Message from the Prophet is Clear: Coexist
As the world watches the terrible eruption of violence between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq and is subjected to sporadic communiqués by vigilantes calling for violence against their opponents within the Muslim community and without, many who are unfamiliar with Islam and Muslims may be forgiven for thinking the worst of both the religion and its followers. Yet within Islam and Muslim history, the precedent for religious co-existence is primordial.
The Qur’anic view of the carpenter from Nazareth is clear: Jesus is called the Spirit of God, and the Messiah. Moses is described as the prophet to whom God spoke directly, without any veil. Muslims still revere those men, and their followers are accorded special places within the book of Islam.
The Arabian Prophet, Muhammad, sent according to Islamic tradition as a “mercy to all the worlds”, showed us how these theological abstractions were exemplified in practice in the first interfaith meeting between Muslims and Christians -- held some 14 centuries ago.
A delegation of sixty Christians from a community about 450 miles south of the Prophet’s city, Medina, visited him in the year 631. During this three-day meeting between representatives of one faith community and the founder of another, the model of Muslim ethics vis-à-vis the religious "other” was made explicit for all time. There are many lessons to be drawn from this encounter, but three stand out.
The first is that neither the Christians nor the Muslims pretended to be other than what they were. The Christians insisted on Trinitarianism, and the Prophet rejected it as a matter of faith. Both sides believed that Christ was the Messiah, that he had been born without a father, and that he received revelation from God. There was no shying away from difference, but the search for common ground was primary. Remember the culture of the time -- the Prophet held the upper hand as the leader of a powerful community -- but he did not disrespect his guests who were politically powerless.
The second was that difference was not a cause of religious conflict -- when the Christians suggested they go out into the desert to perform mass, the Prophet invited them to carry out their rituals within his mosque. He did not partake of their rituals, but he invited them into his own place of worship to carry them out. This was not mere tolerance: this was respect, if not acceptance. He met them with what he considered to be absolute truths, but not as a bigot.
Later generations of Muslims took his practice very seriously: when he said that the rights of non-Muslims under the protection of the Islamic polity were sacrosanct, that he would be a witness for them on the Day of Judgment, Muslims listened. The millions of non-Muslims who are still very much a part of the Muslim world are testimony to that. The situation was not perfect, but non-Muslim historians record that it was the best model of its time.
The third was that difference did not mean that co-existence on a social and political level was impossible. The Christians nonetheless accepted the Prophet as their guarantor in the political realm, and for 14 centuries other Christian communities have accepted Muslim rulers as their guarantors, with their lives, property and religion safeguarded in exchange for a tax, similar to the tax Muslims paid to their temporal authorities.
The above encounter with the Christians of Najran was by no means an isolated event in the life of the Prophet which points to ongoing interfaith relations. An earlier treaty, the documentation of which is still in existence, with Christians of Sinai bore this practice out:
“This is a message from Muhammad son of Abdullah, as a covenant to those who
adopt Christianity, near and far: we are with them.
"Verily I, the servants, the helpers (people of Medina), and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by God! I hold out against anything that
displeases them.
"No compulsion is to be on them.
"Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from
their monasteries.
"No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry
anything from it to the Muslims' houses.
"Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey
His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against
all that they hate."
Make no mistake, this was not a medieval call for syncretism, or a denial that Islam, a universal religion, did call for Muslims to bear witness to their faith. Indeed, on many an occasion, the Prophet did precisely that. Rather, this was placing into Muslim ethics the need to respect the religious other by engaging this other.
The man who claimed that he was not sent “except to perfect good manners” displayed a model of respect and co-existence that has now become sorely lacking in many parts of the world. Some of his followers forgot that after his passing; but by and large, his practice laid down precedents that we are as in need of today as the Arabs were in the 7th century.
Hisham al-Zoubeir is a researcher of classical Islamic thought. He holds a Ph.D. on the history of European Muslims, and writes on Islam-West relations. This article is distributed by Common Ground News Service.
By Hisham al-Zoubeir |
September 24, 2007; 9:28 AM ET
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Posted by: Gxzkiyl | December 13, 2007 11:09 AM
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Posted by: Gxzkiyl | December 13, 2007 11:09 AM
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Posted by: Gxzkiyl | December 13, 2007 11:09 AM
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Violent Bible:
When you march up to attack a city, first offer it terms of peace. If it agrees to your terms of peace and opens its gates to you, all the people to be found in it shall serve you in forced labor. But if it refuses to make peace with you and instead offers you battle ... put every male in it to the sword. But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations. But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth. But thou shalt utterly destroy them; (Deuteronomy 20:10-17).
