In the 20th century,
antisemitism has signed its name to great disasters, one of the most
horrible being the cruelty and murder inflicted by the Nazis on the
Jews. Besides this, in many countries authoritarian regimes have
targeted Jews and subjected them to cruel treatment. Fascist
organizations have harassed Jews and arranged bloody attacks against
them.
In our times antisemitism is still an
ideology which threatens world peace and targets the well-being and
security of innocent people.
So, how should a Muslim regard antisemitism?
The answer is obvious. Every Muslim must
oppose antisemitism as he would oppose every other racist ideology; he
must resist this ideology of hatred and defend the rights of Jews as he
would defend the rights of all other people. Every Muslim must recognize
and defend the rights of Jews whether in Israel or in the diaspora to
live in peace, to worship, to protect their identity and to express
themselves.
Today, Muslims justly condemn the cruel
and aggressive policies of the State of Israel. But to condemn Israel
and criticize its official atheist Zionist ideology has nothing to do
with antisemitism. The reason we object to Godless Zionism is because
that it is a racist ideology. For the same reason we reject
antisemitism.
Antisemitism: the product of neo paganism
A basic fact that must be appreciated about antisemitism is that it is a pagan creed that no Muslim could ever espouse.
In order to make this clear, we must
examine the roots of Antisemitism. This term is generally understood as
meaning "anti Jewish," but its basic meaning is a "hatred of Semitic peoples".
The Semitic peoples are basically made up of Arabs, Jews and a few
other Middle Eastern ethnic groups. There is a great similarity between
the languages and cultures of the Semites; for example, Arabic and
Hebrew are much alike.
The pagan war god Wotan, one of the symbols of pagan barbarism and bigotry.
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All these various civilizations have had
their prophets who proclaimed the existence and the unity of God and
made His commands known. But when we examine recorded history, we see
that Indo-European peoples from ancient times always believed in paganism. The Greek and Roman
civilizations, the Teutons, Vikings and other Barbarian peoples living
in southern Europe at that time were all polytheistic pagans. For this
reason, these communities remained completely without moral guidance. Violence and savagery were regarded as praiseworthy; homosexuality and adultery
were widely practiced. (The most important historical representative of
Indo-European civilization was the Roman Empire, and we must not forget
that it was a savage society that delighted in seeing people torn apart
in the arenas.)
These peoples who ruled Europe
encountered monotheism through Jesus Christ, a prophet sent to Semitic
people. Sent as a prophet to the children of Israel, the teaching of
Jesus spread throughout Europe in the course of time and all the formerly pagan peoples gradually accepted Christianity.
 Nietzshce was an antisemite, because he sympathized with the pagan culture of violence and hated Theistic religions. |
One of the most important
representatives of this trend is also one of the greatest theorists of
Fascism- Friedrich Nietzsche. He hated Christianity; he believed that it
had destroyed the warlike spirit of the German people, that is, it's
very essence.
The adherents of Neo-Paganism were
hostile to Christianity; at the same time, they adopted a great hatred
for Judaism which they saw as the source of Christianity. Indeed, they
saw Christianity as the disseminator of Jewish ideas throughout the
world and regarded it as a kind of Jewish plot.
Nazism: 20th century paganism
One
of the greatest roles in the development of the Nazi ideology was
played by a thinker by the name of Jorg Lanz von Liebenfels. Lanz
fervently believed in the ideas of Neo-Paganism. He was the first person
to find in ancient sources the swastika which was later to become the
symbol of the Nazi party. The Ordo Novi Templi (Order of the New
Temple), an organization founded by Lanz, devoted itself totally to the
rebirth of paganism. Lanz freely proclaimed that he worshiped Wotan, the
imaginary "War God" of the ancient German people. He thought that the
worship of Wotan was the true religion of the German people and that
Germans could be saved only by returning to this religion.
Nazi ideology developed
on the road prepared for it by Lanz and other devotees of Neo-Paganism.
One of the most important Nazi ideologues, Alfred Rosenberg, thought
that Christianity could not provide the spiritual energy needed by the
new Germany being established by Hitler, and declared openly that the German people must return to their ancient pagan religion.
According to Rosenberg, when the Nazis came to power, religious symbols
in churches should be removed and replaced by swastikas, a copy of
Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle) and swords symbolizing
German invincibility. Hitler adopted the views of Rosenberg but,
thinking it would cause too much of a reaction among the people, he did
not put this new theory of German religion into effect. [1]
Nazis were neo-pagans who sought to destroy the Judeo-Christian ethics and convert the German society to pagan barbarism.
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Nevertheless, during the Nazi regime,
some important practices of Neo-Paganism were instituted. Shortly after
Hitler came to power, the holy days and feasts of Christianity began to
be suppressed and replaced by the holy days of pagan religions. At
weddings, oaths were sworn to such imaginary gods as "Mother Earth" and
"Father Sky". In 1935, students in schools were forbidden to say
Christian prayers and later, lessons with any Christian content were
completely discontinued.
Hitler once revealed his attitude toward Christianity when he bluntly stated that religion is an:
…organized lie [that] must be smashed.
The State must remain the absolute master. When I was younger, I thought
it was necessary to set about [destroying religion] …with dynamite.
