#WhoIsMuhammad, The origins of a Hashtag

In the wake of the recent attacks in France by radical Islamists, members of the Muslim community took to Twitter and got the hashtag #WhoIsMuhammad to trend nationwide.  But who started this hashtag? And why?

Using the website Topsy.com, which provides analytical data for Twitter, I conducted a search using that hashtag, sorting the results “by oldest.”  The Hashtag has been used on and off for two years, but, after a little digging it was determined that the brainchild for trending the hashtag this week goes to a twitter user known as @SpanishKash1.

So I’m proposing we the Muslims on Twitter do a trending topic on the Prophet Muhammed pbuh and tweet about him.

— WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

It’s interesting to note that @SpanishKash1’s wanted to trend this hashtag, not out of fears of Islamaphobia. No, this was done because he was angry that in the wake of the terror attack last week, Charlie Hebdo is still drawing pictures of Muhammad.

So if you don’t know the filth at Charlie Hebdo are planning on releasing fresh cartoons of our beloved prophet. This is unacceptable — WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

The Muslims will respond tomorrow by educating the world about Muhammed pbuh and expose hebdos nonsense and lies.

— WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

These absolute morons don’t get it, we want 0 pictures of the prophet Muhammed, none. What is so hard to understand about that.

— WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

Instead of sympathizing with the French over the tragedy that befell them last week, @SpanishKash1 wanted to capitalize on the tragedy in order to push a political opinion that he shares with the terrorists.

Let’s capitalise on this opportunity with all of the media focusing on the Prophet Muhammed and seize the opportunity to educate non muslims — WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

Think how badly we will slap those who attempt to draw and slander the prophet pbuh — WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

While he did tell people to avoid hate, and to be patient with non-Muslims:

I ask you all to be patient with non Muslims that enter your mentions to aggravate you. If they curse the messenger block them or be patient — WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

It didn’t stop him from wishing their destruction.

May Allah destroy the enemies of the prophet and his religion.

— WhoIsMuhammad14/1/15 (@SpanishKash1) January 13, 2015

Many people are using this hashtag to earnestly posting praise to their religious prophet.  What they don’t know is that this was not a response to perceived Islamophobia against their community, but as a way to finish what the terrorists started, which is to silence Charlie Hebdo and free expression.