02/09/2006

Cartoon Deaths: Mohammed Ordered Execution of Satirists
Islamic Historians Record the Deaths “It is time we begin asking the question: “What Would Mohammed Do?” Only then will we understand Islamic culture and law.” Randall Terry, President, The Society for Truth and Justice.

Christian Wire Service/ -- The following response to the violence surrounding the political cartoons of Mohammed is from Randall Terry, President of the Society for Truth and Justice. Randall Terry is available for comment.

The following are examples in Islamic history of what happened to people in the past who satirized Mohammed. Most Americans do not understand the reaction from the Muslim world to the cartoons satirizing Mohammed. The answer is not simply found in the Quran. Rather, it is to be found in the words (Hadith) and deeds (Sunna) of Mohammed that are outside of the Quran, but are foundational to Islamic law.

In short, Mohammed ordered the assassination or execution of those who satirized him in poetry or in song. His deeds and words concerning those who satirized him are the foundation for Islamic law that condemns mocking or showing disrespect to Mohammed. In a nation under Islamic law, it is a crime punishable by imprisonment or death to mock Mohammed, or deny he is the Apostle of God.

What follows are 3 historic accounts from Ibn Kathir and Ibn Ishaq. Ibn Kathir is a beloved and respected Islamic historian and theologian; he was a devout Muslim who lived to from 1313 to 1387; he was born in Iraq and died in Damascus. Ibn Ishaq, perhaps the premiere Islamic historian of the life of Mohammed, wrote the celebrated work, The Life of Mohammed. He was born in 694A.D in Medina and died in 760A.D in Baghdad.

Background for the following story: Mohammed had just taken Mecca with the force of 10,000 soldiers; when he entered, he listed six people who were to be executed when they were apprehended. What follows is an account concerning three of those people. Added words for editorial clarity are found in brackets [i.e.].

"After this man [named Abd Allah] head accepted Islam, the messenger of God [Mohammed] had sent him out to collect charity contributions, and the company of one of the ansar. With him also he took a freed-man he had. Later he became angry with the freed-man, killed him and apostatized and became a polytheist again. He had two female singers, Fartana and a friend, who would sing songs mocking the messenger of God and the Muslims. This is why the messenger of God condemned him and the two singers to death. He was killed while he clutched the hangings of the ka’ba . . . one of his women singers was killed, while the other one was granted clemency.” (Ibn Kathir, The Life of the Prophet Mohammed, Vol. III, page 403)

Mohammed also ordered the private assassination of satirists. Here are 2 examples of assassination for satirizing Mohammed. The next 2 assassinations are recorded by Ibn Ishaq.

Background for the following story: a man named Abu ‘Afak wrote poetry against Mohammed and the Muslims “when the apostle killed” one of his friends.

"The apostle said, ‘Who will deal with this rascal for me?’ Whereupon Salim b Umayr . . . went forth and killed him.” (Ibn Ishaq, Page 675)

Upon his assassination, a female friend of the deceased Abu “Afak named Asma D. Marwan composed lyrics against Mohammed, condemning the killing of her friend, and condemning her countrymen who had adopted the new religion of Mohammed.

"When the apostle heard what she had said he said, 'Who will rid me of Marwan's daughter?' Umayr... who was with him heard him, and that very night he went to her house and killed her. In the morning he came to the apostle and told him what he had done and he [Mohammed] said, 'You have helped God and his apostle, O Umayr!' When he [Umayr] asked if he would have to bear any evil consequences the apostle said, ' Two goats won't but their heads about her...'" (Ibn Ishaq, page 676, The Life of Mohammed)

Randall Terry makes the following statements about the “cartoon violence”:

“It is time we begin asking the question in earnest: “What Would Mohammed Do?” Only then will we understand Islamic culture and law. “Mohammed authorized the assassination or demanded the execution of at least a half a dozen people who satirized him in poetry or song. It should come as no surprise that devoted followers of Mohammed would call for the death sentence of those who recently satirized Mohammed in cartoons.

“The current violence can only be understood through the grid of the life of Mohammed himself. If we want to understand Islam, we must do more than read the Quran; we must study ‘the traditions of the prophet.’”

Mr. Terry is available for interview at 904-819-9450

New York Press: Randall Terry will be delivering a seminar entitled: "What Would Mohammed Do?” On Saturday, February 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Malvern, Long Island. The seminar will be held at The Church of the Intercessor, located at 50 St. Thomas Place. Admission is free; the public and the press are invited to attend.

Randall Terry has spent the last year and a half studying Islam. His studies have included: beginning his Arabic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus Campus; college courses on Islamic history and sociology; spending seven weeks studying historic sites in Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece; doing extensive research in Islamic primary sources for a lengthy project comparing Christ and Mohamed. Mr. Terry is the author of five published books; he is currently the President of the Society for Truth and Justice.

Randall Terry has a B.A. (with a concentration in communications) from the State University of New York; a B.A. from Whitfield College School of Religion; and a three-year degree from Elim Bible Institute, majoring in The Bible (Old and New Testament). His theological and communications background provide unique strengths to study and discuss the religion, history, and contemporary sociology of Islam.