The Everlasting Hatred
Page 12
Beginning with Mohammad and continuing to this day, Islam contains an inherently anti-Jewish character. Despite myths to the contrary, this characteristic has meant centuries of horror for all non-Muslims (especially Jews)—or dhimmis, as they are called—unfortunate enough to be forced to live in an Arab land.
It should be noted that the historic anti-Jewish attitude of Islam has multiplied a hundred-fold since the birth of the modern Jewish state of Israel in 1948.
The Exponential Spread of Jew-Hate
Before Mohammad and Islam, endemic hatred for Jews was largely confined to the Arabs and the Arabian Peninsula. But after hatred for the Jews became enshrined in the Koran and the sacred traditions of Islam, wherever Islam has spread, hatred for the Jews has spread with it.
Here is a graphic illustration. Muslims in Indonesia are not Arabs, neither have they had much contact with Jews, nor have they a natural relationship to “Palestine.” But they hate Jews because it’s part of their religion and faith.
The same can be said of the Muslims of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Chechnya, and so on. They are not Arab, but they caught their hatred of the Jew like a super-contagious disease.
The Deification of Seventh-Century Arab Culture
The Muslim religion actually froze the seventh-century Arab culture of Mecca and Medina in time and raised it to the level of “divine revelation” on how all people should live for all time. The modern concept of “Jihad” primarily has to do with forcing this culture upon the whole world—either by conversion or conquest.
In a profound, almost mystical sense, Mohammad is the product of seventh-century Arab culture, and Islam is an expression of his perceptions of that culture. In addition, a major part of his character was marked by hatred for the Jews; Mohammad never forgave them for rejecting him and his claim of being God’s prophet. Without question, that hatred is woven into the Koran.
A modern example of just how profoundly Arab society today is tied to the seventh-century is provided by the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran in 1979. As soon as he took over, he ripped the people away from the twentieth-century advancements they had incorporated into their lives, and he dragged the country back to seventh-century Arab culture. Thousands who did not comply were executed. Others escaped with only the clothes on their backs. And once again, the Jewish community experienced an all-too-familiar pattern: Those who had settled in Iran during the Shah’s tolerant reign fled for their lives.
To the Muslim fundamentalist, everything about Western culture is evil. Not because everything about Western culture is sinful in a moral sense, but because it is different from Arab culture. This is why they hate democracy—there is no precedent for it in Arab culture and in the Koran from which that culture sprang.
Religious-Cultural Imperialism
Islam is nothing less than a religious-cultural imperialism that is determined to subject the entire planet to Islamic rule. This is why Mohammad divided the world into two spheres:
Dar al-Islam—The land of peace
Dar al-harb—The land of war
Mohammad believed that the Muslim is in a perpetual state of Jihad—”holy war”—with all countries in the Dar al-harb sphere. The true follower of Mohammad believes that Allah has willed Muslims to subject Islamic culture and law upon the whole world—either by conversion or by the sword.
Islam believes this doctrine is especially applicable to all of the Middle East, which Muslims claim as the center of their world. Furthermore, they believe that any land that has been captured and held by Muslim forces in the past is sacred. But the myths built around Jerusalem and Palestine makes this area second only to Mecca and Medina as a most holy place.
A remnant of Jews has always continued to dwell in Jerusalem and Palestine in spite of the dangers and difficulties. But when Jews began to return there in growing numbers at the end of the nineteenth century, Muslims were greatly alarmed.
And when the Jews declared a state in Palestine in 1948, the Islamic world called it Al Nabka—”the catastrophe.” The continuing presence of the Jews in Jerusalem is now regarded as the ultimate blasphemy to Muslims. It is viewed as a desecration of the “Third Holiest Place in Islam”—an insult to Allah that must be removed and cleansed at any cost.
As we noted earlier, Israel’s victories over the “armies of Allah” in five major wars have even placed faith in the Koran in jeopardy, for it promises the forces of Islam victory in “holy wars.” Some devout Muslims fervently believe this is something that must be avenged for the sake of the Koran’s veracity. Nothing can cleanse this insult to Allah but an ultimate military defeat of Israel.
Religion, Culture, and Land
Islam views the possession of land in a way very different from other religions. As noted above, once Islamic culture is established in a land, it is considered sanctified to Allah. It becomes Dar al-Islam—the land of peace. When an invader takes it away, all Muslims are obligated to take it back for Allah, no matter what the sacrifice or how long it takes.
This is why the Muslim forces fought the Christian crusaders of Europe for three centuries over “the Holy Land.” But now since 1948, the Jew has invaded, and the ancient enmity toward all Israelites makes this “occupation” an utterly intolerable sacrilege. Muslims call Israel “a cancer in the heart of Islam that must be removed.”
Western civilization just does not understand this basic thinking of Islam. Western media particularly doesn’t have a clue as to what motivates the Muslim—or what strategies he will use to attain what he views as his duty to Allah. This is why so many in the press swallow Muslim propaganda “hook, line and sinker.” As we will see, the modern Arab myths spun about the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian refugees” and “Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory” are based on monstrous distortions of history.
