ecum
Showing posts with label Koran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Koran. Show all posts
Thursday, April 02, 2026
Thursday, January 01, 2026
Zohran Mamdani takes oath as New York mayor with historic Quran
Incoming mayor uses edition symbolising New York City history; to use two family Qurans in public ceremony on Friday.
This photo provided by the New York Public Library shows the Schomburg Quran on December 16, 2025, in New York [Jonathan Blanc/The New York Public Library via AP Photo]
ByErin Hale and The Associated Press
Published On 1 Jan 20261 Jan 2026
Zohran Mamdani on Thursday became the first New York City mayor to be sworn in using a Quran.
The first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the United States’ biggest metropolis, Mamdani used his grandfather’s Quran and a 200-year-old copy on loan from the New York Public Library (NYPL) for the private swearing-in event held at a disused subway station under Times Square.
He then plans to use two copies of the Quran that belonged to his grandfather and grandmother for a daytime ceremony at New York City Hall on Friday.
The historic Quran, borrowed from the library, once belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a Black historian and writer who sold his collection of 4,000 books to the NYPL in 1926. His collection became the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Schomburg was born in Puerto Rico in the 1870s to parents of German and Afro-Caribbean descent. He later immigrated to New York and was a key player in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s – a period of intense cultural and intellectual flourishing within New York’s Black community.
The library praised Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran because of its connection to one of New York’s “most groundbreaking scholars and for its simple, functional qualities”.
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
Honor «god» and Queen of Heaven
The Koran brands Jesus as Jesus son of Mary. Not Jesus the Son of God. The Vatican includes Muslims as a part of God`s plan of salvation.
\
Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia and the Pope of Rome
Many Catholic faithful are disturbed when they see the Pope kissing the Koran. But this act by the Pontiff is not strange at all. Because the Vatican and Islam basically worship the same «god». They also have common views on the pagan Queen of Heaven.
The Roman Catholic faith and the Muslim faith is also in agreement in regards to Jesus the Son of Mary. They basically serve the same «Jesus». The problem is that non of them serve Jesus as God, God the Son, the only way to our Father God in Heaven.
In Islam Jesus the Son of Mary is only a prophet, who can not even save him self. In the Roman Catholic Faith, their «Jesus» is the Son of the Mother of God, the pagan Queen of Heaven. «Jesus of Rome» is not the only begotten Son of God the Father. Who does not have a «wife», or a Queen of Heaven by his side.
Both the «Catholic Jesus» and the «Jesus of Islam» are deceptions, copy-cats of the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth.
Many Catholic faithful are disturbed when they see the Pope kissing the Koran. But this act by the Pontiff is not strange at all. Because the Vatican and Islam basically worship the same «god». They also have common views on the pagan Queen of Heaven.
The Roman Catholic faith and the Muslim faith is also in agreement in regards to Jesus the Son of Mary. They basically serve the same «Jesus». The problem is that non of them serve Jesus as God, God the Son, the only way to our Father God in Heaven.
In Islam Jesus the Son of Mary is only a prophet, who can not even save him self. In the Roman Catholic Faith, their «Jesus» is the Son of the Mother of God, the pagan Queen of Heaven. «Jesus of Rome» is not the only begotten Son of God the Father. Who does not have a «wife», or a Queen of Heaven by his side.
Both the «Catholic Jesus» and the «Jesus of Islam» are deceptions, copy-cats of the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth.
Interfaith gathering between Islam and the Vatican. Worshiping the same «god»
When Rome and Islam meet to Interfaith gatherings, they have a lot more in common than most Christians are aware of. Many Christians knows that the Catholics have elevated Mary the Catholic to be «forever virgin», to become the Mother of God, called to be worship as the pagan Queen of Heaven. But few Christians know that Muslim also have the same adoration for this woman.
First, the Koran portrays Jesus Christ as a prophet, unique in His preincarnate nature, miraculous birth, miracles and moral stature. Muslims revere Jesus Christ. As the Koran states:
The angels said to Mary:
Surah 3:45-3:46.
«Allah bids you rejoice in a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favored. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life.”
It is interesting to note that in the Koran, Jesus is almost exclusively referred to as «Jesus son of Mary», and absolutely not the «Son of God» The Koran vehemently denies that Jesus is the Son of God, yet it holds both Jesus and Mary in high esteem.
Muslims consider Mary the greatest of all women.Furthermore, Muhammad is reported to have said that Mary reached the «level of perfection».
Mary is mentioned no less than 34 times in the Koran. In addition, the 19th surah (chapter) of the Koran is named after her. Based on these facts alone, it is apparent that «Our Lady» is surely seen as blessed above all women by orthodox Muslims. Please, consider the following two quotes taken directly from the Koran:
Surah 3:42.
