Local Muslims React to the Quran-Burning Controversy

The Basin’s Muslim community is glad Florida Pastor Terry Jones is considering putting his torch down. But they still don’t understand his motives for wanting to burn copies of the Quran. Local Muslims said if Jones read their holy book he would cancel the Quran- burning. Meantime, they’re worried his actions could cause a ripple effect around the world.

"If a person has a conscious and love for other people, you don’t do this. I’m a Muslim, I’m not going to burn a Bible,” said Dr. Razzak Jabur, who is the President of the Muslim Association of West Texas.

Jabul said Islam’s holy book forbids Muslims from killing an innocent person. In fact, it's a sentence written in the Quran.

"If you kill an innocent person, you kill the world," he said.

Farook Rafeek, a member of the Muslim Association of West Texas, said: “The Bible and Quran are preaching the same thing almost.”   

Rafeek said the Quran is like the Bible because it preaches the wellness of God and peace. The Islamic faith also doesn't allow Muslims to hate a person because of their religious preference or beliefs. Instead it says: Respect everyone. As for the major difference between Islam and Christianity:

"Christians believe Jesus is the son of God where we believe he is the prophet of God," said Rafeek.     

The Basin's Muslim community wants West Texans to open their eyes, and understand just because they practice Islam doesn't make them terrorists or extremists.

As for Pastor Jones, local Muslims believe he began this entire stunt for publicity. Although, their religion prohibits them from judging him, they are asking for Jones to do one thing: Open the book, instead of burning it.

"If he read the Quran it would change his mind,"explain Jabul.