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Antisemitism in Islam: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Images-nazism-0022.jpg|210px|right|thumb|''Mein Kampf'' is a best-seller in the Muslim World, and is often sold along-side religious literature.<ref name="Alastair Lawson">Alastair Lawson - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8382132.stm Mein Kampf a hit on Dhaka streets] - BBC News, November 27, 2009</ref><ref name="AFP Mar 18 2005">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Arts/Mar/18/Hitlers-Mein-Kampf-sells-50000-copies-in-Turkey-in-three-months.ashx#axzz1mYj9kPvg|2=2012-02-16}} Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' sells 50,000 copies in Turkey in three months] - Agence France Presse, March 18, 2005</ref>]]According to [[Islam and Scripture|Islamic scripture]], the Jews, like Christians and [[Christians Jews and Muslims in Heaven|other pre-Islamic religious groups]] considered "[[People of the Book]]", were given guidance from [[Allah|God]] (in this case the [[Taurah (the Torah According to the Qur'an)|Torah, or Taurat]]) which, being corrupted by those amongst them entrusted with safeguarding it, lost its original message and thereafter led them astray. In addition to this general accusation of [[Corruption of Previous Scriptures|corrupted scripture]], Islamic scriptures often single out Jews as being guilty of certain sins and crimes, both historically and into perpetuity. As a result of these misdeeds, Jews are reported by Islamic scriptures to have suffered certain punishments at the hand of God (being turned into pigs and apes) and at the hand of [[Muhammad]] (being executed, expelled, [[Slavery|enslaved]], and extorted by [[Sahabah|Muhammad's companions]] in [[Medina]]). | [[File:Images-nazism-0022.jpg|210px|right|thumb|''Mein Kampf'' is a best-seller in the Muslim World, and is often sold along-side religious literature.<ref name="Alastair Lawson">Alastair Lawson - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8382132.stm Mein Kampf a hit on Dhaka streets] - BBC News, November 27, 2009</ref><ref name="AFP Mar 18 2005">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Arts/Mar/18/Hitlers-Mein-Kampf-sells-50000-copies-in-Turkey-in-three-months.ashx#axzz1mYj9kPvg|2=2012-02-16}} Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' sells 50,000 copies in Turkey in three months] - Agence France Presse, March 18, 2005</ref>]]According to [[Islam and Scripture|Islamic scripture]], the Jews, like Christians and [[Christians Jews and Muslims in Heaven|other pre-Islamic religious groups]] considered "[[People of the Book]]", were given guidance from [[Allah|God]] (in this case the [[Taurah (the Torah According to the Qur'an)|Torah, or Taurat]]) which, being corrupted by those amongst them entrusted with safeguarding it, lost its original message and thereafter led them astray. In addition to this general accusation of [[Corruption of Previous Scriptures|corrupted scripture]], Islamic scriptures often single out Jews as being guilty of certain sins and crimes, both historically and into perpetuity. As a result of these misdeeds, Jews are reported by Islamic scriptures to have suffered certain punishments at the hand of God (being turned into pigs and apes) and at the hand of [[Muhammad]] (being executed, expelled, [[Slavery|enslaved]], and extorted by [[Sahabah|Muhammad's companions]] in [[Medina]]). | ||
While Jews have historically suffered [[Dhimmitude|dhimmi]] status under [[Khilafah (Caliphate)|caliphates]] of the past, like all religious minorities permitted to keep to their faiths under Islamic rule, in recent times the Islamic intellectual, social, and political milieu has grafted itself onto more Western notions of | While Jews have historically suffered [[Dhimmitude|dhimmi]] status under [[Khilafah (Caliphate)|caliphates]] of the past, like all religious minorities permitted to keep to their faiths under Islamic rule, in recent times the Islamic intellectual, social, and political milieu has grafted itself onto more Western notions of antisemitism, especially as expressed and ideologized by Nazi Germany. Modern '''Islamic antisemitism''' is consequently based upon a medley of Islamic scriptural citations and new-fangled Western (and especially Nazi) terminologies and tropes. In illustration of this, modern Islamic anti-Jewish polemics often feature in Arab book-fairs and bookstores alongside Arabic translations of Hitlers ''Mein Kumpf'' (sometimes translated in Arabic as "My Jihad"). | ||