And remember the angels’ words to Mary. They said: “[Allah] has chosen you. He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind.”
Surah 19:30-32.
«Whereupon [Jesus] spoke and said: “I am the servant of [Allah]. He has given me the Book and ordained me a prophet. His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has exhorted me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness».
Vaican: God of the Bible and Allah is the same
It is also interesting to note that both Islam and the Roman Catholic Church believe that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same. Quoting from the Catholic Catechism we read:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraph # 841.
«The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day»
This is not expressed in public in Catholic Churches, but it is a doctrine of the Vatican. If you dont believe me, just read Catholic Catechism as it is presented on the official website of the Vatican. To get there, just click on the blue line above.
Behold:
If you are in a Church which make you worship a false Messiah, You are lost, and will end up in the eternal punishment of Hell. You have been deceived by your priests and teachers, and you are in need of deliverance.
Because the only way into the Kingdom of Heaven goes through the Jewish Messiah, God the Son,Jesus of Nazareth. Only if cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the only blood that can cleanse us from our sins, man can escape the fire of Hell.
First published: June 28th, 2009.
Written by Ivar
When Rome and Islam meet to Interfaith gatherings, they have a lot more in common than most Christians are aware of. Many Christians knows that the Catholics have elevated Mary the Catholic to be «forever virgin», to become the Mother of God, called to be worship as the pagan Queen of Heaven. But few Christians know that Muslim also have the same adoration for this woman.
First, the Koran portrays Jesus Christ as a prophet, unique in His preincarnate nature, miraculous birth, miracles and moral stature. Muslims revere Jesus Christ. As the Koran states:
The angels said to Mary:
Surah 3:45-3:46.
«Allah bids you rejoice in a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favored. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life.”
It is interesting to note that in the Koran, Jesus is almost exclusively referred to as «Jesus son of Mary», and absolutely not the «Son of God» The Koran vehemently denies that Jesus is the Son of God, yet it holds both Jesus and Mary in high esteem.
Muslims consider Mary the greatest of all women.Furthermore, Muhammad is reported to have said that Mary reached the «level of perfection».
Mary is mentioned no less than 34 times in the Koran. In addition, the 19th surah (chapter) of the Koran is named after her. Based on these facts alone, it is apparent that «Our Lady» is surely seen as blessed above all women by orthodox Muslims. Please, consider the following two quotes taken directly from the Koran:
Surah 3:42.
And remember the angels’ words to Mary. They said: “[Allah] has chosen you. He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind.”
Surah 19:30-32.
«Whereupon [Jesus] spoke and said: “I am the servant of [Allah]. He has given me the Book and ordained me a prophet. His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has exhorted me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness».
Vaican: God of the Bible and Allah is the same
It is also interesting to note that both Islam and the Roman Catholic Church believe that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same. Quoting from the Catholic Catechism we read:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraph # 841.
«The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day»
This is not expressed in public in Catholic Churches, but it is a doctrine of the Vatican. If you dont believe me, just read Catholic Catechism as it is presented on the official website of the Vatican. To get there, just click on the blue line above.
Behold:
If you are in a Church which make you worship a false Messiah, You are lost, and will end up in the eternal punishment of Hell. You have been deceived by your priests and teachers, and you are in need of deliverance.
Because the only way into the Kingdom of Heaven goes through the Jewish Messiah, God the Son,Jesus of Nazareth. Only if cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the only blood that can cleanse us from our sins, man can escape the fire of Hell.
First published: June 28th, 2009.
Written by Ivar
.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Obama apologizes for Quran burning in Afghanistan
US President Barack Obama with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.—File Photo
KABUL:President Barack Obama apologized Thursday for the burning of copies of the Muslim holy book at a US military base this week, as violent protests raging nationwide led a man dressed in an Afghan army uniform to kill two US troops.
The Afghans’ furious response to the Quran burning, three days of riots in several cities nationwide, reflected the anger at what they perceive as foreign forces disrespect for Afghan laws and culture.
In a letter sent to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Obama expressed his administration’s ”regret and apologies over the incident in which religious materials were unintentionally mishandled,” White House national security council spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
He added that the letter was delivered by Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Thursday afternoon.
Karzai’s office said Obama called the Quran burnings ”inadvertent,” adding that the US ”will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible.”
US apologies for the desecration, and an appeal from Karzai for calm, have failed to temper the anger of Afghans, who staged rallies in seven provinces Thursday, sparking clashes with Afghan police and security forces that left at least five demonstrators dead. Seven protesters were killed in clashes on Wednesday.
