Editor,
In a recent letter, Mae Eye stated an incorrect quote from Quran: "So, when you clash with the unbelieving infidels in battle, smite their necks until you overpower them, killing and wounding many of them. Thus you are commanded by Allah to continue carrying out Jihad against the unbelieving infidels until they submit to Islam."
The correct translation of the Arabic verse is: "So, when you meet the unbelievers in war, smite at their necks. At length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly on them. Thereafter is the time for either generosity or ransom. Until the war lays down its burdens."
Obviously, the verse talks about the conduct of Muslim soldiers in war at a time when swords were the weapons used by combatants. Modern civilizations, including ours, do not instruct their soldiers to act differently in war.
The Quran is very specific about the prohibition of forcing or even pressuring people to change their faith. In one verse, it states, "There shall be no compulsion in faith."
In another verse, it states, "If it had been the Lord's will they would all have believed all who are on Earth. Wilt thou then compel mankind against their will to believe?"
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The Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years in response to incidents that took place during that period. The translation and interpretation of verses from Quran should be by Muslim scholars who are proficient about the history of the Arabic language and the Quran as a whole, and not by people who are fishing for incriminating language and translate as they desire.
The letter may give the impression that Muslims and Jews were in constant hostilities since Islam came into existence 14 centuries ago. In reality, there were only few years of hostilities at the beginning of Islam, when the Muslims formed a federation with the Jews, Christians and Pagans in Medina.
The Jews of Medina miscalculated and sided with the Pagans of Mecca, who attacked Medina. Afterwards, for more than 1,400 years, Jews lived peacefully among Muslims in the Muslim Empire until the state of Israel was formed in 1948.
As a matter of fact, Jewish historians state that during this 1,400 years, Jews flourished when Muslims did and suffered when Muslims suffered. An example is the history of crusades, where both Muslims and Jews were massacred together by the crusaders every time they conquered Palestine.
The golden age of Judaic scholarship took place among Muslims, as exemplified by the celebrated Arab Jew Memonides.
In effect, the modern state of hostilities between Muslims and Jews is an aberration and not the historical norm. It is true though, that there is a pent up emotional current of mutual hatred that is shared by many Muslims and Jews today.
There are extremists on both sides who insist on denying the other their human rights.
Sami Shakir
Daily Lobo reader