According to many modern, critically-oriented and source-skeptical historians of Islam, it is likely that Muhammad himself was not hostile to Medinan Jews. These historians argue that many verses in the [[Qur'an]] (which is generally considered a source contemporary to Muhammad) that directly address the fate of Muhammad's contemporary Jews are rather tolerant and that truly violent intolerance would have been unlikely to emerge from the highly cosmopolitan environment of pre-Islamic Arabia. This, they argue, contrasts sharply with the much later [[hadith]] sources which are frequently intensely vitriolic in their address of Jews and record such events as the expulsions, persecution, enslavement, and [[The Massacre of the Banu Qurayza|execution of Medinan Jews]] en masse. Historians who incline towards this line of reasoning argue that this content found in the hadith was only invented later by Muslim authorities as polemical material to employ against Jews and Judaism. Not all historians are convinced by these arguments, however, as indirect mention of the Jews in the Quran itself is often highly critical and at times straightforwardly insulting. This debate is, however, a strictly academic one, and mainstream Islamic scholars stand firmly by the narrative found in the hadith literature. | According to many modern, critically-oriented and source-skeptical historians of Islam, it is likely that Muhammad himself was not hostile to Medinan Jews. These historians argue that many verses in the [[Qur'an]] (which is generally considered a source contemporary to Muhammad) that directly address the fate of Muhammad's contemporary Jews are rather tolerant and that truly violent intolerance would have been unlikely to emerge from the highly cosmopolitan environment of pre-Islamic Arabia. This, they argue, contrasts sharply with the much later [[hadith]] sources which are frequently intensely vitriolic in their address of Jews and record such events as the expulsions, persecution, enslavement, and [[The Massacre of the Banu Qurayza|execution of Medinan Jews]] en masse. Historians who incline towards this line of reasoning argue that this content found in the hadith was only invented later by Muslim authorities as polemical material to employ against Jews and Judaism. Not all historians are convinced by these arguments, however, as indirect mention of the Jews in the Quran itself is often highly critical and at times straightforwardly insulting. This debate is, however, a strictly academic one, and mainstream Islamic scholars stand firmly by the narrative found in the hadith literature. | ||
== | ==Islamic vs. Western antisemitism== | ||
Technically, Arabs, Ethiopians, and Assyrians can be described as Semitic people, however in the context of "Anti-Semitism" it is commonly understood to refer to people who identify as Jewish. | Technically, Arabs, Ethiopians, and Assyrians can be described as Semitic people, however in the context of "Anti-Semitism" it is commonly understood to refer to people who identify as Jewish. | ||
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A recent scientific study has also proven that Jews, unlike Muslims or Christians, are genetically identifiable as a race, many of whom also share a common language and culture.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/jews-genetics-make-them-a_n_600384.html Jews' Genetics Make Them A 'Distinct Population': NYU/Yeshiva Study] - The Huffington Post, June 4, 2010</ref> Therefore the Jewish people are not only a religious group, but also an ethnic minority. | A recent scientific study has also proven that Jews, unlike Muslims or Christians, are genetically identifiable as a race, many of whom also share a common language and culture.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/jews-genetics-make-them-a_n_600384.html Jews' Genetics Make Them A 'Distinct Population': NYU/Yeshiva Study] - The Huffington Post, June 4, 2010</ref> Therefore the Jewish people are not only a religious group, but also an ethnic minority. | ||
== | ==Islamic scripture and antisemitism== | ||
===The Qur'an=== | ===The Qur'an=== | ||
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{{Quote|{{Muslim|37|6665}}, See also: {{Muslim|37|6666}}, {{Muslim|37|6667}}, and {{Muslim|37|6668}}|Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|37|6665}}, See also: {{Muslim|37|6666}}, {{Muslim|37|6667}}, and {{Muslim|37|6668}}|Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your rescue from Hell-Fire.}} | ||
==Islamic Scholars and | ==Islamic Scholars and antisemitism== | ||
===Early Islamic Scholars=== | ===Early Islamic Scholars=== | ||
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{{Quote|Yusuf al-Qaradawi, January 9, 2009|"Oh Allah, take your enemies, the enemies of Islam. Oh Allah, take the Jews, the treacherous aggressors. Oh Allah, take this profligate, cunning, arrogant band of people. Oh Allah, they have spread much tyranny and corruption in the land. Pour Your wrath upon them, oh our God. Lie in wait for them. Oh Allah, You annihilated the people of Thamoud at the hand of a tyrant, and You annihilated the people of 'Aad with a fierce, icy gale. Oh Allah, You annihilated the people Thamoud at the hand of a tyrant, You annihilated the people of 'Aad with a fierce, icy gale, and You destroyed the Pharaoh and his soldiers — oh Allah, take this oppressive, tyrannical band of people. Oh Allah, take this oppressive, Jewish, Zionist band of people. Oh Allah, do not spare a single one of them. Oh Allah, count their numbers, and kill them, down to the very last one."