Source
.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Burning Qurans and Bibles
September 10, 2010
By Wendy Wright
Attorney General Eric Holder called it "idiotic" and "dangerous." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is "disrespectful." A State Department spokesman called it "un-American." President Obama weighed in that "this is a destructive act."
The Obama administration is roundly denouncing plans to burn copies of the Quran. Christian leaders rightly condemn it as "appalling" and "disgusting" and say it "violates both our Christian and American identities."
So why the silence when Bibles were burned?
In 2009, a church in the U.S. saved and held fundraisers to afford the cost of buying and shipping Bibles in the Pashto and Dari language to an American sergeant in Afghanistan.
The Bibles were confiscated by military personnel, thrown away, and burned. Troops in war zones are required to "burn their trash," reported a Defense Department spokesman.
Central Command General Order No. 1 forbids "proselytizing of any faith, religion, or practice." It is strongly enforced in predominantly Muslim areas out of fear that distributing religious material will be seen as an attempt by the U.S. to proselytize local people.
Military officials chose to burn the Bibles rather than send them back to the church, fearing the church would send them to another organization in Afghanistan.
Yet rather than express their concern and allow the church to find other uses for the Bibles, such as sending them to people outside of Afghanistan, officials destroyed the Bibles.
Here's a burning question with an obvious answer: Would they have done that to Qurans?
No administration official condemned the burning of Bibles. Now that they have found their voices at the threat that Qurans will be burned, will they express disdain at the disrespectful treatment of Bibles?
This reveals the drastic differences between Christian and Muslim cultures. We know why leaders condemn the proposed burning of Qurans. As Gen. Petraeus told The Associated Press, "Images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence."
Newsweek's false report that a Quran had been desecrated at Guantánamo prison led to riots throughout the Muslim world. Mobs killed fifteen people, burned government buildings, and ransacked relief organizations.
"We can understand torturing prisoners, no matter how repulsive," Muhammad Archad told Newsweek in Pakistan. "But insulting the Qur'an is like deliberately torturing all Muslims. This we cannot tolerate."
In contrast, Christians revere the Bible -- but human life is sacred. We study our Bibles as God's revealed truth that leads to the greatest freedom. At one time in history, translating the Bible into common languages could lead to a death sentence. But those were actions of tyrants, not directed by Christian faith. Reformers corrected these appalling actions by going back to the Scriptures. They reveal that God created mankind in His image -- so we should treat others as His image-bearers -- and He desires that all people know His truth.
Making the Bible available in languages people can understand (like Pashto and Dari) is a major effort among Christians. And it is a fine American tradition -- several of America's Founding Fathers also founded or worked with organizations to distribute Bibles in languages people understand. True freedom, they knew, is more than a political endeavor.
Benjamin Rush, an abolitionist and signer of the Declaration of Independence, founded the Philadelphia Bible Society. He advocated that "the following sentence be inscribed in letters of gold over the door of every State and Court house in the United States. The Son of Man Came into the World, Not To Destroy Men's Lives, But To Save Them."
As Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Why could you hear crickets chirp when Bibles were burned? Why no pronouncements of "appalling," "disrespectful," and "violates both our Christian and American identities"? Most people did not know about the event because the media did not deem it newsworthy. But surely top administration officials were aware.
Ultimately, we know why. People do not fear that Christians will respond violently.
If Islam is a religion of peace, now would be the time to prove it. Muslims can follow the example of Christians.
Wendy Wright is President of Concerned Women for America, the nation's largest public policy women's organization.
.
.
Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/09/burning_qurans_and_bibles.html
.
By Wendy Wright
Attorney General Eric Holder called it "idiotic" and "dangerous." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is "disrespectful." A State Department spokesman called it "un-American." President Obama weighed in that "this is a destructive act."
The Obama administration is roundly denouncing plans to burn copies of the Quran. Christian leaders rightly condemn it as "appalling" and "disgusting" and say it "violates both our Christian and American identities."
So why the silence when Bibles were burned?
In 2009, a church in the U.S. saved and held fundraisers to afford the cost of buying and shipping Bibles in the Pashto and Dari language to an American sergeant in Afghanistan.
The Bibles were confiscated by military personnel, thrown away, and burned. Troops in war zones are required to "burn their trash," reported a Defense Department spokesman.
Central Command General Order No. 1 forbids "proselytizing of any faith, religion, or practice." It is strongly enforced in predominantly Muslim areas out of fear that distributing religious material will be seen as an attempt by the U.S. to proselytize local people.
Military officials chose to burn the Bibles rather than send them back to the church, fearing the church would send them to another organization in Afghanistan.
