NEW YORK (CBS) ― As we saw after Sept. 11, 2001, the invisible victims of Islamic terrorism are other Muslims, millions of people who are horrified by the thought that some of their own could turn the words of the Quran into a justification for murder.
On Thursday, some of them took a stand against terrorism.
At the 96th Street mosque, there was something you don’t see everyday a rabbi and an imam embracing, and then standing together in unity.
“These intended evils must be condemned, and I’m here to condemn it,” said Imam Shamsi Ali of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York.
“Any attack on a Jewish religious institution is an attack on any and every religious institution,” said Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding.
It was Imam Ali who suggested the joint statement of condemnation. He said the very word “jihad” has been perverted.
“Life in Islam is so sacred, and any individual taking lives is basically taking the lives of all human beings as the holy Quran mentions,” Ali said.
[more on the video clip above]
CAIR Statement on the Alleged bombing plot:
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We applaud the FBI, the New York Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies that took part in the investigation for their efforts in helping to prevent any harm to either Jewish institutions or to our nation’s military.
“We repeat the American Muslim community’s repudiation of bias-motivated crimes and of anyone who would falsely claim religious justification for violent actions. Members of the American Muslim community should remain vigilant in reporting any activities that could harm the safety and security of our nation or its citizens.”
CAIR also requested that media outlets and public officials refrain from linking this case to mainstream Islam and to challenge those who will inevitably exploit this disturbing incident to promote anti-Muslim fear and stereotypes.
Along with innumerable condemnations of other terror incidents, CAIR has in the past launched an online anti-terror petition drive called “Not in the Name of Islam,” initiated a television public service announcement campaign of that same name and coordinated a “fatwa,” or Islamic religious ruling, against terrorism and religious extremism.
Answering Hate and Extremism with Peace and Mutual Understanding
1. A Message of Peace from Muslim Scholars to the Pope.
2. Please click here to download the whole 29-page letter entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You.”
3. Against Terrorism and Religious Extremism: Muslim Position and Responsibilities. An extremely helpful and clearly written handout by the Islamic Society of North America addressed to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
4. Brochure Anti-Terrorisme et Anti-extrémisme en langue française. Une brochure extrêmement utile et clairement écrite par la Société Islamique de l’Amérique du Nord (ISNA) adressée aux Musulmans et aux non-Musulmans francophones du monde entier.
5. Full text of fatwa by Islamic Commission of Spain against Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida (in English, French and the original Spanish).
6. Complete text of the British Muslim Clerics’ Fatwa against terrorism.
7. Complete text of fatwa of U.S. Muslim Scholars against religious extremism
The Islamic Workplace 
Posted on May 25, 2009
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