Do We Hate Jews and Christians?

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=55212&d=28&m=11&y=2004
Dr. Khaled Batarfi • kbatarfi@al-madina.com

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Some of my Jewish readers have doubts.

They suspect that Arabs and Muslims hate them, blaming them for Israel’s misdeeds and past mistakes such as trying to kill God’s prophets and messengers (peace be upon them). They say that Muslims still remember with bitterness how the Jews in Madinah tried to kill the Prophet (pbuh), broke their pact and betrayed him by siding with his enemies.

Many Christians suspect similar feelings for other historical reasons: Crusades in the Middle Ages, colonialism in the 18th and 19th centuries, recent wars on Muslims and suppression of Muslim minorities.

The Jews and the Christians are both right and wrong. There are no simple answers to these complex questions but let me try to explain. History is a great teacher but it is important that we use — and not abuse — its lessons. Students of history can be divided into three groups: Those who learn from the “rights” and build on them, those who ignore the lessons of the “wrongs” and repeat them, and those who get obsessed and live and die for them. It is much safer not to read history at all than to misread it.

<snip>

The problem lies with those who misinterpret history in order to serve self-interests and support predetermined convictions. They act like smart lawyers who laboriously look up laws and precedents supporting their cases while ignoring everything that contradicts them. Then they interpret what they have found in a way that suits their arguments. No guilt is felt because rivals do the same. It is a game where you are only punished if you fail to win your argument. Fanatics, paranoid individuals and seekers of fame, status and special interests may be the worst offenders — but they are not alone. Almost all of us practice selective reading and intentional misreading for various reasons. Collective passionate stands and thoughts, such as rallying around the flag or supporting patriotic and religious causes, make normally fair and balanced individuals perform “pick and choose” reading without the slightest intellectual guilt. They, too, assume the other side is doing the same.

Muslim fanatics are as guilty as any of such practices. Not only so they misinterpret the facts of history, they intentionally misrepresent the holy books — the Qur’an, the Torah and the Bible. Take for example our position toward the “people of the book” — i.e. Christians and Jews. Allah clearly differentiates between enemies and friends. He says in Surah Almumtehinah, Verses 7-9:

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I may get flamed but--oh well. That's my opinion.

Most muslims i know are very nice people,who love america.I really was speaking of non american muslims and not all of them.

When you speak of non-American Muslims, are you talking about people you know personally or just what you have seen on the news or read about? I think media can generate certain unfavorable impressions about any group.

I guess i kinda stepted in it totay.My first post was not clear enough.Sorry.

Though I've met them all here, as I've not been overseas. Here's my impressions:

When I was 7, I knew an Egyptian family. They seemed nice and friendly, but had a falling out with their landlord, who was my grandfather, over Ramadan. They were cooking and talking loudly far into the night, and this bothered my grandfather, who was gravely ill and died about a year afterwards. I felt bad that they couldn't do their thing without it upsetting him-and I don't think he minded their culture as much as the noise at night.

When I was in high school, we had a Saudi exchange student who thought he was God's gift to women-at least he pursued everyone wearing a skirt, be they Christian, Jew, or agnostic (we had all three at my high school). I wasn't impressed.

When I took hands in a Sufi Order, I got to know more Muslims. A couple are shaykhs from Turkey. Both were loving souls, both characters, but in different ways. I remember the words of one, who suggested that our first priority was to worry about our souls, and not to worry about politics. Knowing how Sufism has been persecuted in Turkey, these words didn't surprise me.

I was honored a couple years back to go to a Somali clan zhikar which took place in MN. I didn't speak Somali, but it made no difference. I felt very welcome and very comfortable, even as the shaykha laughed as I struggled to learn a few words.

I think what it boils down to is this: People are people, and in any group you'll find those you love and those you can't stand.

I think what it boils down to is this: People are people, and in any group you'll find those you love and those you can't stand.

"There is no reason to hold a prejudiced view of any group of people when there are so many perfectly valid reasons to dislike each other on an individual basis." paraphrased from Margaret Cho }( ;-)

Yep...until we all tear down the sterro-types, we're doomed to always be at war.

