What is the Quran's view of Jews?

[Skillganon]

Well If you read the OT Jews are not really potrayed in a good light themselve. So I find a bit stupid to say Quran is anti-semite. The Quran is relating some of the stuff that some of the Jews use to do and stuff like that back during the prophet time and before the prophets time.

 

[chacha_jalebi]

gibson chap, calm down!! they are quoted out of context, they have just picked lines out, without reading what comes before the lines and what comes after

do you understand now?

good!! kay:

 

[Woodrow]

One complex aspect here is more then one subject is being discussed and being treated as just one subject.

To begin with we need to define exactly what is meant by a Jew in each ayyat Jew is mentioned. You can not take any ayyat out of context and not know the entire Surah, and be able to understand it.

If you read carefully you will find that in each incident the word Jew is used as applying to a specific group of people in a specific area and time. There are some ayyats were Jew is used as a general term, and that is understood if you know the entire Surah.

Now to get to fair treatment of Jews, proper attitudes about and etc: Look at these ayyats 2: 136-140, 9: 1-4 there are more. The Qur'an has many ayyats speaking of fair treatment of all people.

 

[Lateralus63]

If i quoted one (or several) lines from a novel, that would still not be sufficient to understand it fully. The link Ansar Al-'Adl provided answers the issue perfectly.

 

[czgibson]

Greetings,

gibson chap, calm down!! they are quoted out of context, they have just picked lines out, without reading what comes before the lines and what comes after

Yes, I know this. All I'm saying is that they allow scope for misinterpretation, and that this has happened in the cases of several Muslims that I've known.

Peace

 

[Skillganon]

Greetings,


Yes, I know this. All I'm saying is that they allow scope for misinterpretation, and that this has happened in the cases of several Muslims that I've known.

Peace

Well, I am concerned about who is spreading those missinterpreations, if you have not notice it is mainly non-muslims who are and from non-muslim sites, and those who pretend to be muslim and selectively quote to lead people astray, I seen it myself in some blogs. I really get the feeling how do they ignore the other passage and message of the Quran if they truly have read it.

 

[czgibson]

Greetings,

Well, I am concerned about who is spreading those missinterpreations, if you have not notice it is mainly non-muslims who are and from non-muslim sites, and those who pretend to be muslim and selectively quote to lead people astray, I seen it myself in some blogs. I really get the feeling how do they ignore the other passage and message of the Quran if they truly have read it.

It's a good question and I don't know the answer. This is why I'm confused about this, you see.

Peace

 

[akulion]

Salam Alaikum

Mostly the Children of Isreal are looked upon in the quran as the "fallen people" mainly because of their own actions.

1. The Children of Isreal were sent Moses who showed them great miracles and led them out of the hands of the Pharoh and into safety. Yet when he left them they turned away from his message and started worshipping idols.

2. They were told to march into Jeuresulem and it would fall wihout a battle - yet their answer was "you can your God do it"

3. They were sent food from Paradise yet they said we prefer our onions and garlic, thus rejecting Gods gift

4. they were sent Jesus the living miracle, yet they plotted to kill him

5. They were told not to fish on one day and they still did it making a "bypass" of the commandment, thinking themselves too wise.

Basically their story is the same as that of satan - he was once a choosen being - but he grew so arrogant that he believed he could do anything and he would come out on top. same with the children of Isreal that because God said you are the choosen ones, they considered themselves above all others..thus their down fall.

that is why in the Quran God has told the Muslims clearly that even though you are the choosen ones ow but do not think that I cannot replace you as easily as I selected you.

The mention of them in the Quran is basically based on their own actions in the past and their continuing actions - like - writing their books with their own hands, plotting to kill the prophets and men of god, spreading mischeif in the world in general (we even see evidence of this today) and foremost rejecting the message of God and considering themselves to be above others simply because they think they have been given a promise by God that they will always be the choosen ones.

anyways now i lost my train of thought lol...

so ill stp here

 

[seek.learn]

Assalaam o alaikum wa rahmatullah,
Peace,

Allahu Alim.

I do not consider myself knowledgable in anyway but since I've started the tafseer of Surah Baqarah this is what I've learnt so far.
In this chapter of the Quran, the second one, or second Surah, a little way into it starts off with the Bani Israel, or the children of Isreal. Now one might think that its just having us muslims hate the jews, but there really is so much more to it.