As Mohammad taught: “War is deception.” And he set the example for negotiating peace with your enemy until you are strong enough to annihilate him.” Remember “the Quraysh Model.” This was the ten-year peace treaty Mohammad signed with the Quraysh tribe of Mecca, which he broke within a year and destroyed them. This is how he conquered Mecca and made it the holiest site in Islam—through treachery.
Rise of the “Khaliph Rasul Allahs”
Mohammad’s death in A.D. 632 was unexpected and sudden, leaving Islam with no plan of succession. The fact that Mohammad had no male heir made the problem much more difficult. This left inevitable problems that later resulted in major conflicts within the Muslim religion.
My purpose here is not to trace the details of this phase of Islam, but rather to note that these internal conflicts resulted in the formation of the Shi’ite and Sunni sects. Basically the Shi’ites believed the Khaliph Rasul Allah, or the “successor of the Messenger of God,” had to be in the bloodline of Mohammad.
The Sunni sect held the majority opinion. They believed that any worthy member of the faithful was eligible, though some of these added that it was preferable that he should be of the Quraysh tribe.
The First of “the Divinely Guided Ones”
Mohammad’s first four successors, or Khaliphs, are known collectively as the “rashidun,” or “the Divinely Guided Ones.” They each knew “the Prophet” personally and worked with him to build and spread Islam. Thus their credentials were as unique as their thirty years of rule (A.D. 632–662). Their accomplishments were nothing short of extraordinary by anyone’s measure.
After some controversy, Abu Bakr Sedeik (A.D. 632–634) became the first to possess the title of Khaliph Rasul Allah. This title represented the temporal authority of the Prophet and the holder’s responsibility as defender of the faithful. Since Mohammad was “the last, or Seal, of the Prophets,” the Khaliph was not the spiritual head of the House of Islam but rather the secular “commander of the faithful.”
Bakr’s khaliphate magnified, if it did not create, a schism that endures to this day via the geo-religio-political division of the Shi’ite and Sunni sects.
In the Muslim Middle East, events that happened centuries ago are still as relevant as those that happened yesterday. A grudge based on an event that occurred a thousand years ago can erupt today into a savage war against the “descendants of the offender.”
Only two issues in history have really united the Sunnis and the Shi’ites. The first was the long war against the Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages—the second is the mutual hatred of Jews and the desire to destroy the state of Israel. It’s truly amazing, but after Iraq and Iran inflicted over a million casualties on each other, they “kissed and made up” because of the mutually perceived threat of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq.
Bakr’s short two-year khaliphate was spent reuniting the tribes of Arabia, most of which immediately revolted after Mohammad’s death. He had the help of an amazing military leader named Khalid ibn-Walid, who became known as “the Sword of Allah.”153
Omar, “The Second Founder of Islam”
Omar ibn al-Khattab, by prearrangement, succeeded Bakr and reigned from A.D. 634–644. He is very important to understand, because he devastated the Christian world with a vengeance.
Historian George Grant offers these descriptions of Omar:
A stern giant of a man with a long dark beard and a full, brooding countenance. He wore coarse, frayed garments and always carried a whip in his right fist in order to enforce righteous humility among his men. He had little appreciation for the accomplishments of Byzantium and was single-minded in his desire to bring the empire to its knees.
According to the Shah Nemeh, a contemporary chronicle of caliphs and kings, Umar (Omar) despised the Christian infidels for their “half-faith” and yearned to force their confessions, creeds, and liturgies into extinction.154
Omar was driven as one empowered by a “supernatural spirit,” which probably explains his amazing career. Under his “inspired leadership” the united tribes of Arabia exploded from the peninsula. They charged in every direction, conquering and occupying all they encountered.
The exploits of Walid, “the Sword of Allah,” are particularly important to this book. In A.D. 635, Walid crossed the border of Persia and subdued the village of Hira. He then made an incredible forced march across the Syrian desert to join forces with another Muslim army that was near Jerusalem. In short order, although out-numbered two to one, Walid led his forces in a series of brilliant cavalry charges that cut the Byzantine defenders to pieces.
Walid quickly conquered the territory generally known as Palestine. By the fall of A.D. 635, Walid reached the very gates of Damascus, having decimated the opposition along the way. After a six-month siege, the Muslims captured the ancient city of Damascus.
Jerusalem’s First Fall to Islam
In the fateful month of August, A.D. 635, the Muslim armies captured Jerusalem.
Khaliph Omar came into the city on a February day in A.D. 638 and personally proclaimed the Temple Mount one of Islam’s holiest sites. He built a wooden mosque over the great rock on the Temple Mount. However, Muslims believe a story that differs from the history recorded in the Biblical record. They believe the Temple Mount is the site where Abraham built an altar on which to sacrifice Ishmael. The Bible clearly states the altar was built to sacrifice Isaac, not Ishmael. God’s choice of Isaac over Ishmael is an essential part of the entire Biblical revelation concerning His plan for mankind’s redemption. It is also the basis for the centuries-old feud between the two races that sprang from Ishmael and Isaac.
