Despite what is being shown and reported in the media today the majority of the Islamic people are not terrorist murders. In fact, Islam has a long history or tolerance, compassion, and respect not only for members of it's own faith, Muslims, but for Jews, Christians, and others as well. Consider that the Islamic Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Middle East for about 500 years and that during that time the Ottoman Sultans (kings) ensured the existence and security of non-Muslims. That is a far cry from what we see in the Middle East today. Yet, this is the history of Islam. What we see today happening with the so called “Islamic terrorists” has nothing to do with Islam at all. It's political and I assure you God has nothing to do with it because murder is absolutely forbidden in the Islamic scriptures known as the Holy Qur'an.
The Islamic holy book describes Muslims, Christians, and Jews as the “People of the Book.” When Islam first formed, Muslims were a minority. They struggled to protect their new faith and suffered oppression and even torture at the hands of the pagans of the city of Mecca. Some Muslims chose to leave Mecca and the Prophet Muhammad advised them to take refuge in Ethiopia which was then ruled by the Christian King Negus. These Muslims who left Mecca and went to Christian Ethiopia found a fair and tolerant administration there. King Negus embraced the Muslims refugees with love and respect. Further, King Negus refused to hand the Muslim refugees over to the pagans in Mecca who were demanding that he arrest them and send them back to Mecca. In fact, King Negus decreed that the Muslims could live freely in the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia for as long as they wished. This is just one bit of historical fact of how Muslims coexisted with people of other faiths and there are many more examples in Islamic history.
The Holy Qur'an makes it clear that the People of the Book are Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Although Christians and Jews are specifically mentioned in the Qur'an, Islamic scholars and rulers over the course of history have also included Zoroastrianism and Hinduism as well as other faiths in their definition of the People of the Book. And this should not be surprising as “People of the Book” by definition in the Qur'an refers to all those faiths that are monotheistic Abrahamic religions that predate Islam. Samaritans, Karaites, and Sabians have been included in the term “People of the Book” as well. However, the definition is limited to those scriptures that predate the Qur'an.
The Qur'an is seen as the final revelation of God (Allah) to man. The Islamic conquest of India required that Hindu's be included in the definition of People of the Book because the Hindus were the majority in India at the time and still are today. Today many Islamic clergy in India consider Hindus as People of the Book and not as pagans or idol worshippers. In regards to Buddhism, Buddhism does not explicitly recognize a God or the concept of prophethood. At one time Muslim leaders included Buddhists in the definition of People of the Book because Buddhism doesn't specifically oppose the concept of monotheism.
There are many references to the People of the Book in the Qur'an. These statements promote tolerance towards each other as People of the Book. Sura 29:46 in the Qur'an says,
“And argue not with the People of the Book unless it be in a way that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our Allah (God) and your Allah (God) is One, and unto Him we surrender.”
From this passage it is clear that Islam considers the God worshiped by Muslims, Christians, and Jews is the same God. And it also teaches that the People of the Book are not to argue among themselves.
Sura 3:199 says, “And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account.”
Sura 2:62 says, “Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
Both of these passages from the Qur'an promote and demand tolerance for each other among the People of the Book. They also remind us that we worship the same God and share a common heritage from the Patriarch Abraham as well.
In addition to what the Qur'an says about the People of the Book, Islamic Law (based on the Qur'an) demands Christians and Jews be treated as “dhimmis.” Under Sharia (Islamic Law) the dhimmis have legal rights and Muslims may not harass them as the dhimmis, like Muslims, enjoy protected citizenship status in an Islamic nation. Or, at least they should enjoy protection under Sharia Law but as we all know this does not hold true in many Muslim nations today. But the Qur'an and Sharia are very specific about the People of the Book and Dhimmis so I must say those Islamic nations today that do not protect or respect Christians or Jews are in direct violation of Sharia (Islamic Law) and the Holy Qur'an (Islamic scriptures).Historically, a dhimmi was a non-Muslim person living in an Islamic nation who was protected under Sharia. Originally, this status was only extended to Jews and Christians but later was extended to include Sikhs, Zorastrians, Mandeans, Hindus, and Buddhists. These people were given a number of legal rights such as the right to freely practice their faith in private and the right to obtain protection from the State.
Despite what the media likes to tell us about the great differences that exist between Muslims, Christians, and Jews all three faiths have many things in common. For one, all three of these faiths trace their roots back to the Patriarch Abraham and this is why all three are known as Abrahamic religions. Jews as Christians trace their roots back to Abraham through his son Jacob. Muslims trace their roots back to Abraham through his other son Ishmael. Jacob and Ismael were half brothers sharing the same father, Abraham, but different mothers, Sara and Hagar respectfully.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews, the People of the Book, all believe that God created the universe from nothing and that he rules all things seen and unseen with infinite power. These three faiths also believe that God created man and all living things miraculously and that man has a soul given unto him by God. Further, all three of these faiths believe that throughout the course of history God has sent prophets such as Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad along with Noah, Abraham, Issac, Joseph, David, et. al. Muslims, Christians, and Jews all hold the belief in life after death. They share the belief in the existence of heaven and hell and angels, both fallen and holy.
Great compassion is found and advocated by God in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. In Sura 62 of the Qur'an we find the following:
Those with iman [faith], those who are Jews, and the Christians and Sabaeans [Muslims], all who have iman in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-Baqara: 62) This passage is teaching that we must have compassion for each other because we are the People of the Book. The People of the Book are the People of Faith. Some are Muslims, some are Jews, and others are Christians. If they are rightly guided by God in the ways of peace and compassion then they have nothing to fear in the Last Day, the Day of Judgment.
The Islamic Qur'an also teaches that Muslims must respect Jewish and Christian places of worship. These places of worship of the People of the Book are mentioned in the Qur'an as places of worship PROTECTED by God! Sura 40 says:
...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)
God protects not only the Islamic mosques but churches, monasteries, and synagogues as well. These are the sacred places of worship of the People of the Book and MUST be respected according to the teachings of the Qur'an! The above one teaching along shows the importance of every Muslim of respecting and protecting the holy places of the People of the Book.
The Prophet Mohammad made contracts with pagans and with the People of the Book alike. Pagans were treated with justice, and when they asked to be taken under his protection, their requests were readily accepted by Muhammad. This meant that these communities sought the protection of the Messenger of God in the face of an attack or a wrongful accusation. Throughout his life, many non-Muslims and pagans requested protection from the Prophet Muhammad, and he took them under his protection and ensured their security. In fact, in Sura 6 of the Qur'an, God commands that the requests of pagans seeking protection be accepted by Muslims! It says:
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)
Notice the Qur'an does NOT say to kill them, humiliate them, molest them or anything else! It says to give them safety and protection!
The FACT is that Christians and Jews are much closer to Muslims than those who have no faith in God at all. Muslims, Christians, and Jews share commonalities, a common root, and a common heritage and history. Each of these three faiths has a book given to them by God and each of their books contains the Word of God to them respectfully. They know the difference between right and wrong, what is lawful in God's eyes and what is not. They all revere the prophets and messengers to which God's Word was revealed. All three faiths believe in the hereafter and they believe that they each shall have to give account to God for all of their actions. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism has shared foundations and it is from those shared foundations that UNITY among the People of the Book MUST BEGIN NOW! Muslim, Christian, and Jew must unite for the cause of God against the real enemies of our respective faiths because those real enemies are also the enemies of God himself. God is not calling upon Islam, Judaism, and Christendom to be of one faith but he is calling for them to unite based on their commonalities and shared foundations and history. The right to rule this world belongs to God and to God alone!
