User:Hojimachong/Muhammad Image Template

Hey, I'm totally astounded by the discussion over a depiction on the Muhammad article. If you don't midn, I'd like to give you my perspective, and would like your perspective in return. IF you concur, please let me know on my talk page.Bless sins 21:39, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

Hello, So the following are my views: Clearly, one reason for my opposition to illustrations is my own religious sensitivities. However, I understand that my religious sensitivities don't have much of a place on wikipedia, per "Wikipedia is not censored".

The second reason, which I also strongly hold, is WP:RS and WP:NPOV. Like we discussed before, illustrations and photographs, just like books and articles, are POV. WP:NPOV says "All editors and all sources have biases." Our job is to present all major POVs, giving each its due wieght. If we want to decide which image (calligraphy is also an image) to put in the lead, it must be the view most widely held by Muslims and scholars alike, instead of the minority per WP:NPOV#Undue_weight. Thus we should consider the following (in italics are possible statements that one could find to justify their choice of image):

• who made that image/in which format was that art made, and how notable is the artist/format of art
  • to measure this we need Islamic art historians' statements on various artists, or types of art.
  • e.g. "According to X, Y is one the most celebrated artists in Muslim history", "X suggests that Y type of art is perhaps the most popular throughout the Muslim world"
• how widely is the image celebrated in Muslim culture
  • to measure this we also need WP:RS statements from Islamic art historians
  • e.g. "According to X, the Y image has become, over the course of history, to be the most popular amongst Muslims".
  • We can also perhaps measure this by considering if the art is replicated on famous Islamic monuments (Dome of the Rock, Blue mosque etc.), as noted by Islamic art historians.
  • e.g. "So popular was image X, that it was replicated on monument Y, a magnificent building in the city Z".

To summarise: this topic should be treated as if we were considering what we should write about Muhammad. The image that is chosen to be in the lead should be subjected to standards no less than those described in WP:RS and WP:NPOV. Users should post their image on the talk page, along with the Reliable sources that believe this piece of art is most representative of Muhammad. Calligraphy and illustrations (both veiled and unveiled) should be allowed to compete on an equal basis. Let the best image be placed in the lead!Bless sins 19:59, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

Below is a template of my proposal to be put on the talk page. Respond back on my talk page of what you think of this. Bless sins 20:08, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

The point of this competition is to judge that. I think this competition will make that clear. Also, some users feel strongly about this issue, so I think they will do their research. This competition will motivate such people to do extra research, so as to insert thier choice, which is always good for wikipedia.Bless sins 22:31, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

• Sigh* this debate will go down in the annals of Wikipedia history... like Baha'u'llah. Im not all that much interested in the debate there anymore... I just hope it resolves itself soon. --Hojimachong^talk 22:33, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

---

Image competition

This image will be put at the top of the page. The image can be an illustration (veiled or not), or calligraphy, or building, or anything else which you can support by notable and reliable sources. The criteria is the image must truly represent how art scholars/historians see Muhammad and how Muhammad has been percieved throughout the 1,400 year-old History of Islam. The most scholarly image below will be put at the top of the page. The second most scholarly image will be put lower down.

Name of image

-> The image here, or atleast a link to the image. A brief background history.

Sources

1. Reliable source that says this image is truly notable and popular

1.1. Reason this source is reliable.

2. Reliable source that says...

2.1. Reason this source ...

Other reason

1. Other reason why this image is notable (e.g. this image is put on the biggest mosque in the world)

1.1. Source for your reason

2. Other reason why this...

2.1 Source for ...

Criticism

1. Why you think the image/reasons above are not in line with wiki policies.
2. Why you...

Name of image

->The image here...