Libyan leader Muammar Kadhafi has attracted outrage from Christians in Uganda, over his remarks that any Bible and Tora (Old Testament) that do not mention Islamic Prophet Muhammad was written by mankind and therefore ”a fraud”.
In his two-hour long speech at the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad Thursday, Kadhafi also lambasted the Scandinavian countries for besmirching the Prophet, the Arabs for monopolising the Kaaba and signed off by describing the Bible as a forgery.
Speaking to a mammoth crowd that braved the afternoon heat in Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium in Uganda’s capital Kampala, after leading the Thuhur (afternoon) prayer, Kadhafi said: “The Bible we have now is not the one that was revealed to Issa [Jesus] and the Old Testament is not the one that was revealed to Musa (Moses) . ”
“Muhammad is mentioned in both (original versions), but the Tora and Bible we have now, there is no mention of him,” said the Libyan leader.
“It means that it (Bible) has been forged. Prophet Muhammad was sent to mankind. Allah wanted mankind to have one religion. The Koran that we have is the only book that was sent by Allah. We believe in the Bible as well as the Tora,” he said .
He said Prophet Musa (Moses) and Issa (Jesus) talked about the coming of Muhammad in the Bible, which has been in existence for centuries.
“Issa is mentioned in the Koran 25 times, Musa is mentioned 128 times, Mariam (Mary mother of Jesus) is mentioned 30 times. It is all glorifying and highly respectful. We cannot be Muslims unless we believe in Issa,” he noted.
“We have to look for the Bible and Tora that were sent to Moses and Jesus, but where can you find them? Unfortunately, the holy book that was sent by Allah was written by mankind and forged,” said Kadhafi, who spoke through a translator.
Apparently stunned by his visitor’s revelation, host President Yoweri Museveni said: “I now demand an explanation from Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Luke Orombi , and Catholic leader Cardinal Cyprian Lwanga about the omission of Prophet Muhammad from the Bible.”
But Museveni’s Christian compatriots reacted angrily to the comments, with many interviewed by panapress expressing dismay.
“On the legitimacy of the Bible, let him prove first if their Quoran is original ?” Moses Mugalu, a 31-year-old Civil Engineer, charged.
“Instead of helping on vital issues like poverty eradication and African tyrants, he is sowing seeds discord by promoting dictatorship in the name of revolutionary leaders. No wonder he himself is tyrant and is funding the likes of Museveni,” Mugalu added. Panapress
Photos : Enrique Rubio Ezquieta
