Tovia Singer: Does the New Testament Teach Jesus is God?
Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jews. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 September 2017
The Link Between Anti-Semitism and Islam
John L Esposito: Gallup data revealed a link between anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, that contempt for Jews makes a person "about 32 times as likely to report the same level of prejudice toward Muslims"
Tovia Singer: Does the New Testament Teach Jesus is God?
Tovia Singer: Does the New Testament Teach Jesus is God?
Wednesday, 5 July 2017
Some Jewish Women Converted to Islam Due to Divorce Laws?
Jewish Women who converted to Islam just to get a divorce due to Sharia being more liberal than Jewish Law?
Jews are beginning to speak about influences of Islam on Judaism and Jewish law. For example, how Jewish law had to modify itself because Islamic law was so liberal in certain respects. There were women who would convert to Islam in order to get a divorce, which put pressure on the rabbis to liberalize Jewish divorce laws [Susannah Heschel]
Did Jesus Die For The Sins Of Mankind? - Rabbi Tovia Singer
Food - A Balanced Approach - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Islamophobia Still Not As Socially Rejected as Anti-Semitism
Some Christians Used the Bible to Support Apartheid
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Refutes ISIS and their idea of Caliphate
Why Islam
Jews are beginning to speak about influences of Islam on Judaism and Jewish law. For example, how Jewish law had to modify itself because Islamic law was so liberal in certain respects. There were women who would convert to Islam in order to get a divorce, which put pressure on the rabbis to liberalize Jewish divorce laws [Susannah Heschel]
Did Jesus Die For The Sins Of Mankind? - Rabbi Tovia Singer
Food - A Balanced Approach - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Islamophobia Still Not As Socially Rejected as Anti-Semitism
Some Christians Used the Bible to Support Apartheid
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Refutes ISIS and their idea of Caliphate
Why Islam
Thursday, 15 June 2017
Muslims and Jews Explain Shomer Negiah: Why Muslim Men Don't Shake Hands With Women (Non Mahram)
In this video, the Muslims (Nouman Ali Khan and Hamza Yusuf), the Jewish lady (Andrea Grinberg) and a Christian preacher (Paul Washer, who laments at our Western society's departure of valuing touch) really help us to value the teaching of not shaking hands or hugging with members of the opposite sex who you have no familial bond with. It's heart warming as well as sad. Sad because this value for touch and guarding against sensual interactions with strangers of the opposite sex has been lost in the West. Watch the video, you'll appreciate and/or understand the Islamic and Jewish teachings on this more.
This vide is also uploaded here and here
Jewish prohibition:
The rule is that people of the opposite gender do not even touch each other, let alone shake hands, unless they are husband and wife, siblings, or children with parents and grandparents.
What is the rationale for the Jewish prohibition on men and women touching, let alone shaking hands?
The prohibition of touching (in Hebrew negiah) goes back to the Book of Leviticus (18:6 and 18:19) and was developed further in the Talmud. A person who observes this prohibition is often called a shomer negiаh. It applied not only to close contact such as hugging and kissing, but also to shaking hands or patting on the back. The practice is generally followed by traditionally observant Jews, both men and women, including Hassidic Jews, and those who are referred to as Haredim. It is also observed within the Modern Orthodox community depending on how traditional the person is. [Chabad.org]
Muslim scholar teaches the prohibition:
It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and His Messenger to put his hand in the hand of a women who is not permissible for him or who is not one of his mahrams. Whoever does that has wronged himself (i.e., sinned).
It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.” [IsalmQA]
Jewish explanation:
To remove any myths, it can be said emphatically that it has nothing to do with impurity, or with the social or religious status of people who encounter other people.
The reason is a rather complex, even Freudian rationale. It is felt that touching a person of the opposite gender is essentially a sexual act, or at least the precursor of a sexual act. While it is true that most handshakes between men and women do not lead to sexual relations and are not even contemplated, sexual relations always begin with touching. It is also true that a handshake does communicate feelings albeit on a superficial level.
It has been recognized however, that there are many instances in which men and women can and perhaps even should, touch each other. This would apply to saving a person who is facing a life-threatening danger. Members of the health professions may obviously touch members of the opposite gender in the practice of their discipline, as may hairdressers or physical therapists as a necessary component in the practice of theirs.
Traditional Judaism, unlike some other faiths, regards touching as a highly sensual act. It takes the view that it is not only an important part of marital relations, but one that is only permitted in those relations. To shake hands as a casual courtesy and nothing more is the first step leading to the desensitization of sensuality between husband and wife.
Rabbi Baruch Emmanuel Erdstein of Safed, who holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Michigan, states that "the casual touching of members of the opposite gender can only dull our sensitivity to the sexual power of touch."
А Further Thought
Quite apart from the sexual analysis of some commentators, some commentators point out that an individual's body is personal, and at times to even touch is an intrusion into one's personal dignity. According to this approach, a man should not touch a woman, nor a woman touch a man, out of respect for the space of each other as individuals—especially individuals of the opposite gender who should reserve a certain level of privacy with respect to each other. [Chabad.org]
What is the rationale for the Jewish prohibition on men and women touching, let alone shaking hands?
The prohibition of touching (in Hebrew negiah) goes back to the Book of Leviticus (18:6 and 18:19) and was developed further in the Talmud. A person who observes this prohibition is often called a shomer negiаh. It applied not only to close contact such as hugging and kissing, but also to shaking hands or patting on the back. The practice is generally followed by traditionally observant Jews, both men and women, including Hassidic Jews, and those who are referred to as Haredim. It is also observed within the Modern Orthodox community depending on how traditional the person is. [Chabad.org]
Muslim scholar teaches the prohibition:
It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and His Messenger to put his hand in the hand of a women who is not permissible for him or who is not one of his mahrams. Whoever does that has wronged himself (i.e., sinned).
It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.” [IsalmQA]
Jewish explanation:
To remove any myths, it can be said emphatically that it has nothing to do with impurity, or with the social or religious status of people who encounter other people.
The reason is a rather complex, even Freudian rationale. It is felt that touching a person of the opposite gender is essentially a sexual act, or at least the precursor of a sexual act. While it is true that most handshakes between men and women do not lead to sexual relations and are not even contemplated, sexual relations always begin with touching. It is also true that a handshake does communicate feelings albeit on a superficial level.
It has been recognized however, that there are many instances in which men and women can and perhaps even should, touch each other. This would apply to saving a person who is facing a life-threatening danger. Members of the health professions may obviously touch members of the opposite gender in the practice of their discipline, as may hairdressers or physical therapists as a necessary component in the practice of theirs.
