Incredible Rise in Islamic Books Sale in Aftermath of Sacreligious Movie
Since the release of the US-made blasphemous movie, the Islamic books sale has increased incredibly. I strongly believe that the impact of this movie has been more awakening than offending. People are now keen to know more about Islam. They have become curious as to what is the message of this religion that some certain people are that worried about. So I think this movie has created awareness about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
This is according to Aun Ali Khalfan, director of Tahrike Tarsile Quran publication in New York, who in a phone interview with IQNA answered the following questions.
The following is a rough transcription of the interview:
IQNA: As you know, rallies against the anti-Islamic movie are sweeping the world. What has been the reaction of U.S citizens so far?
Ali Khalfan: What we see is demonstration in different cities in the U.S which shows the awareness of people about this desecration. The Muslim community is holding demonstrations in different cities in the United States, including New York. Since the release of the US-made blasphemous movie, the Islamic books sale has increased incredibly; as an example, we published a book entitled “The Message” authored by Ayatollah Sobhani three months ago. We have sold about thousand copies of this book so far. We had a big order just lately. I strongly believe that the impact of this movie has been more awakening than offending. People are now keen to know more about Islam. They have become curious as to what is the message of this religion that some people are that worried about. So I think this movie has created awareness about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
IQNA: The movie has raised public awareness all across the globe. What’s your view on that?
Ali Khalfan: Whatever is happening will lead to people’s awareness. History reveals periods of time in which the world witnessed extreme manifestation of Islamic principles, as in the last thirty three years, since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, lots of things about Islam have been expressed in the world. Thirty three years ago, Islam was not that much known. After the Revolution we had a kind of Islamic awakening. This Islamic awakening proceeded into different nations. Like many Muslims didn’t wear Hijab, then after the Iranian Revolution they started to follow up Islam. A lot of things have changed in the last thirty three years, which is awareness about Islam all over the world. I used to live in Africa and things were different there. Most Muslim women didn’t were Hijab there, but after the Revolution everything changed. Iranian Revolution affected the whole world.
IQNA: What is the main reason behind the latest Islamophobic acts?
Ali Khalfan: The reason is that Islam is growing, since almost thirty years ago, and the anti-Islamic groups can’t stand spread of Islam and that’s why such desecrations are happening. They do whatever they can to prevent people of other faiths to get informed about the true Islam, but in fact people get more interested in reading about Islam and knowing it. The increase in the Islamic publications’ sale, in the production of Islamic programs, and Islamic courses at the universities of America and Europe has proved this claim. Many people of other faiths in the United States and also Europe are publishing Quran today. Most people had no idea what is written in Quran, and the Holy Book has given them a totally different understanding now.
Recently a sacrilegious book entitled “The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran” by Robert Spencer is published in America, and we are publishing a book in the response to this blasphemous book.
IQNA: Who do you is responsible for such a blasphemy? Why has the Holy Prophet (PBUH) been targeted by such heinous acts?
Ali Khalfan: People of all nationalities understand these sacrilegious acts and nobody likes it. The Media is the most notable blameworthy. According to Surah Al-e-Imran, verse 54: “And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Iesa (Jesus)], and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners.” So on the surface, it may seem undermining to some, but in fact their anti-Islam actions are self destroyer before anything else, and their hostility toward Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has fostered a sort of awareness around the world. They are totally ignorant of Islam and Prophet (PBUH). Islam has completed other Abrahamic books. It is not like Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the sole messenger of Islam, but the message of Islam also comes from previous prophets, like Jesus, as well.
The claim of those who name these insults Freedom of Speech is totally wrong. We are confronting Newspapers’ hostility toward Islam today. They have done lots of unfriendly actions. Those who had a role in production of this blasphemous movie are so ignorant of Islam. They just did it for the sake of financial benefits.
IQNA: What would be the best response in confrontation of such desecrations?
Ali Khalfan: I think the best way to condemn the anti-Islamic movie and other similar blasphemous activities is to do our best to write and publish books about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After this desecration, Muslim communities are doing a double work. They purchase Islamic books and distribute them between the people of other faiths and also universities, colleges, and so on. Right now, the sale of Islamic books has increased so much in the United States, and it is going up. We have printed thousands of copies of the Quran so far. Just before the holy month of Ramadhan, we printed 30,000 copies and are constantly revising and reviewing our current editions. We have published like 46 different editions of Quran so far, since last thirty years. We intend to continue publishing different editions of the Quran in addition to the 46 which we already have. This increase in the Islamic books sale today is exactly like what happened in 11 September in 2001, in which the sale of Quran increased a lot. People of other faiths wanted to know about Quran. They came and bought it. We will publish more and more books in this respect Inshallah.
Nahj-ul-balaghah; Sahife Sajjadia; Ketabal-Irshad (Book of Guaidance) by Sheikh Mofid; Sharing Mary- which is a side-by-side comparison of the Bible and Quran-War; Peace and Non- Violence: An Islamic Perspective by Imam Muhammad Shirazi; Islam Denounces Terrorism by Harun Yahya; Saving Monotheism in the Sands of Karbala by S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali; Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)- The Last Messenger in Bible by Kais Al- Kalby are among the variety of books which have been published through our publication.
