From: "WOMEN IN ISLAM" <[log in to unmask]>

Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:49:27 -0700
 Forwarded by [log in to unmask]
 05/04/2001 01:49 PM
 -------------------

 Dear Brother/Sister in Islam:

 Time magazine in the issue of April 16, 2001 and under the title "Why
 Jerusalem Was Central to Muhammad" on pages 50-51, Karen Armstrong wrote:

 "The centrality of Jerusalem in Muslim spirituality is apparent in the story
 of Muhammad's mystical Night Journey to Jerusalem. Muslim texts make it
 clear that this was not a physical experience but a visionary
 one."

 It does not stop there, but goes on to say that Israel is not dissimilar to
 the heavenly visions of the Jewish Throne Mystics at this time.

 How convenient!

 How coincidental !!!!

 At the same time that Israeli P.M. Sharon claims Muhammad was never in
 Jerusalem. This article comes, shamelessly stating that Muslims themselves
 do not believe the miracle of their own prophet.

 Are we in need for Karen Armstrong and TIME to teach us and lie to us about
 our own beliefs?

 Are we going to be silent and let them manipulate and misrepresent our
 religion to serve Zionism, without a word of protest?

 Why is this article written by a Jew (David Van Biema) and a Christian
 (Karen Armstrong) with no representation of Islamic point of view by a
 Muslim?

 I call upon every Muslim to voice their opinion about this matter to TIME
 and to Karen Armstrong.

 If we love our prophet, we follow his Sunna and when we see wrong we change
 it.

 Please use the attached template (or your own) and write or email TIME and
 express your reaction to the shameless misrepresentation of our religion,
 history, and the miracles of our beloved prophet Muhammad.
 (pbuh)

 Email to:[log in to unmask]
 Fax to:  1-212-522-8949
 Address: TIME Magazine Letters
          TIME and LIFE Building
          Rockefeller Center
          New York, NY 10020

 PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERY MUSLIM YOU KNOW, MAY
 ALLAH REWARD YOU FOR YOUR DEEDS!

 Here is a template if you can not read an attachment:


 Dear TIME Editor:

 In your magazine, the issue of April 16, 2001 and under the title "Why
 Jerusalem Was Central to Muhammad" on pages 50-51, Karen Armstrong wrote:
 "The centrality of Jerusalem in Muslim spirituality is apparent in the story
 of Muhammad's mystical Night Journey to Jerusalem. Muslim texts make it
 clear that this was not a physical experience but a visionary
 one."

 I feel strongly that this is a misrepresentation of fundamental Islamic
 beliefs.

 It should be clear that the opinions in that article are those of the author
 and not of widely accepted Muslim texts and Muslim scholars.

 We do believe that the miraculous journey of prophet Muhammad happened in
 body and soul, and it was a physical experience. That is why we call it a
 miracle in the first place.

 As a Muslim, I find this very offensive and I demand a published apology,
 and a clarification that what was published is not the opinion of Muslim
 Scholars. It was the opinion of Karen Armstrong. Muslim's point of view was
 not represented in this article.


 Name:

 Address:

 Email:

 Phone:
  >>

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