Imam condemns attempted plane bombing, attacks on Churches
Imam Mohammad Elsad, head of the Muslim Community in Malta, has condemned the attempting bombing of an airliner on Christmas Day and the attacks on Christian Churches in Malaysia after a court allowed a newspaper to use the word Allah.
"With great satisfaction and relief, I and peace loving Muslims, receive the good news of the failure of a criminal terrorist plot by the Nigerian Umar Farowk Abdulmutallab where he intended to blow up the US Airliner on Christmas Day," the Imam said in a statement.
"We thank Allah The Merciful for the failure of that satanic attempt for five reasons:
"First, because all innocent souls on board were saved.
"Second, because an additional unjustified harm against Muslims, resulting from generalization, was avoided.
"Third, because a new evil attempt to hijack Islam and defame its true image, was frustrated.
"Fourth, because to attempt to worsen the relation crises between the Muslim nation and the American Administration, was averted.
"Fifth, because, a new terroristic attack which could let extremists in the US exert pressure on President Barack Obama to change his new friendly approach towards the Islamic World failed," the Imam said.
"Off course we condemn without reservation such a heinous attempt and any similar attack on innocent people, irrespective of their faiths, colours, races or circumstances .
"Even if in certain countries, governments are committing injustices against Muslims, it is forbidden for Muslims to kill the innocent citizens of that country because injustices are not defeated by other injustices but by fairness.
"We - peace loving Muslims - are absolutely against terrorism because we and our faith are its first victims.
"We hope that the recent terrorist attempt to explode the American plane and other continuous terroristic and suicide bombing turn the attention of the American administration and the Muslim governments to examine their policies and find out: What is wrong there? Why is there such a sense of anger, humiliation and frustration with some Muslim youth highly educated like doctors, engineers .... which lead them to kill themselves and kill the innocent people believing that they have a just cause?
"To stop terrorism the world is in need for wise and courageous leaders to admit their faults, change their wrong policies and do justice."
ATTACKS ON CHURCHES
The Imam also noted that several churches were attacked and damaged by unknown extremists in Malaysia after the High court ruled in favour of the Catholic Herald newspaper to use the name of " Allah" as a translation of God.
"We believe that the people who opposed this ruling have a misunderstanding of the word ‘Allah' which, according to the Holy Quran, is not only the God of Muslims. He is the Lord of all creation ( Quran1:2) He is the Lord of Muslims, Jews and Christians, " Say ( Prophet ) (to the Jews and Christians, " How can you argue with us about Allah whom He is our Lord and your Lord?" (Quran 2:139) .
"I believe that we Muslims should feel happy when the people of other faiths use "Allah" for God, because for us He is the True God."
The Imam said the Maltese and the Arab Christians used Allah for God and the Muslim community never felt offended by that. On the contrary, it turned attention to the common points between Islam and Christianity.
"We join the Malaysian Government and Opposition in condemning the criminal attack against the churches which contradicts the true teachings of Islam which should guarantee the freedom of worship and the protection of the places of worship of all faiths. We appreciate the Malaysian government initiative to grant compensations to restore and maintain the damaged churches."
The Imam said that while he was sure that the Malaysian Government would do its best to enforce the law and secure the safety of the Malaysian Christians and their churches, the Muslim community was calling on the Malaysian government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
KILLINGS IN EGYPT
Regarding the events in Egypt where six Coptic Christians and a Muslim Policeman were killed on Christmas Eve by men believed to be Muslims who wanted to avenge an alleged rape of a twelve year old Muslim girl by a Coptic youth, the Imam referred to the words of Prophet Muhammad who said: "Who kills a man of the people of (Themmah) (Christian or a Jew) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise".
"We condemn such an attack on innocent people and we extend our condolences to the victims' families and we pray for the quick recovery of the wounded," the Imam said.
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Joe Xuereb
Jan 13th 2010, 17:23
I would give credence to the imam if he condemned islamic terrorism, told ITS leaders to be just, etc. and advised the muslims invading the West by stealth and whatever means to go back to where they came from and be good muslims if that is what they want to practise. Western ways are not compatible with deep and alien religious beliefs, with some more than others. We have enough problems with the home-grown deeply religious thank you very much.
The usual apologists are out in force, I see. They are so desperate for peace they are grateful for crumbs. Let us hope they will not choke on them one day.
The imam is using this incident to make his agenda look squeaky clean. This act would have damaged Islam. What about the damage that is being done to the West.
Personally, I would not trust this man any further than I could throw him. I believe he it was who claimed, in an interview some months back, that the planet is for people to roam because that is what Jesus did. And the apologists fell for it hook, line and sinker.
colin stanley
Jan 12th 2010, 10:56
If the Imam,really means what he said and it's coming from his heart, we should commend him for his words. another thing , is the christain religon older than lslam, what are we supposed to call our god in Maltese. (Carmenu ) !!!!
