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Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Red
10/04/02 at 10:48:37
[slm],

This makes me soooo mad....   >:(

red


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021003/ap_on_re_us/falwell_muhammad_3

Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Thu Oct 3, 5:11 PM ET
By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - The Rev. Jerry Falwell says "I think Muhammad was a terrorist" in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the CBS program "60 Minutes."

The conservative Baptist minister tells correspondent Bob Simon he has concluded from reading Muslim and non-Muslim writers that Islam's prophet "was a — a violent man, a man of war."

"Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses," Falwell says. "I think Muhammad set an opposite example."

CBS released a partial transcript of the interview Thursday. Falwell's comments occur in a segment about American conservative Christians' political support for Israel.

Falwell stood by his opinion in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. He said Simon asked directly whether Falwell considered Muhammad a terrorist and he tried to reply honestly. The minister said he would never state his opinion in a sermon or book.

"I've said often and many places that most Muslims are people of peace and want peace and tranquility for their families and abhor terrorism," Falwell said. "Islam, like most faiths, has a fringe of radicals who carry on bloodshed wherever they are. They do not represent Islam."

Other conservative Protestant clergy have made sharply critical remarks about Islam and Muhammad in the past year. They include Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son and successor, TV evangelist Pat Robertson and leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention.

In response to Falwell's remarks, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relation in Washington, said: "Anybody is free to be a bigot if they want to. What really concerns us is the lack of reaction by mainstream religious and political leaders, who say nothing when these bigots voice these attacks."

Hooper noted that Falwell and Robertson will speak at next week's Christian Coalition convention in Washington alongside House Majority Whip Tom DeLay and other politicians.

"How can these elected representatives legitimize this kind of hate speech by appearing on the same platform with Islamophobes and Muslim-bashers?" Hooper asked.

Falwell was widely criticized last year after he said on Robertson's TV show that pagans, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals and civil liberties groups had secularized the nation and helped the Sept. 11 attacks happen. Falwell later apologized.

Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Maliha
10/07/02 at 21:07:00
[slm]
[i]Here's a draft of the letter i wrote for the Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA Paper)....[/i]

Dear Editor,
Today’s popular media quest for sensationalism and poor journalism had its defining moment in the airing of Jerry Falwell’s slanderous, bigoted comments on Islam’s holiest of men, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him). In his interview on CBS’s  ‘60 Minutes’ with Bob Simon, Falwell claims "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough…by both Muslims and non-Muslims, [to decide] that he was a violent man, a man of war…” Any self respecting journalist would have immediately asked where he was getting his sources from, but Bob Simon seemed more interested in inciting him further. Falwell continues "In my opinion…Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses, and I think Mohammed set an opposite example."

To try and argue that Prophet Muhammad was indeed a peaceful and loving man; that this was the very man who united all of the warring tribes of Arabia under the banner of truth and justice; that this was the man who even before his rise to Prophethood was already nicknamed “Al Amin” (The Trustworthy); this was the very man who instituted rights of women to inheritance and property; this was the man who re established the woman’s dignity and status in society (long before the Western world had an inkling about the Women’s Rights Movement); this was the man who rekindled the spark of faith and spirituality in billions of men across the earth… To try and argue about the validity of the perfection of his character to the likes of Falwell is indeed a disservice to the very pen I am writing with.

I am not sure what sources Falwell found in his “research” to slander Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) but he must have deliberately turned a blind eye to the multitude of writings by both Muslims and Non Muslims alike in highlighting the spiritual beauty and strength of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). I think Mahatma Ghandi summarizes it well in “Young India, 1924”:  

 "I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life. "
-Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in 'Young India,'1924.

This is America, we do have freedom of speech and I guess if someone wants to flaunt his ignorance and bigotry so be it. But what was most disturbing was that CBS did not bother to invite a Muslim representative to counter any of the statements made. To give an uncontested podium to the likes of Falwell, is to incite disunity in this country as marginalization of Muslims is only bound to increase. Another matter-of-fact statement Falwell declared was that it was the “Christians and Jews against their Muslim ‘enemies’”. I found it distressing that we live in a pluralist society that prides itself on its “freedom and justice” for all, yet instead of abating hate between groups it implicitly encourages it. I urge CBS to have a follow up discussion of this segment, and to ensure Muslim scholars are on hand to dispel some of the untruths and hatred spewed out into society. Rather than aim for ratings by airing sensational trash, it is incumbent on responsible journalists to present all sides of an issue, especially in these grave times that are fertile grounds for sowing hate and enmity amongst citizens of the world.

-Maliha Balala, Richmond, VA.

