Now this is my message to the West:

There exists a cultural vagueness in the West. This vagueness
results from the presence of two different concepts. The first is a great
Western concept that we respect, appraise, and need. That concept is
freedom of speech. This is a great humane and civilized concept. On the
other hand, there is the great Islamic concept of dignifying Allah’s
Messenger (SAWS). The problem arises due to the lack of understanding of
the Islamic Civilization and the Western Civilization regarding these
two concepts. The non-Muslims cannot value the rank of dignifying the
Prophet (SAWS). On the other hand, due to the below-average quality of
practical application of freedom of speech, Muslims have a vague
understanding of the concept of respecting freedom of speech.

Accordingly, what is required now? We do not want to refuse the
concept of freedom of speech, absolutely not. However, the West should
alter the freedom of speech so that it does not collide with the very
important Islamic value of dignifying the Prophet (SAWS). Here lies the
vagueness and ambiguity. The West understands very well the freedom of
speech (which we appreciate) but it does not understand Islamic values,
such as dignifying the Prophet (SAWS) and other Islamic sanctities.
This is where the Western cultural vagueness lies.

I clearly say to the West, you have a problem. You cannot comprehend
how much the Muslims love Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). You are still
unable to understand this point. If you had really encompassed its
significance, you would never have accepted what happened. The West, in
general, governments and people, does not apprehend that Allah’s Messenger
(SAWS) is dearer to us than our parents, dearer to me than my father and
dearer than my mother. I am sure that any Muslim woman listening to me
now, be her religious or not, will swear on that fact. Just ask, what
does Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) mean to you? It is not even necessary to
do that because it is so evident, but you may conduct surveys for
yourselves, and you will realize how true what I am saying is. Ask any
youth, be he heedless or pious; ask any Muslim anywhere, in Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Yemen or in Egypt. Ask any Muslim in any village regardless of
how religious he is, be he an obedient Muslim or not, a drug user or
not,
successful in his life or a failure, old or young, ask them, what does
Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) mean to you?

O West, I affirm that Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) is dearer to all
Muslims than their own parents. O West, Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) is dearer
to us, Muslims, than our children and grandchildren. O West, Allah’s
Messenger (SAWS) is dearer to us than our money, dearer to us than our
own selves. He is dearer to us than our own countries. O Egyptian, who
is dearer to you, Egypt or Allah’s Prophet? O Saudi, who is dearer to
you, Saudi Arabia or Allah’s Prophet? O Yemeni, O Moroccan, O
Algerian, who is dearer to you, your country or Allah’s Messenger (SAWS)? O
West, comprehend that meaning, Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) is dearer to
Muslims than their children and their own selves.

We can never forget the hadith that I repeatedly mentioned during the
episodes of “On the Path of the Beloved”. O West, listen to this
hadith[11] as it forms part of the sentimental make-up of the Islamic
personality:

“We were with the Prophet and he was holding the hand of Omar
Ibnul-Khattab. Omar said to him, ‘O Allah's Messenger! You are dearer to me
than everything except my own self.’ The Prophet said, ‘No, by Him in
Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer
to you than your own self.’ Then Omar said to him, ‘However, now, by
Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.’ The Prophet said, ‘Now, O
Omar, (now you are a believer).’”[12]

Being a true believer is conditioned with loving Prophet Muhammad
(SAWS) more than our own selves.

O West, this is our notion and this is our love for Prophet Muhammad
(SAWS).

I know that the West resists racism as they realize very well what it
means. I also know that they stand up against any anti-Semitic
assaults as they recognize the serious consequences of such acts. Yet, true
contradiction lies in respecting Semitism and resisting racialism on the
one hand, while humiliating the most valued figure for Muslims, the
Prophet (SAWS), on the other.

Six months ago, a famous journalist of the BBC attacked Arabs
describing them as a worthless nation. In spite of being a renowned figure
with a daily program in Britain, his slandering was rejected by the
British as racist and he was fired from the BBC. At that time, I was
preparing a program on family matters, and knowing that he had articles and
shows tackling this subject, I wanted to refer to them. To my surprise,
none of his works were available due to his intolerant views against
Arabs. There is no way to compare the Prophet (SAWS) to the Arabic
nation, as slandering them is of a diminutive nature when compared to
offending the Prophet (SAWS). My message to the West then is that freedom of
speech, which we indeed respect, honor, and actually need, should be
modified so that it does not clash with the highly revered Muslim value
of dignifying the Prophet (SAWS). The West respects monarchies,
Semitism, all races, and different ethnicities, and its respect to the Prophet
(SAWS) and to sacred Muslim values should be no less.

Thus, my message to the Muslim ummah is that we should not forsake
dignifying the Prophet (SAWS) under any circumstance. On the other hand,
my message to the West is that the value of freedom of speech should be
adapted to Muslim values.