I've since realized there's room for a little subtlety …. The final
state must be … in St. Peter's Chair, a senile officiant; facing him a
few sinister old women… The young and healthy are on our side … Our
peoples had previously succeeded in living all right without this
religion. I have six divisions of SS men absolutely indifferent in
matters of religion. It doesn't prevent them from going to their death
with serenity in their souls. [2]
As we can see, Hitler saw only one idea
as having importance in the spiritual realm: the idea that would lead
people to "go to their death with serenity in their souls". He found it
in abundance in such pagan concepts as "the German spirit" and "honor in
battle". He saw monotheistic religions as beliefs that must be
"destroyed with dynamite" but, for political reasons, he acted more
moderately.
The Nazi hatred for Jews was a part of
this anti-Theistic ideology. Nazis who hated Christianity saw it as a
"Jewish plot." That Jesus Christ, a prophet of Israeli origin, should be
loved and revered by Germans, who regarded themselves as the "master
race", was for them unthinkable. For the Nazis, it was not a prophet of
Israeli origin that would be a guide for Germans, but the barbarous and
cruel warriors of pagan German culture.
Antisemitism and every kind of racism is contrary to Islam
From the facts that we have examined so far, the following is clear:
Antisemitism is an anti-religion
ideology that has its roots in Neo-Paganism. Therefore, it is
unthinkable that a Muslim would espouse antisemitism or feel sympathy
for this ideology. Anti-Semites have no respect for Abraham, Moses or David who were blessed prophets chosen by God to be examples for humanity.
Antisemitism and other kinds of racism
(eg. prejudice against Blacks) have no place in true religion; they are
perversions arising from various ideologies and superstitions.
Furthermore, when we examine
antisemitism and other forms of racism, we see clearly that they promote
ideas and a model of society that is totally contrary to the moral
teachings of the Qur'an, For example, at the root of antisemitism lie
hatred, violence, and lack of compassion. An anti-Semite may be so cruel
as to support the murder of Jewish people without distinguishing
between women, children and the aged, and condone their being subjected
to torture. However, the moral teaching of the Qur'an enjoins love,
compassion and mercy for all people. It also commands Muslims to show
justice and be forgiving even to their enemies.
According to the Qur'an, Muslims, Jews and Christians must Live in Friendship
Jews and Christians (called in the
Qur'an the "People of the Book") are much closer to Muslims than
idolaters (pagans or the atheists). The People of the Book, like
Muslims, believe in one God and are subject to His commands.
In the Qur'an, there is a significant
difference between the People of the Book and the idolaters. This is
especially emphasized in the area of social life. For example, it is
said concerning the idolaters: "(they) are unclean, so after this year they should not come near the Masjid al-Haram." (Surat at-Tawba: 28)
Idolaters are people who know no divine law, have no moral precepts and
who can commit every kind of degrading and perverse deed without
hesitation.
But the People of the Book,
while they rely basically on God's revelation, have moral precepts and
know what is lawful and what is not. For this reason, if one of
the People of the Book cooks some food, it is lawful for Muslims to eat
it. In the same way, permission has been given to a Muslim man to marry
a woman from among the People of the Book. On this subject God
commands:
Today all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the believers and chaste women of those given the Book before you,
once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication
or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who disbelieve, his actions
will come to nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the losers.
(Surat al-Mai'da: 5)
Monasteries, churches and synagogues must be respected
Temples that deserve respect: A church...
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Another important fact we learn from the
Qur'an is that Muslims must respect Jewish and Christian places of
worship. In the Qur'an, the places of worship of the People of the Book,
ie. monasteries, churches and synagogues, are mentioned as places of
worship protected by God.
"…if God had not driven some
people back by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and
mosques, where God's name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down
and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him - God is
All-Strong, Almighty." (Surat al-Hajj: 40)
This verse shows to every Muslim the importance of respecting and protecting the holy places of the People of the Book.
... and a synagouge.
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Indeed, in the Qur'an, God commands
Muslims not to harbor any enmity toward any people. In many verses,
friendship is recommended even with the idolaters. God even refers to
the idolaters at war with Muslims like this: "If any of the
idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they have
heard the words of God. Then convey them to a place where they are
safe." (Surat at-Tawba: 6)
Jews and Christians, however, are much
closer to Muslims than idolaters. Each of these religions has its book,
that is, they are subject to a book sent down by God. They know what is
right and what is wrong, what is lawful and what is unlawful. They know
they will give an account to God and they love and revere His prophets.
This shows that Muslims and the People of the Book can live easily
together.
Conclusion
In a Muslim's outlook on the world, one
of his basic criteria is justice. No matter whom he may oppose, he
cannot depart from justice. He acts not according to his feelings, but
with his reason and conscience. He removes himself from fanaticism and
bigotry, and makes his decisions according to wisdom.
What God teaches us in the Qur'an about different peoples and creeds is clear:
1. The morality of the Qur'an excludes every kind of racism.
2. It is commanded in the Qur'an that,
so long as they show no hostility to Islam or Muslims, a tolerant and
friendly attitude must be maintained toward other religions.
It is evident that the Jews have
committed many errors which the Qur'an points out, criticizes and about
which it gives a warning. The crimes committed by Israel in the present
day against humanity are painfully well known, but all this must not be
taken by Muslims as a cause to feel hostility against Jews. The crimes
committed by a group of Jews in allegiance to their atheist Zionist
ideology will never be blamed on Judaism or the Jewish people.
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