Contrast of the law of the land and blasphemy in India

Actually, the concept of blasphemy as an offence was developed by Muslim jurists in the post-prophetic period. Blasphemy against the Prophet was considered a greater offence than blasphemy against the law.

- MAINAN RAY

AN OVERVIEW OF ISLAMIC TRADITION

The Indian legal and constitutional landscape is unfamiliar with the phrase "blasphemy." What is blasphemy? The word blasphemy is derived from two Greek words: blapto, meaning "to injure", and pheme, meaning "to speak". So, blasphemy is simply considered injurious speech or speaking evil.

It has been the stance of Holy Qur'an that the Prophets' followers to be tolerant and persistent in their beliefs and to fight evil with good and not to worry.

Persecution, mockery, and suffering were all part of life for the Prophet and his followers, but they never wavered in their faith.

Blasphemy in the Holy Qur'an and Sunna Islamic tradition speaks of Sabb Allah and sabb al-rasul, meaning reviling God or reviling the Messenger. But the term Sabb (in the sense of abuse) occurs twice as manifested in the HOLY Qur'an, in 6:108: "abuse not these to whom they pray, apart from God, or they will abuse God in revenge without knowledge." Though the Holy Quran doesn't say what the punishment should be.

In contrast, the Hadith literature does contain references to blasphemy. The killing of prominent people, most likely because of their political activities against the Muslim community.