Yet rather than express their concern and allow the church to find other uses for the Bibles, such as sending them to people outside of Afghanistan, officials destroyed the Bibles.
Here's a burning question with an obvious answer: Would they have done that to Qurans?
No administration official condemned the burning of Bibles. Now that they have found their voices at the threat that Qurans will be burned, will they express disdain at the disrespectful treatment of Bibles?
This reveals the drastic differences between Christian and Muslim cultures. We know why leaders condemn the proposed burning of Qurans. As Gen. Petraeus told The Associated Press, "Images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence."
Newsweek's false report that a Quran had been desecrated at Guantánamo prison led to riots throughout the Muslim world. Mobs killed fifteen people, burned government buildings, and ransacked relief organizations.
"We can understand torturing prisoners, no matter how repulsive," Muhammad Archad told Newsweek in Pakistan. "But insulting the Qur'an is like deliberately torturing all Muslims. This we cannot tolerate."
In contrast, Christians revere the Bible -- but human life is sacred. We study our Bibles as God's revealed truth that leads to the greatest freedom. At one time in history, translating the Bible into common languages could lead to a death sentence. But those were actions of tyrants, not directed by Christian faith. Reformers corrected these appalling actions by going back to the Scriptures. They reveal that God created mankind in His image -- so we should treat others as His image-bearers -- and He desires that all people know His truth.
Making the Bible available in languages people can understand (like Pashto and Dari) is a major effort among Christians. And it is a fine American tradition -- several of America's Founding Fathers also founded or worked with organizations to distribute Bibles in languages people understand. True freedom, they knew, is more than a political endeavor.
Benjamin Rush, an abolitionist and signer of the Declaration of Independence, founded the Philadelphia Bible Society. He advocated that "the following sentence be inscribed in letters of gold over the door of every State and Court house in the United States. The Son of Man Came into the World, Not To Destroy Men's Lives, But To Save Them."
As Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Why could you hear crickets chirp when Bibles were burned? Why no pronouncements of "appalling," "disrespectful," and "violates both our Christian and American identities"? Most people did not know about the event because the media did not deem it newsworthy. But surely top administration officials were aware.
Ultimately, we know why. People do not fear that Christians will respond violently.
If Islam is a religion of peace, now would be the time to prove it. Muslims can follow the example of Christians.
Wendy Wright is President of Concerned Women for America, the nation's largest public policy women's organization.
.
.
Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/09/burning_qurans_and_bibles.html
.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
The burning called off
Pastor Terry Jones Calls off Koran Burning, But Deal for Ground ... - 11 minutes ago
Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., emerged from his church in Gainesville, Fla., along with Florida Imam Muhammad al-Masri to announce his decision to ...
ABC News -»
Robert Gates Urged Terry Jones to Call Off Koran Burning -
Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., emerged from his church in Gainesville, Fla., along with Florida Imam Muhammad al-Masri to announce his decision to ...
ABC News -»
Robert Gates Urged Terry Jones to Call Off Koran Burning -
-----
Just in - The Koran burning at Gainesville - Florida, has been called off by Pastor Terry Jones after reaching an agreement with the Ground Zero Mosque (Islamic Cultural Center), and a persuasive call from Robert Gates:
.
------Who is Robert Gates?
Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is the 22nd and current United States Secretary of Defense. He took office on December 18, 2006.[2] Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W. Bush as Director of Central Intelligence. Immediately after being recruited by the CIA, he served as an officer in the United States Air Force.[3][4] After leaving the CIA, Gates became president of Texas A&M University and was a member of several corporate boards. Gates also served as a member of the Iraq Study Group, the bipartisan commission co-chaired by James A. Baker III and Lee Hamilton, that has studied the Iraq War. He was also the first pick to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security when it was created following the September 11 attacks, but he declined the appointment in order to remain President of Texas A&M University.[5]
Gates accepted the nomination for Secretary of Defense on November 8, 2006, replacing Donald Rumsfeld. He was confirmed with bipartisan support.[6] In a 2007 profile written by former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, Time named Gates one of the year's most influential people.[6] In 2008, Gates was named one of America's Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.[7] He continues to serve as Secretary of Defense in President Barack Obama's cabinet.[8] Gates announced in August 2010 that he plans to retire in 2011.[9]
...
Early life and education
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Gates attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the BSA as an adult.[10][11] He graduated from Wichita High School East in 1961, reportedly with straight A's.[12]
Gates is also a Vigil Honor member within the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society. The Vigil Honor is the third and highest Honor within the Order and statistically there are fewer Vigil Honor members than Eagle Scouts within the Boy Scouts of America.