[wlm]
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
yunus
10/08/02 at 16:24:43
i wouldnt get to worked up about what the christian right says they are a bunch of wackos and i think that the majority of americans think that falwell is an idiot. Fundementalist chrisitians are the scariest of all religious groups I have a lecture from a havard professor talkiing about the fundementalist christian movement its great he says they are the worst group of fundementalists because they have political backing we got 1 of them in office know and the attorney general they want to destroy the entire world so they belive jesus can come. I think falwell or one of his croonies once condemend mother teresa for the work she was doing because they said that anyone who works for peace is working against the coming armegedon and therefore they are doing the devils work so i wouldnt be to concerend about what they say. We need to make our voices hear though about the truth of islam though. Let God judge and condemn Falwell for what he has said on the day of judgement.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
zomorrud
10/08/02 at 22:45:44
assalamu alaikum,

jazaki Allah khair sis Maliha for your prompt action.  

while i agree that falwell is known for his 'wacko' remarks, taking action would not be really directed at him, rather at the network itself.  the real bad guy here is cbs and/or the producers of 60 minutes, if there is indeed such a distinction.  u see, it is such a cheap and low tact that the porgram producers chose to expose falwell's "wackiness" while attacking Muhammed  [saw]. kinda of 2 for the price of one.

there has to be a clear line drawn.  quick and effective response to any crossing of the boundaries helps to maintain things within acceptable limits. a slap on the wrist won't do.  anything short of an apology from the network means that they have not learned their mistake and are likely to repeat it, or even commit worse things, in the future.

if you can spare some of your time, send a scathing response to CBS berrating them on their idiotic and hate-inspiring programming. keep the response short and to the point, but very strongly worded to convey the message.  it does not have to be as articulate as sis maliha's, and you don't have to be in the us to respond.  insha'Allah it would be written among your hasanaat [good deeds].  take heed people, don't stand/sit silent.

wassalam

p.s. go to [url]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/03/60minutes/main524268.shtml [/url], scroll down the page and click on the feedback link- a window will pop up.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Anonymous
10/15/02 at 03:44:15
Correct me if I am wrong, but did I not read that Muhammad when in Yathrib
expelled and even had some dis-believers executed in order to force his religion n them.  I
read that he enforced his position in the region through succesful Military campaigns.  
One at Badr in 624, ending in 627.  He entered Mecca in 630 with his army present and did
not face any resistance.  Hardly sounds like a peace maker to me?  I have not read one
story of Jesus or Moses organizing an army in order to force people to accept thier
religious messages.  I am definitely not a Jerry Falwell fan, but I believe he was speaking the
truth this night on 60 minutes and I guess the truth hurts.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Anonymous
10/15/02 at 03:45:01
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES of CHRIST IN THE USA

Resolution Refuting and Condemning the Statements Concerning Islam and
the
Prophet Muhammed Made by Rev. Jerry Falwell on "60 Minutes" Sunday,
October
06,
2002 Adopted Unanimously by the National Council of Churches Executive
Board
Meeting October 7, 2002, in New York City

WHEREAS Jerry Falwell stated in a "60 Minutes" (CBS) interview, October
6,
2002
" I think Muhammed was a terrorist. I read enough...by both Muslims and
non-Muslims, [to decide] that he was a violent man, a man of war"; and,

WHEREAS Jerry Falwell implied in his comments that he and his
constituency
control President Bush's policies towards Israel and Palestine; and

WHEREAS his views are not those of the majority of Christians in this
country
nor in the rest of the world; and,

WHEREAS his statements about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed are not
only
factually untrue and offensive, but are dangerous to the national
security
of
every nation where Christians and Muslims are seeking a peaceful
relationship;
and,

WHEREAS his remarks create ideal conditions for breeding terrorism
among
those
who may not understand that he does not represent the majority of
Christians
or
Americans; and,

WHEREAS his inflammatory words put at increased risk the lives of
thousands
of
Christians humanitarian aid workers, as well as their Christian
partners
abroad
who are engaged in heroic efforts to be peacemakers and bridge-builders
in
difficult and dangerous circumstances; and,

WHEREAS we believe Jerry Falwell's words to be not Christian and
shockingly
uninformed.

WE, the Executive Board of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in
the
USA, representing 36 churches and over 50 million U. S. Christians,
affirm
to
our brothers and sisters in Islam that we condemn and repudiate Jerry
Falwell's
hateful and destructive statements delivered on CBS's "60 Minutes",
October
6,
2002, and we call upon President George W. Bush to repudiate and
condemn
Falwell's remarks.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
bhaloo
10/15/02 at 09:41:58
[slm]

[quote author=Anonymous link=board=ummah;num=1033742918;start=0#4 date=10/15/02 at 03:44:15]Correct me if I am wrong, but did I not read that Muhammad when in Yathrib
expelled and even had some dis-believers executed in order to force his religion n them.  I
read that he enforced his position in the region through succesful Military campaigns.  
One at Badr in 624, ending in 627.  He entered Mecca in 630 with his army present and did
not face any resistance.  Hardly sounds like a peace maker to me?  
[/quote]

Here is an excellent excerpt from a book explaining the sequence of events that occurred in the battle.