The Bani Israel were the chosen people of Allah. Allah says in Surah Baqarah, " O Children of Isreal! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others (for my message)" 2:47 [ YusufAli translation]

This in itself holds the answer. Bani Israel was the chosen nation. After them it is the followers of Muhammed (SAWS). We, the Muslims, are the chosen nation now. So everything that the Quran says about the Jews. Its not hatred. Its for us to learn the lesson. It pinpoints in various places everything they did wrong, everything that was a 'cause for their becoming misguided. It is telling us, Muslims, do not do the same things. If you look at every thing they did wrong, and if you were to look at the state of our ummah today, you would see the striking similarities. There is so much in us that is just like what they did. There are even hadith where the summary is that we, the Muslims, will follow the Jews and Christians and imitate them in every way. We are meant to think, ponder, Learn!

The Quran is the book of guidance. It is meant to show us the straight path. Yes, when seen in context of the time it was revealed, it has its purpose there, just as the above link and everyone else has said so far. But this book is for all times, and for all people. What more guidance could this miraculous book be intending to give me when it continuously pinpoints our preceding nations errors?? Learn from them!

And if you further look into it, really place yourself in it, and read. You will see its not hatred at all. Israel was the name of Prophet Yaqoub (PBUH) [Jacob]. Over and over again, "Oh the children of Israel". That isnt being said with hatred at all. You hate someone you dont call them as if you truly care for them. Im afraid my language skills are not good enough for me to be able to explain this point further. I hope you can understand it. Or maybe someone better than me can explain.

And Allah knows best.
May Allah forgive me and us all, and Guide us. Aameen.

Alaikum salaam wa rahmatullah,
Peace

EDIT: As brother Akulion mentioned. He beat me to it!

 

[akulion]

Regarding the "choosen nation" one has to understand this is not a "race thing"

But rather its a "duty thing"

Like I say to my employee "you are the choosen one to do this task"

same way the Children of Isreal were the choosen people to do Gods work - but they took it the opposite way around that they were "choosen" so now God must do everything for them and they can all chill out.

Thats the difference between the current choosen people and the choosen people of the past. Today the Muslim ummah carries the message forward at the risk of their own lives.

the world looks on and thinks "these muslims are crazy" simply because the mujahideen stand in the midst of bombs and bullets and dont give up their prayer or the invitation to others towards the word of God

In the face of persecution and supression we do not see the muslims in majority turn around and leave Islam but we see them clinging to it harder!

So Alhamdolillah that Allah swt has choosen us to carry his word forth - we should all look upon this great duty as a previlidge and not a burden.

And none should forget their place, that it is we who are here to Gods will - and not the other way around!

As the Prophet Mohammed(s) said, "My Ummah has been given the task of the Prophets" (to carry the word forward)

Allah hu Akbar

 

[czgibson]

Greetings,

From the article posted by Ansar:

Throughout the history of Islam, Muslims have never used passages from the Qur'ân to justify acts of anti-Semitism.

See here for examples of some Muslims appearing to do just that.

These issues may have been "answered", but clearly anti-Semitism is something that still goes on among some Muslims, and it needs to stop. How can this be achieved?

Peace

 

[Muhammad]

Greetings,

Perhaps it can be achieved through study and education of Islam.

It is quite easy to pick out a verse mentioning the mistakes of the Jews, yet if people have read the Qur'an they will find verses that teach us not to treat them all in the same way, as the following passage demonstrates:

3:112 Ignominy shall be their portion wheresoever they are found save (where they grasp) a rope from Allah and a rope from men. They have incurred anger from their Lord, and wretchedness is laid upon them. That is because they used to disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slew the Prophets wrongfully. That is because they were rebellious and used to transgress.
3:113 They are not all alike. Of the People of the Scripture there is a staunch community who recite the revelations of Allah in the night season, falling prostrate (before Him).
3:114 They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency, and vie one with another in good works. They are of the righteous.
3:115 And whatever good they do, they will not be denied the meed thereof. Allah is Aware of those who ward off (evil).

So while there were some that disobeyed Allaah, there were others who were righteous.