...
Gates then pursued an M.A. in history from Indiana University in 1966. Finally, he completed his doctorate in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University in 1974. The title of his Georgetown doctoral dissertation is "Soviet Sinology: An Untapped Source for Kremlin Views and Disputes Relating to Contemporary Events in China" and is available from University Microfilms International as document number 7421652. He received an L.H.D. (Doctor of Humane Letters) from William & Mary in 1998.
...
Gates was nominated to become the Director of Central Intelligence (head of the CIA) in early 1987. He withdrew his name after it became clear the Senate would reject the nomination due to controversy about his role in the Iran-Contra affair.
...
Criticism
As deputy director and director of America's leading intelligence agency for many years, Gates and his CIA staff have been faulted for failing to accurately gauge the decline and disintegration of the Soviet Union. More particularly, Gates has been criticized for concocting evidence to show that the Soviet Union was stronger than it actually was, and also for repeatedly skewing intelligence to promote a particular worldview.[61] Also, according to Newsweek, Gates, as deputy director of CIA, allegedly vouched for the comprehensiveness of a CIA study presented to the Senate and President Reagan alleging that the Soviet Union played a role in the 1981 shooting of Pope John Paul II. A CIA internal review later denounced the report as being skewed,[61] but that Gates did not try to influence the report's conclusions.[62]
.
Now lets look at these two distinct titles:
Now lets look at these two distinct titles:
Dove World Outreach Center - Pastor Terry Jones
Islamic Cultural Center of New York - Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
Islamic Cultural Center of New York - Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
A publicity stunt? Or, just more tolerance conditioning?
.A.L.
.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Islam Permits Lying to Deceive Unbelievers and Bring World Domination!
By Don Boys, Ph.D.
Published Nov 17, 2004
Published Nov 17, 2004
It is impossible to understand Islam and Muslims by listening to their protestations against terror and their proclamations of patriotism for America. Usually, it is wise and fair to give people the benefit of the doubt but when it comes to national safety and the future of America, we had better look twice, even thrice at Muslim patriotism. Why? Because Islam permits lying! It is called “Al-taqiyya.” One Muslim said that Al-taqiyya means dissimulation then he expanded it to diplomacy but he should have gone further to deception. Now some Muslims who do not follow the Koran are as faithful Americans as any of us, but the problem is, we cannot know.
It seems our President and his advisors are clueless as to the desires, doctrines, and distinctives of Islam. While I feel a little audacious in giving advice to national leaders, it is necessary since no one else is doing it. Muslims lie not because they are liars by nature but by choice. Systematic lying as a religious policy is deadly, and if our politicians do not understand this, thousands could die.
Muslims lie not because they are liars by nature but by choice. Systematic lying as a religious policy is deadly, and if our politicians do not understand this, thousands could die. Muslims lie when it is in their interest to do so and “Allah” will not hold them accountable for lying when it is beneficial to the cause of Islam. They can lie without any guilt or fear of accountability or retribution. A lie in the defense of Islam is approved even applauded in their “holy” books.
Muslims are permitted to lie: (1) to save their lives, (2) to reconcile a husband and wife, (3) to persuade a woman into a bedroom and (4) to facilitate one on his journey. Muslims are even permitted to disavow Islam and Mohammed if it is not a genuine heart-felt rejection. Muslims will tell you that concealment of a truth is not an abandonment of that truth if it benefits Islam.
Mohammed gave permission for a follower to lie in order to kill a Jewish poet who had offended Mohammed. I could provide many examples of permissible lying from the Koran and Hadith and will do so when my critics accuse me of hatred and bigotry because of this column. My motives are not important but the truth is. However, many unprincipled people do not consider truth important. It is political correctness that sits on the throne to be worshiped.
Muslims may appear very sincere; in fact, they are sincere, when they lie for their own protection or in the cause of Islam. They have permission to lie. Yes, Christians have also lied but never are they given permission to lie. However, a Muslim has no guilt since the Koran and Hadith permit his deception.
They will lie to make Islam more attractive to potential converts as they speak of “no compulsion in religion” while all of them know that verse was abrogated by later verses. They will quote verses that speak of tolerance and kindness knowing that those verses were written when Mohammed was desirous of “tolerance and kindness,” but when he climbed into the catbird seat, everything changed and he became a terrorist.
Muslims have no hope for eternal salvation without their good works, so they must keep working to advance Islam. If a few lies will accomplish that goal, then lying is not bad but good. If they can get good publicity for Islam by lying, then lying is acceptable, even desirable. Muslims have no hope for eternal salvation without their good works, so they must keep working to advance Islam. If a few lies will accomplish that goal, then lying is not bad but good. If they can get good publicity for Islam by lying, then lying is acceptable, even desirable. The Muslim is earning his way to heaven by lying to a non-Muslim.