Also producing good movies for introducing Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should be taken into account as well, as we had great movies in the past like “The Message”, which was produced in 1976. That movie educated lots of people as the principles of Islam.
Interview by: Fatemeh Nazari
1108750
The following is a rough transcription of the interview:
IQNA: As you know, rallies against the anti-Islamic movie are sweeping the world. What has been the reaction of U.S citizens so far?
Ali Khalfan: What we see is demonstration in different cities in the U.S which shows the awareness of people about this desecration. The Muslim community is holding demonstrations in different cities in the United States, including New York. Since the release of the US-made blasphemous movie, the Islamic books sale has increased incredibly; as an example, we published a book entitled “The Message” authored by Ayatollah Sobhani three months ago. We have sold about thousand copies of this book so far. We had a big order just lately. I strongly believe that the impact of this movie has been more awakening than offending. People are now keen to know more about Islam. They have become curious as to what is the message of this religion that some people are that worried about. So I think this movie has created awareness about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
IQNA: The movie has raised public awareness all across the globe. What’s your view on that?
Ali Khalfan: Whatever is happening will lead to people’s awareness. History reveals periods of time in which the world witnessed extreme manifestation of Islamic principles, as in the last thirty three years, since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, lots of things about Islam have been expressed in the world. Thirty three years ago, Islam was not that much known. After the Revolution we had a kind of Islamic awakening. This Islamic awakening proceeded into different nations. Like many Muslims didn’t wear Hijab, then after the Iranian Revolution they started to follow up Islam. A lot of things have changed in the last thirty three years, which is awareness about Islam all over the world. I used to live in Africa and things were different there. Most Muslim women didn’t were Hijab there, but after the Revolution everything changed. Iranian Revolution affected the whole world.
IQNA: What is the main reason behind the latest Islamophobic acts?
Ali Khalfan: The reason is that Islam is growing, since almost thirty years ago, and the anti-Islamic groups can’t stand spread of Islam and that’s why such desecrations are happening. They do whatever they can to prevent people of other faiths to get informed about the true Islam, but in fact people get more interested in reading about Islam and knowing it. The increase in the Islamic publications’ sale, in the production of Islamic programs, and Islamic courses at the universities of America and Europe has proved this claim. Many people of other faiths in the United States and also Europe are publishing Quran today. Most people had no idea what is written in Quran, and the Holy Book has given them a totally different understanding now.
Recently a sacrilegious book entitled “The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran” by Robert Spencer is published in America, and we are publishing a book in the response to this blasphemous book.
IQNA: Who do you is responsible for such a blasphemy? Why has the Holy Prophet (PBUH) been targeted by such heinous acts?
Ali Khalfan: People of all nationalities understand these sacrilegious acts and nobody likes it. The Media is the most notable blameworthy. According to Surah Al-e-Imran, verse 54: “And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Iesa (Jesus)], and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners.” So on the surface, it may seem undermining to some, but in fact their anti-Islam actions are self destroyer before anything else, and their hostility toward Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has fostered a sort of awareness around the world. They are totally ignorant of Islam and Prophet (PBUH). Islam has completed other Abrahamic books. It is not like Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the sole messenger of Islam, but the message of Islam also comes from previous prophets, like Jesus, as well.
The claim of those who name these insults Freedom of Speech is totally wrong. We are confronting Newspapers’ hostility toward Islam today. They have done lots of unfriendly actions. Those who had a role in production of this blasphemous movie are so ignorant of Islam. They just did it for the sake of financial benefits.
IQNA: What would be the best response in confrontation of such desecrations?
Ali Khalfan: I think the best way to condemn the anti-Islamic movie and other similar blasphemous activities is to do our best to write and publish books about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After this desecration, Muslim communities are doing a double work. They purchase Islamic books and distribute them between the people of other faiths and also universities, colleges, and so on. Right now, the sale of Islamic books has increased so much in the United States, and it is going up. We have printed thousands of copies of the Quran so far. Just before the holy month of Ramadhan, we printed 30,000 copies and are constantly revising and reviewing our current editions. We have published like 46 different editions of Quran so far, since last thirty years. We intend to continue publishing different editions of the Quran in addition to the 46 which we already have. This increase in the Islamic books sale today is exactly like what happened in 11 September in 2001, in which the sale of Quran increased a lot. People of other faiths wanted to know about Quran. They came and bought it. We will publish more and more books in this respect Inshallah.
Nahj-ul-balaghah; Sahife Sajjadia; Ketabal-Irshad (Book of Guaidance) by Sheikh Mofid; Sharing Mary- which is a side-by-side comparison of the Bible and Quran-War; Peace and Non- Violence: An Islamic Perspective by Imam Muhammad Shirazi; Islam Denounces Terrorism by Harun Yahya; Saving Monotheism in the Sands of Karbala by S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali; Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)- The Last Messenger in Bible by Kais Al- Kalby are among the variety of books which have been published through our publication.
Also producing good movies for introducing Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should be taken into account as well, as we had great movies in the past like “The Message”, which was produced in 1976. That movie educated lots of people as the principles of Islam.
Interview by: Fatemeh Nazari
1108750
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