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 12th 2010, 00:40
Let us just remember that the Islamic World did not impose the Psychology of Nuclear Devastation on the whole of Humanity. I do not agree with Sharia Law. People may, quite rightly, find it barbaric, and I concurr. But then again I do not agree with Nuclear Weapons,which I, quite frankly, relate to Schizophrenia or somekind of Double Personality Disorder.
I wellcome the Imam statements.
Joe Portelli
Jan 11th 2010, 22:21
Yeah OK, very well done. Who cannot agree with these comdemnations ?
However, would the Gentleman, go further and condem female genetal mutiliation or chopping hands off some who steals ?
WIth great respect, these are the serious questions that protect individuals and not something so obvious as international terrorism. The whole world condems International Terrorism, from any qaurters, the Super Powers or the small cells. But I am very much under the impression that the Iman would not go further and condem FGM a the human rights to Allah's creation of women for instance? I hope I am wrong - but much more than condeming the obvious needs to be done to repair distrust between his ideology - after all he , like other imans , does not represent the Muslim religion. A new Iman would have different code as there is no structure to control the wider muslim world. We certainly know people can be good whatever religion or no religion, sex or race. So either the Iman clearifies where he stands amd clear doubt or else letsmove on.
Peter Bonnici
Jan 11th 2010, 22:12
@ Wally vella zarb. Suicide would have made him a martyr. Capital punishment will make him a martyr........dunno, you tell me.
W Spencer
Jan 11th 2010, 21:33
@ R Curmi
Read the Koran to learn about the present and long term aims of Islam. Be afraid !
david calleja-urry
Jan 11th 2010, 21:02
@ Antoine Vella - well said sir, all men should condem without reservations ALL atrocities against anyone - irrespective of their religious beliefs - i'm positive that whatever faith you happen to embrace - the murder and wanton destruction of innocent people is condemned ... we need more people like the head of the Muslim community in Malta to speak out like this.
wally vella-zarb
Jan 11th 2010, 20:29
@ Peter Bonnici Why ask the Imam? If found guilty, the failed bomber will most probably be executed by the 'civilised' Americans. What do YOU suggest? Perhaps a suspended sentence?
R Curmi
Jan 11th 2010, 18:44
Well said Mr Imam. If only there are more people as vocal as you then the Muslim religion would not have such a bad image brought on it by the ignorance of some individuals.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Jan 11th 2010, 18:31
" Imam condemns attempted plane bombing, attacks on Churches" And about time too.
Peter Bonnici
Jan 11th 2010, 18:30
Does the Imam have any recommenations for the punishment of the suspected bomber? Anything he'd like to see chopped off?
Robert Callus
Jan 11th 2010, 18:11
I commend Mr El Sadi for his wise words. Also, thanks to him, Catholic authorities and other religions practiced in Malta, we are free from religious tensions some countries are facing. However, I must say I still feel disappointed at what he had said in regard to homosexuals, and believe he ows the LGBT community an apology. @George Cutajar What do you mean get us to his side? Convert ot Islam? You are wrong. When I needed his help and another member from the Muslim community, for my studies, tried to lure me towards conversion. I asked them why (had already told them Im agnostic) and the reply was 'We will guide you towards converting to Islam only if you ask for it. All you wanted was material for your studies' I do not believe Mr El Sadi and other Muslim authorities have any agenda in converting people who are not interested in doing so.
Muscat D
Jan 11th 2010, 18:02
A step in the right direction.
Jasmine Grech
Jan 11th 2010, 17:17
My utmost respect to Imam Mohammad Elsad - Thank You very much for your kind words.
Antoine Vella
Jan 11th 2010, 17:00
If Muslims do not condemn terror attacks we denounce them, if they do condemn such attacks you still find unreasonable people like George Cutajar who denounce them anyway.
These are noble words by the Imam and he should be thanked and congratulated by all persons of good will. We cannot ask more from him.
M.Gauci
Jan 11th 2010, 15:44
Imam Mohammad Elsad is a well respected man in Malta. I congratulate this cleric for these brave words.
Joe Morana
Jan 11th 2010, 15:32
Further to my earlier comment: Therefore, it is also reasonable to assume that flights into and out of Detroit carry many Moslem passengers!
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Jan 11th 2010, 15:09
Coming from someone who extols the virtues of Sharia Law the statement cannot be taken seriously. I think this is all an attempt - useless as far as I am concerned - to get us on your side.
Joe Morana
Jan 11th 2010, 15:00
Detroit, the destination of the NW flight alluded to in this article, counts a sizeable Arab community among its citizenery. It stands to reason that a large proportion of these citizenery is Moslem.