Unlike Christians who are saved once for all by the grace of God through faith in Christ’s propitiatory death, no Muslim knows for sure if his works are good enough for Heaven. The only Muslim who knows for sure that his eternal destiny is secure and he will drop into a delightful garden filled with 72 virgins on soft green cushions is the one who dies while “taking out” unbelievers in Islam.
Most Muslims will not have the “opportunity” to become a martyr in this war between Islam and the rest of the world and make no mistake every true Muslim must be involved in making America (or the nation where he lives) a Muslim nation. Since Muslims are limited in their ability to die for the cause, they can help the cause by supporting terrorists with money, succor, and cover. Sure, they are aiding terror against the U.S. but since they believe they are doing Allah’s will, then any deception is acceptable.
How should this affect America’s war on terror? Officials must look closely at every Muslim chaplain in the military and in our prisons; also look at those involved in the CIA, FBI, and other sensitive areas; look at all Arabic translators, military or civilian; look at all Muslim employees at the Pentagon, White House, atomic power plants, and in Congress; look at all civilian Muslim pilots; look at Muslim clerics in all U.S. mosques. In other words, get serious about this war before our cities are rubble.
Our President must stop playing the game of “Let’s Stop the Terrorists” and get serious by going to the heart of the matter. This war on terror is a religious matter and could become a Hundred Years’ War. To resurrect an old slogan: You can trust the Muslims to be Muslims. They are lying their way to world domination!
The Qur'an:
Qur'an (16:106) - Establishes that there are circumstances that can “compel” a Muslim to tell a lie.
Qur'an (3:28) - This verse tells Muslims not to take those outside the faith as friends, unless it is to “guard themselves.”
Qur'an (9:3) - “…Allah and His Messenger are free from liability to the idolaters…” The dissolution of oaths with the pagans who remained at Mecca following its capture. They did nothing wrong, but were evicted anyway.
Qur'an (2:225) - “Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts”
Qur'an (66:2) - “Allah has already ordained for you, (O men), the dissolution of your oaths”
Qur'an (3:54) - “And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers.” The Arabic word used here for scheme (or plot) is makara, which literally means deceit. If Allah is deceitful toward unbelievers, then there is little basis for denying that Muslims are allowed to do the same. (See also 8:30 and 10:21)
Taken collectively these verses are interpreted to mean that there are circumstances when a Muslim may be “compelled” to deceive others for a greater purpose.
.
.
.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Far From Ground Zero, Obscure Pastor Is Ignored No Longer
Chip Litherland for The New York TimesPastor Terry Jones plans to burn multiple copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: August 25, 2010
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If building an Islamic center near ground zero amounts to the epitome of Muslim insensitivity, as critics of the project have claimed, what should the world make of Terry Jones, the evangelical pastor here who plans to memorialize the Sept. 11 attacks with a bonfire of Korans?
Mr. Jones, 58, a former hotel manager with a red face and a white handlebar mustache, argues that as an American Christian he has a right to burn Islam’s sacred book because “it’s full of lies.” And in another era, he might have been easily ignored, as he was last year when he posted a sign at his church declaring “Islam is of the devil.”
But now the global spotlight has shifted. With the debate in New York putting religious tensions front and center, Mr. Jones has suddenly attracted thousands of fans and critics on Facebook, while around the world he is being presented as a symbol of American anti-Islamic sentiment.
Muslim leaders in several countries, including Egypt and Indonesia, have formally condemned him and his church, the Dove World Outreach Center.
An Islamic group in England has also incorporated his efforts into a YouTube video that encourages Muslims to “rise up and act,” widening a concern that Mr. Jones — though clearly a fringe figure with only 50 members in his church — could spark riots or terrorism.
“Can you imagine what this will do to our image around the world?” said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington. “And the additional danger it will add whenever there is an American presence in Iraq or Afghanistan?”
Mr. Jones, in a lengthy interview at his church, said he sincerely hoped that his planned Koran-burning would not lead to violence. He dismissed the idea that it could put American troops at greater risk, and — echoing his sermons — he said that his church was being persecuted.
He said his bank recently demanded immediate repayment of the $140,000 balance on the church mortgage; that his property insurance had been canceled since he announced in late July that he intended to burn copies of the Koran; and that death threats now come in regularly.
“We have to be careful,” he said. He tapped a holster on the right hip of his jean shorts; it held a .40-caliber pistol, which he said he was licensed to carry. “The overall response,” he added, “has been much greater than we expected.”