Muslims developed the legend that this rock is the very foundation stone from which Allah created the earth and the place where Adam made atonement after his fall. Most importantly, the Muslims believe Mohammad ascended to heaven from here on his horse named Barak that miraculously sprouted wings. This is the Muslim basis for designating the Temple area the third holiest site of Islam.
Chuck Missler quotes Steve Runciman concerning Omar’s triumphant entry to Jerusalem:
On a February day in the year A.D. 638 the Khaliph Omar entered Jerusalem, riding upon a white camel. He was dressed in worn filthy robes, and the army that followed him was rough and unkempt; but its discipline was perfect… . Omar rode straight to the sight of the Temple of Solomon… . Omar was shocked at the filth and rubble that lay strewn about the Temple Mount. Because the holy sight had been neglected he made the Christian Patriarch (Sophronius) grovel in the muck. Afterward Omar set about clearing the sight. He then built a wooden mosque on the temple mount.”155
Omar’s Amazing Conquests
During the short nine years of Omar’s khaliphate, the Muslims went from a regional kingdom on the Arabian Peninsula to become an Islamic world-empire. Grant comments on this amazing fete:
Before his death in A.D. 644 [Omar] had spread the dominion of Islam from the Euphrates across the North African Littoral. He had conquered all of Iraq, brought the Persians to the brink of collapse, controlled the southern Mediterranean coastline, and put Christendom on the defensive at every turn. In addition, he left his successors a tumultuous momentum that gave them expansive new conquests in Spain, Sicily, Crete, and Italy.156
Most important to our focus, Omar’s conquests brought under his brutal control Jewish communities that had lived for hundreds of years in the areas he conquered. Those who were not killed received the status of something only slightly less terrible— they became “dhimmis,” which I mentioned before.
Most of the Christian Byzantine civilization was also conquered, and the survivors suffered a fate similar to that of the Jews. Historic churches were converted to mosques. Priceless Christian art was obliterated. Everything Christian was destroyed. Everything that referred to Jesus as the Son of God was removed. In its place, the Muslims posted ornate signs that read, “All praise be to Allah who never had a son.”
Islam’s “Benevolent Law” for “Dhimmis”
It was under Khaliph Omar that the laws regarding non-believers were firmly established by Muslims. As dhimmis, Jews were forbidden to touch the Koran. They were forced to wear distinctive clothes and a yellow badge (Christians had to wear blue). They were not permitted to perform religious practices in public, not allowed to own or ride a horse, and were required to bury their dead without any public expression of grief.
As an expression of gratitude for being allowed to live among Muslims, dhimmis were expected to pay special confiscatory taxes prescribed by the Koran—usually at least 50 percent of all earnings. (Tax-wise, it sounds much like America’s current taxes.)
Here is an example of “Islamic justice” for the Jewish dhimmis. “Islamic religious law decreed that, although the murder of one Muslim by another Muslim was punishable by death, a Muslim who murdered a non-Muslim was not given the death penalty, but only the obligation to pay ‘blood money’ to the family of the slain infidel,” writes author Joan Peters. “Even this punishment was unlikely, however, because the law held the testimony of a Jew or a Christian invalid against a Muslim, and the penalty could only be exacted under improbable conditions—when two Muslims were willing to testify against a brother Muslim for the sake of an infidel.”157
This kind of blatantly ruthless double standard in Islam has continued through the centuries—enforced to varying degrees of cruelty depending on the character of the Muslim ruler and the country. Under the best of circumstances, life was intolerable and filled with indignities. In the worst of circumstances, Jews and Christians lived every moment of every day in fear for their very lives.
Jews dwelling in Muslim-ruled lands all lived under the terrible law of the dhimmi. As Islam spread, Jewish co
mmunities were swept into the storm. Those who weren’t killed lived lives of humiliation and terror.
What Moses predicted centuries before about the Israelites became a terrifying reality:
Moreover, the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth… . Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life.158
It is true that Jews were persecuted in other cultures as well, but the Muslims raised it to the level of a religious sacrament.
Slavery and Dehumanization
The practices that started then continue to this present day. Here are a few examples of some of the ancient Jewish communities, and how they have continued to our present era.
Yemen
Life for Jews has always been particularly demeaning. In Yemen, for example, Jews were treated like subhuman slaves, forced to clean the public latrines and clear the streets of animal carcasses without pay on the Sabbath day.159
A particularly horrible Yemenite law decreed that fatherless Jewish children under thirteen be taken from their mothers and raised as Muslims. “Children were torn away from their mothers,” according to historian S. D. Goitein. “To my mind this law, which was enforced with new vigor about 50 years ago, more than anything else impelled the Yemenite Jews to quit that country to which they were very much attached. The result was that many families arrived in Israel with one or more of their children lost to them … some widows were bereaved in this way of all their offspring.”160
Persecution in Yemen was consistent and extreme over the years. Stoning Jews continued as an age-old custom right up until most Yemenite Jews left for Israel in 1948. They had lived there for twenty-five hundred years.