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/great_battle_of_badr.htm

This portion from that excerpt addresses your point:

A number of Orientalists pause at this affair of the captives of Badr and especially at the execution of al Nadr and `Uqbah. They argue: Doesn't this prove the thirst of this new religion for blood? Without such thirst, the two captives would not have been executed. It would have been more charitable and nobler for the Muslims after they won the battle to return the captives and to be satisfied with the booty they acquired. The Orientalists' argument is designed to stir mercy and compassion simply in order to provide means for condemning Islam and its Prophet. But such emotions were utterly out of place on the day of Badr, and much more so a thousand or more years after that battle. The incoherence of the argument is evident upon comparison of the execution of al Nadr and `Uqbah with what happens today and will always happen as long as western civilization rules the world under the banner of Christianity. Is their execution comparable in any possible manner to what the Christian imperialists do when they put down the uprisings of their colonies against their rule? Is it equivalent to any part, however, infinitesimal, of the slaughter that took place in the first or second World War? Is it at all comparable to the events of the French Revolution, or the many other revolutions which have taken place among the Christian nations of Europe?

[quote]
I have not read one
story of Jesus or Moses organizing an army in order to force people to accept thier
religious messages.  I am definitely not a Jerry Falwell fan, but I believe he was speaking the
truth this night on 60 minutes and I guess the truth hurts.
[/quote]

What the Muslims did with the captives of Badr was an instance of sublime mercy and charity when compared with what happened in the revolutions praised by the western peoples as embodiments of justice and mercy. What happened to the captives of Badr was really nothing compared to the many slaughters carried out in the name of Christianity such as that which occurred on St. Bartholomew's Day in France. This slaughter is really a curse in the history of Christianity unmatched by anything in the whole history of Islam. It was a slaughter planned deliberately during the night. The Catholics rose the next morning to slaughter systematically the Protestants of Paris and France with deception, wantonness, and the lowliest and worst kind of cruelty. If the Muslims had killed two of the fifty captives for the cruel suffering they had previously inflicted upon the Muslims during thirteen years in Makkah, it was an act of further mercy and benefit which occasioned the revelation of the already quoted verse: ` It does not behoove a Prophet to hold captives; nor to tyrannize in the world. You seek the advantages of this world, while God wishes you to seek the advantages of the other. God is almighty and all-wise."[Qur'an, 8:67]

;================================

My comments:

I have to cut this short, maybe ill write more later.

War and battles have been fought through history, its what happens when talking and diplomatic channels have been exhausted.  Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a great warrior.   He (pbuh) was the best of all humanity and a role model for all.   If you read what a non-Muslim writer, Michael H. Hart's book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, said, you will see that he ranks Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)  at the top of the list ahead of anyone else including Moses and Jesus (upon them be peace).

To my brothers and sisters in Islam, this is nothing new that the kuffar are doing, they have been trying to attack Islam since the beginning of Islam.  We need to respond to them with wisdom and the truth, not with emotional responses, or apologetic responses.  We have nothing to be ashamed about, as we have truth, justice, and God on our side.

10/15/02 at 09:45:05
bhaloo
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
Kashif
10/15/02 at 10:50:24
assalaamu alaikum

Can anyone confirm for me how many people were killed by the Muslims at Badr please? I can't remember of the top of my head, but i think it was a relatively small number.

And before reading this quote from the Bible, i'd like to remind people of the difference found in the description of the Prophets in the Qur'an and the description of them in the Bible.

In the Bible, some of the Prophets are described in the most disgusting fashion: some are said to be unjust, some are described as drunkards, and some are described as incestuous.

However, their description in the Qur'an is quite the opposite. In it Allah frees them of all the lies (included those found in the Bible) that humans attribute to them, and has described them in the best way (please read surah Maryam -chapter 19 of the Qur'an for an example of this).

Muslims don't make any distinction between the Prophets, we believe in them all, and believe them to be the best of all humanity.

However, here is one description of Moses in the Bible:

[color=blue]"The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people."
3 So Moses said to the people, "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the LORD's vengeance on them. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel." 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba-the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho. [1] [/color]

And if you think thats bad.... read on..