By simply understanding the teachings of Islam, such as being respectful to others and discussing in a way that is better, it becomes quite clear that harbouring unjust hatred is not something taught by it:

[60.8] Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice.

[16.125] Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner; surely your Lord best knows those who go astray from His path, and He knows best those who follow the right way.

I hope this has been of some help

Peace.

 

[sharvy]

"Throughout the history of Islam, Muslims have never used passages from the Qur'ân to justify acts of anti-Semitism" (Ansar)



See here for examples of some Muslims appearing to do just that.

These issues may have been "answered", but clearly anti-Semitism is something that still goes on among some Muslims, and it needs to stop. How can this be achieved?

Peace

Hi CZ,

The examples from the Wikipedia article are truly astonishing. I was especially impressed by the documentation of this passage:

Muslim beliefs that certain Jews had been transformed into apes and pigs

A number of verses in the Qur'an refer to Jews being transformed into apes or pigs, specifically Suras 5:60-65, 2:65 and 7:166. According to Prof. Khaleel Mohammed, Assistant Professor at the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University, "many Muslim preachers use the verses in a manner that is totally wrong, demonizing all Jews." [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Thus Hamas says:
"Allah did not mete out the punishment of transformation on any nation except the Jews. The significance of it is actual change in the appearance of the Jew and perfect transformation from human to bestial condition... from human appearance to the form of genuine apes, pigs, mice, and lizards..." [9]

Similarly, the following quotes are excerpted from a sermon broadcast on Palestinian TV by Dr. Mustafa Najem, Dec. 6, 2002:
"The Jews...are the brothers of monkeys and pigs...Allah has warned us against their evil and their arrogance, and has said: 'You will find that the most brazen among mankind, with hatred towards the believers, are the Jews and the Idolaters.' [(Quran 81:5)]...The Jews are Jews, and we are forbidden to forget their character traits even for a moment, even for a blink of an eye. O Servants of Allah! The Jews are those who tried to murder your Prophet in order to expunge the call (to Islam)....Prayer and blessing to the Imam of the Jihad fighters, Mohammed, who waged a Jihad against the Jews...The Jews...are Idolaters, heretics, whose faith is false."
In the Muslim Aghlabid dynasty (9th through 11th century, North Africa) Jews were forced to wear a patch that had an image of a monkey, and were also forced to affix the same image to their homes. For Christians, the image was that of a pig. [10]

A May 2006 study of Saudi Arabia's revised schoolbook curriculum discovered that the 8th grade books included the following statements:

They are the people of the Sabbath, whose young people God turned into apes, and whose old people God turned into swine to punish them. As cited in Ibn Abbas: The apes are Jews, the keepers of the Sabbath; while the swine are the Christian infidels of the communion of Jesus.
Some of the people of the Sabbath were punished by being turned into apes and swine. Some of them were made to worship the devil, and not God, through consecration, sacrifice, prayer, appeals for help, and other types of worship. Some of the Jews worship the devil. Likewise, some members of this nation worship devil, and not God.[11]

I notice that Ansar has not bothered to retract his claim:

Throughout the history of Islam, Muslims have never used passages from the Qur'ân to justify acts of anti-Semitism

Peace,

Sharvy

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Hi Sharvy,
I can use links, I don't see what you feel you've accomplished by repasting what czgibson already posted. I didn't see the need to respond because anyone who checks the site can scroll down and see references like MEMRI, FrontPageMag, James Arlandson and more of the most rabid anti-islamic hate sites and writers on the internet, which easily demolishes the alleged factuality and neutrality of the article. See Dr. Habib Siddiqui's devastating refutation of Arlandson's lies and distortions here:
http://www.bismikaallahuma.org/archives/2006/what-i-did-not-say-and-the-missionary-myopia/
In fact, let me quote a relevant pert of the article:

Scores of Jewish scholars and historians can be cited, including Ben-Sasson27 and Abba Eban28 to prove him unreliable, hostile and lying.

Let me quote from the scholarly work, A History of the Jewish People, edited by Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson (Harvard University Press, 1976), an Israeli historian:

"The height of magnificence and luxury was reached by the wealthy Jews in the lands of Islam, particularly in Moslem Spain. We know that the court bankers of Baghdad in the tenth century kept open house for numerous guests and for the poor. Similarly, the ceremonies of the Jewish leaders in Babylonia [Iraq] and the patronage of the leading Jews in Moslem Spain, indicate conditions of ease and plenty.