Traditional Judaism, unlike some other faiths, regards touching as a highly sensual act. It takes the view that it is not only an important part of marital relations, but one that is only permitted in those relations. To shake hands as a casual courtesy and nothing more is the first step leading to the desensitization of sensuality between husband and wife.
Rabbi Baruch Emmanuel Erdstein of Safed, who holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Michigan, states that "the casual touching of members of the opposite gender can only dull our sensitivity to the sexual power of touch."
А Further Thought
Quite apart from the sexual analysis of some commentators, some commentators point out that an individual's body is personal, and at times to even touch is an intrusion into one's personal dignity. According to this approach, a man should not touch a woman, nor a woman touch a man, out of respect for the space of each other as individuals—especially individuals of the opposite gender who should reserve a certain level of privacy with respect to each other. [Chabad.org]
The Book Without Doubt - The Quran
Dawah to Swedish (?) Atheist/Agnostic Wanting to Deport Muslims
Ex Christian: Christian Claims of Miracles Were Fake and Tricks
Refuting Joe Rogan's Comments About Islam
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Rabbi Tovia Singer on Islam and Christianity
Rabbi Tovia Singer clearly states Muslims are not idol-worshipers and Muslims are monotheists. The Rabbi denounces the Christian missionary lie of the moon-god. He also states Trinitarian Christianity is idol-worship.
Rabbi Tovia Singer is a fellow talk show host. He has a radio talk show in Israel. He is the founder and director of Outreach Judaism which is an international organization dedicated to countering the effects of fundamentalist Christian groups and cults who specifically target Jews for conversion.
Prophecies of the Messiah - Reza Aslan
Numerical miracle in Quran
British Muslims Protested to Defend Jesus p
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Conversions to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday, 17 May 2015
Britain First's Jayda Fransen and Paul Golding Learn About Anti-Semitism and Christianity
Britain First's Plot Backfires: Islam and Christianity - Anti Semitism
Britain First's Jayda Fransen and Paul Golding were trying to cause further divisions between British Jews and British Muslims
Jayda Fransen was trying to frame Islam as being Anti-Semitic yet when put alongside experts in Islam we just see how lacking in intellectual and scholarly fortitude her propaganda piece was.
It takes somebody like Professor Tariq Ramadan, of Oxford University, to blow away their propaganda piece and Dr Timothy Winter, of Cambridge University, to teach us about Christian History and Anti-Semitism.
Britain First claims to be a Christian organisation so I'm not sure why the two most prominent members of Britain First are unaware of Christian Anti-Semitic history.
Britain First Members Getting Punched in the Nose Intellectually
Video also uploaded here and here
Numerous well-known Islamic jurists and scholars have affirmed that there is no religious basis of prejudice against Jews.
...Tariq Ramadan says: 'there is nothing in Islam that gives legitimization to Judeophobia, xenophobia and the rejection of any human being because of his religion or group to which he belongs. Anti-Semitism has no justification in Islam, the message of which demands respect for the Jewish religion and spirit, which are considered a noble expression of the People of the Book'
...Historically, we have many precedents of goodwill shown by Muslims to the Jews. Jews thrived for four hundred years in al-Andalus amidst the Muslims during the peak of medieval Islamic civilisation.
...Anti-Semitism is against the basics of Islam. Islam promotes humility and warns against keeping enmity and anger in one's heart. It is a positive sign that many Muslim intellectuals, such as Akbar Ahmed and Tariq Ramadan, are speaking out against anti-Semitism by Muslims. It is also crucial that the Jewish leaders also follow suit and encourage better understanding between Muslims and Jews.
Islamic Political Radicalism - A European Perspective, Edited by Tahir Abbas, Anti-Semitism Amongst Muslims - Haris Aziz, Edingburgh University Press, p80
Murder Rates in Muslim Countries Compared to Non Muslim Countries.
The Hitler Propaganda on Muslims
Holocaust Denial & Bridging the Jewish-Muslim Divide ~ US Imam Dr. Yasir Qadhi
Smear on British Pakistanis: Stats and Facts of British Pakistanis Grooming Girls
British Muslims in Preston Helping to Save Lives
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Friday, 20 March 2015
Are Muslim Men Stopping Jewish Women From Driving? Or Are Jewish Men Stopping Them?
Jewish Women Not Allowed to Drive in America by the Jewish Community!
Well, have you heard Fox News or any of the right wing Zionists mentioning this? If Muslim women were not allowed to drive in Dearborn by conservative Muslim men you know the Islamophobic bigots would be out on mass.
Remember this is America. Not Israel or Saudi Arabia. Jewish women are not allowed to drive by Jewish men. I repeat Jewish women aren't allowed to drive by Jewish men!!!
Is anybody talking about sending the US army into Kiryas Joel to 'liberate' the Jewish women? Is anybody from the right wing demonising these Jews? Is this even making television news?
We all know it would be major news if Muslim men in America were stopping Jewish or Muslims women from driving. Why the imbalance in reporting?
I would like to know if this is a teaching this Jewish group got from the Bible or whether this is just one of their customs
Frimet Goldberger grew up in Kiryas Joel, New York, an ultra-Orthodox Satmar Hasidic community about an hour's drive northwest of New York City. An overwhelming majority of the village’s 22,000 residents live below the federal poverty threshold, according to The New York Times. Most of the men devote their lives to studying the Torah, while the women marry young and have large families (the town's median household size is almost six people, the highest in the country). The custom is for women to stay home to take care of the family as full-time homemakers.
And they aren’t allowed to drive.
In fact, women who get behind the wheel in Kiryas Joel risk being shunned and having their children taken out of school. They can’t be jailed for the act, but they may be socially ostracized -- or even expelled from the community they’ve grown up in, Goldberger recently wrote for Public Radio International. HuffPost
What is Takiya, Taqiyya?
Did Ali and Abu Bakr Really Burn People?
Stupid claim of Aisha not having reached puberty at time of consummation
[QURAN MIRACLES] The Miracles of the Number 19 in Quran | Dr. Shabir Ally
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tags: zakir naik, cemb, Abdullah al andalusi, forum, mohammed shafiq, ramadhan foundation, big questions, nicky Campbell, milo yiannopoulos,
Monday, 2 March 2015
Jewish scholar says, Jews to have a state is forbidden
Jew says it's forbidden for Jews to have their own state.
