c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Although many Americans have recently come to learn about it for the first time, the desecration of the Quran is nothing new. Islam’s sacred text has been desecrated for many years now, although not a single printed page of paper and ink was harmed in the process.

The Sept. 11 hijackers desecrated the Quran by their act of mass murder in New York City and Washington, D.C. In fact, all those who attack and kill civilians in the name of Islam _ some of the insurgents in Iraq, suicide bombers attacking a Shiite mosque in Pakistan, the bombers in Bali, Indonesia _ all of them, by their actions, viciously desecrate the Quran. A Muslim merchant who cheats his customers _ despite always taking care to keep the book clean _ desecrates the Quran.

Yet, how can this be?

While technically a book of paper and ink, the Quran is a life-force, breathing life into the believer and awakening him or her from a deep spiritual slumber. Moreover, the Quran is brought to life by the believer who follows its commands. The best example of this is the Prophet Muhammad, who was described by his wife as a “walking Quran.”

When someone wilfully desecrates the Quran, he or she manifests a deep-seated disdain for the sacred text. Such an act says, “The Quran is so meaningless to me that I will burn its pages or urinate on its printed words.” But wilful and wanton betrayal of the principles of the Quran in one’s actions effectively does the very same thing.

The Quran holds all life, but most especially human life, with the utmost of sanctity. The Quran says: “Nor take life _ which God has made sacred _ except for just cause … ” It also says, “Take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus doth he command you, that ye may learn wisdom.” The verses are unequivocal, without condition or qualification. Further emphasizing this sanctity, suicide is strictly prohibited: “ … do not kill yourselves, for verily God has been most merciful unto you.”

So, when a Muslim militant straps a bomb on himself and kills innocent people (Muslim or otherwise), doesn’t he blatantly disregard a direct commandment of God in the Quran? Doesn’t this act of wilful violence show disdain for the Quran?

The Quran also issues a stern warning to merchants and shopkeepers: “Woe to those that deal in fraud _ those who, when they have to receive by measure from people, exact full measure. But when they have to give by measure or weight to them, give less than due.” If a Muslim merchant, therefore, pays no heed to this and wilfully cheats his customers, doesn’t this action say that the Quran is totally meaningless to him? I believe it does. In fact, suicidal militants and dishonest businessmen might as well spit on the Quran and tear up its pages.

This in no ways belittles the incidents of Quran desecration that occurred at Guantanamo Bay, and I believe those involved should be punished by authorities. Yet, even though I share the anger of Muslims across the world over these incidents, I do not believe such anger excused the senseless loss of life that occurred in its wake. Such violence and death, I believe, is a far worse desecration of the Quran than what occurred at Guantanamo Bay, without excusing in the least what occurred there.

Still, the incidents of Quran desecration did have some positive outcomes. The American public has gotten an opportunity to learn more about the Quran and how important the sacred text is to Muslims the world over. In fact, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, almost 12,000 people have requested a free copy of the Quran since May 17. This can only be a good thing. Equally as important, however, the incidents of Quran desecration have caused me to reflect on the true meaning of the Quran and a deeper understanding of what it means to desecrate any sacred text. And I will be all the better because of it.

(Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and columnist for Beliefnet. His forthcoming book, the “Beliefnet Guide to Islam,” will be published by Doubleday in 2006. You can read his blog at: http://www.hassaballa.org.)

KRE/JL END HASSABALLA