Knighthood For Rushdie

Now Religion in the News, a report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.This week’s item is from foxnews.com. June 19, 2007, with a headline:“Rushdie Knighted by Britain’s Queen.”The following are excerpts:Pakistan, on Monday, condemned Britain’s award of a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie, as a affront to Muslim sentiments. And a cabinet minister said the honor provided a justification for suicide attacks.In the Eastern city of Multon, hard line Muslim students burned effigies of Queen Elizabeth 2^nd, and Rushdie.About 100 students, carrying banners condemning the author, also chanted, “Kill him” Kill him.”On Saturday Britain announced the knighthood for the author of The Satanic Verses in an honors list timed for the official celebration of the queen’s 81^st birthday.It has also drawn condemnation from Iran.This is an occasion for the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision.Muhammad Ejac Ulhac,religious affairs minister later said in Parliament.The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism.If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British Government apologizes and withdraws the “Sir” title, Ulhac said,also urging Muslim countries to break diplomatic ties with London.

Tom:

Dave, the last statement, “The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism”

Dave:

Well, it’s terrible.

Tom:

I wonder where they ever got that idea, and it certainly has nothing to do with what he then says, that is somebody exploded a bomb on his body it would be right to do so, unless the British Government apologizes.That’s not extremism is it?

Dave:

No, no.

Tom:

You know, one of the things about this, The Satanic Verses, which was the book that Salman Rushdie wrote.It’s a pretty bizarre book, it gets up in the imagination, you’ve got dreams, this and that and so on, but the issue of The Satanic Verses, do you remember what that’s about?Supposedly, according to Islamic scholars, Muhammad, supposedly in a point of weakness, said it was okay to pray to the daughters of Allah.

Dave:

Right, el-Lat, el-Uzza and Manat.

Tom:

And then, somehow he caught himself and had that removed, and Rushdie puts that in his novel.

Dave;

Well, even more than that, Tom,—You know, I haven’t read Rushdie’s novel either, so I don’t know what it went into, but Muhammad himself was afraid that he was being inspired of the devil.He was so uncertain about this that he asked his wife, at the time, I think he only had the one wife at that time, asked her what she thought, and she put him through a test, which is agreed to by all Muslims, and sat him on her lap, and finally, when induced he’ll see this being.And finally, when she became entirely naked, then Muhammad said, No, I don’t see him anymore.Well then, this is a good spirit, this must be from Allah.

Tom:

Yes, because it left.

Dave:

Right, because it wouldn’t want to look upon a naked woman.So, that was how Muhammad became assured that he was not demon possessed, and that he was not getting messages from Satan.So, The Satanic Verses does have some substance behind it.

Tom:

But also, there’s some jibes that Khomeini, he was in Paris at the time, this was before the Revolution, and when the book came out, I think it was something like—well, there was a bounty put on, Rushdie’s head, he had to go into hiding.It was about almost 3 million dollars, and now because of this latest thing, because of him being knighted by the Queen, they added another 80 thousand pounds to the bounty.And it’s not going away, that’s my point.

Dave:

I guess the Queen should be killed as well.

Tom:

That’s what they were carrying banners, to that effect, and burning effigies of her.

Dave:

To me it is incredible!I still cannot believe it, that Bush can keep saying, Islam is peace!Suicide bombers, well, he calls them homicide bombers, so he’s got that right.What did you just have? Iraq, it was a historic event, they won a soccer match, who was the opponent? I don’t remember, but it was someone they had never beaten before, and the fans went wild.They are ecstatic, they are pouring out into the streets celebrating, this to the glory of Iraq and two suicide bombers, and cars or trucks come driving into the mob, blow themselves up, killed at least 50, and injured hundreds more.This is peace?This is Allah, this is a good god who has you do that, and why do these guys do this?Because they hoped, they think they are going to get to paradise for murdering innocent people.And the Sunnis are killing the Shiites, and the Shiites are killing the Sunnis, they are against one another.How do they resolve any issues?Blow them up!Blow them up!Kill them! Shoot them!This is peace? This is a religion of peace?Tom, they are just adding to their condemnation by saying, Well, we’re going to add more money to the Rushdie reward, and so forth.

Tom:

Dave, those who say, Yes, but there are those Muslims who are against all of this, who are—certainly wouldn’t take this approach, and so on, but where’s the outcry?Where are the marches?Where are the—

Dave:

—Muslim leaders, opposed to this?But Tom, they can’t say that,—I’m sorry, we’re out of time—Muhammad would approve this.Muhammad himself led attacks against caravans, against villages, he killed people.Muhammad said, Anyone who renounces Islam, off with his head!So, these are not extremists, it’s written into the Qur’an, more than a hundred verses about Muhammad said he’s going to take over the world—Allah has commanded him—by the sword.So, this is consistent with Islam, and it is dishonest for Muslims or President Bush or anyone else to say, oh these are extremists.No, this is Islam!As it was taught and practiced by Muhammad and by his successors for the last 1300 years!