Israelis Blame Muslims in Britain for Exposing Israel!
BBC Question Time: A Jew Confirms George Galloway is Not Anti Semitic
Zionist Hypocrisy Over Jews in Finland Who Fought For Hitler and the Mufti of Jerusalem
Robert Spencer, Should Apostates in America, UK and Australia Be Killed According to Sharia
Statistics: Ethnic Minorities in Bradford District and White Majority
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tags: Douglas Murray, Breitbart, Milo Yiannopoulas, Maajid Nawaz
Zionist Hypocrisy Over Jews in Finland Who Fought For Hitler and the Mufti of Jerusalem
Robert Spencer, Should Apostates in America, UK and Australia Be Killed According to Sharia
Statistics: Ethnic Minorities in Bradford District and White Majority
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tags: Douglas Murray, Breitbart, Milo Yiannopoulas, Maajid Nawaz
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Islam and Anti-Semitism
Numerous well-known Islamic jurists and scholars have affirmed that there is no religious basis of prejudice against Jews.
...Tariq Ramadan says: 'there is nothing in Islam that gives legitimization to Judeophobia, xenophobia and the rejection of any human being because of his religion or group to which he belongs. Anti-Semitism has no justification in Islam, the message of which demands respect for the Jewish religion and spirit, which are considered a noble expression of the People of the Book'
...Historically, we have many precedents of goodwill shown by Muslims to the Jews. Jews thrived for four hundred years in al-Andalus amidst the Muslims during the peak of medieval Islamic civilisation.
...Anti-Semitism is against the basics of Islam. Islam promotes humility and warns against keeping enmity and anger in one's heart. It is a positive sign that many Muslim intellectuals, such as Akbar Ahmed and Tariq Ramadan, are speaking out against anti-Semitism by Muslims. It is also crucial that the Jewish leaders also follow suit and encourage better understanding between Muslims and Jews.
Islamic Political Radicalism - A European Perspective, Edited by Tahir Abbas, Anti-Semitism Amongst Muslims - Haris Aziz, Edingburgh University Press, p80
Murder Rates in Muslim Countries Compared to Non Muslim Countries.
Holocaust Denial & Bridging the Jewish-Muslim Divide ~ US Imam Dr. Yasir Qadhi
Smear on British Pakistanis: Stats and Facts of British Pakistanis Grooming Girls
British Muslims in Preston Helping to Save Lives
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Jews had their versions of AlQaeda and ISIS (Extremists)
Professor Reza Aslan describes a group of Jews who used terrorism and assassinations for furthering their cause. I doubt anybody American Christian fundamentalist will be accusing Judaism responsible for groups such as the Sicarii.
Perhaps the Jewish revolutionary Menahem will be seen as the Bin Laden or Al Baghdadi of the Jewish people in the first century.
The Sicarii were zealots fuelled by an apocalyptic worldview and a fervent devotion to establishing God's rule on earth. They were fanatical in their opposition to the Roman occupation, though they reserved their vengeance for those Jews, particularly among the wealthy priestly aristocracy, who submitted to Roman rule. Fearless and unstoppable, the Sicarii murdered their opponents with impunity: in the middle of the city, in broad daylight, in the midst of great hordes, during feast days and festivals...
...The leader of the Sicarii at the time was a young Jewish revolutionary named Menahem, the grandson of none other than the failed messiah Judas the Galilean. Menahem shared his grandfather's hatred for the wealthy priestly aristocracy in general, and the unctuous high priests in particular. To the Sicarii, Jonathan son of Ananus was an imposter: a thief and a swindler who had grown rich exploiting the suffering of the people...
..In the year 56 CE, the Sicarii under Menahem's leadership were finally able to achieve what Judas the Galilean could only dream of accomplishing. During the feast of Passover, a Sicarii assassin pushed his way through the mass of pilgrims packed into the Temple Mount until he was close enough to the high priest Jonathan to pull out a dagger and swipe it across his throat.
...the Sicarii had only just begun their reign of terror. Shouting their slogan "No lord but God" they began attacking the members of the Jewish ruling class, plundering their possessions, kidnapping their relatives, and burning down their homes. Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, Reza Aslan, The Westbourne Press p51-53
Sharia Law against terrorism
Rabbi: Islamization of Europe is a good thing
Rabbis help Muslims fight a hate group
When Jews fought alongside Muslims
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday, 15 January 2015
When Jews fought alongside Muslims against Christian crusaders
The Jews fought alongside Muslims against Christian crusaders - this action of Jewish bravery contributed in part to the persecuted levelled at Jews residing in Europe.
An interesting thought here is it possible that European white supremacy has roots from the Crusades. One of the reasons behind the crusades, according to Miranda Threlfall-Holmes was to inculcate a sense of European Christian identity.
One motivation behind the preaching of the crusades by successive popes seems to have been deliberately to create a sense of pan-European Christian identity, and Jews throughout Europe suffered as a consequence. It was also the case that Jews fought alongside Muslims to defend Jerusalem from the first crusaders, and this contributed to a sense of Jews as the enemy within. The first widespread persecution of Jews in medieval Europe occurred in the Rhineland at the time of the First Crusade, when the Jewish communities there were virtually wiped out. The Essential History of Christianity, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, SPCK, 2012, p65
Zionist Hypocrisy over Jews in Finland
Sharia Law against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam
Learn about Islam
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday, 25 May 2014
French Muslims Should Protect Jews in France
By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss,
Except for those who have
believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised
each other to patience.
I pray that Allah makes it easier for the families of those affected and guides them. Ameen.
In the wake of the recent attacks on Jews living in France it's clear the Jewish community in France will feel intimidated.
As a Muslim, we say no group should be living in fear in our community.
Muslims in France should show solidarity with the Jews in France to support them in their moment of need. This is the Muslim duty. Muslims are meant to stand up against injustice - so we need to denounce these far right groups which are intimidating Jews.
Snip from The Jerusalem Post:
PARIS – Two young religious Jews were attacked Saturday evening in Creteil near Paris as they left a synagogue, the French Interior Ministry announced Sunday.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred around 8:30 pm. when the two brothers, aged 21 and 18, and both wearing kippot, were severely beaten by two unknown men, who then fled, one on foot and the second on a bicycle.
Speaking in the town of Tulle, where he went to vote for the European parliament, President Francois Hollande expressed “the will of France to allow all Jews of France to feel in perfect security and calm.”
He called on the country to do everything so that “such acts will not recur... We are doing everything in order to find the perpetrators and they will be found.”