Mr. Jones who seems to spend much of his time inside a dank, dark office with a poster from the movie “Braveheart” and a picture of former President George W. Bush, appears to be largely oblivious to the potential consequences of his plans. Speaking in short sentences with a matter-of-fact drawl, he said that he could not understand why other Christians, including the nation’s largest evangelical association, had called for him to cancel “International Burn a Koran Day.”
He acknowledged that it had brought in at least $1,000 in donations. But he said that the interviews he had done with around 150 news outlets all over the world were useful mainly because they had helped him “send a message to Islam and the pushers of Shariah law: that it is not what we want.”
Mr. Jones said that nothing in particular had set him off. Asked about his knowledge of the Koran, he said plainly: “I have no experience with it whatsoever. I only know what the Bible says.”
Nonetheless, his position and variations on his tactics have become more common, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Florida in particular has had a rise in anti-Islamic activity. In May, an arsonist set off a pipe bomb at a mosque in Jacksonville in what authorities called an actof domestic terrorism. A mosque and Islamic school south of Miami was vandalized twice last year, the first time with a spray of 51 bullets.
Just as disturbing to Florida’s Muslims, and to many Christians and Jews, is that anti-Islamic rhetoric has begun to enter the mainstream through Republican political candidates.
Some of the opposition predated the controversy about the proposed Islamic center near ground zero. In March, for example, Allen West, a retired Army officer running for Congress in Broward County, told a group of supporters that “Islam is not a religion” but rather “a vicious enemy” that was “infiltrating” the United States. (A campaign spokesman said last week that Mr. West meant to refer to radical Islam, not Islam generally.)
Ron McNeil, a candidate for Congress in the Florida Panhandle, told a group of high school and middle school students last week that Islam’s plan “is to destroy our way of life.” He added: “It’s our place as Christians to stand up for the word of God and what the Bible says.”
Similar sentiments now flow daily into the e-mail inbox of the Dove World Outreach Center. Mr. Jones said that the negative e-mails outnumbered the positive by about 3 to 1, but that strangers had sent 20 copies of the Koran and a church worker produced hundreds of supportive e-mails that had come in over the past three weeks.
A dozen of those messages revealed a wide range of motivations. For a few people — a Christian in Afghanistan, an Iraqi in Massachusetts, a Jew who called his co-religionists in the United States “soft in the head” — direct experience with Islamic extremists seemed to have darkened their views. Others seemed motivated by little more than hate, arguing that Korans should be barbecued with pork, which is banned by Islam.
Mr. Jones’s plan faced a new hurdle last week when the Gainesville Fire Department rejected his request for a burning permit. Mr. Jones said he would go ahead anyway (“it’s just politics”), and he predicted a quite a scene.
Some of his neighbors, like Shirley Turner, a retiree who shivered with disgust when Mr. Jones’s name came up in conversation, are already planning to protest with signs calling for unity. More than a dozen houses of worship, of various faiths, also intend to respond collectively on the weekend of Sept. 11 by “affirming the validity of all sacred books,” said Larry Reimer, pastor of the United Church of Christ.
Some pastors even plan to read from the Koran in their services.
For local Muslims like Saeed Khan, who came here in the 1970s to study for a Ph.D. in biology at the University of Florida, the collective rejection of Mr. Jones represents the America they want to believe in. In an interview at an Islamic center that used to be a Brown Derby restaurant, Dr. Khan said that “Mr. Jones is hijacking Christianity” just as “Al Qaeda hijacked Islam.”
What saddens him most, he said, is the lasting effect on Muslim youth. He now has three grandchildren under age 3 growing up in Gainesville, and he shook his head at the story of a friend’s daughter who woke up in the middle of the night and asked her mother, “Why don’t they like us?”
Still, like many others, he rejected the moment’s swirl of anger. Even if Muslims outside the United States respond to the planned Koran burning with protests, or worse, Mr. Khan said he would spend his Sept. 11 doing the same thing he did last year. He will be downtown, a few miles from Mr. Jones, feeding the homeless.
A version of this article appeared in print on August 26, 2010, on page A14 of the New York edition.
.
.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
President Barack Obama's Ramadam Kareem Message
MAY GOD'S PEACE BE UPON YOU
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2009
Below is the text of a web video from President Obama marking the beginning of Ramadan. Video of the President's message is available HERE.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Ramadan Message
Washington, DC
On behalf of the American people - including Muslim communities in all fifty states - I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word - iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.
Like many people of different faiths who have known Ramadan through our communities and families, I know this to be a festive time - a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But I also know that Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection - a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform tarawih prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month.
