Florida pastor calls off Qur'an-burning, says mega-mosque to move away from Ground Zero

We are being had. Jones was threatened. Rauf has no intention of moving that mosque. What the hell is going on?

From the story:

"Jones said Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida told him that officials would guarantee that the mosque would be moved."

WHO is Imam Muhammad Musri, of Central Florida, and what does he have to do with Rauf or Cordoba? Can he speak on behalf of, or make decisions for, Rauf??

NO WAY!

Color me jaded, but there is no way this story could be true. Ain't gonna happen. Time after time, for 1400 years, the hudna trick has been played, a la Lucy holding the football, and the only winner is repeatedly Muslims.

I'll keep watching the headlines, Robert, but this one is a bridge too far.

Something I put up 2 1/2 weeks ago:

Saturday, 21 August 2010

When Feisal Abdul Rauf Returns

"I have just returned from a trip to Muslim countries undertaken on behalf of my own country, the United States. This was my second such trip. My first trip was during the Administration of President George Bush, and my second is during the Administration of President Barack Obama. Both men wanted me to take to the world’s Muslims the message of a proud American Muslim, to tell them of how America works, of how our policy of tolerance ensures that someone such as I, for example, can be entrusted with such a mission even at a time when American forces are engaged in two Muslim countries, engaged of course not to harm Islam, but to help Muslims find their true path, their true destiny, without succumbing to the violent extremists within Islam, as within other faiths, who have lately been so much in the news, and who we all know are our common enemies.

When I left, just a few weeks ago, I knew there was some opposition afoot, and some plans hatching in certain political circles, to attempt to whip up popular sentiment against what some keep calling, though no Muslim I know ever did, the “Ground Zero” mosque. I invite anyone – anyone – to look at a map of lower Manhattan, and to tell me that the building that was bought, with the intention of creating a Muslim community center which would contain a mosque, but which would also contain lecture halls, and a library, and rooms for social events, and all the other things that would benefit not only the Muslims who would attend the mosque, but all the people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, who would be invited to many of those lectures, who would be invited to social events too, in order to find out more about Muslims who apparently are such a source of agitation and worry. I want – we all want – to put any misunderstandings to rest.

And just before I left, I had heard the magnificent speech of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who who called upon all of us to remember just who, as Americans, we are and what America is all about. He reminded us of the great defense of religious freedom that our first President, George Washington, had sent to a member of the Touro Synagogue, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He said that he stood by those of us who wanted to build a Muslim Center that would also be a center for outreach, for mutual understanding, for tolerance. He said it would be a travesty of all that he – that we – hold dearest, if those who would divide us – the dividers, the haters – managed to have their way, to stop this Muslim community center, which has now been demonized as part of some kind of plot to establish Muslim supremacy, when it is nothing more and nothing less than what I, and my wife Daisy, and so many others always wanted it to be, a place where people could pray, could learn, could listen, could laugh, could come together in this vibrant metropolis, with all its splendid diversity.

And as I made my way through one Muslim country after another, I read, and heard, the echoes of what was going on at home, and I thought about what would be best for everyone, and finally I decided that I had to make a decision along with fellow members of the Muslim community. I listened with great respect, too, to Mayor Bloomberg and to others. And so today, it is with a heavy heart, but with a feeling of deep relief and continued belief in the goodness and rightness of this country, that I announce that the project that was to be built, so many of us had hoped, in lower Manhattan, will not be built where we had, in our innocence, planned to build it. Instead, we have decided to accept the gracious offer of Governor Paterson for a site elsewhere. And it is on that site that we shall build our Muslim center, as that model place of tolerance and outreach that we had always had in mind. And all those who visit us will be reminded, merely by its placement, of the kind of attitudes we have had to overcome, and that they, or their own ancestors, once had to overcome in the same way.

I hope – I do not expect, but I hope – that this will forever end what the dividers, and the mockers, and the haters, have tried to encourage, in order to suit their own small-minded political goals. And during this difficult time, when a plan for a community center was twisted by talk-show hosts and others hoping to cash in, into some kind of beachhead for an invading army, thankfully tens of millions of Americans have stood by us, have reaffirmed the noblest traditions of this country. And now that we have decided to remove the source of such controversy, let us hope that those talk show hosts, and those hate-site bloggers, who will no doubt savor their victory, and crow over it, but at least may have the decency to now let us get on with the business of building, slowly and quietly, as men of good will, a truly diverse United States of America, and that there will be no further hate-filled opposition whipped up against a mosque or a community center with a mosque, anywhere in these United States.

And let us build an America where there is no compulsion in religion, and where all shall be free of the shackles that prevent them from learning how to approach, from every angle, that path, so wide and so welcoming, that inevitably takes mankind on the best and truest way to know God, and to fulfill his will, and his directives, here on earth.

Thank you."

Well, let's see what happens.

What now?

Do we have to give in again? We must keep the momentum and let the so called American- muslims know that in this country we will fight against their sharia agenda. Let us not forget September 11, and the thousands of civil rights violations they have commited agaisnt the infidels.

Regardless of Jones' activities, others should begin now to organise an event for next year, the tenth anniversary of 9-11. Stoke this fire every day for a year.

...but there are other ways to desecrate a Qu'ran.

Momentous? It means that the fate of the world is in the hands of idiots and publicity seekers! Well, maybe it always has been.

http://whyyouexist.blogspot.com

Unhappily he needed a way out and he has been fooled into thinking he has achieved the impossible in New York.To burn books is silly,unless you are cold in winter and that's all you have.
I once shared my faith with an Asian fellow who made to wipe his bottom with the leaflet i gave him.I felt like giving him a clout at the time,but promised to pray for him and his family....this took the wind from his sails!The real Christian way is the only way.We are to answer the evil of Islam with another Spirit.Thank God for the wise council on this forum.

