A letter to Terry Johns

Contemporary Muslims have, to a far extent, fallen behind in reaching out to the world with the Islamic ethical and moral model, as their grandfathers did in the past. Hence, they have been unable to contribute to the current global civilization, a severe drawback that left the door wide-open for opponents to attack Islam.

Every time Islam was attacked, the Muslims' reaction was highly emotional, short-term, and confined to acts that have a negligible impact on the other party.

Last September the American pastor Terry Johns drew worldwide attention for his plan to burn copies of the Holy Quran, a decision he revoked later because of worldwide condemnation.

A month later, I wrote an e-mail to Dr. Terry regarding that controversial plan, inviting him to carefully read and understand the Holy Quran before burning it which reads as follows:

Dear Dr. Johns,

It is time emotions and temper lulled and calmed down. I see it proper to write to you in response to your dramatic plan to burn the Muslim Quran, as you see it as a symbol of a terrorist religion namely, Islam and would like to bring the following to your attention:

1- In fact burning of leaves will not delete the ethics and values of the religion but rather will fuel contempt and aggression even amongst the moderate Muslims and they are numerous.

2 -The 9/11 incident still needs a lot of effort to be scrutinized, as it is sophisticated script is obviously beyond the potential and capabilities of a bunch of half-educated boys inhabited the Afghanistan Tora Bora caves:

http://www.wtc7.net/articles/kimball/thirdskyscraper.html

3 -In the U.S.A, there are many ethical rules, which are compatible to those ordained by Islam, one of which is not to cast reckless accusations arbitrarily without a proof, and you said you did not read the Quran. So, how would you burn it before knowing what it is all about?

However, I invite you to read and understand the Quran (Although to be fluent in Arabic language is a prerequisite to fully understand the Quran).

And attached some phrases and comments by eminent western scholars about Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran, which I trust you will read carefully and give a fair and unbiased judgment:

http://www.islamreligion.com/category/47/ a-

http://www.rasoulallah.net/v2/document.aspx?lang=en&doc=10401 b-

http://www.sultan.org/articles/QScience.html c-

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MB_BQS/default.htm d-

Truly yours,

Abdulhadi Attuwaijri