DREADLINE

DID MOHAMMED EVER DRAW A CARTOON?

An ancient scroll has been discovered in the surprisingly well-preserved remains of a tattered tent in the desert near Mecca that has been dated to the time of the Prophet Mohammad.

Since it was unearthed under an ancient stone that had the following religious inscription, there is even some talk that at one time Mohammed himself may have occupied the tent.

The inscription, originally in his native tongue, reads, “Since there is only one God, we are all the children of the same God.  Therefore, Allah bids you love and never harm your neighbor. To do otherwise reveals you do not understand that, if there is only one God, we all believe in the same God, no matter what we choose to call him, and, I say unto you, it is wrong to kill people over nomenclature.  Peace be upon you.”

The ancient scroll reportedly provides hitherto unknown information about Mohammed’s
childhood. Apparently, like all children, he at times delighted to draw.  He seems to have been proud of his work, because the scroll reveals that he enjoyed showing his drawings to his parents.

Whether he ever made a drawing that included an image of himself is still unknown, but experts in child behavior have indicated that, at one time or another, most healthy-minded children do make drawings of their family and usually include themselves as part of the family unit.

Whether or not Mohammed’s apparent delight in drawing continued into adulthood is not yet known, but one drawing that is described in the newfound text depicts a group of adults from diverse races, in a variety of clothing styles, with what appears to be Allah smiling down on their happy unity.  While such a subject may well have occurred to a child, experts indicate it may present evidence that his noteworthy artistic talent continued into adult life.

Referring to the current furor over the Danish cartoons that depict Mohammed, one of the researchers observed, “The truth is, cartoons have contributed levity and insight to human life throughout the ages and that there has never, until recently, been an occasion when they have been considered evil.”  He went on to note, “Instead, they have generally been regarded as relatively minor forms of amusement and expected, with only occasional exceptions, such as the renowned etchings of the English satirist Hogarth, to be ephemeral works that disappear as quickly as yesterday’s newspaper.”   Pointing to the dig, he concluded wryly, “They should be always be taken with a grain of sand.”

There have, of course, been other instances of multitalented people who have distinguished themselves in one career while they continue to draw for pleasure.  For instance, the legendary opera singer Enrico Caruso immediately comes to mind.   Even at the height of his worldwide popularity, he delighted in drawing cartoons.  Magazine and newspaper articles give ample evidence that his contemporaries admired him greatly for his skill as a cartoonist.  One of his best-know works is a self-portrait that was chosen to be the cover art for the well-known biography of him, based on his brother’s recollections.

Unfortunately, no cartoons have been discovered at the site in the sand that can definitely be attributed to Mohammed either as a child or as an adult.  But research continues, and the head of the archeological team commented hopefully, “Where there’s a scroll, there’s an illumination.”

Researchers hope that, if they are able to find even one cartoon that can be attributed to Mohammed at any stage of his life, its discovery might contribute to easing tensions that recently developed due to the now overly publicized Danish cartoons that dared to depict Mohammed.  As everyone in the civilized world certainly knows by now, it is contrary to Islamic law for their Prophet to be represented visually.

Should any cartoons be unearthed that can be attributed to Mohammed, the Danish paper has, in the interests of equal time, consented to publish them. 

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