Laurent Cathala, the mayor of Creteil, a city with a strong Jewish population south of Paris, said: “The aggression has an anti-Semitic characteristic, there is no doubt about it.”
The American Jewish Committee strongly condemned the attack. Reports indicate that both brothers were severely beaten with brass knuckles, but fortunately are expected to recover.
This assault follows Saturday’s attack in Brussels, where four people were murdered at the city’s Jewish Museum.
Muslim country ranked best at respecting women!
Muslims against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Invitation to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
I pray that Allah makes it easier for the families of those affected and guides them. Ameen.
In the wake of the recent attacks on Jews living in France it's clear the Jewish community in France will feel intimidated.
As a Muslim, we say no group should be living in fear in our community.
Muslims in France should show solidarity with the Jews in France to support them in their moment of need. This is the Muslim duty. Muslims are meant to stand up against injustice - so we need to denounce these far right groups which are intimidating Jews.
Snip from The Jerusalem Post:
According to the ministry, the incident occurred around 8:30 pm. when the two brothers, aged 21 and 18, and both wearing kippot, were severely beaten by two unknown men, who then fled, one on foot and the second on a bicycle.
Speaking in the town of Tulle, where he went to vote for the European parliament, President Francois Hollande expressed “the will of France to allow all Jews of France to feel in perfect security and calm.”
He called on the country to do everything so that “such acts will not recur... We are doing everything in order to find the perpetrators and they will be found.”
Laurent Cathala, the mayor of Creteil, a city with a strong Jewish population south of Paris, said: “The aggression has an anti-Semitic characteristic, there is no doubt about it.”
The American Jewish Committee strongly condemned the attack. Reports indicate that both brothers were severely beaten with brass knuckles, but fortunately are expected to recover.
This assault follows Saturday’s attack in Brussels, where four people were murdered at the city’s Jewish Museum.
Muslim country ranked best at respecting women!
Muslims against terrorism
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Invitation to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Muslims Should Defend Jewish School Girls Against Attack
It's reported that an attack took place on a bus full of Jewish schoolgirls. If this attack did actually occur it's important to denounce it. The right wing media like to use the misery of the victims of terrorism for their agenda of foreign intervention and demonization of Muslims. They really don't seem to care about the victims. We have already seen that Sharia does NOT allow terrorism so it's important for Muslims and Non-Muslims to avail themselves of this important information.
In all honesty, stories of Muslims attacking innocent people through terrorism should shock people as Islam does not allow such acts. On top of this, to attack school girls should be even more surprising especially considering the high regard Muslims hold females in - in fact a Muslim country recently was ranked best in respecting women.
Not only that, it could be useful to remind the insincere right wing (may of whom are right wing Christians) who are busying themselves in hate-preaching against Muslims that persecution was justified by St Augustine as well as John Calvin's support for executing blasphemers and heretics.
I would also like to direct the haters of Palestinians to the story of a Palestinian bus driver who saved Jewish girls
Snip from the story about the terrorist attack:
“Firebombs on Bat Mitzva Girls’ Bus, Only Arutz Sheva Reports It,” Israel National News, May 15, 2014
Four terrorists hurl firebombs at bus near Hevron, engulfing it in flames, but media ignores story, preferring to cover Jewish graffiti. A well-planned firebomb attack on a bus full of Jewish schoolgirls Tuesday could easily have ended in tragedy, but no news source even reported that it took place, except for the one you are currently reading – Arutz Sheva. The girls were sixth-graders from a religious school in central Israel. They were on a bat mitzva tour of the Cave of Machpela in Hevron, a site recognized by the government as an official heritage site, when four terrorists ambushed it with firebombs. [source]
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam:http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Learn about Islam:http://www.thedeenshow.com
In all honesty, stories of Muslims attacking innocent people through terrorism should shock people as Islam does not allow such acts. On top of this, to attack school girls should be even more surprising especially considering the high regard Muslims hold females in - in fact a Muslim country recently was ranked best in respecting women.
Not only that, it could be useful to remind the insincere right wing (may of whom are right wing Christians) who are busying themselves in hate-preaching against Muslims that persecution was justified by St Augustine as well as John Calvin's support for executing blasphemers and heretics.I would also like to direct the haters of Palestinians to the story of a Palestinian bus driver who saved Jewish girls
Snip from the story about the terrorist attack:
“Firebombs on Bat Mitzva Girls’ Bus, Only Arutz Sheva Reports It,” Israel National News, May 15, 2014
Four terrorists hurl firebombs at bus near Hevron, engulfing it in flames, but media ignores story, preferring to cover Jewish graffiti. A well-planned firebomb attack on a bus full of Jewish schoolgirls Tuesday could easily have ended in tragedy, but no news source even reported that it took place, except for the one you are currently reading – Arutz Sheva. The girls were sixth-graders from a religious school in central Israel. They were on a bat mitzva tour of the Cave of Machpela in Hevron, a site recognized by the government as an official heritage site, when four terrorists ambushed it with firebombs. [source]
Christians having dreams and converting to Islam:http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Learn about Islam:http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email:
yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Monday, 28 April 2014
Hans Kung: Early Jewish Christianity Leads to Islam
This is an amazing admission by Hans Kung, here he is saying that the early Jewish Christian beliefs regarding Jesus (i.e. that he was a Prophet - NOT God) is similar to Islam. The interesting thing here is, this early form of Christianity is not similar to the Christianity of today!
‘Lines lead from the very first Jewish Christianity to the seventh century, indeed to Islam…The analogies between the Qur’anic picture of Jesus and a Christology with a Jewish-Christian stamp are perplexing. These parallels are irrefutable and call for more intensive historical and systematic reflection.’
‘Lines lead from the very first Jewish Christianity to the seventh century, indeed to Islam…The analogies between the Qur’anic picture of Jesus and a Christology with a Jewish-Christian stamp are perplexing. These parallels are irrefutable and call for more intensive historical and systematic reflection.’
Hans Kung, Islam, Past, Present and Future (2007, One World Publications, pp 37, 44)
Fr Hans Küng is a professor emeritus of ecumenical theology at the University of Tübingen. He is considered by many a leading intellectual giant of the Roman Catholic Church.
Citation sourced from Paul Williams of Blogging Theology
So if anybody is drawn to the early Jewish Christian beliefs on Jesus, look into Islam and convert to Islam.
Christians
having dreams and converting to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Invitation to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html
Invitation to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email:
yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Friday, 25 April 2014
Europe is sick, Islamization is the cure!
