does
things seasonally thus the usage of the word Ramadan.

Another problem that Muslims have with the simpsons is that Homer
drinks Duff beer, Bart is out of control is the modern day dennis the
menace. Some Islamic speakers have went out of thier way to say the
Simpsons teaches you to be immoral, wreckless, disrespectful. I must
say its quite the opposite. The simpsons shows you the harmful effects
of things like alcoholism, the result of having a lack of education,
and the consequences for all of these things. They dont want you to be
like homer, they want you not to be like him, because he’s a moron.
That’s why people laugh at his stupidity. So when Homer says that he
must be god (in stone cutters episode) that shows you how stupid he is.
Another thing is family relations, no matter what happens to thier
family they always manage to come back together and reconcile, only if
Muslim families were like that.

Ironically the simspons has come to the Arab World,
and is called al-Shamshoon. Not only has it been dubbed in Arabic, but
the characters have been arabized. Homer becomes Omar, and Bart becomes
Bader… And as said on the daily show and the simpsons becomes not
funny. ha!.

{mos_sb_discuss:6}

Filed under: Social Commentary