Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 22-07-2017
The organisers of the Ilm Arts Festival say they hold all the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]) in the highest regard and have distanced themselves from derogatory comments made by comedian Yusuf (Joey) Rasdien about them.
Rasdien was speaking at the Ilm Arts Festival which took place after the marriage conference at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday.
The festival aims to showcase the beauty of Islam by providing a platform for some of the worlds leading Islamic scholars, performers and artists to come together in a one-day festival.
In his talk, Rasdien denigrated Abu Hurrairah (RA) the companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) calling the esteemed scholar “that bra” and questioning how he could have written more than forty thousand narrations of the messenger of Allah in just two years.
“There’s 365 days in a year which makes it 740 days in two years which gives you 1440 minutes per day, plus you must sleep. How can you write forty thousand hadiths in two years?”
Rasdien then seemed to mock a Muslim woman in the audience who was clearly offended by his comments.
The organisers eventually stopped the programme and kicked Rasdien off stage after a number of people became angry and walked out following his utterances about Abu Hurrairah (RA).
In a statement, the organisers say while the objective of the program was to highlight the radiant example of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his noble companions, the remarks made by Rasdien were inappropriate, disparaging and offensive.
“The organisers ensured that Joey Rasdien’s slot did not continue, immediately dissociated themselves from the remarks, and on multiple occasions thereafter clarified that what had happened was totally unacceptable. We truly and unreservedly apologise!”
Rasdien has since apologized on twitter saying he underestimated the hurt he caused to Muslims with his comments which were meant to be purely satirical.
My apology following my set at the @ML_Fest on Saturday evening. pic.twitter.com/YsIB2gl4gS
— Yusuf Rasdien (@joeyrasdien) July 22, 2017
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