- You might be unfamiliar with the concept of "Wudu".
It's an Islamic practice including the washing of some parts of body such
as the hands, arms and face in order to get prepared for saying prayers
or reciting the Holy Quran. It's is of high value in the Islamic tradition,
because it's a preface to inner purity and satisfies the Almighty Creator
who wants its creatures to be pure and clean once they want to talk to
Him. Wudu is translated into English as "ablution". One who is
in the state of Wudu, that is has washed his face, hands, arms and feet,
is obliged to adhere to some certain codes of morality, including devotion
to honesty, justice and sincerity. One who is in the state of Wudu is supposed
not to tell lie, not to judge with prejudice and partiality and not to
state or claim what is unrighteous and unfair.
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- Prior to setting off for writing this article, I conducted
"Wudu" and promised myself not to get out of the borders of honesty
and objectivity. I promised myself to propose what is my concern in a manner
that is justifiable and virtuous, and pose a few questions as someone who
has been entitled to ask freely, without being disrupted by projection
or disturbance.
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- It was on the news headlines that the Florida-based Dove
World Outreach Center church pastor Terry Jones has decided to burn a set
of Qurans on the advent of September 11 in an action which is deemed to
be a remonstration against what is introduced as "Islamic extremism".
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- Regrettably, Wayne Sapp who is an associate pastor of
the Dove World Outreach Center has proclaimed that burning the Holy Quran
is a direction God wants them to go. "We are convinced this is the
direction God wants us to go. That's the only reason we're doing it in
the first place," he told the reporters.
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- First and foremost, it should be noted that the announcement
of such a plan, regardless of its being done or not, is an immoral, condemnable
and blameworthy action. The immorality and unacceptability of such an action
would be underscored by the fact that an evangelical church which considers
itself a propagator of Christian religious values has decided to burn a
holy book which some 1.5 billion people around the world revere and venerate.
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- In this point, one may unavoidably come across to a vital
question which puts one into an inevitable and inescapable stalemate: what
happens if the Muslims announce a plan to burn the Torah? Won't they be
accused of extremism, anti-Semitism, fanaticism, fundamentalism and radicalism?
Won't they become the subject of unending attacks by the mainstream, corporate
media of the United States, United Kingdom, Israel and their European allies?
Won't the international organizations collectively condemn the Muslim society
and won't an all-out wave of Islamophobic actions set out to emerge around
the world? Won't the high-ranking politicians and statesmen of countries,
who don't have anything to do with Judaism, condemn this action simply
because of their connection and affinity with Israel? Won't any conscious,
cognizant and decent citizen rebuff such an outrageous and disgraceful
action? Won't the international community categorically react to the Muslims
community?
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- The answer to all of the questions posed above is clear.
The extent of international punishments for insulting the holy book of
Jews will be so wide-ranging and across-the-board that the Muslims will
profoundly regret their action and instantaneously apologize; however,
the question which I posed contains a possibility that never takes place.
Muslims have always paid tribute to other Abrahamic religions and treated
their pillars, prophets and holy books with great reverence and respect.
Essentially, Islam has put a crucial responsibility on the shoulders of
Muslims to respect the other religions, treat with the followers of Abrahamic
religions in a brotherly manner and never make a distinction between them.
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- To be just and fair, Islam has comprehensively advised
its followers to pay homage and respect to the beliefs of those who follow
other religions and avoid behaving in a way which degrades and subdues
them. In the Verse 285 of the Chapter Baqara (Heifer) of the Holy Quran,
we read: "The Apostle believeth in what hath been revealed to him
from his Lord, as do the men of faith.
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- Each one (of them) believeth In God, His angels, His
books, and His apostles. We make no distinction (they say) between one
and another of His apostles. And they say: we hear, and we obey: (we seek)
Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee Is the end of all journeys."
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- This is a clear evidence for the fact that Quran orders
the Muslims to treat all of the prophets equally without making any distinction
between them.
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- In the Verse 44 of the Chapter Maida, (The Table Spread),
the Almighty God stresses the necessity and essentiality of respecting
and esteeming the holy book of Torah: "It was We who revealed The
Torah (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have
been judged
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- The Jews, by the Prophets Who bowed (as in Islam) to
God's Will, by the Rabbis and the Doctors of Law: For to them was entrusted
the protection of God's Book, and they were witnesses thereto: Therefore
fear not men, but fear Me, and sell not My Signs for a miserable price.
If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they
are (no better than) unbelievers"
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- The more substantial evidence which demonstrates that
Islam is strictly committed to the veneration of other prophets and their
holy books can be found in the Verse 136 of the Chapter Baqara. "Say
ye: we believe In God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham,
Ism'l, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus,
and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference
between one and another of them: And we bow to God (in Islam)."
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- The Holy Quran highlights that its teachings and values
verify and complement the teachings of previous holy books, including Torah
and Bible, and this clear statement can be found in the Verse 92 of the
Chapter An'am (Cattle): "And this is a Book which We have sent down,
bringing blessings, and confirming the revelations which came before it:
that thou Mayest warn the Mother of Cities and all around her. Those who
believe In the Hereafter believe in this Book, and they are constant In
guarding their Prayers."
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- Islam has never hesitated to verify the authenticity
and legitimacy of its predecessors and the nations which adhered to the
holy books. In the Verse 62 of the Chapter Baqara, it's expressively stated
that those who believe in the Almighty God and do decent acts, regardless
of their religion, will be blessed and exalted rightfully: "Those
who believe in the Quran, and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures),
and the Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in God and the Last
Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord: on
them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."
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- There are thousands of such instances which indicate
the benevolence, peacefulness and serenity of Islam. Islam is a religion
of peace and brotherhood. Those who crashed into the twin towers of New
York and accomplished the mission of 9/11 were not Muslims. They belonged
to the gangs which the very White House, that is now purportedly launching
a global war on terror, founded, nurtured, supported and amplified to the
extent of an international terrorist organization: Al-Qaida.
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- Burning the Holy Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11
attacks will simply draw an end to the spiritual life of those who have
planned such a dirty trick. I'm sure that no conscious Muslim will do any
harm to the evangelical pastor who is going to burn the Holy Quran on September
11, but I'm sure that his spiritual life as a minister will come to a tragic
end, because the very Almighty God who has revealed the Holy Quran upon
Prophet Muhammad will save His book as well. "We have, without doubt,
sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)."
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