This is a very clever move by the pastor in Florida. He can postpone the Quran burning under the pretense that they promised to move the mosque.

If Rauf comes back and denies it, the pastor can go ahead with the Quran burning and blame Rauf.

I get the idea that this pastor is a half-bubble off plumb.

He doesn't know what's really in the Qur'an.

He's like the Chauncy Gardner of the anti-jihad.

And he just got called out.

He got a phone call from someone with a foreign accent who called himself Imama;seldkfaaldkjfhdh dfhjsdfh and he started to make deals.

However, I have to say he's give us a good idea...use the Qur'an and Mohammed drawing as weapons. It's too easy given how fragile their little egos are.

Hmmm. Not enough information here. Dubious.

I had a two-hour debate with Pastor Jones last night on ABN. You can watch the debate here:

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2010/09/should-quran-be-burned-david-wood-and.html

Now that the threat of burning the quran has been opened as a tactic, it is bound to happen.
This whole situation is on a hair trigger, one spark and it will kick off, you can be sure the muslims are up for it .
It is going to happen and sooner would be better than later.
Premption or reaction?

Conflicting reports, doesn't look like they'll throw in the towel just yet.

Here's my response to Rauf's not-so-veiled threats to those against the mosque.

He caved, is all that happened.

The FBI, Gates, colossal public obloquy.

Probably threats of legal harassment and prosecution.

I pity him.

FOX just had a report on that GZM officials dismissed Donald Trump's offer to buy the GZM site for 25% more than what was paid for it as (paraphrase) "a cheap publicity stunt."

Did NOT that Egyptian "investor" say he'd take any genuine offer???

These people are spinning so many lies...it's nothing BUT lies!

The Florida Pastor has decided to cancel the Koran burning!

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/Q/QURAN_BURNING?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Interesting article in the Tampa Tribune today also included Imam Musri. I read the two articles in the Tribune today (bought a copy for once). They featured interviews with two Muslims. The first was an interview with Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. Imam Musri drove to Gainesville to speak with the Pastor. Both men sat and talked for 30 minutes and discussed biblical scriptures. After the meeting, Musri shared his impression of Jones. "I don't think he's a bigot or racist. I think he's trying to express his point of view and does not know enough about Islam. He does not have a hatred of us. He has a problem with the Extremis Muslims."

Another article interiewed Tampa CAIR spokesman Ramzy Killic. (nice name by the way ). His remarks?

"Hate speech, leads to hate crimes"

"Terry Jones is a fringe element, but history has shown that fringe elements can cause a lot of damage"

"We want people to know that American Muslims are part of the American fabric, but we also have an obligation to speak out against repulsive forms of bigotry and religious discrimination".

Notice the difference in the between the two.

One took the time to drive 2 hours up to meet with Pastor Jones and was quite impressed with him, discussed biblical scriptures. The other read the CAIR manual for dealing with Dhimmis

Because lying is an inherent part of the Islamic culture there is no way that a kuffir can ever trust the word of a Muslim. So imbued in Islamic culture is lying that even when both parties to a contract are Muslim, neither party is ever quite sure. When lying is so deeply embedded in your culture and the individual psyche it is understandable that conspiracy theories run rampart and that there is no security in property interests.

Just to say the BBC and MSM this side of the pond are ecstatic.

this mosque should not be built there. while I think they have every right to build it, it very insensetive and while I think this pastor burning the Koran is idiotic ha has every right to burn the Koran. if this is true that they are going to move the site because he agreed that he is not going to burn the Koran then we all lost.
M

The new muslim mission statement:

"Do what I tell you and no one gets hurt."

Donald Trump offered to buy out an investor of the GZ Mosque.

No deal. The GZ mosque is about nothing but Islamic dominance.

LOL!!!! The good pastor said that it would be a sign from God that he should not burn the Koran and that sign would be that the Imam would not go thru with the mosque. So now it is up to God that he spoke or speaks to the Imam and said or says "Don't build that damn mosque."

Our efforts to combat jihad are not one man's great idea and project: this is a movement across the world that has existed in one form or another since Mohammed first turned to violence, and this movement will last far longer than any of us. It is seemingly eternal. This is not about Terry Jones. This is about each of us as individuals acting, or not acting. whether Jones carries through with his promise to burn Qur'ans or not, it is still up to individuals to continue this effort forward. Many will, no matter what others do or do not do. Whether one acts from Faith or its opposite, from Will, the battle continues for those who involve themselves in it. One man, regardless of who he is, doesn't matter overmuch. There will always be another to replace him.

If Jones fails us, let us carry on, better than he, and he was no great man to begin with. Let us organise for the coming year to burn Qur'ans at a Burning Man Festival on 9-11, giving us all time to practice and sort out ourselves as capable and talented or not.

Four years ago or so I went across the Internet to the best of my abilities apologising at Muslim web-sites for those who were secretly burning Qur'ans in this city. I wrote of how dozens of cities in this part of Canada were hosting Qur'an burnings and how sorry I was about it. That was "cunning" given that there were no Qur'an burning events to my knowledge. And it did not good anyway, though it was amusing:
http://nodhimmitude.blogspot.com/2006/02/burning-man-festival-not-mohammed-no.html

Today we might think of going a step further and find a place where we can publicly burn Qur'ans daily. Make a bon-fire somewhere that one knows everyday one will find a burning Qur'an. Some one somewhere might take it upon himself to keep an address to send Qur'ans to just to be burnt publicly. Everyday, and then on 9-11, a giant festival of Qur'an burning for the whole world to witness. Over a year we will shake out the feeble. And then, next year, the fire-storm.

Florida pastor calls off Qur'an-burning, says mega-mosque to move away from Ground Zero

This is momentous, if it turns out to be true.
.................