Islamization of Europe is Good
Europe needs Islam. Christianity has been thrown on the back burner and Europe has gone down the route of unfettered secularism. In Europe people have become desensitized to immodest dress and fornication - sex before marriage and skimpy outfits are indeed the norm. I was actually thinking about this recently, the phenomenon of wearing lycra/leggings which exposes your shape would have been seen as extremely provocative and lewd 50 years ago in Europe and yet now it's normal to see such. One wonders where Europe's dress sense, or lack of it, will go next.
It's not just about sex and immodest dress, what about other such ills like drugs, alcohol and gambling. Holland has legalized the use of cannabis and one wonders whether other European countries will follow. Alcohol and gambling are vices, it does not take much thinking to recognise this, yet they go about unchecked in Europe, destroying lives in the process.
Apart from the socials harms we must mention the lack of spirituality in Europe. Praying is seen as odd in Europe. The injection of Islam, where people pray 5 times a day, is much needed in the spiritually under-nourished Europe. This lack of spirituality is what leads to the social ills that I've already outlined but it also leads to all the other social ills that Europe is suffering from.
Europe is sick and Islam is its medicine.
Time to take the medicine. A Jew, Rabbi Baruch Efrati agrees that Europe can benefit from Islam:
As concerns grow over the increasing number of Muslims in Europe, it appears not everyone is bothered by the issue, including an Israeli rabbi who even welcomes the phenomenon.
Rabbi Baruch Efrati, a yeshiva head and community rabbi in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, believes that the Islamization of Europe is actually a good thing.
All Rabbi Baruch Efrati is doing here is using common sense. Everybody who thinks deeply can see that Islam is a good thing for Europe. This rabbi is simply vocalizing his conclusion. The Jewish leader denounces Christianity in Europe and hopes that the Europeans will lead a healthier life marked with integrity and modesty via ISLAM:
"With the help of God, the gentiles there will adopt a healthier life with a lot of modesty and integrity, and not like the hypocritical Christianity which appears pure but is fundamentally corrupt," he explained.
"We will never forgive Europe's Christians for slaughtering millions of our children, women and elderly… Not just in the recent Holocaust, but throughout the generations, in a consistent manner which characterizes all factions of hypocritical Christianity…
"A now, Europe is losing its identity in favor of another people and another religion, and there will be no remnants and survivors from the impurity of Christianity, which shed a lot of blood it won't be able to atone for."
OK, clearly Rabbi Baruch Efrati has an axe to grind with Christianity but it's interesting that he seems to think that the other religion, Islam is a solution to the impurity in Europe. Despite his bias, he does actually give an accurate synopsis of the way in which Christianity is practiced in Europe (and I'd imagine America also):
The theological reason, according to Rabbi Efrati, is that Christianity – which he sees as idolatry – has a tendency to "destroy normal life and abstain from it on the one hand, while losing modesty on the other hand," as it "ranges between radical monasticism to radical Western licentiousness."
So what does Rabbi Baruch Efrati believe about Islam?
He, as a Jew believes Muslims misjudge the Prophets. He would say this as Jews do not believe in Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Jesus (pbut) while Muslims do. Thus he says Islam misjudges the Prophets, he would say the same thing about Christianity as Christians believe in Prophet Jesus p (someone who Jews reject). He has to try and look past his own traditions to be more balanced. However, he recognises Islam is more honest than Christianity and is a force for modesty and respect for God. Here he is comparing it to Christanity and giving his views on Islam:
Islam, the rabbi added, is "a religion which misjudges its prophets but is relatively honest. It educates a bit more for a stable life of marriage and creation, where there is certain modesty and respect for God."
Rabbi Efrati believes Islam is better for gentiles (Non Jews such as Europeans) than Christianity:
Efrati ruled, therefore, that "even if we are in a major war with the region's Arabs over the Land of Israel, Islam is still much better as a gentile culture than Christianity."
Rabbi Efrati can even recognise this despite the war between Muslims and Jews over the holy land. Fair play to the rabbi.
He added, however, that Jews must pray that the Islamization of most of Europe will not harm the people of Israel.
In Islam, the treatment of minorities under Islamic rule has to be to a standard where they are not harmed -to learn more click here
Excerpts (in red) from the article concerning Efrati's views are taken from:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4299673,00.html
Rabbis converted to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/jews-rabbis-converted-to-islam.html
Jews invited to Islam
Would you like to believe in all the Prophets (p) and believe in the One who created you? If so, become a Muslim.
Europeans invited to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tags: rabbi baruch efrati, west bank, islamization of europe,
 |
| Islamization brings light |
It's not just about sex and immodest dress, what about other such ills like drugs, alcohol and gambling. Holland has legalized the use of cannabis and one wonders whether other European countries will follow. Alcohol and gambling are vices, it does not take much thinking to recognise this, yet they go about unchecked in Europe, destroying lives in the process.
Apart from the socials harms we must mention the lack of spirituality in Europe. Praying is seen as odd in Europe. The injection of Islam, where people pray 5 times a day, is much needed in the spiritually under-nourished Europe. This lack of spirituality is what leads to the social ills that I've already outlined but it also leads to all the other social ills that Europe is suffering from.
Europe is sick and Islam is its medicine.
Time to take the medicine. A Jew, Rabbi Baruch Efrati agrees that Europe can benefit from Islam:
As concerns grow over the increasing number of Muslims in Europe, it appears not everyone is bothered by the issue, including an Israeli rabbi who even welcomes the phenomenon.
Rabbi Baruch Efrati, a yeshiva head and community rabbi in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, believes that the Islamization of Europe is actually a good thing.
All Rabbi Baruch Efrati is doing here is using common sense. Everybody who thinks deeply can see that Islam is a good thing for Europe. This rabbi is simply vocalizing his conclusion. The Jewish leader denounces Christianity in Europe and hopes that the Europeans will lead a healthier life marked with integrity and modesty via ISLAM:
"With the help of God, the gentiles there will adopt a healthier life with a lot of modesty and integrity, and not like the hypocritical Christianity which appears pure but is fundamentally corrupt," he explained.
 |
"We will never forgive Europe's Christians for slaughtering millions of our children, women and elderly… Not just in the recent Holocaust, but throughout the generations, in a consistent manner which characterizes all factions of hypocritical Christianity…
"A now, Europe is losing its identity in favor of another people and another religion, and there will be no remnants and survivors from the impurity of Christianity, which shed a lot of blood it won't be able to atone for."
