Is Islam Anti-Semitic?

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this is utterly confusing.

born-agains and their leader from texas claims divine inspiration for their policies. so do the al-sauds. so do the zionist. so do the tora-borans and hamas and hizbollah. they pretty much agree that its the same god that is inspiring each of the chosen peoples.

now while some of them can be simultaneously be right, all of them cannot be. the god must be going crazy with these conflicting demands.

i know its a political problem and not religious, but urstruly keeps confusing me.

haji004,

Dispel the aryan myth that they inhabited north-central asian region.
The word Arya has Sanskrut origins and it belongs to Indian civilization.

The identity-less german nomads fantacized about the superiority of their race and silently appropriated the word from Indian literature, during british mis-rule in India.

The process of appropriation of treasures of world wasn`t limited to land and loot. This instance was nothing but Cultural Theft.

The british themselves took pride in having german roots (they call themselves overrun by anglo-saxons) until Hitler threatened to turn on them.

``Arya`` and ``Swastik`` belongs to India and the barbarians have no right over it.

Jews must laugh their heads off whenever they come across sophomoric pedantry like this article. The fact of the matter is that they are in the process of establishing an empire that spans from Nile to the Eupherates. This is an ideal or an objective that they have inscribed on the front door of the Kenesset building which keeps on reminding their leaders and politicians as to why they were sent there. United States has the same objective but for different reasons, otherwise, it is a matter of three months for US to establish a two state system in the Palestine but that would kill the original objective, now wouldn`t it. That is the reason US torpedoes down each and every effort for peace from international community as well as some superficial efforts by themselves buying Israel more time to expel natives from their lands. It will keep on happening until this objective is met. That is the reason US will never leave Iraq unless of course a humiliating defeat is handed over to it by Iraqis. But that will not stop it from re-occupying Iraq at a later date. Evangalical Chritians in US are praying their hearts out so that the biblcal prophecy could become true. Jews are working hard to turn their prophecies untrue according to which they can never have a state of their own. It is because of these two hate filled, outdated, and simply stupid ideologies and religions that the whole region (and now globally) there is blood shed everywhere (also a part of prophecy). Guess what? these people are quite happy that the part of prophecy that the whole region will be in turmoil has also come true. They will keep it in turmoil until Jesus Christ is descended upon them for their salvation. This must be some kind of cruel and ugly joke that their god has played on them. A simple question is why would jesus christ come for the salvation of these people who have given a bloodbath to the whole region; killed innocent children, women, old and sick indiscriminately; raped them; tortured them; expelled them from their lands and turned their lives into living hell. Either their god is unjust and cruel or he is plain stupid who has no idea to whom he should bestow his salvation. While the adherents of these hateful ideologies do it in their religious fervor and in hope of salvation they blame Islam of being intolerant. Its a cruel joke.

I only want to comment on the title of the essay. The essay itself is irrelevant to me. Jewish immigrants to europe in medieval and pre-medieval times were differentin in skin,hair and eye color from the caucasians, slavs and aryans already inhabiting the eastern,centeral and north-eastern part of the continent. These europeans distinguished the in-coming Jews from themselves by classifying them as ``Semites``, which by the way is the group of races in which anthropologists put the descendants of ``Sem or Sam- Son of Noah``. Hence the people living in the arabian peninsula, iraq,jordan,syria,lebanon and surrounding arab states are all ``Semites``. Palestinians, which are fighting for freedom from Israel are also ``Semites``. The term ``Anti-Semitism`` refers to persecution of jews in continental europe or places where jews are strictly distinguishable on racial basis. So being anti-jewish is not being ``anti-semite``. Second point is that perhaps no muslim is ``anti-jewish``, what muslims all around the world vehemently oppose is ``Zionism``, and being ``anti-zionist`` is not being``anti-jewish`` because many jews are also ``anti-zionist``.
Let`s start using correct terminology and free ourselves from cliches, which are obsolete now.

Haji004

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Bham

The link given below is worth reading. There are ceratainly negative aspertions about the non-Muslims in the scripture.

The Quran states that ``Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.`` (III - The house of Imran 67)``. This is while Islam accepts the Judism prophets and Torah.

``Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. Those who have faith and do righteous deeds,- they are the best of creatures`` (XCVIII: The Proof: 6-7).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_anti-Semitism

NHK

Mitran said:
``DUDE GIBRAN
All that we know of the peoples of the Middle east suggests that both ancient jews as well as arabs are semitic. Modern day jews while they may have a greater proportion of european blood in them still celebrate their semitic roots , which is not entirely different from the Arab semitic identity . ``

So I think you are trying to say that Arab anti-semitism is an oxy-moron (sort of like Islamic terrorism, because the root of the word Islam is peace - so peace and terrorism cannot go side by side)
But though Arabs are also Semites, the use of the term anti-Semitic generally refers to the discrimination/prejudice towards the Jewish people - so the topic is basically, are Muslims fundamentally anti-Semitic? can they ever accept peace? The article also discusses historical truths and battles some misconceptions.

