On Burning Qur’ans To Get Attention
by: Amanda Quraishi on July 29th, 2010 | 17 Comments »
Because that’s really what this is all about, isn’t it? Publicity. Let’s face it, burning books has never been an effective way to quell the public’s thirst for knowledge, nor has it been an effective means to destroy ideas you don’t agree with. But that isn’t stopping the feisty folks at the Dove World Outreach Center from declaring 9/11 Official Koran Burning Day. (They even offer “Islam is of the Devil” T-shirts on their website that you can wear to your local book-burning event!)
The “Christians” who run and support this “church” aren’t really concerned with religious dialogue or spreading the Word of God as much as they are getting publicity. Lest we Muslims feel picked on, we must remember that Dove World Outreach Center has also engaged in this same kind of…uh…outreach with other groups including homosexuals and pro-choice advocates. Apparently, their idea of ministry involves condemnation, destruction and name-calling. (I’m not even going to go in to the [alleged] for-profit ventures and practices regarding unpaid labor by church members.)
Anyone who has had the benefit of knowing Christians who actually practice the tenets of the Bible knows that this group’s actions are about as close to Jesus’ teachings as the rabid Mullahs overseas preaching violent hate are to the peaceful message of Islam. Which is not at all.
Look, as a Muslim I’d love to get all riled up over this flagrant disrespect for our holy book. I’d love to be incensed that the Dove World Outreach Center is calling us and our noble faith tradition evil. But I can’t even manage a little bit of indignation. Because it’s stupid. It’s not even an eloquent argument or informed protest. It’s just some angry people having a spiteful little tantrum.
The Qur’an is a marvelous gift to humanity. But if you choose to burn it rather than read it, it really is your loss. God is a lot bigger than a book and has assured us that He has his own way of dealing with people who choose to disrespect His Message. I have faith that He can handle it.
In the meantime, if you are interested in actually reading a Qur’an, I’m pleased to be able to offer you the following links:
The Message of the Qur’an by Muhammad Asad – Qur’anic text, translation and commentary.
This is my personal favorite translation in print.
The Qur’an Online In Three English Translations (Pickthal, Yusufali, Shakir)
An excellent compilation from the University of Southern California’s Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement.
An online tool that lets you listen to the Qur’an being recited in Arabic. You get to choose between three different reciters and can read along in your language’s translation in subtitles.
A Facebook page set up in response to the negative “Burn a Koran on 9/11″ page. When you subscribe to this page you’ll get to read inspiring surahs from the Qur’an each day.
My family is Southern Baptists, Presbyterian, United Methodist, and I spent 5 years in a private school run by Free Will Baptist.
Most of the people in the so-called ‘religious right” follow an End-Times eschatology which deems all other faiths, and most liberal and/or progressive Christians, as “of the devil”. they’re not interested in “religious dialogue”, and there’s no reason to pursue it.
if “The Devil” is at work, it is within these organizations, congregations and the hearts of these horribly misguided people. Their beliefs and politics must be repudiated. There is no further cause to engage.
Dear Amanda Quraishi,
Thank you, for your well thought out response to the hate mongering of a disturbing segment of our culture. The price of true freedom is allowing those that disagree with us to speak out. Your measured response was intelligent and showed equanimity Hopefully this will have a calming effect and not add to the derision that only ferments hatred that can only breed harm.
May peace follow you as a companion through this life,
Tom Brown
Wow. I agree Amanda, what a ridiculous thing to do. I’m with you in not getting upset, all these people are doing is hurting their *reputation*.
I would, however, like to add a Quran to your list of recommendations, the only translation (that we know of) by a woman Arabic and Islamic scholar, “The Sublime Quran” by Laleh Bakhtiar, Ph. D.
Salaams and thanks for the recommendation, Khadija!
Tom and David, thank you for your kind responses.
Thanks to Amanda Quraishi for offering the Qur’an as a tool of enlightenment and discouraging the use of it as fire tinder.
Islam is worth defending and it’s book defensible as any as regards it’s use as a guide to enlightened
thoughts about God.
It is refreshing to see such a measured response to what amounts to what Amanda calls it, stupidity. Letting this pass sets a spotlight on idiocy so why denounce it, it will denounce itself. goes the thinking. Perish the thought, believe it or not this virus is contagious and virulently som Christendom, if destined to be duped, is done in by these freaks.
Amanda was nice about this, for her candor and resolve to remain calm I am duly impressed, such is a believers faith knowing it’s depth, using the clear calm living water of the spoken word to sift into readers minds and transfix them in correct thinking.
