MAKKAH, 24 February 2003 — The imam of the Grand Mosque here has lambasted what he called the intellectual terrorism of certain organizations against Muslims.
He also stated that the Muslim nation will not accept any attack on their beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Addressing more than a million faithful who thronged the large mosque complex for the Juma prayer on Friday, Dr. Saleh ibn Humaid, who is also chairman of the Shoura Council, said Muslims wanted a public apology for the false accusations leveled against their religion and the Prophet.
“These allegations and falsifications came from influential persons, including those who have links with politicians and decision makers, and have got wide publicity through the international media,” he said and warned against the serious consequences of such campaigns.
“This is not the first time the Prophet has come under false attacks. It started during the early Islamic period but it affected neither his life nor the growth and popularity of Islam,” he said, and urged Muslims not to respond to these provocative campaigns.
Humaid called for joint efforts by Muslims to confront these campaigns and urged them to use all their potentials to refute the falsifications. “Pro-Israeli Zionist and extremist Christian organizations were spearheading this unjust smear campaign,” he pointed out. The imam also advised Islamic scholars to spread the exemplary life and teachings of the Prophet including his magnanimity, benevolence, tolerance and justice.
The imam denounced the strident smear campaign against Islam and Muslims. “From the podium of this Grand Mosque, I call upon the world’s intellectuals to shun these biased attacks and intellectual terrorism,” he said. Such campaigns would trigger vengeance, hatred and provocation and lead to tragedies detrimental to all.
He urged seekers of truth and advocates of justice to learn about Islam from its original sources and study the life of its Prophet dispassionately. “Muslims are proud that their religion prohibits ignoring or denying other prophets. It also prevents them from attacking other religions,” he pointed out.
Muslims respect all previous prophets including Abraham, Moses and Jesus. God has sent the Prophet Muhammad as a blessing to the whole world. “The Prophet Muhammad was a role model for humanitarianism, the pinnacle of morality,” he said.
The number of Muslims in the world exceeds 1.25 billion. They constitute one fourth of the world population and live in 54 countries. “The Muslim nation with its massive strength condemns these attacks and allegations against their religion and the Prophet,” he said.