"The attitude toward these non-Moslems in the Islamic territories was shaped in principle in accordance with the concept of dhimma, meaning protection granted to them by agreement or treaty… In return, their lives and property were protected and, in accordance with the general attitude of Islam to infidels, they were assured liberty of faith and worship. They were also permitted to organize themselves as they wished, and the Jews fully availed themselves of that permission.

"From the Jewish viewpoint, this conglomerate of Moslem attitudes to infidels was easier to live with than the one that had been established by Christianity, particularly in the Byzantine Empire. As we have noted above, for hundreds of years the overwhelming majority of Jews lived in the Islamic territories. Although it is possible to perceive some Christian impact on the Moslem attitude towards non-believers and even towards the Christians themselves, the moderation with which the Moslems applied this influence proved to be of great importance to the majority of Jewry over a long period. Unlike the masses of Christians and pagans who joined the Moslems over the first half century or so, the overwhelming majority of the Jews under Moslem rule held firmly to their own faith."29​

As to the settlement and economic activity in the 16th and 17th centuries and the establishment of the Sephardic Diaspora in the Ottoman Empire, the above book states:

"A considerable stream of exiles from Spain overflowed into the Ottoman Empire. Once the latter had annexed Erez Yisrael, it became a lodestone for Marranos who wished to repent and return to their former faith…. The sultan at the time of the expulsion, Bayezid, welcomed the refugees fleeing from the fanatical Christians. As recorded by a Jewish contemporary ‘the Sultan sent men ahead, and spread the word through his kingdom in writing as well, declaring that none of his officers in any of his cities dare to drive the Jews out or expel them, but all of them were to welcome the Jews cordially.’ It can be assumed that this imperial protection and the order granting right of domicile were issued through the influence of the leaders of the long-established Jewish community in the Ottoman Empire… Success was not restricted exclusively to medical and court circles. It seems that in the Ottoman Empire it was felt that the absorption of the exiles from the West provided social, cultural and even military advantages… The exiles gradually dispersed throughout the main cities of the Empire. Many synagogues were to be found in Constantinople during the sixteenth century. In this city they settled in quarters where Jews had not formerly resided. Salonika also became one of their main centres, and similarly Adrianople and Smyrna (Izmir). The exiles also established themselves in smaller cities. Expulsions from southern Italy helped to diversify the Jewish community and increase the various congregations in the Empire."30​

​

What is clear is that historically the relationship between Jews and Muslims living under Muslim Sultans was rather amicable and, that even in places like Palestine, Muslim people did not have any problem with Jews living there. The relationship soured only after the Balfour Declaration (1917) when the British allowed European Jews to colonize Palestine.31

As for the misquotations themselves, which of them contradict the assertion that Muslims have never used the Qur'anic verses to justify acts of anti-semitism?

Regards

 

[czgibson]

Greetings Ansar,

I don't really see how you can still hold onto your claim that no Muslim has ever used the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism.

As for the misquotations themselves, which of them contradict the assertion that Muslims have never used the Qur'anic verses to justify acts of anti-semitism?

How about this one? This is a clear example of someone using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism.:

The following sermon was delivered at the Sheik 'Ijlin Mosque in Gaza, Palestinian Authority. The speaker was Sheik Ibrahim Madhi, and it was broadcast on Palestinian Authority television. August 3, 2001

"We must all seek a role in the Jihad and the battle. We said and we still say: 'Even if we, the entire (Palestinian) people, stood in line and signed for the Jews that we want peace, they would not accept it. The Qur'an is very clear on this: The greatest enemies of the Islamic nation are the Jews, may Allah fight them...'
"All spears should be directed at the Jews, at the enemies of Allah, the nation that was cursed in Allah's book. Allah has described them as apes and pigs, the calf-worshipers, idol-worshipers.
"Whoever can fight them with his weapons, should go out [to the battle]; whoever can fight them with a machinegun, should go out; whoever can fight them with a sword or a knife, should go out; whoever can fight them with his hands, should go out; This is our destiny. The people who are the most hostile toward the believers are the Jews and the Polytheists... The Jews have exposed their fangs. Nothing will deter them, except the color of their filthy people's blood; nothing will deter them except for us voluntarily detonating ourselves in their midst. They have nuclear power, but we have the power of the belief in Allah..."
"The Prophet [Muhammad] said: 'The Jews will fight you, and [Allah] will establish you as rulers over them...' We blow them up in Hadera, we blow them up in Tel Aviv and in Netanya, and in this way, Allah establishes us as rulers over these gangs of vagabonds.
"Blessings for whoever assaulted a soldier... Blessings for whoever has raised his sons on the education of Jihad and Martyrdom; blessings for whoever has saved a bullet in order to stick it in a Jew's head."