OK, clearly Rabbi Baruch Efrati has an axe to grind with Christianity but it's interesting that he seems to think that the other religion, Islam is a solution to the impurity in Europe. Despite his bias, he does actually give an accurate synopsis of the way in which Christianity is practiced in Europe (and I'd imagine America also):
The theological reason, according to Rabbi Efrati, is that Christianity – which he sees as idolatry – has a tendency to "destroy normal life and abstain from it on the one hand, while losing modesty on the other hand," as it "ranges between radical monasticism to radical Western licentiousness."
So what does Rabbi Baruch Efrati believe about Islam?
He, as a Jew believes Muslims misjudge the Prophets. He would say this as Jews do not believe in Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Jesus (pbut) while Muslims do. Thus he says Islam misjudges the Prophets, he would say the same thing about Christianity as Christians believe in Prophet Jesus p (someone who Jews reject). He has to try and look past his own traditions to be more balanced. However, he recognises Islam is more honest than Christianity and is a force for modesty and respect for God. Here he is comparing it to Christanity and giving his views on Islam:
Islam, the rabbi added, is "a religion which misjudges its prophets but is relatively honest. It educates a bit more for a stable life of marriage and creation, where there is certain modesty and respect for God."
Rabbi Efrati believes Islam is better for gentiles (Non Jews such as Europeans) than Christianity:
Efrati ruled, therefore, that "even if we are in a major war with the region's Arabs over the Land of Israel, Islam is still much better as a gentile culture than Christianity."
Rabbi Efrati can even recognise this despite the war between Muslims and Jews over the holy land. Fair play to the rabbi.
He added, however, that Jews must pray that the Islamization of most of Europe will not harm the people of Israel.
In Islam, the treatment of minorities under Islamic rule has to be to a standard where they are not harmed -to learn more click here
Excerpts (in red) from the article concerning Efrati's views are taken from:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4299673,00.html
Rabbis converted to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/jews-rabbis-converted-to-islam.html
Jews invited to Islam
Would you like to believe in all the Prophets (p) and believe in the One who created you? If so, become a Muslim.
Europeans invited to Islam
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother/sister of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Tags: rabbi baruch efrati, west bank, islamization of europe,
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Jewish Massacre of Christians in 7th Century Jerusalem?
In the early 7th century there was an alliance
between the Jews and the Persians (not Muslims at this time) to take control of
the holy city (
What happened in the aftermath is disputed; however, it is
alleged the in response to anti-Semitic riots prior to the siege the Jews now
vented their frustrations on the Christian population of Jerusalem
The archaeological record also seems to go against the
suggestion of a brutal sack. While there was some evidence of a mass grave at
Mamilla pool, there was no general layer of detritus and rubble that would
suggest mass destruction and, aside from the Holy Sepulchre, there is little to
suggest the wide-ranging destruction of Christian churches from the period.
There is also little to suggest the great demographic change that would have come
with the massacre of vast numbers of Jerusalem’s Christian population…Therefore,
while there are certainly shreds of truth, such as the destruction of the Holy
Speulchre, the removal of the True Cross and deaths at Mamilla, they do not
seem to be in the order of magnitude suggested by the likes of Strategius.
Instead, many of the Christian accounts of ‘the Persian capture of Jerusalem in
614, of the circumstances which led to it, and of the consequences for the city
and its inhabitants…[were] carefully concocted with a view to shocking
Christian readers, with much exaggeration of physical damage, inflation of casualty
figures, and graphic illustrations of the sufferings of the deportees.’
This seems more likely with the suggestion of an underlying current
of anti-Semitism permeating most of Roman Christian sources of the mid-seventh
century…
[pg 45-56, ‘The War of the Three Gods’, Peter Crawford, Pen
and Sword Books Ltd]
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim. Now is the time.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Jesus taught people to do the Will of God (according to Mark 3:35) in order to become his brothers, mothers or sisters. A Muslim means one who submits to the Will of God. Do you want to become a brother of Jesus? If yes, become a Muslim. Now is the time.
Learn about Islam:
http://www.thedeenshow.com
Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Monday, 26 December 2011
How old was Mary when Betrothed/Married to Joseph? At what age was Mary pregnant with Jesus?
 |
| Prof. Geza Vermes |
Christians and Jews: Arranged Marriages
Arranged marriages were the norm within Jewish societies prior to and contemporaneous to Jesus’ time. Thus, scholars like Geza Vermes are led to believe Mary’s betrothal to Joseph would have been arranged by a male relative at a young age.
To begin with betrothal, in Matthew (as in Luke) Joseph and Mary are said to be engaged. To appreciate properly the meaning of betrothal, it is to be remembered that in the Jewish society of the age of Jesus, arranged marriage was the established custom. The betrothal of a young girl was the prerogative of her father. If the father was no longer alive, his place was taken by the girl’s brother or some other male relative. The head of the family negotiated the financial settlement with the groom and his parents. The girl had no say whatever in the matter.
Betrothal of minors was a Jewish norm
Contrary to some of the apologetic material emanating from various Christian ministries, standard Jewish practice at the time was the betrothal of minors – females attained maturity at the age of twelve.
Quite apart from the subordinate status of women in Jewish Law, in the rabbinic era and no doubt earlier too, the bride-to-be was by definition a minor, a person not yet of age. It should be noted that in the Mishnaic-Talmudic legislation girls attained majority when they started to menstruate, or on the day after their twelfth birthday, whichever came first. In the rabbinic perspective, majority and attainment of puberty were coterminous. By the age of twelve years and six months a young woman became, in the terminology of the rabbis ‘mature’ (bogeret), and was expected already to be married. In any case, by then her father no longer had the right unilaterally to betroth her.
Vermes: Mary was no more than twelve (12) or a little younger
Again, cutting through some of the evangelical revisionism, according to Geza Vermes, Mary would have been twelve years of age (or a little less) at the time of her betrothal/marriage to Joseph and at the time of her giving birth to Jesus (p)
Once the preliminary requirements laid down in the agreement of betrothal were satisfied, nuptials followed: they were presumed to take place within twelve months from the date of agreement. Then the bridegroom led his bride to his own home amid solemn festivities attended by family, friends and neighbours. The Gospels contain various parables about Jewish weddings (see for example Mt 25:1-13). It would follow from these rules, which appear standard and long standing, and not some kind of innovation by the redactors of the Mishnah, that at the time of the incidents described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Mary was no more than twelve years old or conceivably a little less, and by the standards of her society and age, mature enough for marriage
Jesus’ views + Christian fundamentalist hypocrisy and folly
Christian evangelists should note there is no recorded condemnation of such practices from Jesus thus suggesting Jesus gave (at the very least) tacit approval of such marital customs.
