WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- A national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today expressed outrage at a Doug Marlette syndicated editorial cartoon, headlined "What Would Mohammed Drive?" showing the Prophet Muhammad driving a nuclear bomb-laden truck similar to that used by Timothy McVeigh in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for an apology from Marlette's syndicator, Tribune Media Services, and from his employer, the Tallahassee Democrat.
The cartoon is apparently a play on a recent light-hearted public debate over what kind of car Jesus would drive. Its publication comes following worldwide outrage over a similar accusation of terrorism against Muhammad by American evangelist Jerry Falwell.
"Defamatory attacks on Islam and on the Prophet Muhammad by media outlets or religious leaders only serve to harm our nation's image worldwide and divide America along religious lines. Unfortunately, it now seems to be 'open season' on Islam in certain religious and political circles," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. Awad also objected to what he termed a "racist and stereotypical" portrayal of "Muhammad." (Muslims object to any visual representations of the Prophet.)
"By learning more about the Prophet Muhammad, people of conscience will discover that he was a prime example of tolerance and mercy," said Awad. He suggested viewing the documentary, "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet," aired recently on PBS.
The cartoon is the latest in a series of negative religious portrayals addressed by CAIR. The group recently protested the depiction of a Jesus-like figure in a TV Guide Channel commercial promoting professional wrestling. After being contacted by many concerned Muslims, the network cancelled the commercial. (Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet of God.)
Hundreds of Muslims also contacted the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper to protest another editorial cartoon that linked Islam with intolerance and violence. The newspaper later issued a clarification of the cartoonist's intent.
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a journalist's window to the American Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called ISLAM-INFONET, receive news releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on issues of importance to our society.
Perfectly reasonable cartoon. Thanks to Brian - and CAIR - for bringing it to us.
"By learning more about the Prophet Muhammad, people of conscience will discover that he was a prime example of tolerance and mercy," said Awad. He suggested viewing the documentary, "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet," aired recently on PBS.
What a load of
cr@p. Instead of watching that documentary, people should read the koran and hadith instead, and wonder why sura 8 is called 'spoils of war/booty'.
Here some examples of how 'tolerant and mercyful' mohammed really was:
koran, sura 9:29
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
sura 5:51
O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.
sura 8:12-14
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
This because they contended against Allah and His Messenger: If any contend against Allah and His Messenger, Allah is strict in punishment.
Thus (will it be said): "Taste ye then of the (punishment): for those who resist Allah, is the penalty of the Fire."
sura 8:65-69
O Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding.
For the present, Allah hath lightened your (task), for He knoweth that there is a weak spot in you: But (even so), if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred, and if a thousand, they will vanquish two thousand, with the leave of Allah: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere
It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allah, a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that ye took.
But (now) enjoy what ye took in war, lawful and good: but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
sura 48:28
It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion: and enough is Allah for a Witness.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 176:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.'"
Sahih Bukhari, volume 4, book 53, number 392:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews" We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 369:
Narrated Jabir Abdullah:
Allah's messenger said "Who is willing to kill Ka`b bin al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His apostle?" Thereupon Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's messenger! Would you like that I kill him?" The prophet said, "Yes". Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Ka`b). The prophet said, "You may say it."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 362:
Narrated Ibn Umar:
Bani An-Nadir and Bani Quraiza fought (against the Prophet violating their peace treaty), so the Prophet exiled Bani An-Nadir and allowed Bani Quraiza to remain at their places (in Medina) taking nothing from them till they fought against the Prophet again) . He then killed their men and distributed their women, children and property among the Muslims, but some of them came to the Prophet and he granted them safety, and they embraced Islam. He exiled all the Jews from Medina. They were the Jews of Bani Qainuqa', the tribe of 'Abdullah bin Salam and the Jews of Bani Haritha and all the other Jews of Medina.
From the Hadith of Abu Dawud [6]. Book 38, Number 4348:
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet was informed about it.
He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up.
He sat before the Prophet and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.
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So much mecry, so much tolerance. Maybe the CAIR should come over and explain all this.
Jesse James got his start in the carpetbagging economic chaos in Missouri following the War of Northern Aggression.
From what PBS taught us, Mo'ham' pulled an armed robbery on pagans who pranced around a cube in Mecca. His preachings must have skipped the "Thou shalt not steal." part of the world's great religions. Had he been literate, he might have read the Bible and become a Christian or Jew. His fightin' farmers thought that they'd make an easy score - the one true profit, and never looked back.
