Dear Prof. Beres: R&B President Mr. Aryeh Gallin
asked me to answer the letter you received from "an
Islamic scholar in a Arab country."
I do not know the reputation of this writer, but I can
respond to his comments which exhibit colossal ignorance
of authentic Islamic teachings.
First of all, the traditional school of "orthodox
Islam" is called "Ahl as-Sunnah wa
al-jam'ah", and those who follow it are called Sunni
Muslims. Many contemporary "Islamic scholars"
(especially in Arab countries) belong to a heretical
school called Salafi or Wahhabi, but Salafis-Wahhabis
disguise their real nature by calling themselves
"Sunni."
The Wahhabi school represents the official doctrine of
the Saudi regime, and is propagated by an organization
called the World Islamic League. This sect opposes the
traditional Islamic doctrine about "fitnah"
(sedition - a terrible sin in traditional Islam) and
often causes confusion be calling "fitnah"
"jihad."
In the traditional understanding, "jihad"
has many levels of meaning. Minor "jihad" is a
military struggle to defend the religious freedom of
Muslims.
A legitimate "jihad" must be lead by a
Caliph, or by a Sultan appointed by a Caliph. Since
presently there is no Caliphate, there is no military
jihad today. Apart from this, as long as a government
grants Muslims their religious freedom (the possibility
to pray five times a day), Islamic law says that
rebelling against this government is "fitnah"
(sedition).
There is no difference between a government led by a
Muslim or a non-Muslim, a country where Muslims are a
majority or a minority. When Muslims feel that their
condition as a minority is unbearable, Islamic law says
they must emigrate to a country were they are a majority.
Since the Israeli government does not deny Muslims
their religious freedom, Muslims resident in Israel are
required by Islam to live as peaceful and loyal citizens,
or to emigrate.
According to Islamic law, the so-called Intifadah
against Israel was nothing but "fitnah"
(sedition), and those involved in fitnah are sinners.
In any case, I really doubt that the "Islamic
scholar" whom you cite can be regarded as "a
scholar", since he misquotes - applying it to the
Jews - a Qur'anic verse (2:191) that deals with Arab
polytheists. This is clearly explained by all
authoritative Islamic commentators, and is understandable
by the same context.
The verse says: "Do not fight them at Masjid
al-Haram..." Masjid al-Haram is in Mecca; there were
no Jews in Mecca. Those who expelled Muslims from Mecca
were the pagan Arabs, and even a child who has learnt the Qur'an knows that this verse has nothing to do with Jews.
Moreover, this "Islamic scholar" writes that
"the Muslims have the right to defend themselves and
get back the land from where they have been driven out by
ANY MEANS."
In Islam, nothing can be obtained by "any
means." One must always respect the rules of Islamic
law; one cannot obtain a good result by sinful means. One
cannot, e.g., collect money for charity by stealing or
selling drugs.
This "Islamic scholar" misinterprets the Qur'an 2:191, but forgets to cite the preceeding verse -
2:190:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight
you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah does not
love transgressors."
This verse openly refutes the theory of "by any
means."
The Prophet Muhammad explained very clearly which
these limits are: Muslims must not exaggerate in
self-defense, must always look for an opportunity for
peace, and must fight "as soldiers against other
soldiers, as an army against another army."
Murdering women, priests, rabbis, children and other
civilians is forbidden by Islamic law.
Those who die while committing these crimes are not
"martyrs", but sinners who died without
repenting.
During the last half of this century, Arab dictators
have used Israel as a scapegoat. They have tried to
convince Muslims that anti-Zionism is sanctioned by
Islam.
On the contrary, I believe that it is time for Muslims
to understand that Israel is a friendly country, that
Jews are our brothers in Abraham, and that Arab-Israeli
cooperation could really contribute to overcoming Arab
underdevelopment and modernizing the Middle East (changes
feared by the ruling classes in Arab countries!).
Those Muslims such as myself who live in Europe have
the possibility to freely say and write all this.
Unfortunately, in other countries - particularly the
Arab dictatorships of the Middle East - freedom of speech
and freedom of conscience is suppressed on pain of
imprisonment, torture or death.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi
Rome, Italy