These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.
For instance, fasting is a concept shared by many faiths - including my own Christian faith - as a way to bring people closer to God, and to those among us who cannot take their next meal for granted. And the support that Muslims provide to others recalls our responsibility to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build - and the changes that we want to make - must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.
This summer, people across America have served in their communities - educating children, caring for the sick, and extending a hand to those who have fallen on hard times. Faith-based organizations, including many Islamic organizations, have been at the forefront in participating in this summer of service. And in these challenging times, this is a spirit of responsibility that we must sustain in the months and years to come.
Beyond America's borders, we are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure. That is why we are responsibly ending the war in Iraq. That is why we are isolating violent extremists while empowering the people in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we are unyielding in our support for a two-state solution that recognizes the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. And that is why America will always stand for the universal rights of all people to speak their mind, practice their religion, contribute fully to society and have confidence in the rule of law.
All of these efforts are a part of America's commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.
As I said in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is listening, and in the last two months, American embassies around the world have reached out not just to governments, but directly to people in Muslim-majority countries. From around the world, we have received an outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of peoples' aspirations.
We have listened. We have heard you. And like you, we are focused on pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time - both in terms of the political and security issues that I have discussed, and in the areas that you have told us will make the most difference in peoples' lives.
These consultations are helping us implement the partnerships that I called for in Cairo - to expand education exchange programs; to foster entrepreneurship and create jobs; and to increase collaboration on science and technology, while supporting literacy and vocational learning. We are also moving forward in partnering with the OIC and OIC member states to eradicate polio, while working closely with the international community to confront common health challenges like H1N1 - which I know is of particular to concern to many Muslims preparing for the upcoming hajj.
All of these efforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. It will take time and patient effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction - toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together.
I look forward to continuing this critically important dialogue and turning it into action. And today, I want to join with the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world - and your families and friends - in welcoming the beginning of Ramadan, and wishing you a blessed month. May God's peace be upon you.
# # #
Posted by Lucas A. Ferrara, Esq. on August 21, 2009 8:00 PM
Source:
http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/2009/08/may_gods_peace_be_upon_you.html
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2009
Below is the text of a web video from President Obama marking the beginning of Ramadan. Video of the President's message is available HERE.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Ramadan Message
Washington, DC
On behalf of the American people - including Muslim communities in all fifty states - I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word - iqra. It is therefore a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.
Like many people of different faiths who have known Ramadan through our communities and families, I know this to be a festive time - a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But I also know that Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection - a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform tarawih prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month.
These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.
For instance, fasting is a concept shared by many faiths - including my own Christian faith - as a way to bring people closer to God, and to those among us who cannot take their next meal for granted. And the support that Muslims provide to others recalls our responsibility to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build - and the changes that we want to make - must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.
This summer, people across America have served in their communities - educating children, caring for the sick, and extending a hand to those who have fallen on hard times. Faith-based organizations, including many Islamic organizations, have been at the forefront in participating in this summer of service. And in these challenging times, this is a spirit of responsibility that we must sustain in the months and years to come.
Beyond America's borders, we are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure. That is why we are responsibly ending the war in Iraq. That is why we are isolating violent extremists while empowering the people in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we are unyielding in our support for a two-state solution that recognizes the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. And that is why America will always stand for the universal rights of all people to speak their mind, practice their religion, contribute fully to society and have confidence in the rule of law.
All of these efforts are a part of America's commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.
As I said in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is listening, and in the last two months, American embassies around the world have reached out not just to governments, but directly to people in Muslim-majority countries. From around the world, we have received an outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of peoples' aspirations.
We have listened. We have heard you. And like you, we are focused on pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time - both in terms of the political and security issues that I have discussed, and in the areas that you have told us will make the most difference in peoples' lives.
These consultations are helping us implement the partnerships that I called for in Cairo - to expand education exchange programs; to foster entrepreneurship and create jobs; and to increase collaboration on science and technology, while supporting literacy and vocational learning. We are also moving forward in partnering with the OIC and OIC member states to eradicate polio, while working closely with the international community to confront common health challenges like H1N1 - which I know is of particular to concern to many Muslims preparing for the upcoming hajj.
All of these efforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. It will take time and patient effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction - toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together.
I look forward to continuing this critically important dialogue and turning it into action. And today, I want to join with the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world - and your families and friends - in welcoming the beginning of Ramadan, and wishing you a blessed month. May God's peace be upon you.
# # #
Posted by Lucas A. Ferrara, Esq. on August 21, 2009 8:00 PM
Source:
http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/2009/08/may_gods_peace_be_upon_you.html
.
.
.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)