Some of the riff-raff amongst Christian evangelists readily de-contextualise the marriages of Muhammad (p) to Aisha (ra) in order to direct an intellectually dishonest character-assassination attempt of Prophet Muhammad (p) yet fail to recognise this marriage was in similar vein to the Jewish customs at the time of Jesus. These evangelists fail to attack the Jews for such practices whilst attacking Muslims and Mormons (Joseph Smith) for the same custom.
Further still, the riff-raff amongst Western Christian evangelists fail to attack their fellow ‘Bible-believing’ forefathers as they were following similar marital customs:
Age is an additional requirement. Every jurisdiction mandates that a man and a woman must be old enough to wed. In the 1800s, the legal age was as low as 12 years old for females. Modern statutes ordinarily provide that females may marry at age 16 and males at age 18. Sometimes a lower age is permitted with the written consent of the parents. A number of states allow for marriage below the minimum age if the female is pregnant and a judge grants permission [Marriage: Legal Dictionary - http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/marriage]
Quotes taken from Jesus, Geza Vermes, Penguin Books, 2010, p. 64-65
May Allah send more Blessings upong Mary, Jesus and Muhammad. Ameen.
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
Sunday, 10 July 2011
The Truth About Banu Qurayza - Jews Killed by Bible Judgement?
The Banu Qurayza’s demise is one which critics of Islam manipulate to work their Islamophobic agendas (and in many cases Christian evangelical agendas!). This article is for those who actually want to cut through the Islamophobia whilst understanding the main issues relating to Banu Qurayzah (Quraiza). For those who simply follow ill-informed Christian evangelists/bigots without the merest hint of research or credentials then this piece is not for you.
Firstly, the number of Jews killed in the incident is uncertain. The figures generally banded around number 600-900. Karen Armstrong uses the figure of 700 [1].
Who was the Banu Qurayza?
The Banu Qurayza (Arabic: بني قريظة; بنو قريظة alternate spellings include Quraiza, Qurayzah, Quraytha, and the archaic Koreiza) were a Jewish tribe which lived in northern Arabia, at the oasis of Yathrib (presently known as Medina), until the 7th century, when their conflict with Muhammad led to their demise, after the Invasion of Banu Qurayza, took place in the Dhul Qa‘dah, 5 A.H i.e. in February/March, 627 AD [2]
An Encyclopaedic view on Banu Qurayzah
The most concise depiction of the issues relating to the Jews of Banu Qurayzah that I have come across is from the learned Cyril Glasse’s Encyclopaedia of Islam. Points made by Cyril Glasse shall be presented with interjections of an explanatory nature.
Qurayzah. A Jewish tribe of Medina that betrayed the Muslims during the battle of the Trench. When the Quraysh abandoned the siege of the city, Gabriel commanded the Prophet not to lay down arms until the Qurayzah were subdued. Their hands freed by the departure of the Quraysh and their confederates, the Muslims turned upon the Banu Qurayzah and besieged their defensive towers for twenty five days. [3]
[The Quraysh were the pagan tribe from Mecca who attempted to exterminate the nascent Muslim community (and Prophet Muhammad, p) in the battle of the Trench. They marched up to Medina with the sole intent of annihilating the Muslims. The Qurayzah betrayed the Muslims and allied with the Quraish, thus further jeopardising the existence of the Muslim community]
Who decided the men of Banu Qurayza should be killed and why?
When the Banu Qurayzah surrendered they were judged, as a concession, by Sa’d ibn Muadh, a chief of their former allies, the Aws; lying on his deathbed, in pain from a wound inflicted during the fighting with the Quraysh, he passed a rigorous judgement: the adult men should be put to death and the women and children sold into slavery. [3]
[Later on in this segment, Glasse lets us know this ruling is within the BIBLE (Deut 20:12) and most likely Sa’d ibn Muadh was using their law to judge them.
12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. 13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. 14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies. {Deuteronomy 20:12-14New International Version (NIV)}
The Christian bigots and other critics do not relay the information that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had NOTHING to do with the judgement which befell the Banu Qurayzah and moreover, the BIBLE, most likely, had more to do with the punishment of this tribe of Jews (Banu Qurayzah).than any other text or teaching]
Cyril Glasse: criticism concerning the Banu Qurayzah is unfair
In books written in the West, the episode has been the occasion for criticism as an example of extreme cruelty. But it was not as unusual event; similar punishment was meted out elsewhere, as is the destruction of the Albigensians in France, for example and for much the same reason. It is the case of the final judgement overtaking people while still in this world. [3]
The Bible teaches such punishments
The irony is quite immense. Some of the Christian bigots and evangelists using this event to shock folk into leaving Islam wind up with egg on their face as the punishment meted out to the Banu Qurayzah seems very much biblical. The extent of ignorance amongst Christian Islamophobes and evangelists regarding the bible never ceases to amaze us – only the ignorant Christians use the incident of the Banu Qurayzah as criticism and/or evangelical pieces.
In the Bible there are numerous comparable cases. Jewish law itself prescribes such treatment for the conquest of a city as a matter of course, even when betrayal is not in question:
[Glasse cites Deuteronomy 20:12, here is the NIV translation of Deuteronomy 20:12-14:
12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. 13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. 14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.]
This is perhaps why Sa’d ibn Muadh gave the Qurayzah this sentence; that their own law should be used on them [3]
Exiling Banu Qurayzah Vs. Biblical Judgement (killing) of Banu Qurayzah
Though it may sound quite callous, it must be stated that the wisdom of using the biblical judgement (killing) outweighed the simple exiling of the Banu Qurayzah in the way of the Banu Nadir and Banu Qaynuqa as an exile would have meant a swelling of enemy ranks within Khaybar and advancing a potential threat to the existence of the nascent Muslims society. [3]
Karen Armstrong writes:
The massacre of Qurayzah was a horrible incident, but it would be a mistake to judge it by the standards of our own time. This was a very primitive society: the Muslims themselves had just narrowly escaped extermination, and had Muhammad simply exiled Qurayzah they would have swelled the Jewish opposition in Khaybar and brought another war upon the ummah. In seventh-century Arabia an Arab chief was not expected to show mercy traitors like Qurayzah. The executions sent a grim message to Khaybar and helped to quell the pagan opposition in Medina, since the pagan leaders had been the allies of the rebellious Jews. This was a fight to the death, and everybody had always known the stakes were high. [1]
Hating Jews?