Truth, as reletive in this sense, is subjective to ones perspective of what God is and whom we are to God. God, is much bigger than a book, more up to snuff on the issues and certainly more knowledgable than any human as to if the Qur’an is firewood or spiritual inspiration, has ordained these works as worthy of their writ and also of the grace and study which attends them. Language is the barrier on the minds eye that limits some believers from appreciating other doctrinal works of faith and historical worship. Learning to speak from our hearts is best done if we speak many languages or at least understand the subtle differences between cultures and religious values enough to see than many shared features are greater reasons to study others scriptures than disparities exists to discourage study.
Amanda is wise to be reluctant to lash out at ignorance and also creative in doing so with the grace of such a one as asked by God to respond, doing so with quiet faith, her works are rewarded as we learn and share . Dont cast aspersions on any cultural difference or religious reference until you have gotten close to the people involved and have given some latitude for rendering the benefit of the doubt, From what I see, Islam is the Sceptor of human expression, the Qur’an, trustworthy and eternal law. Why burn the book of wisdom and truth? Whom is really evil but blasphemers who burn the truth?
A very wise and measured response. It is a witness to the goodness of Islam. Thanks be to God for his/her manifestation in many religions. Respect and acceptance is so much more of God than destruction, threats and hatred.
They weren’t the first to burn books of knowledge and they won’t be the last. May God remove malice from the hearts of mankind and replace it with forbearance and understanding. For those Muslims who feel frustrated, angry or upset, don’t look far, we have equally, if not more ignorant people within our community. Pray for guidance, for us and for them.
I’m a muslim and at first when I read about this I was upset. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? This is like a personal attack against myself.
But when I think about it, it doesn’t bother me at all. Go ahead and burn all the Qur’ans as they want. I can just go online and download. Want to shut down sites with the Holy Qur’an – go ahead because they are thousands of people who have memorized this book from cover to cover. Want to kill the people who memorized the book? Omg, you sick people.
People think muslims are intolerant, think again. I went to a Hindu school, my neighbours are Hindus and we get along well. I went to a muslim high school. I have muslim friends, christian, catholic, Jehovah Witness and atheist friends. I attended church because I wanted to find out what it was like. I read the Qur’an and I am researching the Bible. A few of my friends are homosexuals (even though I may not agree with it, I don’t tell people what to do with their lives). A good friend of mine converted to Buddhism. My best friend is an agnostic (who believes in God). So the actions of these bigots aren’t really going to bother me so let them go ahead.
I’m a christian and the great book I have ever read is the bible, the new testament, the teaching of Jesus, so inspire everyone to read this book because Jesus teaching is fabulous and great. if you have a love in your heart you can understand it but if your heart is full of jealousy, lust, anger and hate you dislike it.
Fine post! An appropriately mocking response to the burning can be found on the Maniac Muslim blog. A sample taste:
Please see www. tanzil.info
Open letter to: Terry Jones of Dove Outreach Ministries
“Do you want to burn the Quran?”
If you want to burn the Quran I invite you to read it first.
Then it is your choice to proceed; You will figure out that:
You will be burning Adam and Noah, Abraham and Issac, Jacob and Josef, David and Salomon, Moses and John….and all prophets and saints
You will be burning Jesus and his saint spirit ….
You will be burning Mary and her baby ….
You will be burning the Torah and the Bible ….
Go ahead
Burn the light to satisfy your darkness….
Burn the love to satisfy your hatred….
Burn the peace to satisfy your anger….
Burn the compassion to satisfy your cruelty….
Burn the knowledge to satisfy your ignorance….
Do all the above in your heart only….
Oh wait; would you still have a heart after the above?! Would you be Christian or Jewish, would you be even human?!
The Quran won’t be affected of what you would do, because the creator said about it:
“Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian.” 15-9
You would burn the papers of the Quran, but even by burning it, it will show light… to all man kind.
It will keep saying: “Their intention is to extinguish God’s Light with their mouths: But GOD will complete His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).”61-9
And it will keep saying: “And the servants of the Beneficent God are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace!”25-63
Peace….Peace….Peace….
Hassan Yaghi, Seattle, Wa
Aug 26, 2010
hassan.yaghi@gmail.com
Masha’Allah….Salams to you brother….very well written…amazing!!
Thanks for helping me settle my angst Amanda. The Qur’an is so much more than the paper it is written on. May God have mercy on all of us, amen.
Salams Amanda,
Masha’Allah very well written once again and I’m sure your article reflects the emotions of millions of muslims out there…It certainly does mine….Thanks….May Allah SWT guide those people doing this terrible act aameen
Beautiful, articulate, and well-thought out article, Q. And I’m so impressed by the caliber of responses you’ve gotten. *bookmarks site as bastion of rationality on the web*
Having grown up going to Catholic schools for 12 years, I’m appalled at the behavior of these “so called Christians”. Granted, I no longer practice the Catholic religion, I can’t help but get angered over the actions people take “in the name of God”. The God I was raised with would never condone such ignorant behavior in His name.
Wonderful article Q! I’m honored to know such an an amazing and loving woman.