I just saw Terry Jones and Imam Muhammad Musri at a press conference.

At this point, the story appears to be half true. Jones has indeed backed down on the rather ill-advised Qur'an bar-b-que, but it does not look as though Imam Rauf has agreed to move the mosque at all. from what I could gather, Jones seems to think that Musri has guaranteed that Rauf will be changing his plans for the Ground Zero mosque.

Jones has said that he will be meeting with Imam Rauf tomorrow, but that sounds like wishful thinking. Imam rauf denies the whole thing.

Whether Jones decides to get out the matches after all when he realizes he's been had, or whether this just allows him to back off while saving face, remains to be seen.

What do you know....another act of tolerance and sensitivity provided by the Christian. I'm sure imammy rauf is going to say that GZM will be moving to another location any moment now. If not, it will only multiply the negative publicity and show everyone his true colors. Couple that with the Donald attempting to provide them a hefty short term profit and it being rejected tends to make the entire situation that much deliberate.

On a side note, I know imam obama wasn't happy with the koran burning and even though he had the right, obama made the appeal to not do because it's not right. Was the same approach taken toward his brother rauf? That, although rauf may have the right to do it, that it's in poor taste and that he should move the project elsewhere?

And if the mosque doesn't move maybe the pastor sould think of having a little bonfire on the mosque site, I wonder what he should burn?

Is Jones crazy or crazy like a fox? In all his ramblings He did say that tolerance was a two-way street. Is he calling Rauf's bluff on this?

Hmmm.

Hold your horses. According to the imam in Central Florida, only promises were made that Imam Rauf would meet with Rev. Terry Jones. Sounds very squishy to me.

Tactically this would put Imam Rauf on the defensive. Now he has to explain why he won't move the project when 70+% Americans disapprove of the project to begin with.

If the News media would pick up on this angle, it would really bring more pressure on Imam Rauf and he will be analyzed to the point that people will see what they are really dealing with.

From my previous post, I think Imam Musri is being sincere with Pastor Jones. I also think even he will come to see Imam Rauf for the scum he is. What he does after that revelation is what I'll be watching for. I would be surprised to see Imam Musri go after Imam Rauf.

Imam Muhammad Musri is now saying that all he offered to do was try to set up a meeting between pastor Jones and Imam Rauf.

Here's some unsavory background on Musri, who is president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. He supported Rifqa Bary's parents when the girl fled to Florida to escape death threats from them when she converted to Christianity:

"Charlie Crist's Imam and Honor Killings"

http://www.redcounty.com/content/charlie-crists-imam-and-honor-killings

I don't know at this point if Musri deliberately misled Jones, or if Jones just heard what he wanted to hear. In any case, Imam Musri is far from "moderate".

According to ABC News, Jones claims he is canceling the Quran-burning event, on the understanding that Rauf agreed to move the GZ mosque project somewhere else. However, Rauf denies this. Read about it at this link:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/pastor-terry-jones-calls-off-koran-burning-ground-zero-mosque/story?id=11594495&page=1

More from the article (three pages at the time I accessed it):

"Gainesville Police Department Public Information Officer Corporal Tscharna Senn declined to details plans to patrol the event, but said that the department is "taking this very seriously." "We are very concerned for everyone's safety," said Senn. "However we have planned and believe that we have a very adequate plan in place to keep [the people of Gainesville] safe." The estimated cost of the extra security planned for Jones' event is "tens of thousands of dollars," according to Gainesville City Manager Russ Blackburn. Blackburn said he'll "send Pastor Jones the bill." "We want him to at least be aware of the cost incurred because of his actions," he said. There also may be early signs of copycats. According to The Associated Press, a Springfield, Tenn., minister says he also plans to burn a Koran on Saturday, saying that he thinks Jones is "doing the right thing.""

I officially declare that I will stop pointing out that Islam was founded by a mass-murdering pedophile if Islam agrees to move to Mars.

Whether they'll admit it or not, I think that all those who were supposedly against this are disappointed that it won't be going down.

Son of Walker, I agree.

The only time you can be sure a Muslim is telling the truth is when he says he will try to kill you.

The mosque will not be moved.

Why not burn Sowdi Barbaria's flag on 9/11 since 15 of the 19 hijackers were from there. Sowdis regularly shred Bibles and destroy crosses of travelers who bring them in.

Obviously the good pastor that was threatening to burn the Koran from the very beginning was never planning to actually burn a Koran. Instead, it was all a big publicity stunt and I must say as a publicity stunt it worked marvelously and probably far better than he ever imagined or hoped for, as it made international headlines for days, led to Muhammadans threatening to riot in Afghanistan and the Islamic world, focused more unwanted attention on the GZM, focused unwanted attention on Islam as a retrograde force, and caused both General Petraeus and BHO to speak out publicly in favor of Americans sacrificing and surrendering their individual rights and freedoms in abject dhimmitude and submission to Islam.

All in all I would have to say it was very effective and a brilliant publicity stunt, and thus I must commend the good pastor for dreaming it up. I mean why should he actually burn a Koran when he has already accomplished everything he set out to do plus much, much more? Not to mention that by actually burning a Koran he would be hounded for the rest of his life by Muhammadans trying to kill him until the day he died.

Indeed, as a publicity stunt, it was better than Geert Wilders' film Fitna, which also drew unwanted attention to Islam. However, unlike Geert Wilders, he won’t be hounded for the rest of his life by Muhammadans trying to kill him or have to face a Star Chamber trial for defaming Islam.

Good.I have been on record here that I don't like book-burning or banning (my quibble with Geert Wilders), and that Christians need to answer Islam with argument and refutation, not imitations of Islam's own barbaric behavior. Anthony06, thanks for your insight.

