MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 17 /Christian Wire Service/ — In response to news reports today of a $1-million US bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew the Muhammad caricatures, Randall Terry releases the following:
The "Traditions of the Prophet" are the words (Hadith) and the deeds (Sunnah) of Mohammed, which are NOT in the Koran. Repeat: The "Traditions" are NOT in the Koran; they are recorded by ancient Islamic historians. Furthermore, the Koran, and the "Traditions of the Prophet" form the foundation of Islamic Law – the Shari’a.
Pakistani culture and law are squarely anchored in the Koran and the "Traditions" of Mohammed; their "Ideal" for justice is based on the life of Mohammed.
Following are:
1) Passages of the Pakistani Constitution which specifically mention the "Sunnah" (the "Traditions") of Mohammed as the foundation of law. (italics added)
2) Examples of Mohammed calling for the assassination or execution of a "comic" who satirized him in poetry of song.
Examples of "The Traditions" in Constitution from Pakistan
Preamble
Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;
Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed;
Wherein the Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and requirements of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah…
Islamic Provisions
227. (1) All existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, in this Part referred to as the Injunctions of Islam, and no law shall be enacted which is repugnant to such Injunctions.
In the following passage, we see that the secular government submits itself to the ruling of religious scholars and clerics who serve in the "Islamic Council."
230. (1) The functions of the Islamic Council shall be,
(a) to make recommendations to [Majlis- e- Shoora (Parliament)] and the Provincial Assemblies as to the ways and means of enabling and encouraging the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives individually and collectively in all respects in accordance with the principles and concepts of Islam as enunciated in the Holy Quran and Sunnah… (More can be found at www.pakistani.org)
The following quotes are from the most respected Islamic historians. These show Mohammed himself calling for the death of those who dared to satirize him. To answer- "What Would Mohammed Do?" – we must study what he did.
Example 1) Ibn Ishaq recounts the killing of "the enemy of God" named Ka’b son of al-Ashraf. After Badr, Ka’b "began to inveigh against the apostle…" He wrote satirical verses of poetry that were insulting to Mohammed and Islamic women. Mohammed said, "Who will rid me of the son of Ashraf?" Muhammad son of Maslama said, ‘I will deal with them for you, O apostle of God, I will kill him.’ He said, ‘Do so if you can.’" Mohammed then gave the assassin permission to lie and deceive the target of his wrath. Amazingly, the killer recruited the victim’s foster brother, who had become a Muslim. Together, with the foster brother having the victim’s confidence, they led him on a midnight stroll pretending to visit and conduct business with him. On signal, they lunged on him. The assassin reported: "I thrust [my dagger] into the lower part of his body, then I bore down upon it until I reached his genitals, and the enemy of God fell to the ground… Our attack upon God’s enemy cast terror among the Jews, and there was no Jew in Medina who did not fear for his life" (See page 365 — 368, Ibn Ishaq, The Life of Mohammed)
Example 2) Tragically, we see that women are not exempt from this type treatment. When Abu ‘Afak was assassinated for publicly speaking against Mohammed’s killing of another man, Asma daughter of Marwan wrote verses of poetry against Mohammed for Abu ‘Afak’s murder. Ishaq records: "When the apostle heard what she had said he said, ‘who will rid me of Marwan’s daughter?’ Umayr… who was with him heard him, and that very night he went to her house and killed her. In the morning he came to the apostle and told him what he had done and he (Mohammed) said, ‘You have helped God and his apostle, O Umayr!’ When he asked if he would have to bear any evil consequences the apostle said, ‘ Two goats won’t but their heads about her…’" (Ibn Ishaq, 675-676)
Example 3) [This happened during the conquest of Mecca. "After this man [named Abd Allah] had accepted Islam, the messenger of God [Mohammed] had sent him out to collect charity contributions, and the company of one of the ansar. With him also he took a freed-man he had. Later he became angry with the freed-man, killed him and apostatized and became a polytheist again. He had two female singers, Fartana and a friend, who would sing songs mocking the messenger of God and the Muslims. This is why the messenger of God condemned him and the two singers to death. He was killed while he clutched the hangings of the ka’ba…one of his women singers was killed, while the other one was granted clemency." (Ibn Kathir, The Life of the Prophet Mohammed, Vol. III, page 403)
Randall Terry has spent a year and a half immersed in a study of Islam. His studies have included: beginning his Arabic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus Campus; college courses on Islamic history and sociology; spending seven weeks studying historic sites in Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece; doing extensive research in Islamic primary sources for a lengthy project comparing Christ and Mohamed. Mr. Terry is the author of five published books; he is currently the President of the Society for Truth and Justice.
Randall Terry has a B.A. (with a concentration in communications) from the State University of New York; a B.A. from Whitfield College School of Religion; and a three-year degree from Elim Bible Institute, majoring in The Bible (Old and New Testament). His theological and communications background provide a unique vantage point from which to study and discuss the religion, history, and sociology of Islam.
To interview Mr. Terry, call 904 819 9450. For more information on Islam go to: http://www.randallterry.com/ and click on "Randall’s Writings"