Is this a misquotation? Did Sheik Ibrahim Madhi not actually say these words?

Peace

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Hi Callum,
First of all, it appears to me that no source whatsoever has been given for this quotation. Seems a little odd.

Secondly, even the quote itself is not using Qur'anic verses to justify acts of anti-semitism. He's obviously speaking withing the context of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, calling for a relentless military opposition and attempting to incite anger towards them with some anti-semitic comments. But has he used the Qur'an to justify an act of anti-semitism? Has he said that we are allowed to kill any Jew because an evil group from amongst them thousands of years ago was transformed into apes and pigs? I don't see any of that here.

I think its a correct statement that someone who carries out anti-semitic acts will find no justification in the Qur'an. Of course people will use whatever they want to justify themselves - if they already misquote and distort the Qur'an for terrorism, why not anti-semitism? The fact is that the Qur'an condemns this unequivocally.

Regards

 

[czgibson]

Greetings Ansar,

First of all, it appears to me that no source whatsoever has been given for this quotation. Seems a little odd.

The source was given as being Palestinian Authority Television. If you like, you can watch clips from this sermon here. Extracts from that particular sermon begin at 1:44 on the video.

Secondly, even the quote itself is not using Qur'anic verses to justify acts of anti-semitism. He's obviously speaking withing the context of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, calling for a relentless military opposition and attempting to incite anger towards them with some anti-semitic comments. But has he used the Qur'an to justify an act of anti-semitism? Has he said that we are allowed to kill any Jew because an evil group from amongst them thousands of years ago was transformed into apes and pigs? I don't see any of that here.

True, he does not quote verses from the Qur'an. However, he does make direct references to them:

The Qur'an is very clear on this: The greatest enemies of the Islamic nation are the Jews, may Allah fight them...

All spears should be directed at the Jews, at the enemies of Allah, the nation that was cursed in Allah's book. Allah has described them as apes and pigs, the calf-worshipers, idol-worshipers.

Are these not references to the Qur'an?

Secondly, the Sheik is clearly speaking in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the word he used repeatedly is 'Jews'. Not 'Zionists', or 'the Israeli forces', but 'Jews'.

I think its a correct statement that someone who carries out anti-semitic acts will find no justification in the Qur'an. Of course people will use whatever they want to justify themselves - if they already misquote and distort the Qur'an for terrorism, why not anti-semitism? The fact is that the Qur'an condemns this unequivocally.

I'm not disputing that the Qur'an condemns this, I'm simply taking issue with your statement that no Muslim has ever used the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism, since it seems very clear to me that this is precisely what is happening here. You've even half-admitted as much:

if they already misquote and distort the Qur'an for terrorism, why not anti-semitism?

The issue is not whether the Sheik has interpreted the Qur'an correctly or not; if he has made a mistake in this then it is hardly surprising that many non-Muslims look at the Qur'an and interpret it as being anti-Semitic. The point is that here we have a clear example of a Muslim using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism.

Peace

 

[sharvy]

I'm not disputing that the Qur'an condemns this, I'm simply taking issue with your statement that no Muslim has ever used the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism, since it seems very clear to me that this is precisely what is happening here. You've even half-admitted as much:

The issue is not whether the Sheik has interpreted the Qur'an correctly or not; if he has made a mistake in this then it is hardly surprising that many non-Muslims look at the Qur'an and interpret it as being anti-Semitic. The point is that here we have a clear example of a Muslim using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-Semitism.

