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: >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------