How can Islam be anti-Semitic? Merriam-Webster defines ``Semite`` as

---

Main Entry: Sem·ite
Pronunciation: `se-``mIt, esp British `sE-``mIt
Function: noun
Etymology: French sémite, from Semitic Shem, from Late Latin, from Greek SEm, from Hebrew ShEm
1 a : a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs b : a descendant of these peoples
2 : a member of a modern people speaking a Semitic language

1Se·mit·ic
Pronunciation: s&-`mi-tik also -`me-
Function: adjective
Etymology: German semitisch, from Semit, Semite Semite, probably from New Latin Semita, from Late Latin Semitic Shem
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic

Funnily enough, the same M-W defines `anti-semitic` thus

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an·ti-Sem·i·tism
Pronunciation: ``an-ti-`se-m&-``ti-z&m, ``an-``tI-
Function: noun
: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group

Like Dharam-paaji said, ``English is a very funny language``.

Nice read, BTW.

Gibran,

A very good-natured article...I apreciate it.

Anti-semitism (not to imply it`s worse than any other form of racism) is not a facet of Islam...one need not go through the varied and complex relations between Jews and Muslims throughout the ages...not all rosey but perhaps for the most part better than worse.

Rather, anti-semitism is a hallmark of modern Islamism, and anti-semitism is often a clumsy attempt at being anti-zionist. It`s very common to hear a fanatic claim that they have no problems with Jews or the Judaic faith (which is perhaps the only other faith Islam recognizes as valid as-is), but in fact the state of Israel. Of course, then they start going on rants about Jews control the world, and all that crap.

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I had a chat with a client of my brothers....a real buhdbhoodarr zionist. His whole thing was that he wants Israel to be left alone. I explained that that would be impossible so long as the Israeli army occupies the west bank and gaza....so long as that occupation exists, it is nigh impossible for any kind of peace partner to emerge. His response was that they should move to other states, those lands are Jewish lands. By what right, I demanded to know. Historically, it`s Jewish lands was the response. In essence, he was arguing for the ``right of return`` for all Jews who were expelled thousands of years ago, but completely ruled out any such right for Palestinians who were expelled just decades ago. And this kind of fanatical attitude is mainstream in American/Israeli politics.

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nakhok,

“Cooler tempers might prevail if an Arab mulls over what he would have done in 1948 if he were a holocaust survivor.”

The holocaust should mean squat to the Arabs. That was a problem from Europe. It must not, and should not, be used as a means to solicit sympathy for unrelated causes.

Buying land and tending to it does not imply statehood. By declaring an independent state, there was a serious breech of trust on the part of the Zionists. Of course, one could also argue that since at the time the land was controlled by the Brits, it should be the brits that be the focus of rage, not Israel. They simply went to the proper power brokers. I would tend to agree with that point of view….


”More importantly, an Arab might want to mull over the fact that Palestine was a two-way street at that moment in history. Yes, many a Palestinian ( 0.5 million) fled his ancestral home in the wake of Palestine`s partition. But at least an equal number of Jews got thrown out from Arab countries (from Morocco to Iraq) and even from Iran.”

Very true, and a good point. I’m uncertain if the numbers are comparable, nor how many of the Jews migrated willfully, however by no means was all of the modern exodus to Israel willing. Needless to say, it is very easy to offer such Jews a “right to return”. It would probably not be sincere, however the fact is, Israel has been shipping in Jews by the plane and boat load…literally. There is no Jewish refugee problem. There is a Jewish settlement problem and a Palestinian refugee problem.

“Needless to say, these Shephardic Jews have no reason to feel that they owe anything to the Palestinians who had lost their ancestral home.”

Ahh…two wrongs making a right…

“More importantly, the Shephardic Jews have genuine cause to resent the Arab countries that threw them out of their ancestral home in the aftermath of Palestine`s partition.”

Yup. But the fact is, these Arab regimes were no less accommodating to the Palestinians. This is a classic subterfuge of the anti-Palestine camp…they mistakenly identify only two parties…Arabs and Jews. The fact is, the treatment Israel mets out to Palestinians is independent of the relationship between Arab states and Israel. And it is to the treatment of the Palestinians that Israel is being rightly condemned and criticized for.


“One sided blind support for the Arab regimes that have persistently sought Israel`s obliteration right from day one, will not solve the problem.”

I don’t think that remains the stated objective of most Arab regimes. Even Saudi has offered to recognize Israel if it moves back to it’s 1968 borders…but if anything, such offers are dismissed. Wrongly, imho.

”Israel is a beleagured state.”

No it’s not. It was a beleaguered state. Now it’s a protected one.

