[Robert Mendelson]
Next, we come to Islam and most Palestinians.
Sura 29:46;
Dispute not…with people of the Book;
And say ye, "We believe in what hath been sent down to us [Qur’an]
and what hath been sent down to you. [Old & New Testaments]
Our God and your God is one,..."
Sura 2:136;
Say ye: "We believe in God,
and that which hath been sent down to us [Qur’an],
and that which hath been sent down to Abraham
and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes [Joshua],
and in that was given to Moses, and to Jesus,
and that which was given to the prophets, from their Lord.
No difference do we make between any of them."
There are many other instances in which Muhammad told his people that
the books of the Bible were confirmed. Again, one can argue theology, but
Muslims have a choice as to whether they wish to read the Qur’an for life or
for death. Making use of the Old Testament for a solution meant for the
members of both tribes currently in the Holy Land in no way places Muslims
in other lands under any constraints in their own land. The following passage
is quite specific regarding the value of the Old Testament—properly applied;
Sura 46:12;
But before the Koran was the Book of Moses, a rule and a mercy;
and this Book confirmeth it (the Pentateuch)—in the Arabic tongue—
that those who are guilty of that wrong may be warned,
and as glad tidings to the doers of good."
“glad tidings” to “doers of good”. Muslims are supposed to be “doers of good”.
Using Old Testament Law for the descendents of those it was originally given to
in the same land in which it was originally received doesn’t violate shariah in the
least. Muhammad recited a verse including a reference to David (from the Bible)
Sura 6:85;
And we gave him Isaac and Jacob, and guided both aright;
and We had guided…among the descendants of Abraham, David …”
David said something pertinent to the situation:
Psalm 19:9-11, David;
9…The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.”
And last, an Old Testament prophecy of particular interest for Muslims
throughout the Middle East from Isaiah…
Isaiah 19:25;
The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying,
"Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria [Iraq] my handiwork,
and Israel my inheritance."
There is value for all people to make use of this wonderful tool for peace.
Without it, well, the next two passages sum up what Muslims will do.
The first passage explains how the situation in the Holy Land is seen by
Muslims worldwide and how it effects their relations with America.
Sura 60:7-9;
7 God will, perhaps, establish good will between yourselves
and those of them whom ye take to be your enemies:
God is powerful: and God is gracious, merciful.
8 God doth not forbid you to deal with kindness and fairness
towards those who have not made war upon you on account of your religion,
or driven you forth from your homes:
for God loveth those who act with fairness.
9 Only doth God forbid you to make friends of those who,
on account of your religion,
have warred against you,
and have driven you forth from your homes,
and have aided [America & the West] those [Israel] whom drove you forth:
and whoever maketh friends of them are wrongdoers."
Palestinians weren’t allowed to return to their homes after the war in 1948.
Then, after the 1967 war, more Palestinians were displaced. The majority of
Palestinians are Muslims, and whether rightly or wrongly, injustices committed
by Israel against Palestinians are perceived as injustices against Muslims as a
religion. According to this belief, verse 9 forbids all Muslims from making peace
with either Israel or anyone who supports Israel until this issue is resolved.
To understand what this next one is saying, understand that when Jews follow
the Torah and Old Testament, they’re included as “faithful”, too.
Sura 49:9-10;
9 If two bodies of the faithful are at war,
then make ye peace between them;
and if one of them wrong the other,
fight against that party which doth the wrong,
until they come back to the precepts of God;
if they come back, make peace between them with fairness,
and act impartially; God loveth those who act with impartiality.
10 Only the faithful [those who obey God's statutes] are brethren;
wherefore make peace between your brethren;
and fear God, that ye may obtain mercy."
The command to Muslims is for un-ending war until all parties abide by the
“precepts of God”. For Israelites, the precepts for sharing the land were placed
in the Old Testament. There was no need for covenants regarding land sharing
in the Holy Land to be duplicated in the Qur’an. Nor does referencing them in
any way make a Muslim disobedient to God. On the contrary—it enables them
to receive God’s mercy." (Robert Mendelson)