Jews .. Enemies or Friends?

When some ignorants call Muslims as "Haters of Jews", and that Islam is allegedly inviting its followers to hate and "kill" Jews, we can find in America a very special image of coexistence between Muslims and Jews refuting all these false claims..

[Place: Reston, Virginia state]

[Time: In Ramadan month]

When all Muslims worship God and make charity, and all mosques are filled up by the praisers of God. When there weren't enough space in mosques, Muslims resorted to a Jewish synagogue renting its social hall to praise Allah!

Torah copies beside Zakat collecting boxes, and Jewish symbols beside the Muslim prayers, and "Allahu Akbar" beside the verses of the Torah. It's a remarkable image of cultural understanding and cooexisetence that must be encouraged not fought against by the enemies of peace.

Commenting on this event, a member of Al-Azhar foundation welcomed praying in the Jewish synagogues, confirming that Sharia rules allow praying in all places whether it's a Christian church or a Jewish synagogue.

Muhammad Majed, Imam of the mosque, says; "The cooperation between the mosque and the Jewish synagogues clearly reveals the nature of the relation between Muslims and non-Muslims in the West", Majed adds;"There is a social dimension in that which is represented in the cooperation between Muslims and Jews in common cases. This cooperation surpasses the hosting of prayers to organizing lectures and dialogue between religions."

Robert Nosanchuk, the rabbi of the synagogue, said; "You really only get to know someone when you invite them into your home ... you learn to recognize their faces.You learn the names of their children" Nosanchuk adds;"When we told the visitors of the synagogue, who knew before about our cooperation with the mosque, they welcomed that cooperation which is considered to be an appliance for our values."

This event isn't an exceptional one, but Muslim Friday prayers were made along the last 7 years in Churches, and in Jewish synagogue since 1.5 years. The mosque hosted one of the survivors of the Nazi Holocaust who was rescued by the Albanian Muslims. And hosted too the breakfast of the Jewish Easter.

These great images of wonderful coexistence are represented in Sharia rules that are extracted from Qur'an and Sunna..

In Qur'an we can realize from Chapter 60, verse 8 that it's recommended and encouraged to deal kindly and justly with non-Muslims who don't fight against Muslims. "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just." And that it's allowed according to Chapter 5, verse 5 to share non-Muslims food, eat on one table, and to make the most powerful social tie ever i.e. marriage. "This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good)." In another verse, we can find a prohibition of reviling them so as to guarantee an atmosphere of comfort and peace. "Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did." 6:108

If we read Sunnah books we can realize how the prophet of Islam, Muhammad SAW, organized the relation between Muslims and Jews (People of the Book). We can see him standing in respect for a funeral of a Jewish man passing in front of him, telling his followers; "Isn't it a soul!". We can see him visiting a sick Jewish neighbor, however he was throwing rubbish in front of his door. When he immigrated to Medina, the first thing to do was to sign a convention between all the factors of Medina people including Jews. The basic articles in the convention between the prophet and the Jews of Medina were; Muslims have their own religion and Jews have their own religion, Both parties must defend against those who attack the parties of the convention, Between the parties is the advise and good not rancor, Victory is for the oppressed, The convention doesn't protect any oppressor. Very just, and very tolerant.

Conclusion; According to the teachings of Islam; sharing Jews and Christians the food and drink, visiting them in their homes, giving them presents and even marrying them are permitted and recommended manners.