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Muslim Celebrities Condemn Attacks
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Muslim celebrities in the U.S. and U.K. condemned the terrorists who attacked New York and Washington last Tuesday.
Popular entertainer Yusuf Islam said that "no right thinking follower of Islam" would condone such actions.
Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, converted to Islam 22 years ago and has since then channeled his talents in the service of Islam.
In a posting on Cat Stevens website, Yusuf Islam said: "I wish to express my heartfelt horror at the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed against innocent people of the United States.
"While it is still not clear who carried out the attacks, it must be stated that no right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action: the Qur'an equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity.
"We pray for the families of all those who lost their lives in this unthinkable act of violence, as well as all those injured; I hope to reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the victims at this sorrowful moment."
In Houston, basketball star Hakeem Olajuwon expressed his grief and sadness over the loss of innocent lives in New York and Washington.
Terming the attacks as totally un-Islamic, Olajuwon told the Houston
Chronicle: "The [Qur'an] has rules to follow, even in a time of war. The soldiers fight. But there is no killing of children or women or civilians. That's why this was not done in the name of Islam."
"The five pillars of Islam are to recognize God as supreme, to pray five times a day, to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, to give charity to the poor and to visit the holy city of Mecca.
"How do these fundamentals translate to terrorism? These are not fundamentalists. They are extremists. This is politics and we must separate it from the practice of being a Muslim. Islam is not a threat. It is a value system that teaches a higher level in character and dignity. It does not make you an animal, a barbarian."
Olajuwon called on Americans to not to associate Islam with terrorism. "Please, don't put us all together with them," he said.
"Not only is it unfair, but it would be incorrect. Look at the bombing in Oklahoma City. It was committed by someone who would represent himself to be a Christian. But we do not blame that act on Christianity.
"We are part of the same community. We have been exposed to the same danger. There were Muslims who were killed inside the World Trade Center. There were Muslim firefighters who died trying to save people.
"We feel the same concern. We share the same compassion and frustration and feelings. You cannot be a decent human being and not have those same feelings," he added.
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