”Tiny Israel, on the other hand, has been affected to the point where it is really weary to a person.”

Not because of it’s relations with Arab neigbours…but because of it’s policies in the West bank and gaza. Remember: three parties, not two.

”Israel wants real peace - not a tactical truce that would allow the Arab regimes to wait for an opportunity to obliterate Israel from the world map.”

Again, this is just a paranoid view that is designed to give Israel a cart blanche in it’s affairs with other Arab states and in the occupied territories. Fact is, aside from Syria and Iran, everyone else is pretty much fed up with Palestine. Israel has been exposed as a dog, and continues to be reviled…but then their army isn’t the best way to win “hearts and minds” throughout the middle east. But then, the Israelis really don’t care.
to absolve themselves of any blame.

”The Arab regimes did the Palestinian Arabs no favor by invading Israel on the morrow of the UN-sanctioned partition.”

The UN? Make up your mind. Either the UN is to be respected or it’s to be ignored (as Israel does with the gazillions of resolutions against it). Fact is, the Arab states did what any state would do if a group of people bought land, and then declared it as an independent state. What would the Israelis do to any Palestinian body that would ‘declare’ a state (UN backed no less) in the west bank and Gaza without their approval?

”The Arab regimes did the Palestinian Arabs no favor by failing to establish an independent Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza in the two decades they had till 1967.”

Very true. Of course, if they would have won the point would be moot…but then, might doesn’t make right either.

”The Arab regimes did the Palestinian Arabs no favor by failing to absorb the refugees by giving them citizenship.”

Actually, they did and are. The minute these Palestinians are absorbed, they loose any hope of “right of return”. They have been evicted from their homes, and want to go back. Arab states have absorbed many Palestinians. They could absorb them all. But the fact is, the refugee problem is Israel’s creation, and it’s hers to fix. If you want to demand similar for the Jews expelled, I would support that as well.

“The Arab regimes do Palestinian Arabs no favor by backing to the hilt the Palestinian Arabs` demand for the right of return to Israel. Israel has absorbed all the Jews thrown out of Arab lands in the afternmath of the partition of 1948.”

Unh…that was the whole idea behind Israel…as a homeland for all the Jews. Palestine is for the Arabs who occupied the land these Jews migrated to prior to being expelled.


”Come to think of it, the half million Hindu Sindhis who were driven into exile at India`s partition have a far stronger cause for grievance than the half million Palestinians who went into exile at Palestine`s partition”

Are you kidding? India’s partition (pick any region) is a much more important issue than Palestine ever could be. Why does it get so much attention? Well for one, it highlights and exemplifies an ongoing injustice. Second, it affects a very strategically important region of the world. Third, for Muslims and Jews and Chirstiance, there is a holy city in the country – one the Israelis refuse to have setup as a Vatican-like city. Foruth, and often overlooked, is the fact that many Evengelical Christians think a state of Israel is a necessary precondition for the arrival of Christ.

Other than that, it’s a low-intensity and fairly modest crisis compared to, say, Rawanda, Darfur, Chechnya, etc.

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Article by Gibran Bham

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In reality, the conflict between the Muslims and Jews did not commence till the 20th century
*****

There are some who would argue, with a lot of justification, that Arab-Jew conflict goes way back to the time of Abraham and his sons Isaac and Ishmael. The conflict of interest between Abraham`s wife(Sarah) and the mistress(Hagar) never provided an environment to make it easy for Isaac and Ishmael to feel that they belonged to the same family even during Abraham`s lifetime:

http://www.torah.org/projects/genesis/topic6.html

excerpts:

..... God promised Abraham that his own progeny would inherit him. However, he did not promise that Sarah would necessarily be the mother of his child. And so, when it appeared that Sarah would remain barren, she offered to give her servant Hagar to Abraham with the understanding that the child of their union would be considered as Sarah`s and that Hagar would still remain as Sarah`s servant. .....

..... However once Hagar conceived she became contemptuous of Sarah who took forceful steps to put Hagar in her place, whereupon Hagar fled do the desert. .....

..... An angel of God spoke to Sarah, promising her a son for ``He has heard your suffering.`` At the same time Hagar was instructed to return and submit to her mistress.

When Sarah gave birth to Isaac it was clear that only Isaac would inherit his father. After the weaning party for Isaac, Ishmael scoffed. And Sarah once again complained to Abraham and demanded that Ishmael be driven away. Abraham was disturbed, but upon God`s intervention he heeded Sarah and sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

Once again an angel of God spoke to Hagar promising her that Ishmael would become ``a great nation.``

In both instances Sarah had good cause for being disturbed. First Hagar was given to Abraham with the understanding that their offspring would be Sarah`s child to reared under her guidance. Once Hagar disdained Sarah and her position, Sarah realized that it would be impossible for her to raise Ishmael--who at that point was thought to be Abraham`s successor--thus throwing into jeopardy the whole future of Abraham`s mission.