I agree with the comment two hours ago by "defender."

The sooner the conflict between free speech and Islam, the better.

The pastor chickened out. But of course, he had the whole of the dhimmi world to help break his legs. Rouf follows up by stating that Isam is not herer to barter or negotiate.

Looks like mobs of Mulims get to circumvent the Constitution and decide for America what our rights get to be. Soon, it'll be beer, then hijab, then...

Muhammad, Allah, and Muslims burning things and people.

Burning other people's religious objects

Ishaq, p. 552. (Conquest of Mecca. Muhammad destroys the polytheists' idols).
"When the apostle prayed the noon prayer on the day of the conquest he ordered that all of the idols which were round the Ka'ba should be collected and burned with fire and broken up. Fadala b. al-Mulawwih al-Laythi said commemorating the day of the conquest:
'Had you seen Muhammad and his troops
The day the idols were smashed when he entered,
You would have seen God's light become manifest
And darkness covering the face of idolatry.'"

[Note: Quran 33:21 "Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much."]

Ishaq, p. 588.
“Don’t help al-Lāt for God is about to destroy her.
How can one who cannot help herself be helped?
She that was burned in black smoke and caught in fire,
None fighting before her stones, is an outcast.*
When the apostle descends upon your land
None of her people will be left when he leaves.”
* “Lit. ‘not one for whom bloodwit must be paid’.”

Re the attack on Dhu-al-Khalasah:
“[…]When the Apostle of God captured Mecca and the Arabs embraced Islam, among the delegates who came to pay their homage was Jarir ibn-'Abdullah[16]. He came to the Apostle and embraced Islam before him. Thereupon the Apostle addressed him saying, "O Jarir! Wilt thou not rid me of dhu-al-Khalasah?" Jarir replied, "Yea." So the Apostle dispatched him to destroy it. He set out until he got to the banu-Abmas[17] of the Bajilah [tribe] and with them he proceeded to dhu-al-Khalasah. There he was met by the Khath'am and the Bahilah, who resisted him and attempted to defend dhu-al-Khalasah. He, therefore, fought them and killed a hundred men of the Bahilah, its custodians, and many of the Khath'am[15]; while of the banu-Qubafah ibn-'Amir ibn-Khath'am[18] he killed two hundred. Having defeated them and forced them into flight, he demolished the building which stood over dhu-al-Khalasah and set it on fire.[…]”
[source http://muslim-quotes.netfirms.com/islamstart.html ]

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 160:
"Narrated Jarir bin 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle has never refused to admit me since I embraced Islam, and whenever he saw me, he would smile. (In another narration) Jarir bin 'Abdullah narrated: There was a house called Dhul-Khalasa in the Pre-lslamic Period and it was also called Al-Ka'ba Al-Yamaniya or Al-Ka'ba Ash-Shamiya. Allah's Apostle said to me, "Will you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa?" So I left for it with 150 cavalrymen from the tribe of Ahmas and then we destroyed it and killed whoever we found there. Then we came to the Prophet and informed him about it. He invoked good upon us and upon the tribe of Ahmas."

Sahih Bukhari
Narrated Jarir: Allah's Apostles said to me, "Will you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa? Dhul-Khalasa was a house (of an idol) belonging to the tribe of Khath'am called Al-Ka'ba Al-Yama-niya. So, I proceeded with one hundred and fifty cavalry men from the tribe of Ahmas, who were excellent knights. It happened that I could not sit firm on horses, so the Prophet , stroke me over my chest till I saw his finger-marks over my chest, he said, 'O Allah! Make him firm and make him a guiding and rightly guided man.' " Jarir proceeded towards that house, and dismantled and burnt it. Then he sent a messenger to Allah's Apostle informing him of that. Jarir's messenger said, "By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I did not come to you till I had left it like an emancipated or gabby camel (i.e. completely marred and spoilt)." Jarir added, "The Prophet asked for Allah's Blessings for the horses and the men of Ahmas five times." (Book #52, Hadith #262)

Burning people

From an article by ex-Muslim Abul Kasem,
"If a Jew or a Christian reviles Muhammad he is killed then burned (Ash Shifa)."
"Ibn Kinana said in Al Mabsut that any Jew or Christian who reviles the Prophet can be burned by the Imam. If he likes he can kill him and then burn his body. If he likes he can burn him alive." (ibid p 412)."
http://www.islam-watch.org/AbulKasem/BismiAllah/10a.htm

Al-Ghazali (d. 1111), the Sufi theologian and Sunni jurist, claimed that in jihad...
"...one may use a catapult against them [non-Muslims] when they are in a fortress, even if among them are women and children. One may set fire to them and/or drown them..."
Cited from Bostom’s (2005) The Legacy of Jihad, orig. source: Al-Ghazali (1979). Kitab al-Wagiz fi fiqh madhab al-imam al-Safi'i, Translated into English by Dr. Michael Schub. (pp. 186, 190-91). Beirut.

Then there is this hadith quoting Muhammad:
excerpt:
“[..]Verily, Allah commanded me to burn (kill) the Quraish.[…]” (Sahih Muslim Book #040, Hadith #6853)

Muhammad ordered the destruction of the Opposition Mosque, and it was, according to at least one source, burned down while people were in it.

