Dubai: The UAE's Twitter community was up in arms over the weekend after a well-known Islamic scholar allegedly criticised the first Ummayad Caliph Muawiya Bin Abu Sufiyan, one of the companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Shaikh Ahmad Al Kubaisi, who hosts a popular weekly religious show, criticised Muawiya in respect to a historic event, the infamous battle between Muawiya's forces and the forces loyal to Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib, a cousin of the Prophet. Twitter users have appealed to the Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) to stop the show.
They accuse Al Kubaisi of insulting companions of the Prophet.
Opinions
In a statement issued yesterday, the DMI said that it welcomes all opinions in an objective manner to benefit the community and take into account the protection of its established beliefs and values.
The DMI added that it would like to clarify in this context that the speech of preacher Shaikh Ahmad Al Kubaisi on Friday, during the programme Okhar Motashabehat, which literally means similar themes but different purposes, aired on Dubai TV, "reflects his personal views and convictions, and did not reflect the opinion of the DMI or its attitude in this respect".
It added that the DMI insists on undiminished respect for the Prophet's family, all the Prophet's companions and all the Islamic symbols without diminution of any one of them.
