I don’t see how any Muslim with the slightest bit of self respect or pride in their religion could go watch ‘The Dictator’.

Some might say, well I heard it’s really funny. What is a laugh worth though? I would be too afraid that somewhere in a hilarious part of the movie, one of the characters screams out “Allahu Akbar!” and as the theatre shakes with laughter (laughing with, or laughing at?), that I be affected by the ayah,

And if you ask them, they will surely say, “We were only conversing and playing.” Say, “Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?” Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals. (Taubah 65-66)

Some might say, the movie is making fun of dictators of the Middle East, not necessarily Muslims. Do you honestly think that the average American knows the difference between a Baathist, Shi’I, Sunni, Sufi, Salafi or any of the political or religious divisions of the Middle East? As far as the average attendant of this movie, they’re all Muslim, and they gave the Dictator a big beard just to make sure they don’t get confused.

It’s said about Abul Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi that if he had an adversary that was intelligent, he would insult him in his poems using indirect and beautiful subtleties. If his adversary was not intelligent, he would simply insult him straight out, in a way that left no room for interpretation. Unfortunately it seems that there are people amongst us who do not understand an insult unless it’s presented to us in unmistakable terms. Cloak it in some rude comedy and why, we’ll actually buy tickets to go!

Some might say, you have to learn to lighten up and laugh at yourself. There is a difference between a community laughing at itself and the most hated minority in America being laughed at by others. This argument falls apart when you look at how every community in this country carries itself. Have a team of Caucasians create a movie about African American stereotypes and see how that community would react. Have a team of Arabs create a movie about Jewish stereotypes and see how that community would react.

The fact that this movie made it to the big screen indicates that Muslims are a community that no one is cautious of offending. The fact that Muslims would go attend such a movie indicates that there is no reason why anyone should be.