Ishaq, p. 609. Muhammad orders attack on the opposition mosque.
"The apostle went on until he stopped in Dhu Awan a town an hour's daylight journey from Medina. The owners of the mosque of opposition had come to the apostle as he was preparing for Tabuk, saying, 'We have built a mosque for the sick and needy and for nights of bad weather, and we should like you to come to us and pray for us there.' He said that he was on the point of travelling, and was preoccupied, or words to that effect, and that when he came back if God willed he would come to them and pray for them in it.
"When he stopped in Dhu Awan news of the mosque came to him, and he summoned Malik b. al-Dukhshum, brother of B. Salim b. 'Auf, and Ma'n b. 'Adiy (or his brother Asim) brother of B. al-'Ajlan, and told them to go to the mosque of those evil men and destroy and burn it. They went quickly to B. Salim b. 'Auf who were Malik's clan, and Malik said to Ma'n, 'Wait for me until I can bring fire from my people.' So he went in and took a palm branch and lighted it, and then the two of them ran into the mosque where its people were and burned and destroyed it and the people ran away from it.* A portion of the Quran came down concerning them: 'Those who choose a mosque in opposition and unbelief and to cause division among the believers' to the end of the passage."
*Michael Edwardes' abridged version of Edward Rehatsek's translation states: “Although there were people in it, they(1) burned and destroyed it.” (1) i.e., the men sent by Muhammad.

Muhammad's threats to those who don't attend prayers,

cited in Sahih Bukhari:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama of the (compulsory congregational) prayer and then I would go to the houses of those who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them." (Book #41, Hadith #602)

This suggests that people could be killed or injured by fire if their houses were burned "over them." This is further supported by this hadith, which clearly implies the intention of burning of people who failed to attend prayers:

From Sahih Bukhari, "Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "No prayer is harder for the hypocrites than the Fajr and the 'Isha' prayers and if they knew the reward for these prayers at their respective times, they would certainly present themselves (in the mosques) even if they had to crawl." The Prophet added, "Certainly I decided to order the Mu'adh-dhin (call-maker) to pronounce Iqama and order a man to lead the prayer and then take a fire flame to burn all those who had not left their houses so far for the prayer along with their houses." (Book #11, Hadith #626)

Sahih Bukhari. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, I was about to order for collecting fire wood and then order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and then order someone to lead the people in prayer and then I would go from behind and burn the houses of men who did not present themselves for the (compulsory congregational) prayer. By Him in Whose Hands my life is, if anyone of you had known that he would receive a bone covered with meat or two (small) pieces of meat present in between two ribs, he would come for 'Isha' prayer." (See Hadith No. 617, Vol. 1) (Book #89, Hadith #330)

From a hadith involving the context of jihad...

Sunan of Abu Dawud (3) Narrated Usamah: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) enjoined upon him to attack Ubna in the morning and burn the place. (Book #14, Hadith #2610)

Another jurist...

"Al-Mawardi (978-1058 C.E.), a Shafi'i and one of the most famous Islamic minds of the middle ages, discusses jihad in his al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah (Laws of Islamic Governance):
"The amirate of jihad is particularly concerned with fighting the mushrikūn. This section deals with the direction of war. The mushrikūn of Dar al-Harb (the arena of battle) are of two types:
First, those whom the call of Islam has reached, but they have refused it and have taken up arms. The amir of the army has the option of fighting them in one of two ways, that is in accordance with what he judges to be in the best interest of the Muslims and most harmful to the mushrikūn; the first, to harry them from their houses and to inflict damage on them day and night, by fighting and burning, or else to declare war and combat them in ranks;
Online source http://www.geocities.com/ibniblis/jihad.html

More burning of people and/or things

Examination of the context of Quran 59:5 shows that destroying the {enemies'; non-Muslims'} trees using fire is permitted in the cause of jihad and terrifying the disbelievers. Ibn Kathir in his tafsir of that verse notes that "...The Two Sahihs also recorded from Ibn `Umar that the Messenger of Allah burned down the date trees of Bani An-Nadir and had them cut down the date palms of Al-Buwayrah. Allah the Exalted and Most Honored revealed this Ayah,...".
{That is, Muhammad had is men burn down (and cut down) those trees. Thus, the Quran, read in context--as apologists routinely claim we must do--shows that fire was permitted as a weapon}.

-fire has been used by Muslims in jihad throughout Islamic history, including by Islamic heroes such as Saladin.

-jihadist poetry in the Sira suggests that Muslims used branding irons, which constitutes burning as a punishment (e.g., from Ishaq, "I swear we shall never lack soldiers, nor army leaders. Driving before us infidels until we subdue them with a halter above their noses and a branding iron."

-according to Ibn Warraq, "...Under Muslim law, the male apostate must be put to death, as long as he is an adult, and in full possession of his faculties [...] In general, execution must be by the sword, though there are examples of apostates tortured to death, or strangled, burnt, drowned, impaled or flayed."
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/001590.php
[scroll to Kinana of Khaybar]

Burning of homosexuals (Qaradawi's website)

"Verily, the punishment [...] is the burning of both homosexuals (the actor and acted upon) or stoning them with rocks till death because Allah Most High stoned the people of Lut after demolishing their village."
[…]
"In his book Fat-h al-Qadir, the famous Hanafi scholar, Ibn al-Humam states:
“Al-Bayhaqi reported in his book Shu`ab al-Iman on the authority of Abu ad-Dunya that Abd al-`Aziz ibn Abi Hazim related from Dawud ibn Bakr who related from Muhammad ibn al-Mukadir the following:
“Khalid Ibn al-Walid wrote to Abu Bakr [seeking the legal ruling] concerning a man with whom another man had sexual intercourse. Thereupon, Abu Bakr gathered the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and sought their opinion. `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was the strictest of all, saying, 'Only one nation disobeyed Allah by committing such sin and you know how Allah dealt with them. I see that we should burn the man with fire.’ The Companions unanimously agreed on this.” This incident is also mentioned by al-Waqidi under the subject of apostasy at the end of the section on the apostasy of Bani Salim.]”
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503545556