The Lord said to Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people." So Moses said to the people, "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the Lord's vengeance on them. They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord's people. Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man....(Numbers 31)
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. (I Samuel 15:2-3)
And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain. (Deuteronomy 2:34)
And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Hesbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities we took for a prey to ourselves. (Deuteronomy 3:6-7)
King David's Holocaust
And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under the axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. (II Samuel 12:31)
Posted by: Sarkar | November 1, 2007 1:00 AM
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TO CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED: If you would actually read what I write, it doesn't matter if you believe it or not, but you could at least think about it. One of the things I have said many times and I stake my eternal and my everlasting destiny on it is that ALL will be in the Kingdom. Some of the people that call themselves christians, not all but some, don't seem to care about humanity as long as they get to the "good place". You wrote, "Check the studies of most contemporary exegetes. Most conclude that most of the NT passages you cite were not said by the historic Jesus.", just because the "experts" don't believe in the bible, doesn't mean they know what they are talking about. I have said many times, you, as in anybody, would be better off throwing away the whole bible than slicing and dicing it to their liking. I did not ask to be me but I have said Yes. Take care. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum
Posted by: Thomas Baum | September 27, 2007 3:57 PM
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Thomas who thinks he is Moses,
Check the studies of most contemporary exegetes. Most conclude that most of the NT passages you cite were not said by the historic Jesus. As with Peter Huff, you are "thumping" embellishments and complete fabrications.
And it is time to put your "demons of the demented" to rest.
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | September 26, 2007 11:58 PM
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TO CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED: It is not about a theocracy, it is about what Jesus taught: "My Kingdom is not of this world", "New heavens and a new earth", "I have overcome the world", like I have said before, God wins, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | September 26, 2007 5:37 PM
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The flaws in Islam will eat away and finally destroy Islam. American Muslims will then simply become Democrats or Republicans voting for basic innate human rights and probably "their pocketbooks" like the rest of us.
"Moses" Baum might however start his own theocracy along with Peter Huff.
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | September 26, 2007 4:39 PM
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TO CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED: Actually islam is a religion of world domination. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | September 26, 2007 3:07 PM
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Victoria and Fellow Wishy-Wash Muslims,
Be alarmed!!!
The flaws of Islam are being shouted from every blog and webpage and every free newspaper, radio and TV station. When the oil/blood/terror money runs out, Islam will crumble!!!!!
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | September 26, 2007 10:19 AM
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Thomas Paul Moses of the NT Baum,
May Zeus bless you with all His Love.
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | September 26, 2007 10:13 AM
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TO HUMANITY: Truth is Truth. Almost truth is a lie. God is Love, Pure Love and God is a Trinity. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | September 25, 2007 2:22 PM
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brother al-zoubeir
a salaamu alaikum and ramadan mubarak to you-
don't be alarmed at the sentiments expressed here
thank you for your beautiful post and thoughts- i hope to see more from you.
peace
Posted by: victoria | September 24, 2007 11:26 PM
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Arif.
The Zakat is not meant to be the equivalent of the Jizya. Zakat is a light charitable giving for Muslims. Jizya is a heavy penalty fee or punishment to bring shame and oppression on the non-Muslim or dhimmi.
A dhimmi is a slave. It would be better to die fighting the violent spread of Islam than to accept slow death as a dhimmi.
Please stop your efforts to gloss over the great evil of Islam.
Posted by: mike | September 24, 2007 7:58 PM
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Jaziya was imposed on non muslims because they were not paying zakat which was compulsory for muslims.zakat and jaziya were similiar to present INCOME TAX
Posted by: ARIF | September 24, 2007 6:58 PM
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NON MUSLIMS MUST PAY PENALTY
Jizya literally means penalty. It is a protection tax levied on non-Muslims living under Islamic regimes, confirming their legal status. Mawdudi states that "the acceptance of the Jizya establishes the sanctity of their lives and property, and thereafter neither the Islamic state, nor the Muslim public have any right to violate their property, honor or liberty." Paying the Jizya is a symbol of HUMILIATION and SUBMISSION because dhimmis are not regarded as citizens of the Islamic state although they are, in most cases, natives to the country.
Such an attitude alienates the dhimmis from being an essential part of the community. How can a dhimmi feel at home in his own land, among his own people, and with his own government, when he knows that the Jizya, which he pays, is a symbol of HUMILIATION and SUBMISSION?