<ref>[http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1979.htm Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Incites against Jews, Arab Regimes, and the U.S., and Calls on Muslims to Boycott Starbucks, Marks and Spencer] - MEMRI TV, Video Clip No. 1979, Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - January 9, 2009 - 10:44</ref>}} | {{Quote|Yusuf al-Qaradawi, January 9, 2009|"Oh Allah, take your enemies, the enemies of Islam. Oh Allah, take the Jews, the treacherous aggressors. Oh Allah, take this profligate, cunning, arrogant band of people. Oh Allah, they have spread much tyranny and corruption in the land. Pour Your wrath upon them, oh our God. Lie in wait for them. Oh Allah, You annihilated the people of Thamoud at the hand of a tyrant, and You annihilated the people of 'Aad with a fierce, icy gale. Oh Allah, You annihilated the people Thamoud at the hand of a tyrant, You annihilated the people of 'Aad with a fierce, icy gale, and You destroyed the Pharaoh and his soldiers — oh Allah, take this oppressive, tyrannical band of people. Oh Allah, take this oppressive, Jewish, Zionist band of people. Oh Allah, do not spare a single one of them. Oh Allah, count their numbers, and kill them, down to the very last one."<ref>[http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1979.htm Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi Incites against Jews, Arab Regimes, and the U.S., and Calls on Muslims to Boycott Starbucks, Marks and Spencer] - MEMRI TV, Video Clip No. 1979, Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar) - January 9, 2009 - 10:44</ref>}} | ||
== | ==Islam and other Anti-Semitic Literature== | ||
===Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf=== | ===Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf=== | ||
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{{Quote||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.<ref name="Textbooks for Islamic Studies"></ref>}} | {{Quote||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.<ref name="Textbooks for Islamic Studies"></ref>}} | ||
==Modern | ==Modern Islamic authorities and antisemitism== | ||
When you look at the many anti-Semitic sermons and articles by Muslim Scholars, the inspiration behind them is hard to miss. Without the anti-Semitic sentiments found within Islamic scripture and classical Muslim thinking, these attacks on the Jewish race would lose much of their meaning and impact among the Muslim listeners. | When you look at the many anti-Semitic sermons and articles by Muslim Scholars, the inspiration behind them is hard to miss. Without the anti-Semitic sentiments found within Islamic scripture and classical Muslim thinking, these attacks on the Jewish race would lose much of their meaning and impact among the Muslim listeners. | ||
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{{Quote|Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Muhammad's book "The Malay Dilemma"|"The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively."<ref>Jeff Jacoby - [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/23/rousing_muslim_bigotry/ Rousing Muslim bigotry] - The Boston Globe, October 23, 2003</ref>}} | {{Quote|Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Muhammad's book "The Malay Dilemma"|"The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively."<ref>Jeff Jacoby - [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/23/rousing_muslim_bigotry/ Rousing Muslim bigotry] - The Boston Globe, October 23, 2003</ref>}} | ||
== | ==Islamic antisemitism in the modern world== | ||
===Worldwide=== | ===Worldwide=== | ||
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During the month of January 2009, in the midst of Operation Cast Lead, '''“Asian” and “Arab” attackers accounted for fully 54% of incidents, although the Muslim community numbers just 4% of the general population'''.<ref>Haviv Rettig Gur - [http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=172884 Anti-Semitic violence doubled in 2009] - The Jerusalem Post, April 12, 2010</ref>}} | During the month of January 2009, in the midst of Operation Cast Lead, '''“Asian” and “Arab” attackers accounted for fully 54% of incidents, although the Muslim community numbers just 4% of the general population'''.<ref>Haviv Rettig Gur - [http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=172884 Anti-Semitic violence doubled in 2009] - The Jerusalem Post, April 12, 2010</ref>}} | ||
=== Muslim Majority Nations === | |||
{{Quote||According to the Pew Global Attitudes Project released on August 14, 2005, high percentages of the populations of six Muslim-majority countries have negative views of Jews. To a questionnaire asking respondents to give their views of members of various religions along a spectrum from "very favorable" to "very unfavorable", '''60% of Turks, 74% of Pakistanis, 76% of Indonesians, 88% of Moroccans, 99% of Lebanese Muslims and 100% of Jordanians checked either "somewhat unfavorable" or "very unfavorable" for Jews.'''<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_and_antisemitism&oldid=380681249 Islam and antisemitism] - Wikipedia, accessed September 17, 2010</ref>}} | |||
====Egypt==== | |||
{{Quote|June, 2006|Pew asked respondents to give their opinions of Christians, Muslims and Jews, and it found anti-Jewish sentiment to be "overwhelming" in the Muslim countries surveyed. It reached 98 percent in Jordan and '''97 percent in Egypt'''.<ref>MEG BORTIN - [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/world/23pew.html?ei=5090&en=5b361ce4828f5847&ex=1308715200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1180479483-EJoZc0Poq7pWF1C9iBvPng Poll Finds Discord Between the Muslim and Western Worlds] - The New York Times, June 23, 2006</ref>}} | |||