In the second instance when it was already clear that Isaac was Abraham`s true seed, Sarah had a new concern. Ishmael was a scoffer. He was sure to be a negative influence on Isaac in his delicate and crucial formative years. And so, Sarah demanded that Ishmael be banished from their home. Abraham was at first reluctant, but eventually complied with God`s admonition to heed Sarah`s warning.

God ordered Abraham to abandon his son, Ishmael, and Ishmael`s mother, Hagar, in a desolate desert. God also ordered Abraham to ``sacrifice`` his other son, Isaac, by cutting his throat with a knife.

Well, we have all heard that Abraham went ahead and complied with both the orders. And, fortunately, it was an era of miracles. Bizarre as they were, both incidents mercifully had happy endings.

But this is the 21st century - a century in which God is helping those that help themselves instead of trusting in miracles. In fact, a modern day Abraham would most certainly face prosecution for heeding illegal orders, even if they are from God.

We need to revel in the brotherhood/sisterhood of all of mankind. To that end, we need to abandon our contempt for the ``Golden Calf`` of other cultures. The need of the century is to abandon the ``My Prophet/God is bigger than your Prophet/God`` approach to our quest for spiritual fulfillment.

More than Abraham, we need to celebrate the Eve of Africa whose fossilized remains point to a common ancestor for all of mankind. Harmony will rein not when all admirers of Abraham can get together under a single tent, but when no ``infidel`` is excluded either from such exercises in harmonious coexistence.

Article by Gibran Barham:

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They conveniently conclude that Islam will never tolerate a Jewish state and therefore, peace is impossible with the Arabs.
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The israelis are not unaware of judgemental and cruel Koranic ``revealations`` like:

``Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. Allah does not guide the wrong-doers.`` -- 5:51

``Believers, do not seek the friendship of the infidels and those who were given the Book before you, who have made your religion a jest and a pasttime.`` -- 5:57

``The Jews say: `God`s hand is chained.` May their own hands be chained! May they be cursed for what they say!`` -- 5:64

``Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last day, nor hold the forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jiziyah with willing submission. And feel themselves subdued.`` -- 9:29

``The Jews call `Uzayr-a son of God`, and the Christinas call `Christ the Son Of God`. That is a saying from their mouth; (In this) they but intimate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah`s curse be on them: how they are decluded away from the Truth. `` -- 9:30

An overwhelming majority of the Jews in Israel have encountered not just discrimination but even genocide. It is not unreasonable for the Israelis to vow, ``Never Again`` because they remember only too well not only the 20th century concentration camps but also the collective punishment meted out to the Jews in 7th century Arabia when the entire menfolk of a tribe (yes, all 800 of them!) were beheaded and all the women and girls were sold into slavery.

Gibran Bham:

I complement you to for raising a voice of sense in this atmosphere of antipathy and irrationalism at the Chowk.

I also complement the two respondents so far. One wishes the sense and understanding evident here can be further developed here and adopted in other discussions in Chowk.

The methodology of this article and exchange is sorely needed in a dozen discussions going on regarding India/Pakistan/Kashmir hornets` nest.

As nakhok has correctly pointed, the path to reconciliations has to be paved by understanding each other and acting to right the wrongs that were commited at the spur of the moment or at the instance of the deluded leaderships who acted for their own gains and egos.

re: Gibran

This was a nice article. I may also add that Muslims provided a sanctuary to the Jews when they were haunted by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in Spain. During the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church and King Ferdinand launched a campaign of ethnic and religious cleansing. Moors (Muslims from North Africa) were either burnt at the cross or forced to flee the country. In addition, thousands of women (accused of witchcraft), Protestants and Jews met the same fate. During this period, millions of Jews fled to Muslim lands in North Africa, Middle East and Constantinople.

Even during Prophet Muhammad`s time, Jews and Muslims lived peacefully together when the Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina. In fact, Prophet Muhammad concluded a treaty with the Jews under the auspices of Charter of Medina. Under this charter, Jews became partners in the Government of Medina and enjoyed religious freedoms.

This Charter stipulated that in the event of war, the Jewish and Muslim tribes would assist each other. Moreover, any tribe that betrayed the City of Medina would be punished according the customs of that time.

During the third battle between Meccans and Medinites, two Jewish tribes violated this Treaty and provided assistance to the Meccans. Despite the betrayal, the Medinites frustrated the Meccan attack. After the Meccan withdrawal, under the agreed Charter of Medina, all male members of the two Jewish tribes were sentenced to death. This sentence was pronounced by the Chief Jewish Representative of Medina.

Apart from a few similar incidents, there was mostly peace between Jews and Muslims until the 20th century. Even during the Crusades, Jews were largely left untouched by both the Muslims and Christians.