Read the Script and Respond

Submitted by Susan (United States), Dec 17, 2002 at 16:18

Dr. Pipes has thoughtfully included a link to the script of the PBS "documentary" in his article. Thanks to this effort, we are excused from watching this sugary exercise in religious apologia ourselves.

There are many instances where the actual historical record has been completely glossed over. For example, Reueven Firestone's point that according to "Islamic sources", the Banu Quyrayza betrayed their agreement with Muhammad. There are other sources which dispute that the Banu Qurayza broke their agreement. This fact should have been mentioned in any "objective" documentary. Moreover, Muhammad did not only attack the Banu Quyrayza but two other Jewish tribes as well (also not mentioned in the "documentary.") On his deathbed, as well-recorded by the authenticated books of traditions, Muhammad asked that the adherents of all other religions except Islam be expelled from the Arabian Peninsula, including both Jews and Christians (an order faithfully carried out by Omar ibn Al-Khatab, Muhammad's father-in-law). This disputes the "documentary's" contention that Muhammad did not want to "get rid of" Jews.

There are many other preposterous claims in this "documentary." The fact that they chose a well-known Islamic apologist, Karen Armstrong, as a "spokesperson" speaks volumes in and of itself. Armstrong's books about Islam are so slanted and so non-objective they are actually promoted and sold on Islamic missionary websites. The same could be said for John Voll, a close associate of Georgetown University's John Esposito, whose books and lecture tapes about Islam are also sold on Islamic missionary websites.

I urge all readers to read the script carefully, investigate the real truth about the history of Islam, and compose a protest and send it on to PBS.

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