From Andrew Bostom’s The Legacy of Jihad:
{notes in these brackets are mine}
Bidayat Al-Muditahid
Averroes (d. 1198)
p. 152-153
“Controversy exists, however, concerning the question of whether it is allowed to burn them {non-Muslims} with fire…{cites examples of some scholars in favour and some against}…Others allow it only if the enemy started it. The source of the controversy…{is between the general principle expressed in such verses as 9:5, which seems to allow any method, and the particular restriction expressed in the “don’t punish with fire” hadith}… {next, regarding property}…According to Shafi'i, dwellings and trees may be burnt as long as the enemy have the disposal of fortresses.”

p. 194 Al-Ahkam As-Sutaniyyah
Al-Mawardi (d. 1058)
“He may destroy their homes, make night raids against them and cause fired {sic}”

p. 182 Siyar
Shaybani (d. 803/805)
“The army may launch the attack [on the enemy] by night or by day and it is permissible to burn [the enemy] fortifications with fire or inundate them with water” [brackets in quoted source]

p. 179. Kitab Al-Kharaj
Abu Yusuf (d. 798)
“…there is no objection to the use of any kind of arms against the polytheists, smothering and burning their homes, cutting down their trees and groves, and using catapults…”

p. 252 Malikite School
Edmund Fagnan
“…recourse is not had to burning or flooding…”

p. 273-274 The Holy War According to Ibn Hazm of Cordova
Roger Analdez
“In enemy territory it is permissible to burn the produce of the land, the trees, and the vineyards. One can also burn down the houses and demolish them…Camels, cattle, and sheep should be killed and burned…”

p. 287-288 The Law of War
Clement Hart
“…the general is at liberty to fight them ‘in the manner he finds most advantageous for the believers and the most harmful to the infidels,’ for instance, by devastating the enemy territory, putting it to the sword, and setting fire to it in surprise raids by night and day, or else by pitched battle. No limit is set thereby to the destruction…”

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=23841
Hezbollah's Calls for Genocide
By David G. Littman, FrontPageMagazine.com | August 14, 2006
"4. These statements echo those made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 26 October 2005, at a Teheran conference on 'The World without Zionism,' demanding that Israel be "wiped off the map," adding that "very soon, the stain of this disgrace [Israel] will be purged from the centre of the Islamic world." He menaced all peacemakers: "Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury." This is the leadership which is intransigent about Iran's right to develop a nuclear capability. Subsequently, in a speech to the Islamic Summit Conference in Mecca (7-8 December 2005) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described how "the Islamic world faces many serious problems and challenges," but the major problem was "the presence of the Zionist occupation in the heart of the Islamic region." Its "judicious removal", he predicted, "will pave the way to the appearance of Islam's power in the successful management of global [matters]." "

Apparent difference of opinion on burning people?

Sahih Bukhari. Narrated 'Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'" (Book #84, Hadith #57)

Ishaq, p. 515. (raid on Khaybar).
"Kinana b. al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of B. al-Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari: was brought) to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, 'Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?' he said Yes. The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr b. al-Awwam, 'Torture him until you extract what he has,' so he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud."

Quran, 8:12, Ibn Kathir comments
"...(so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.) strike them on their foreheads to tear them apart and over the necks to cut them off, and cut off their limbs, hands and feet. It was said that,
(over the necks) refers to striking the forehead, or the neck, according to Ad-Dahhak and `Atiyyah Al-`Awfi. […]
Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said, "In the aftermath of Badr, the people used to recognize whomever the angels killed from those whom they killed, by the wounds over their necks, fingers and toes, because those parts had a mark as if they were branded by fire.""

My note: The belief here is that Allah (with his angels) branded the wounds of the disbelievers with fire to signify His divine punishment. Again, as 8:17 indicates, it was Allah doing the killing.

From the Hanafi book of jurisprudence, the Hedayah (see Jihad entry in T.P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam):
"[...]"...the Muslims must then with God's assistance attack the infidels with all manner of warlike engines (as the Prophet did by the people of Ta'if), and must also set fire to their habitations (in the same manner as the Prophet fired Baweera), and must inundate them with water and tear up their plantations and tread down their grain because by these means they will become weakened, and their resolution will fail and their force be broken; these means are, therefore, all sanctified by the law."
http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Hughes/j.htm

There is this hadith quoting Muhammad, excerpt:
“[..]Verily, Allah commanded me to burn (kill) the Quraish.[…]” (Sahih Muslim Book #040, Hadith #6853)

In another incident, Muhammad ordered the destruction of the Opposition Mosque, and it was, according to at least one source, burned down while people were in it.

Hell fire punishment for all those who reject Islam and Muhammad:

5:10. “ And they who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, such are rightful owners of hell.”

5:72 They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.

5:86 But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, they are owners of hell-fire.

3:151
We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire, and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.

7:36. “But they who deny Our revelations and scorn them - each are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.”

7:50 And the dwellers of the Fire cry out unto the dwellers of the Garden: Pour on us some water or some wherewith Allah hath provided you. They say: Lo! Allah hath forbidden both to disbelievers (in His guidance),

8:50
If thou couldst see how the angels receive those who disbelieve, smiting faces and their backs and (saying): Taste the punishment of burning!

9:17
It is not for the idolaters to tend Allah's sanctuaries, bearing witness against themselves of disbelief. As for such, their works are vain and in the Fire they will abide.

9:34-35
O ye who believe! Lo! many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks devour the wealth of mankind wantonly and debar (men) from the way of Allah. They who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom, On the day when it will (all) be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded therewith (and it will be said unto them): Here is that which ye hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what ye used to hoard.

4:14
And whoso disobeyeth Allah and His messenger and transgresseth His limits, He will make him enter Fire, where he will dwell for ever; his will be a shameful doom.

4:56
Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.

9:63
Know they not that whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, his verily is fire of hell, to abide therein? That is the extreme abasement.

