Muslims in Kingdom welcome Jones' cancellation of plan

Ibrahim Badawood

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world expressed their happiness over the Florida pastor's decision to call off his announced plan to burn copies of the Holy Qur'an on the anniversary of 9/11.

Speaking to Arab News, they said Rev. Terry Jones of the Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center, took the right decision by canceling his provocative anti-Qur'an campaign, which could have triggered more violence around the world.

Yasin Alireza, a Jeddah-based Saudi businessman, said the cancellation of Qur'an burning by Jones under pressure from US government was a victory for Muslims. He criticized sensationalist media for giving unnecessary publicity to "this crazy man and his stupid plan."

Alireza said nobody could burn the words of God. "Even if you burn the book, the words of God would remain and the those who burn it would be burned in Hell fire." He urged the media not to give wide publicity to such nefarious acts that would undermine world peace.

Ibrahim Badawood, an executive, said he was overjoyed hearing the news that the pastor had canceled his plan. He said a group of Jews and Christians in San Francisco had planned to gather in a park to read the Qur'an on Saturday, protesting Jones' plan. He urged Muslims not to react violently against such provocative actions. "We should be proactive and use this opportunity to spread the message of Qur'an."

Dr. Abdalelah Saaty, dean of the College of Business in Rabigh, said Rev. Jones was not representing Christianity. "He should know that by urging Christians to burn the copies of the Qur'an he was inviting extremist Muslims to burn the Bible. Let them read the Qur'an, instead of burning it."

He praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue in order to boost world peace and stability.

Jamal Muhammad, an Islamic scholar from India and Qur'an researcher, described Jones' decision as an intelligent one that came late. "He had given a wrong message to extremist Christians to burn the Holy Book," Muhammad said and called upon Christians and other non-Muslims to learn the Qur'an, which is a blessing from God to the whole humanity.

Salah Karadan, former chairman of International Indian School, Jeddah, was extremely happy over the good news that came on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr. "Everybody was praying it should not happen. Some of my Christian friends voiced their opposition against the Florida pastor's plan to burn the Qur'an." Karadan said the pastor's move would have destroyed communal harmony all over the world. "We should respect the religion and sacred books of others."

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