But I do have a question, which I ask not to flame but out of curiosity: How many Muslims to you know personally? Which branch of Islam are they from?

My reason for asking it is because there are Muslims and there are Muslims. Imagine someone who had never attending a Christian church going to a fundamentalist church where they are equating Bush with the Second Coming. I am sure you agree that that person will have a different opinion of Christianity than one who attended a liberal Episcopalian service or one who had known Christians of many denominations and had attended many different churches.

I posted to fast.Didn't think through what i was saying enough.Sorry to anyone i offened.

because they are Muslims.

This article was supposed to point out that there are ways to reach a common ground, a peaceful solution.

I knew when I was posting it that somehow someone would turn it into a Us v. Them thing. In fact, I almost didn't post it for that very reason.

Well, that teaches me to try to post a thread where maybe a reasonable discourse could take place. Sheesh.

I did NOT mean all muslims. I know that many are good people. I was saying there are many fanitics. And yes some "christians" hate blindly.I would never refuse anyone regardless of religion,who was willing to be a friend.

I hold out my hand in friendship to all people. The fanatics of any religion tend to slap that hand and refuse the friendship. When I find myself caught up in a conversation filled with hate, I tend to quietly back away and do spiritual practices for protection.

What I was mainly curious about was where you got your impression about Muslims-whether you had had personal encounters with Muslims that made you feel this way or if you'd gotten your impressions mainly from the media.

Sufis have been trying for years to build a bridge between all the major religious traditions. And it isn't US vs THEM at all. We are all human beings, sharing the same air, water, and planet. Sufis have taken small steps toward ecumenism, because we realize that the heart of spirituality (note: spirituality, not religion) is the same. Sure, I can go places and have been places where people say Muslims should be shot on sight. My husband, who is braver than me, has asked them if they are ready to shoot him. Inevitably, the person in question looks quite startled, and backs down (and no, he doesn't do this with everyone; he can tell which fanatics would do it, not matter what).

What you don't hear about are the many, many, ecumenical councils and meetings going on around the country and around the world every day of the week. I would invite everyone to check out the Dances of Universal Peace-it is an interfaith practice that brings people together, and is done all over the world. My Pir (head of my religious order, which is the Sufi Order International) has held ecumenical weekends at his headquarters in upstate NY involving Christians and Jews seeking common ground.

It is happening, but it doesn't get into the news much.

shooters and suicide bombs.

they just don't like being targetted by Apache helicopters.

There are Jews who hate Christians and Muslims
There are Christians who hate Jews and Muslims
There are Muslims who hate Christians and Jews

None of them have any logical reason to do so.

from my translation, The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali-

It may be that Allah
Will grant love (and friendship)
Between you and those whom
Ye (now) hold as enemies.
For Allah has power
(0ver all things): And Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah forbids you not,
With regard to those who
Fight you not for (your) Faith
Nor drive you out
Of your homes,
From dealing kindly and justly
With them: For Allah loveth
Those who are just.

Allah only forbids you,
with regard to those who
Fight you for (your) Faith
And drive you out
Of your homes, and support
(Others) in driving you out,
From turning to them
(For friendship and protection).
It is such as turn to them
(In these circumstances)
That do wrong.


To me, this is just common sense. If someone is bascially letting you practice your religion and live in your home, be friends with them, try to get along, even if they aren't the most perfect people in the world. But don't make alliences with those who would deny you the right to worship as you please or live peacefully in your home. When you think about it, would you trust someone who says, "Yeah, I want you to help me out, but rest assured that as soon as I can I'll steal your land and keep you from practicing your faith"?

The writer is correct in saying that fanatical Muslims are missing the message, which is to try and get along with others as best you can, but don't be a doormat to anyone. I think it is interesting that Muslims I know acknowledge the People of the Book and have no problem with them. I know Muslims married to Christians, and I know several people of Jewish background that are Sufis. But then again, I can assure you that fanatical Muslims dislike Sufis as much as they do Jews and Christians because Sufis are very tolerant of others.