Peace

Dear Ansar,

CZ is clearly right: he provided a legitimate example of a Muslim using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-semitism. Another clear example is the case of the Saudi textbooks:

"God told His Prophet, Muhammad, about the Jews, who learned from parts of God's book [the Torah and the Gospels] that God alone is worthy of worship. Despite this, they espouse falsehood through idol-worship, soothsaying, and sorcery. In doing so, they obey the devil. They prefer the people of falsehood to the people of the truth out of envy and hostility. This earns them condemnation and is a warning to us not to do as they did."

"They are the Jews, whom God has cursed and with whom He is so angry that He will never again be satisfied [with them]."

"Some of the people of the Sabbath were punished by being turned into apes and swine. Some of them were made to worship the devil, and not God, through consecration, sacrifice, prayer, appeals for help, and other types of worship. Some of the Jews worship the devil. Likewise, some members of this nation worship the devil, and not God."

According to the report, in the textbooks, no attempt was made to provide any historical context for the quotes and the result in the mind of the children is pure anti-semitism.

The Arab world is rife with genuine anti-semitism - not just anti-zionism. The view that Jews perpetrated 9/11 is (or was) a very widespread popular claim supported by mainstream Arab newspapers. Much of the Arab world takes the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as a fact - not the Czarist forgeries they certainly are. I've had more than one Arab acquantaince, rightly or wrongly, tell me they were raised to hate Jews in general - often on the basis of verses from the Qur'an.

Ansar, you should have the grace to concede a mistake: Some Muslims do in fact (wrongly) use Qur'an verse to justify anti-semitism.

Peace,

Sharvy

 

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Are these not references to the Qur'an?

Yes they are, but where is he using them to justify acts of anti-semitism? He isn't. He is recalling God's anger those that deviated from the truth, not using this as a reason to attack them. His reasoning behind opposition to them is the Israeli agression and he quotes the Qur'an to say that the Jews acting like those Jews condemned by the Qur'an. That's clearly not the same as quoting the Qur'an and saying, "We can go attack Jews because the Qur'an says they are evil".

Secondly, the Sheik is clearly speaking in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the word he used repeatedly is 'Jews'. Not 'Zionists', or 'the Israeli forces', but 'Jews'.

True, but the context shows what he is referring to.

For his purposes he could just as well quote the Torah and God's condemnation of some of the Jews in the Torah. I think your example only solidifies Muzammil Siddiqi's statement. It is not because of the Qur'an that he is inciting hatred - it is because of the political situation and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. If there was no conflict would there be the same hatred and anger? It is only because of conflict that such anger has arisen.

He is not justifying the anger on the basis of the Qur'an, he is justifying the anger on the basis of the Israeli agression and the perceived refusal of peace, and he is saying they are like those Jews condemned by God in the Qur'an.


Sharvy,
Where is the example of using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-semitism?? The quote you've provided speaks of the deviation amongst the Jews condemned by both the Torah and the Qur'an. And you're only deluding yourself if you think the anger towards the Jews is religious - it has everythign to do with the political and military conflict in the middle-east. If Muslims are being killed by the Israeli forces, why wouldn't the arab world be rife with anti-semitism? Obviously it is wrong, but people need to see the real cause is politics and military conflict - not religion.

 

[sharvy]

Sharvy,
Where is the example of using the Qur'an to justify acts of anti-semitism?? The quote you've provided speaks of the deviation amongst the Jews condemned by both the Torah and the Qur'an. And you're only deluding yourself if you think the anger towards the Jews is religious - it has everythign to do with the political and military conflict in the middle-east. If Muslims are being killed by the Israeli forces, why wouldn't the arab world be rife with anti-semitism? Obviously it is wrong, but people need to see the real cause is politics and military conflict - not religion.

Dear Ansar,

If a teacher tells a child:

"God told His Prophet, Muhammad, about the Jews, who learned from parts of God's book [the Torah and the Gospels] that God alone is worthy of worship. Despite this, they espouse falsehood through idol-worship, soothsaying, and sorcery. In doing so, they obey the devil. They prefer the people of falsehood to the people of the truth out of envy and hostility. This earns them condemnation and is a warning to us not to do as they did."

without any context, saying those words is itself an act of anti-semitism. It doesn't matter if there is some other context where the words are not anti-semitic. The issue is not whether the passage itself is inherently anti-semitic, but rather whether the act of instilling a certain image in the mind of a child is anti-semitic.

Peace,

Sharvy