9:113
It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it hath become clear that they are people of hell-fire.

18:29
Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!

21:98. “Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell; to it you shall come.”

22:19-22
(Shakir) These are two adversaries who dispute about their Lord; then (as to) those who disbelieve, for them are cut out garments of fire, boiling water shall be poured over their heads. With it shall be melted what is in their bellies and (their) skins as well. And for them are whips of iron. Whenever they will desire to go forth from it, from grief, they shall be turned back into it, and taste the chastisement of burning.

33:64-66 Lo! Allah hath cursed the disbelievers, and hath prepared for them a flaming fire, Wherein they will abide for ever. They will find (then) no protecting friend nor helper. On the day when their faces are turned over in the Fire, they say: Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and had obeyed His messenger!

40:70-74
Those who deny the Scripture and that wherewith We send Our messengers. But they will come to know, When carcans are about their necks and chains. They are dragged Through boiling waters; then they are thrust into the Fire. Then it is said unto them: Where are (all) that ye used to make partners (in the Sovereignty) Beside Allah? They say: They have failed us; but we used not to pray to anything before. Thus doth Allah send astray the disbelievers (in His guidance).

41:40 Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better, or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what ye will. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.

48:13
And so for him who believeth not in Allah and His messenger - Lo! We have prepared a flame for disbelievers.

54:43-48
Are your disbelievers better than those, or have ye some immunity in the scriptures? Or say they: We are a host victorious? The hosts will all be routed and will turn and flee. Nay, but the Hour (of doom) is their appointed tryst, and the Hour will be more wretched and more bitter (than their earthly failure). Lo! the guilty are in error and madness. On the day when they are dragged into the Fire upon their faces (it is said unto them): Feel the touch of hell.

72:23
(Mine is) but conveyance (of the Truth) from Allah, and His messages; and whoso disobeyeth Allah and His messenger, lo! his is fire of hell, wherein such dwell for ever.

76:4
Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers manacles and carcans and a raging fire.

111:1-5
The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish. His wealth and gains will not exempt him. He will be plunged in flaming Fire, And his wife, the wood-carrier, Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 438:
Narrated Anas: A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet and he became sick. So the Prophet went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abu-l-Qasim and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet came out saying: "Praises be to Allah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire."

Sahih Bukhari. Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-khudri: We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?" We said, "No." He said, "So you will have no difficulty in seeing your Lord on that Day as you have no difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon (in a clear sky)." The Prophet then said, "Somebody will then announce, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship.' So the companions of the cross will go with their cross, and the idolators (will go) with their idols, and the companions of every god (false deities) (will go) with their god, till there remain those who used to worship Allah, both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, and some of the people of the Scripture. Then Hell will be presented to them as if it were a mirage. Then it will be said to the Jews, "What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.' It will be said to them, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What do you want (now)?' They will reply, 'We want You to provide us with water.' Then it will be said to them 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). Then it will be said to the Christians, 'What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Messiah, the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What: do you want (now)?' They will say, 'We want You to provide us with water.' It will be said to them, 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). [...]" (Book #93, Hadith #532s)

Sahih Muslim, Chapter 8: "THROWING OF NON-BELIEVERS IN HELL-FIRE FOR BELIEVERS AS DIVINE GRACE AND MERCY"

Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6665:
Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire.

Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6666:
Abu Burda reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: No Muslim would die but Allah would admit in his stead a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire. 'Umar b. Abd al-'Aziz took an oath: By One besides Whom there is no god but He, thrice that his father had narrated that to him from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Early Muslims themselves burn Quranic material

Sahih Bukhari. Narrated Anas bin Malik: Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman came to Uthman at the time when the people of Sham and the people of Iraq were Waging war to conquer Arminya and Adharbijan. Hudhaifa was afraid of their (the people of Sham and Iraq) differences in the recitation of the Qur'an, so he said to 'Uthman, "O chief of the Believers! Save this nation before they differ about the Book (Quran) as Jews and the Christians did before." So 'Uthman sent a message to Hafsa saying, "Send us the manuscripts of the Qur'an so that we may compile the Qur'anic materials in perfect copies and return the manuscripts to you." Hafsa sent it to 'Uthman. 'Uthman then ordered Zaid bin Thabit, 'Abdullah bin AzZubair, Said bin Al-As and 'AbdurRahman bin Harith bin Hisham to rewrite the manuscripts in perfect copies. 'Uthman said to the three Quraishi men, "In case you disagree with Zaid bin Thabit on any point in the Qur'an, then write it in the dialect of Quraish, the Qur'an was revealed in their tongue." They did so, and when they had written many copies, 'Uthman returned the original manuscripts to Hafsa. 'Uthman sent to every Muslim province one copy of what they had copied, and ordered that all the other Qur'anic materials, whether written in fragmentary manuscripts or whole copies, be burnt. Said bin Thabit added, "A Verse from Surat Ahzab was missed by me when we copied the Qur'an and I used to hear Allah's Apostle reciting it. So we searched for it and found it with Khuzaima bin Thabit Al-Ansari. (That Verse was): 'Among the Believers are men who have been true in their covenant with Allah.' (33.23) (Book #61, Hadith #510)

The pastor has forced Rauf to act by his show of tolerance and moderation toward Islam.

America and the world now watch for Rauf to reciprocate.

He will likely obfuscate, prevaricate and temporize.

Good job, pastor, exposing the hypocrisy of the "moderate" Muslim.

find that which irritates your enemy and DO IT....art of war...SunTzu

I read that the alleged quid pro quo is baseless.
In any case, what bugs me about all this is how Muslim hysteria, violent threats and even warnings from the President about resultant al-Qaeda recruitment gains can intimidate people in such a way as to stifle free speech. It's a kind of de facto Sharia. Even the municipal authorities threatened to fine the pastor an exorbitant amount if he did it.
Let me add my own warning to my Muslim friends: Fear may win you some tactical victories, but in the long run it causes hatred.

