By Tarah HollandEntertainment EditorImam W. Deen Mohammed, speaking Thursday, Nov. 1, at an Interfaith Unity Week event, said that the suicide bombers who attacked the World Trade Center would not find their actions acceptable to God.Mohammed, the son of the late Nation of Islam founder Elijah Mohammed, has led the Muslim American Society since his father’s death in 1975. He has taken part in the World Parliament of Religious Leaders for the Survival of the Earth and serves on the Advisory Panel for Religious Freedom Abroad formed by former U.S. secretary of state Madeline Albright. Mohammed said the faith of Islam is in fact an extremely peaceful religion. “Islam, by its language, means of peace. It and everything about it comes from the word peace,” he explained.In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist bombings, Mohammed gave his view of those who gave their lives in the name of Islam.”Those suicide bombers who wanted to give their lives to God [should realize] that taking their own life and killing innocent people will not be a gift accepted by God,” he said.At the end of Mohammed’s speech, the floor was open for audience questions. Many of the questions were centered on Islam and its relation to other religions, especially Christianity.Mohammed responded by saying, “Islam should not be seen as a religion separate of Judaism and Christianity because many of our practices are similar.”A crowd of students and many members of the Greensboro community filled the Memorial Union Ballroom for the one day event. Also in attendance were members of A&T’s Muslim Student Association.Terrence Mohammed, representing the Muslim student group, said the organization wants to foster a vision of peace on campus.
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Muslim leader speaks peace
November 6, 2001