====Jordan==== | |||
100 percent of Jordanians view Jews unfavorably | |||
{{Quote|September, 2005|Jordan leads the Islamic world in its antipathy for Jews according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center. | |||
The poll, which surveyed 17,000 people in 17 countries, said '''100 percent of Jordanians viewed Jews unfavorably.''' The majority of Jordanians are Palestinians, but the late King Hussein and his son and successor, King Abdullah have been known for their pro-American stances.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051031063641/http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/front2453632.451388889.html Poll: Jordan top anti-Jew nation; Russia most pro-Christian] - World Tribune, September 19, 2005</ref>}} | |||
=== In the West === | |||
====Netherlands==== | ====Netherlands==== | ||
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The number of incidents increased to 594 last year, up by 31 per cent on the previous year. | The number of incidents increased to 594 last year, up by 31 per cent on the previous year. | ||
Violent assaults soared to 112, up by more than a third on 2005.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433030&in_page_id=1770 'Wave of hatred' warning as attacks on Jews hits record high] - The Daily Mail, February 1, 2007</ref>}} | Violent assaults soared to 112, up by more than a third on 2005.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433030&in_page_id=1770 'Wave of hatred' warning as attacks on Jews hits record high] - The Daily Mail, February 1, 2007</ref>}} | ||
==Continuing challenge of antisemitism in Islam== | ==Continuing challenge of antisemitism in Islam== | ||
Attempts are often made to portray Muhammad in a better light by claiming that he attended a Jew's funeral<ref>A repetitive example can be found here: [http://tablighijamaattruth.blogspot.in/search?q=jew]</ref> and forgave a Jewish woman who used to throw garbage and carrion at his doorstep. Nonetheless, these stories are known to be from [[Mawdu' (Fabricated Hadith)|weak or fabricated hadiths]]<ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1204985</ref><ref>Bukhari 1250 is misquoted here: [http://dailyhadith.abuaminaelias.com/2011/03/30/the-prophet-stood-up-for-the-funeral-of-a-jew-out-of-respect-for-his-humanity/]. The site quotes Sahih Muslim correctly but ignores [https://sunnah.com/muslim/11/31 this] hadith from the same book, where Muhammad says the dead Jew is being punished eternally.</ref>. Sometimes it is stated that the same hadith and sira books that are otherwise dismissed as unreliable, such as Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Saad and Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihain.<ref>http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2011/02/11/is-it-true-that-someone-threw-trash-on-the-prophet-peace-and-blessings-of-allah-be-upon-him/</ref><ref>http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=283960</ref> | Attempts are often made to portray Muhammad in a better light by claiming that he attended a Jew's funeral<ref>A repetitive example can be found here: [http://tablighijamaattruth.blogspot.in/search?q=jew]</ref> and forgave a Jewish woman who used to throw garbage and carrion at his doorstep. Nonetheless, these stories are known to be from [[Mawdu' (Fabricated Hadith)|weak or fabricated hadiths]]<ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1204985</ref><ref>Bukhari 1250 is misquoted here: [http://dailyhadith.abuaminaelias.com/2011/03/30/the-prophet-stood-up-for-the-funeral-of-a-jew-out-of-respect-for-his-humanity/]. The site quotes Sahih Muslim correctly but ignores [https://sunnah.com/muslim/11/31 this] hadith from the same book, where Muhammad says the dead Jew is being punished eternally.</ref>. Sometimes it is stated that the same hadith and sira books that are otherwise dismissed as unreliable, such as Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Saad and Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihain.<ref>http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2011/02/11/is-it-true-that-someone-threw-trash-on-the-prophet-peace-and-blessings-of-allah-be-upon-him/</ref><ref>http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=283960</ref> | ||
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*[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Muslim+website+removes+anti+semitic+videos+following+complaint/4609714/story.html|2=2011-04-15}} Muslim website removes ‘anti-semitic’ videos following complaint] ''- Stewart Bell, National Post, April 13, 2011'' | *[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Muslim+website+removes+anti+semitic+videos+following+complaint/4609714/story.html|2=2011-04-15}} Muslim website removes ‘anti-semitic’ videos following complaint] ''- Stewart Bell, National Post, April 13, 2011'' | ||
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11960291 Government to pay for security guards at Jewish schools] ''- BBC News, December 9, 2010'' | *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11960291 Government to pay for security guards at Jewish schools] ''- BBC News, December 9, 2010'' | ||