The anti-Muslim leader of a tiny Florida church says he was lied to and is rethinking his decision to cancel burning Korans to mark 9/11.

Pastor Terry Jones earlier Thursday had backed off his threat to burn the Koran after he said he was promised that a planned Islamic center and mosque would be moved away from New York's ground zero. Muslim leaders denied there was such a deal.

Later outside his church he said that the imam he thought he made the deal with "clearly, clearly lied to us" about moving the mosque.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/09/obama-calls-plan-burn-korans-stunt-urges-pastor/

The Muslim leaders lied?

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The pastor of a Florida church is
adament that he was promised that officials planning an Islamic
center near ground zero in New York would move it if he canceled
his plans to burn Qurans on Sept. 11.

Pastor Terry Jones spoke again to reporters Thursday after
Muslim leaders said they had only agreed to a meeting Saturday in
New York to discuss the mosque's location.

Jones said he would be "very, very disappointed" if the mosque
is not moved. He insisted that central Florida Imam Muhammad Musri
told him four times in front of witnesses that the New York mosque
leaders promised to move it.

Musri told The Associated Press he only offered to set up a
meeting between Jones and the New York leaders. Imam Feisal Abdul
Rauf who is planning the mosque says there is no deal.

Back on, eh? lied to??? what? why, I never...

Can someone get the pastor a short list of passages to reference when he is asked what is so offensive about the book.

Please send him an email ASAP...

.....hmmmmm....what's that beautiful odor of smoke wafting on the night breeze.........? Wait. I know what it is!

It's the smell of millions of korans burning, all over the U.S..........

Living in fear of the Religion of Peace...The Movie

Chapter 12...Uncertainty...

The Imam...Will he move or not move?

The Pastor...Will he burn or will he not burn, that is the question...

The liberal/left and MSM...Will they ever grow a spine?

Is it true the jerk of a pastor hasn't actually read the Koran - or is that an MSM lie? Does anyone know for sure?

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An anti-Islamic preacher backed off and then threatened to reconsider burning the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, angrily accusing a Muslim leader of lying to him Thursday with a promise to move an Islamic center and mosque away from New York's ground zero. The imam planning the center denied there was ever such a deal.

~~~~~~~~

muslims lie. This comes as no surprise to those in-the-know about typical muslim tactics; and I hope that the pastor decides to follow through with burning the quran and that he'll refuse to take any phone calls from said imam. Fool me once, and all that jazz ...

oh yeah, a tactical suggestion:

Write the most offensive passages in big letters on cardboard, and burn the cardboard...

that way you place the focus on the words and their meaning (hate) and, at the same time, he's making all the 'feeling police' and the 'moderate' peace-full non-adherent practicers happy by not actually burning their holy book.

Latest from the news is they are not planning to show any images of Koran burning. They do plan to cover the event but not show pictures of the burning books themselves.

I'm still leaning towards possibly driving up there to check out what happens and photograph what goes on.

HHHMMMM......THIS IS THE GREATEST RELIGION OF PEACE..OR THE RELIGION OF CONQUEST CONQUERING TIMID PEOPLE BY MERE INTIMIDATION !
MUSLIMS ARE DANCING WITH JOY BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT NO INFIDEL CAN EVER CHALLENGE THE ISLAM OR MUSLIMS !

n.a.palm.....i love your thought....lol

So, I'm noting the boisterous anti-islam and koran burning videos posted on u-tube, some for several years.

Will u-tube become a target and the videos censored?

What's all the fuss about anyway? Burning korans is old hat. Its like, been there, done that, man.

Now if they want ratings, how about a reality TV show of a porno-star couple where they are into having very bizarre and blasphemous events; you never know what they might do next. They'll call it Hareem Harem.

Its like some folks put a "tease-me I'm easily angered" sign on their back, and certain other people just get enjoyment out of provocation [and/or self-defense] - its called ART. and Being Free.

This whole thing is actually obama's fault. He should have stayed out of it and just said "in America we don't search what people put in their burn piles and people have the right to dispose of their private property safely as they see fit, just like everybody can worship safely as they see fit. We are proud of our rights as free men and women".

think of it this way...

What if my new religion centers around ritualistic sacrifice of other religion's holy books? Would speaking out against my religious practice of burning holy books constitute Hate Speech and Governmental interference in the free practice of religion? What if I just want to be free to commune with gods in my own way and I believe in peace. oh yeah, we also worship warfare... we are very patriotic too, we wrap ourselves in the flag, literally, like togas, except that... one... time... when someone got confused on flag burning day, well, never mind, you get my drift, I'm a burner. Can't we all just sit around a campfire, you bring the dogs and smoores, I'll bring the firewood and holy books, and we'll have a cross-cultural spiritual kumbya moment. Cool? Check out the koran burning videos and you'll see a guy who pretty much fits this picture, he's expressing his heartfelt beliefs by burning a couple of holy books. Protected speech, like burning a flag. Who knows, there probably is some is some bizarre group that does ritualistic book burnings, poor persecuted minority that they are...

The best response I saw so far was the one: 'obama is islamophobic when he asserts that muslins will be unable to control themselves and will react violently to a burnt book. Why would he think that?'

I don't own a quran, but I have a roll of toilet paper I will burn instead. Gasp! ...oh my, what an offensive thing to write, champ. Oh yeah, well it isn't nearly as offensive as what's written in that unholy manual for murder. Now that's what I call OFFENSIVE - and repulsive, vile, barbaric ...gee, what am I missing?

I don't understand the pastor. If Rauf cheated him then he still can hold the kuran burning party tomorrow.