.Syria's Mufti: Islam commands us to protect Judaism
Syria's foremost Muslim leader declared on Tuesday that Islam commands its followers to protect Judaism, according to Army Radio.
"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.
Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."
Religious wars were the result of politics infiltrating systems of faith, he said, asking:
"Was Moses of Middle Eastern or European descent? Was Jesus a Protestant or a Catholic? Was Mohammed Shi'ite or Sunni?"
According to the Mufti, the conflict between Israel and its Arabs neighbors has nothing to do with an Islamic war against Judaism.
"Before you got American citizenship, and I got Syrian citizenship, we were all brothers under the dome of God," he said.
Jews had once lived in Syria peacefully and with fair treatment, he added, explaining that his own grandfather had a Jewish partner.
"Jews lived in Syria for years and they still have a role in Syrian society," he said
Haaretz
You have to wonder if he said the same in Arabic.
"We've always been at war with the southerners"
"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.
Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."
Religious wars were the result of politics infiltrating systems of faith, he said, asking:
"Was Moses of Middle Eastern or European descent? Was Jesus a Protestant or a Catholic? Was Mohammed Shi'ite or Sunni?"
According to the Mufti, the conflict between Israel and its Arabs neighbors has nothing to do with an Islamic war against Judaism.
"Before you got American citizenship, and I got Syrian citizenship, we were all brothers under the dome of God," he said.
Jews had once lived in Syria peacefully and with fair treatment, he added, explaining that his own grandfather had a Jewish partner.
"Jews lived in Syria for years and they still have a role in Syrian society," he said
Haaretz
You have to wonder if he said the same in Arabic.
"We've always been at war with the southerners"
posted by madtom at 7:31 PM
3 Comments:
Yes, Jews lived in Syria and were not mistreated as long as they paid the 'jizya'(Poll tax) which also exempted them from military service. Taxation and conscription are two functions of the modern nation-state.
'Political' Islam is at war against modern government's authority. Don't think so? OK, just look at Islam law, governance and Islamic foreign policy.
There is no such thing as 'political' Islam. Leaders just choose to politicize Islam for their own self interest. It slanders the religion, and makes the people of their country think that they are fit to lead. It's unfortunate, but true.
And yes, despite the poll tax, Jews did live in Syria under the direct protection of the state. It's unfortunate that a 'democratically' run government in Israel can not do the same for the Palestinians (Christians/Muslims or otherwise).
Great the virtues of forces segregation?
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