In his book The Islamic Law Pertaining to non-Muslims, Sheikh `Abdulla Mustafa Al-Muraghi indicates that the Jizya can only be exempted from the dhimmi who becomes a Muslim or dies. The Shafi`i reiterates that the Jizya is not automatically put aside when the dhimmi embraces Islam. Exemption from the Jizya has become an incentive to encourage dhimmis to relinquish their faith and embrace Islam.
Sheik Najih Ibrahim Ibn Abdulla summarizes the purpose of the Jizya. He says, quoting Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, that the Jizya is enacted:
"...to spare the blood (of the dhimmis), to be a symbol of HUMILIATION of the infidels and as an INSULT and PUNISHMENT to them, and as the Shafi`ites indicate, the Jizya is offered in exchange for residing in an Islamic country."
Thus Ibn Qayyim adds, "Since the entire religion belongs to God, it aims at HUMILIATING ungodliness and its followers, and INSULTING them. Imposing the Jizya on the followers of ungodliness and OPPRESSING them is required by God's religion. The Qur'anic text hints at this meaning when it says: `until they give the tribute by FORCE WITH HUMILIATION.' (Qur'an 9:29). What contradicts this is leaving the infidels to enjoy their might and practice their religion as they wish so that they would have power and authority."
Posted by: mike | September 24, 2007 1:54 PM
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TO HUMANITY: Jesus said that He was God-Incarnate, He was either telling the truth or He wasn't. The god of islam says that Jesus is merely a prophet, a second-rate prophet at that. If Jesus is speaking the Truth, then the god of islam is lying, if Jesus is lying than why would the god of islam want a liar to be his prophet? Could it be that satan wants to claim God as his prophet? As I have said many times, in many places, the True, Living, Triune Triumphant God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof. It is important what you do and why you do it and what you know. There is only one true religion and that is "taking care of widows and orphans", which basically means that we are all to be here for each other. We are all God's children, we are all brothers and sisters whether we like it or not, we do seem to be quite an unruly family, do we not? God's Plan is for all of His children to be with Him in His Kingdom. Take care, see you in the Kingdom. Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | September 24, 2007 1:51 PM
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The phrase Mr. Zubeir quoted from the quran "No compulsion in religion" was abrogated by a later verse (Quran 9: 29) that reads
"Fight those who believe not
In God nor the Last Day,
Nor hold that forbidden
By God and His Apostle,
Nor acknowledge the Religion
Of Truth, (even if they are)
Of the People of the book
Until they pay the Jizya
With willing submission,
And feel them subdued."
This is just another example of the blatant disrespect Muslim apologists show to their audiences.
Posted by: Ibrahim Mahfouz | September 24, 2007 1:14 PM
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Hisham al-Zoubeir (for your eyes only and please respond to the various elements of the synopsis if you feel they are in error):
A synopsis of the flaws in the foundations of today's contemporary religions:
1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.
2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth. Analyses of his life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists)via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.
The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics.
3. Mohammed, an illiterate, hallucinating Arab, also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.
This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the Islamic train bombers in Spain and the UK, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics.
And who funds these acts of terror? Islamic Iran, the Third Axis of Evil and also the "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.
4. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy talking flying fictional thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).
5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) - "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centred and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’".
The caste/laborer system and cow worship are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."
6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."
"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"
Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life.
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/SIDD.HTM
Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations/embellishments and myths surrounding the founders of said rules of life.
Then, apply the Five F rule: "First Find the Flaws, then Fix the Foundations". And finally there will be religious peace in the world!!!!!
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | September 24, 2007 12:22 PM
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Hisham al-Zoubeir:
If co-existence is OK according to Muhammad, then it needs clarification in view of Quran(009:029), (047:004) and (005:033), in particular.
While Quran (009:029) and (047:004) are call forf the dhimmitude and slaughter of non-Muslims (Christians, Jews and Pagans), respectively, the specific verse Quran (005:033) negates any form of co-existence of Muslims in a permissive and secular, liberal country such as USA.
In context of USA, the 1st Amendment is in stark contradiction with the message in Quran(005:033). The two cannot co-exist. Thus whatever Muhammad is reported to have stated in the hadith is void under these special circumstances.
Non-Muslims can "peacefully" co-exist with Muslims if the former are willing in accepting the lower status in an Islamic state. The non-Muslims are basically at the mercy of the Muslims in this situation.
That's co-existence, surely, but acknowledging their inferior status. Perhaps you should have accorded better clarification, as your views add only to the morass of confusion about Shariah laws as they apply to non-Muslims.
Posted by: Deb Chatterjee | September 24, 2007 12:00 PM
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