WHY DO SOME MUSLIMS HATE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS?
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Introduction: Why do some Muslims hate America and Israel (and, increasingly, Europe)? Why do some Muslims hate Jews and Christians? Why do some Muslims hate other Muslims ("apostates")? Why is there discord and terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere?
There are more than 1.6-billion Muslims in the world, and this number increases rapidly. The majority of Muslims live in northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia— the "10-40 window" — a swath of land in northern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, extending from latitudes 10° N to 40° N, but there is widespread immigration to all parts of the world.
Islamic fundamentalism versus extremism: Muslims consider the Koran and the Hadiths as their holy books, just as Jews consider the Old Testament and Christians consider The Bible (Old and New Testaments) as their holy books.
Most Muslims are moderate to nominal (name only) in their beliefs, just as many "Jews" and "Christians" are weak or nominal in their beliefs.
Politicians and news media describe fanatical Islamic violence-mongers as "extremists." Or, they dismiss the violence as being committed by persons who have "hijacked" a "great religion" — a religion of peace and love. No, those who practice violence are not extremists. They are fundmamentalists. Fundamentalists follow the Koran, as written, and they follow Mohammad, as he lived his life. I would argue that the jihadists are the true Muslims, strictly adhering to the words of the Koran, whereas the moderate Muslims are apostate, falling from the words of the Koran. It is true that Mohammad wrote the Koran in two phases. In the early phase (Mecca phase), as he attempted to recruit Jews and Christians to Islam, his rhetoric was kindly disposed toward Jews and Christians. In the second phase (Medina phase), after Islam was rejected by Jews and Christians, his rhetoric became vitriolic and bellicose toward Jews and Christians. It is this second writing phase of the Koran that jihadists use to justify war against non-Muslims.
Waiting for Imam Mahdi: Fundamentalist Muslims believe the Koran intently and passionately, and literally and strictly apply all of its teachings to their lives. These Muslims can find passages in the Koran which support hatred of and war against Jews and Christians (and other Islamic sects— apostates). This Muslim minority wages jihad against Christians and Jews the world over. (Jihad is commonly translated "holy war," but "struggle" may be a more accurate translation.) From this Muslim minority come the "apocalyptic Muslims." Apocalyptic Islam, especially prominent in Shia Islam (the religion of Iran, for example), believe the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi (Imam Mahdi), will come to earth at the end of days to convert all persons to Islam. He will come only during a period of great strife and war. War between Muslims and non-Muslims, then, is seen as accomplishing Allah's will and hastening the return of the Mahdi. Thus, the struggle between Muslims and non-Muslims is a religious war— a war which cannot be settled by negotiations, money, land exchange, or other appeasements.
A Muslim's sacred duty: Complicating Islamic fundamentalism is the belief that "any land that was ever Allah's is his forever." Israel was part of Dar al-Islam ("the House of Islam") for four centuries, when this land was ruled by the Islamic Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire, centered in present-day Turkey, collapsed at the end of World War I. It becomes a religious duty, then, to return Israel to Dar al-Islam. Any jihad necessary to accomplish this goal is justified.
Quoting the Koran: A fundamentalist Muslim can find passages in the Koran (Quran) which justify killing non-Muslims. See 164 Koran verses justifying violence. Muslims do not have a concept of sin, as do Jews and Christians. Muslims hold Mohammad as their ideal. Anything that Mohammad said or did is permitted for a Muslim to say or do.
Following (in green color font) are a few verses from the Koran which display teachings that could support Muslim hatred against Jews and Christians. For reference, sura and verse are included in brackets. For example, [2:98] would be sura 2, verse 98. The Arabic sura is the equivalent of the English chapter.
[2:98] Whoever is the enemy of Allah and His angels and His apostles and Jibreel and Meekaeel, so surely Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers.
[2:135] And they say: Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay! [We follow] the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.
[4:47] O you who have been given the Book! Believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs, or curse them as We cursed the violaters of the Sabbath, and the command of Allah shall be executed.
[4:56] (As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.
[4:76] Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan. Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan; surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak.
[4:144] O ye who believe! Take not the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; do you desire that you should give Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?
[4:160] Wherefore for the iniquity of those who are Jews did We disallow to them the good things which had been made lawful for them and for their hindering many [people] from Allah's way.
[4:171] O followers of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak [lies] against Allah, but [speak] the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.
[5:33] The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement....
[5:51] O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
[5:72-73] Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah, He is the Messiah, son of Marium; and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates [others] with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust. Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah is the third [person] of the three; and there is no god but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.
[5:80] You will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve. Certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that Allah becomes displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide.
[8:12] When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.
[9:5] So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
[9:29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
[9:123] O you who believe! Fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard [against evil].
See also: For a brief review of fundamental differences between Christianity and Islam, go to Understanding Islam.
God's gift of grace for Muslims: God loves a Muslim every bit as much as He loves a Jew or Christian. To be saved and go to Heaven, however, a Muslim must accept Jesus Christ as Savior (Isa is "Jesus" in Arabic, although the Christian's Jesus and the Muslim's Isa are completely different). It is not enough merely for a Muslim to recognize Isa as a historical Person or Prophet. He/ she must have a relationship of love with Him and follow His teachings.
To any Muslim reader: God loves you and offers you the gift of eternal salvation, through faith in Jesus the Christ as Savior, if you will accept this gift. Do not be confused: the "Jesus of Islam" (Isa) is NOT the same as the Jesus of Christianity.