"People of The Book" & The Muslims
by Harun Yahya
Islam
is a religion of peace, love and tolerance. Today, however, some circles have
been presenting a false image of Islam, as if there were conflict between Islam
and the adherents of the two other monotheistic religions. Yet Islam's view of
Jews and Christians, who are named "the People of the Book" in the
Koran, is very friendly and tolerant.
This
attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth
of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their
faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca.
Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a
safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge
with King Negus, the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who followed this
advice found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect
when they went to Ethiopia. King Negus refused the demands of the pagan
messengers who asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that
Muslims could live freely in his country.
Such
attitudes of Christian people that are based on the concepts of compassion,
mercy, modesty and justice, constitute a fact that God has pointed out in the
Koran. A verse of the Koran states:
¡K
You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who
say, 'We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and
because they are not arrogant. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 82)
The
Common Beliefs and Values of the People of the Book with Muslims
Christian
and Muslim belief have many aspects in common. Judaism too shares many beliefs
with Islam. All true adherents of these three great religions:
„h
believe that God has created the entire universe out of nothing and that
He dominates all that exists with His omnipotence.
„h
believe that God has created man and living things in a miraculous way
and that man possesses a soul granted him by God.
„h
believe that besides Jesus, Moses or Muhammad, God sent many prophets
such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Joseph throughout history, and they love all
these prophets.
„h
believe in resurrection, Heaven and Hell and angels, and that God has
created our lives with a certain destiny.
The
beliefs of the People of the Book are in harmony with Muslims, not only in terms
of faith-related issues, but also of moral values. Today, in a world where such
immoralities as adultery, homosexuality, drug addiction and a model of egoism
and self-seeking cruelty have grown widespread, the People of the Book and
Muslims share the same virtues: Honor, chastity, humility, self-sacrifice,
honesty, compassion, mercy and unconditional love¡K
According
To The Koran, Muslims, Jews And Christians Should Live In Friendship
It
is evident there are ample grounds for an alliance between the "People of
the Book" and Muslims. This is also very evident in the Koran. In the
relevant verses of the Koran, there is a significant difference between the
People of the Book and the idolaters. This is especially emphasized in the area
of social life. For example, it is said concerning the idolaters:
"(they) are unclean, so after this year they should not come near the
Masjid al-Haram (Kaaba)." (Surat at-Tawba: 28) Idolaters are
people who obey no divine law, have no moral precepts and who are capable of
committing every kind of degrading and perverse action without hesitation.
But
while they basically rely on God's revelation, the People of the Book have moral
precepts and know what is lawful and what is not. For this reason, if one of the
People of the Book cooks some food, it is lawful for Muslims to eat it. In the
same way, permission has been given for a Muslim man to marry a woman from among
the People of the Book. On this subject God commands:
Today
all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the
Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste
women from among the believers and chaste women of those given the Book before
you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication or
taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who disbelieve, his actions will come
to nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the losers. (Surat al-Mai'da:
5)
These
commands show that bonds of kinship may be established as a result of the
marriage of a Muslim with a woman from the People of the Book, and that those on
each side of the union can accept an invitation to a meal. These are the
fundamentals that will ensure the establishment of equitable human
relationships and a happy communal life. Since the Koran enjoins this
equitable and tolerant attitude, it is unthinkable that a Muslim could take an
opposing view.
Monasteries,
Churches And Synagogues Should Be Respected
Another
important fact we learn from the Koran is that Muslims must respect Jewish and
Christian places of worship. In the Koran, the places of worship of the People
of the Book, i.e. monasteries, churches and synagogues, are mentioned as places
of worship protected by God.
¡Kif
God had not driven some people back by means of others, monasteries, churches,
synagogues and mosques, where God's name is mentioned much, would have been
pulled down and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him - God is
All-Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Hajj: 40 )
This
verse shows all Muslims the importance of respecting and protecting the
sanctuaries of Christians and Jews.
Indeed,
in the Koran God commands Muslims not to harbor any enmity towards any people.
In many verses, friendship is recommended, even with idolaters. God even refers
to the idolaters at war with Muslims in this way: "If any of the
idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they have heard the
words of God. Then convey them to a place where they are safe." (Surat at-Tawba:
6)
Jews
and Christians, however, are much closer to Muslims than idolaters. Each of
these religions has its book, that is, they are subject to a revelation sent
down by God. They know what is right and what is wrong, what is lawful and what
is unlawful. They know they will give an account to God, and they love and
revere His prophets. This shows that Muslims and the people of the book can live
easily together and cooperate.
The
Common Enemies of the Faith
Another
important fact that draws Christianity, Judaism and Islam together is the
atheist philosophies that are so influential in our time.
Among
the best-known and most harmful philosophies of our age can be cited materialism,
communism, fascism, anarchism, racism and secular humanism. Many people who
believed in the fake diagnoses, deceptive descriptions and explanations of these
ideas on the universe, society and man, have lost their faith or doubted it.
What is more, these ideologies have dragged people, societies and nations into
great crises, conflicts and wars. Their share of the blame for the pain and
troubles that humanity suffers today is immense.
While
they deny God and creation, all the above-mentioned ideologies are based on a
common framework, a so-called scientific basis; Charles Darwin's theory of
evolution. Darwinism constitutes the basis of atheist philosophies. This theory
claims that living beings have evolved as a result of coincidences and by means
of a struggle for life. Therefore, Darwinism sends this deceptive message to
people:
"You
are not responsible to anyone, you owe your life to coincidences, you need to
struggle, and if necessary to oppress others to succeed. This world is one of
conflict and self-interest".
This
evil morality advises people to be egoistical, self-seeking, cruel and
oppressive. It destroys such virtues as mercy, compassion, self-sacrifice and
humility, the moral values of the three great monotheistic religions.
This
being the case, it is necessary for the people of the Book and Muslims to
cooperate, since they believe in God and accept the morality that He teaches.
The followers of these three religions should expose to the world the fallacy of
Darwinism, which has no scientific basis, but which is trying to be preserved
for the sake of materialist philosophy. They should cooperatively carry out an
intellectual struggle against all other deceptive ideas that serve atheism. Once
this is realized, the world will, in a very short time, embrace peace,
tranquility and justice.
Conclusion:
"Let us Rally to a Common Formula"
At
a time when anti-religious, atheist and materialist ideologies surround the
world, similarities among theistic religions should be emphasized, and
cooperation should be established for common aims.
Concerning
the People of the Book, God gives Muslims a command in the Koran; to rally to a
common formula:
O
People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be binding on both us
and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him;
that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God. (Surat
Al 'Imran, 64)
This
is indeed our call to Christians and Jews: As people who believe in God and
follow His revelations, let us rally to a common formula - "faith".
Let's love God, Who is our Creator and Lord, and follow His commands. And let us
pray God to lead us to an even straighter path.
When
Muslims, Christians and Jews rally to a common formula this way;
When
they understand that they are friends not enemies,
When
they see that the real enemy is atheism and paganism,
then
the world will become a very different place.
The fighting that has raged for ages, enmities, fears - and terrorist attacks - will come to an end, and a new civilization based on love, respect and peace will be established upon this "common formula".
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