“from “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) swiftly condemned the comments as “inaccurate and offensive” for suggesting that Muslims worship a different God from Christians and Jews.
“Where do you think this concept of equality comes from?” Santorum asked an enthusiastic crowd packed into a South Carolina restaurant last week as he campaigned before Saturday’s primary. “It doesn’t come from Islam. It doesn’t come from the East and Eastern religions, where does it come from? It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that’s where it comes from.”
Santorum then said that since equality comes from God, people should live “responsibly in conforming with God’s laws.”
The crowd of over 200 packed into the Clock Restaurant started clapping, cheering and shouting; one little girl was jumping on her chair in the back of the restaurant to show her support. The enthusiasm turned rowdy when Santorum mentioned President Obama on two occasions and one man yelled, “He wasn’t born here” and another, “He hates America.” Santorum did not respond, and it wasn’t clear if he heard the comments or not.
Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s national communications director, said: “The Qoran, Islam’s revealed text, is the best refutation of Mr. Santorum’s inaccurate and offensive remarks, which are unbecoming of anyone who hopes to hold our nation’s highest office. Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God and share religious traditions that promote justice and equality.
“God states in the Qoran: ‘Say ye: ‘We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves.’”
Hoope said, “The Qoran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stress racial and gender equality. The Prophet said: ‘All people are equal as the teeth of a comb.’”