Sadly, critics and some of the unlearned Christian bigots and evangelists use this event to promote the idea of Muslims being inherently anti-Jew. Karen Armstrong corrects such misconstructions:
The struggle did not indicate any hostility towards Jews in general, but only towards the three rebel tribes…
…Smaller Jewish groups continued to live in Medina, and later Jews, like Christians, enjoyed full religious liberty in the Islamic empires. Anti-Semitism is a Christian vice. Hatred of the Jews became marked in the Muslim world only after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent loss of Arab Palestine. [1]
[1] Islam - A Short History, Karen Armstrong, Phoenix Press, 2001, p18
[2] Wikipedia on Banu Qurayza
[3] The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam, Revised Edition, Cyril Glasse, Stacey International, 2001 p374
Hijab and the Bible
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
Firstly, the number of Jews killed in the incident is uncertain. The figures generally banded around number 600-900. Karen Armstrong uses the figure of 700 [1].
Who was the Banu Qurayza?
The Banu Qurayza (Arabic: بني قريظة; بنو قريظة alternate spellings include Quraiza, Qurayzah, Quraytha, and the archaic Koreiza) were a Jewish tribe which lived in northern Arabia, at the oasis of Yathrib (presently known as Medina), until the 7th century, when their conflict with Muhammad led to their demise, after the Invasion of Banu Qurayza, took place in the Dhul Qa‘dah, 5 A.H i.e. in February/March, 627 AD [2]
An Encyclopaedic view on Banu Qurayzah
The most concise depiction of the issues relating to the Jews of Banu Qurayzah that I have come across is from the learned Cyril Glasse’s Encyclopaedia of Islam. Points made by Cyril Glasse shall be presented with interjections of an explanatory nature.
Qurayzah. A Jewish tribe of Medina that betrayed the Muslims during the battle of the Trench. When the Quraysh abandoned the siege of the city, Gabriel commanded the Prophet not to lay down arms until the Qurayzah were subdued. Their hands freed by the departure of the Quraysh and their confederates, the Muslims turned upon the Banu Qurayzah and besieged their defensive towers for twenty five days. [3]
[The Quraysh were the pagan tribe from Mecca who attempted to exterminate the nascent Muslim community (and Prophet Muhammad, p) in the battle of the Trench. They marched up to Medina with the sole intent of annihilating the Muslims. The Qurayzah betrayed the Muslims and allied with the Quraish, thus further jeopardising the existence of the Muslim community]
Who decided the men of Banu Qurayza should be killed and why?
When the Banu Qurayzah surrendered they were judged, as a concession, by Sa’d ibn Muadh, a chief of their former allies, the Aws; lying on his deathbed, in pain from a wound inflicted during the fighting with the Quraysh, he passed a rigorous judgement: the adult men should be put to death and the women and children sold into slavery. [3]
[Later on in this segment, Glasse lets us know this ruling is within the BIBLE (Deut 20:12) and most likely Sa’d ibn Muadh was using their law to judge them.
12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. 13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. 14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies. {Deuteronomy 20:12-14New International Version (NIV)}
The Christian bigots and other critics do not relay the information that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had NOTHING to do with the judgement which befell the Banu Qurayzah and moreover, the BIBLE, most likely, had more to do with the punishment of this tribe of Jews (Banu Qurayzah).than any other text or teaching]
Cyril Glasse: criticism concerning the Banu Qurayzah is unfair
In books written in the West, the episode has been the occasion for criticism as an example of extreme cruelty. But it was not as unusual event; similar punishment was meted out elsewhere, as is the destruction of the Albigensians in France, for example and for much the same reason. It is the case of the final judgement overtaking people while still in this world. [3]
The Bible teaches such punishments
The irony is quite immense. Some of the Christian bigots and evangelists using this event to shock folk into leaving Islam wind up with egg on their face as the punishment meted out to the Banu Qurayzah seems very much biblical. The extent of ignorance amongst Christian Islamophobes and evangelists regarding the bible never ceases to amaze us – only the ignorant Christians use the incident of the Banu Qurayzah as criticism and/or evangelical pieces.
In the Bible there are numerous comparable cases. Jewish law itself prescribes such treatment for the conquest of a city as a matter of course, even when betrayal is not in question:
[Glasse cites Deuteronomy 20:12, here is the NIV translation of Deuteronomy 20:12-14:
12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. 13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. 14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.]
This is perhaps why Sa’d ibn Muadh gave the Qurayzah this sentence; that their own law should be used on them [3]
Exiling Banu Qurayzah Vs. Biblical Judgement (killing) of Banu Qurayzah
Though it may sound quite callous, it must be stated that the wisdom of using the biblical judgement (killing) outweighed the simple exiling of the Banu Qurayzah in the way of the Banu Nadir and Banu Qaynuqa as an exile would have meant a swelling of enemy ranks within Khaybar and advancing a potential threat to the existence of the nascent Muslims society. [3]
Karen Armstrong writes:
The massacre of Qurayzah was a horrible incident, but it would be a mistake to judge it by the standards of our own time. This was a very primitive society: the Muslims themselves had just narrowly escaped extermination, and had Muhammad simply exiled Qurayzah they would have swelled the Jewish opposition in Khaybar and brought another war upon the ummah. In seventh-century Arabia an Arab chief was not expected to show mercy traitors like Qurayzah. The executions sent a grim message to Khaybar and helped to quell the pagan opposition in Medina, since the pagan leaders had been the allies of the rebellious Jews. This was a fight to the death, and everybody had always known the stakes were high. [1]
Hating Jews?
Sadly, critics and some of the unlearned Christian bigots and evangelists use this event to promote the idea of Muslims being inherently anti-Jew. Karen Armstrong corrects such misconstructions:
The struggle did not indicate any hostility towards Jews in general, but only towards the three rebel tribes…
…Smaller Jewish groups continued to live in Medina, and later Jews, like Christians, enjoyed full religious liberty in the Islamic empires. Anti-Semitism is a Christian vice. Hatred of the Jews became marked in the Muslim world only after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent loss of Arab Palestine. [1]
[1] Islam - A Short History, Karen Armstrong, Phoenix Press, 2001, p18
[2] Wikipedia on Banu Qurayza
[3] The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam, Revised Edition, Cyril Glasse, Stacey International, 2001 p374
Hijab and the Bible
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
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