[color=blue]13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army-the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds-who returned from the battle.
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." [/color]
[Numbers 31]

As a Muslim, i reject the claim that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was "hardly a peace-maker" and i reject the description of Moses given in the Bible above... but lets say that Muhammad was as you have described... how does that compare to the description of Moses (peace be upon him) in the Bible.
NS
10/15/02 at 10:54:30
Kashif
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
jannah
10/18/02 at 00:43:07
Check out this awesome dawah!!! Even before the 60 minutes show. Mashallah good for them

Interfaith Response to Jerry Falwell's Attack on Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
(Dr. Gasser Hathout, Rabbi Jerry Goldstein & Rev. George Regas)
http://209.41.170.97:8080/ramgen/~islamctr/response.rm


Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
WhatDFish
10/18/02 at 12:01:12
assalaamu`alaikum

Jannah

this clip doesnt contain Dr Maher Hathout's concluding speech, is hte whole session available anywhere? thanks.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
jannah
10/19/02 at 02:17:10
[wlm]

Nope but here's the page I got it from:
http://www.islamctr.org/

The Islamic Center of Southern California.. there's some other stuff by Maher Hathout on there though.
Re: Falwell Calls Muhammad 'Terrorist'
WhatDFish
10/26/02 at 06:34:07
assalaamu`alaikum

an article i found on iviews.com on the same topic from Dr Maher Hathout

Lines Drawn!
10/16/2002 - Political Social - Article Ref: IV0210-1762
By: Dr. Maher Hathout
Iviews* -



The lines have already been drawn: Jews and Christians are on one side and Muslims on the other.

The final verdict has already been given: Jesus offered a model of peace and love, so did Moses but Muhammad offered a model of violence. He was a terrorist. The truth has already been spoken: Muhammad does not represent Islam.

The final prophecy has already been revealed: the Major battles will come, blood will be up to the backs of horses (or tanks) and two-thirds of the Jews will be killed, while the remaining third will convert to Christianity.

And the pledge of allegiance has been changed: every time the President of the United States shows the earliest indication of holding off his support to the state of Israel, he will be subject to pressure by over seventy-million of the Christian right. Ariel Sharon should rest assured that Mr. Bush will always do the right thing. There is nothing called Palestine. Palestinians should go to some other country.

These are some of the points propagated by Jerry Falwell that Mr. Bob Simon of CBS astutely exposed on the 60 minutes show on October 6, 2002. Ironically, on the same show came Mr. Abraham Foxman, President of the Anti Defamation League, a prestigious Jewish organization, to lend the support of his community to the Christian right as well as to celebrate the support Israel is getting from extremist right wing groups, in spite of their leaders; impossible to swallow anti-Semitic overtones.

I don't think that these points warrant analysis as they speak for themselves. Bigotry does not need to be analyzed; it only needs to be exposed. There are several issues however, that deserve public awareness and debate.

What was said by Jerry Falwell raises questions about the level of discourse in America. Since the sixties, we the people succeeded in setting a national standard for expressing our views. We don't speak anti-Semitism in public, we are careful about racial, ethnic and religious jokes and we show sensitivity to what is sacred and important to others.

We don't feel that politeness in public discourse contradicts freedom of speech. As a matter of fact, it makes our rhetoric more mature and productive. To break this pattern with Muslims, especially with false statements is not only to hurt Muslims and the figures they hold in the highest esteem but also to damage the standard set for our national social discourse.

The Bin Ladenization of the discourse is another important issue we need to be aware of. The nadir of terrifying statements were exemplified by the following: Islam is an evil religion as was said by several ministers in the Southern Baptist conference recently; Mohammed is a terrorist as claimed by Jerry Falwell and Jews have to convert to Christianity as was exhorted by the founder of the moral majority. These statements clearly indicate the low nature of discourse that many of the clergy is engaged in.
8br>This logic has led them to assert that we are good and they are evil. Good should prevail and evil ought to vanish. If we allow this logic to be widely projected, accepted and sometimes sanctioned and adopted by the national leadership, we are in fact putting a nail in the coffin of our democracy.

Ironically this logic has become prevalent after 9/11. This is no less than cruelty that is incompatible with faith in God. It is awfully cruel to exploit the pain and anxiety of our traumatized nation, to further a political agenda or to achieve power.

We must ask the question: Where does the Bush administration stand on the issue of these issues? Mr. Falwell has made it clear that he has enough clout to pressure the President on his administration's policies towards Israel. In a democracy this may be understandable. However, we elect our President to represent all Americans, neither the most vocal nor the most organized.

When the issue crosses the line from free speech to hate speech, our President should freely speak against hate, because the alternative will ultimately lead to discord at a time when we need to galvanize the nation in solidarity to deal with the eminent challenges we face in the post 9/11.

The silence of the Administration should not prevent people of faith from speaking up their conscious and their mind. They don't have to denounce or condemn people, but they must speak up. They may support, oppose, or analyze, but they should not refrain from saying what they consider the truth. There is a saying in Islam: The one who is silent when truth ought to be spoken is like a mute devil.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Maher Hathout is the Senior Advisor of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the spokesperson of the Islamic Center of Southern California


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