A viral meme claims Jews and Muslims have warred for thousands of years, but the facts prove this myth dangerously false—and the exact opposite as true
I saved this to I could sit and digest without distraction. I knew I would learn from it and I did, thank you for the history lesson, I did know that “Columbus” was a genocidal maniac!
A great informative article QR. I hope it helps to dispel what many people in the U.S. think they know of Middle East history. The influence of the Israeli propaganda has distorted facts since the 50’s. They have not changed since then either. What the terrible thing is there are good Israelis & Palestinians that want peace and harmony. But, as more money has come into the situation for decades, it has hurt all of the common folk. Our government has made it worse. As many things in America, the situation is just seen as a money making opportunity. The years coming are going to be terrible for all in the area. I pray that the next Pope continues to try to help as Pope Francis did. We need every good person in this world to try to stop wrongdoing in Palestine, Israel, & the entire globe. Wrong is wrong, anywhere, anytime!
Qasim, I’d like to share a story from history. I read it years ago, and can’t remember the source. A Muslim man was asked why he and his fellows were helping Jews in the Middle East and North Africa during World War Two. The man replied, “We are cousins.” I have cherished that story for many years, but it has gone from warming me to breaking my heart as the Israeli genocide in Gaza continues. I think it’s worth reminding people: we are cousins. We help and support our cousins, we don’t arrest and torture them and we don’t kill them. We are cousins.
Yes, jews and muslims were neighbours. And jews were welcomed and found refuge in Arab countries. But Zionists, accept no one but other zionists. And theres even in-fighting amongst them. Especially between orthodox jews and other jewish demographics. Zionism was afterall born from antisemitism. The idea of "Israel" was the idea of Theodor Herzl BECAUSE of the antisemitism. Arthur James Balfour that authored the "balfour-declaration" was an antisemite that saw Zionism as a way to deal with "the jewish problem".
Great History Lesson, the time lines are testament to Muslim tolerance and enlightened leadership or rule! This tolerance is what today in the US we call liberal religion or liberal
Dear Quasim, I read this article not knowing quite what to expect. I have learned something new and profound. As a Christian (Church of England) it pains me to realise how much damage has been done in the name of Christianity - and continues to be done now. As Christians, it is not our duty to bash people over the head with a Bible and tell them that we are right and every other religion is wrong. If we truly followed the ways of Jesus, we would accept people just as they are and have meaningful conversations to find our common ground. I would also say that to any group who uses their religion for violence. It’s the rigidity of men’s (and it’s usually men) thinking that they must dominate and use any excuse they can to force their beliefs onto everyone else. I support a charity called Embrace the Middle East (it is Christian based) but they support any one of any faith who needs help, and also elevate the work of women who are seeking peace.
Somewhere in the tangled, greedy, capitalist, and colonial history of Europe it became advantageous to foment discord between Islam and all other inhabitants of the Middle East Perhaps because Islamic peoples occupied most of the lands sitting on top of unfathomable reserves of oil. Just as the great upheaval of WWI; the last peasants war, the war to end all wars, the war to topple dynasties and to unfurl the horrors of colonialism that was actually starting to fail wherever it had spread; the new bully on the block, the US under Pres Wilson started throwing its weight around. The US gilded age was already succumbing to the lure of CHEAP energy, its own and the oil owned by others which looked like a primo investment. Enter the rot.
LOVE, LOVE LOVE! I was familiar with the peaceful coexistence in Moorish Spain, but very little else on what was shared in this awesome history lesson. Another one to save! Thank you for this, Qasim!
Looking at the end of Moorish Spain to the Spanish Empire also includes the Doctrine of Discovery. That non-Christians weren’t people and thus the Americas were uninhabited and thus claimable. Both the slave trade and Indigenous genocides were the outcome.
Having read about different belief systems and what those in power do with those belief systems to people who don’t embrace it, I’ve pretty much turned my back on all of it. I always look at human nature first. In my analysis, it always seems to appear that no matter how lofty the idea, and meaningful the intent, it becomes corrupted by said egregious humans over time.
I have been awed and thankful for this article. You have taught me a history I have never heard about. The overwhelming feeling I have is that in order to heal our world, we need to learn history from perspectives not our own. We need to support people who are doing this work. Thank you from the depth of my being. Peace.
History has demonstrated that matriarchies are far less prone to conflict and bloodshed than patriarchies of any given period.
I understand that the "Antisemitism" in this alleged conflict is a bit specious: "Semites" are all peoples who descended from the Ibrahimic societies, meaning almost all of the native inhabitants of the Middle East territories.
I believe there are numerous studies that demonstrate that more women in a given government legislature corresponds to a decrease in the potential for violent conflict with other nations.
I am grateful for this post. It is a welcome corrective to some of my impressions of the Middle East. My impressions haven't been affected by provocateurs. In fact, I was unaware of such provocation until I read the article. Rather, my impressions come from news reports from the mainstream media my entire life, which have painted a picture of continuous conflict. Being aware only of this continuous conflict since 1948, it was easy for me to assume that it has always been that way. Thank you for correcting my view.
I saved this to I could sit and digest without distraction. I knew I would learn from it and I did, thank you for the history lesson, I did know that “Columbus” was a genocidal maniac!
A great informative article QR. I hope it helps to dispel what many people in the U.S. think they know of Middle East history. The influence of the Israeli propaganda has distorted facts since the 50’s. They have not changed since then either. What the terrible thing is there are good Israelis & Palestinians that want peace and harmony. But, as more money has come into the situation for decades, it has hurt all of the common folk. Our government has made it worse. As many things in America, the situation is just seen as a money making opportunity. The years coming are going to be terrible for all in the area. I pray that the next Pope continues to try to help as Pope Francis did. We need every good person in this world to try to stop wrongdoing in Palestine, Israel, & the entire globe. Wrong is wrong, anywhere, anytime!
Qasim, I’d like to share a story from history. I read it years ago, and can’t remember the source. A Muslim man was asked why he and his fellows were helping Jews in the Middle East and North Africa during World War Two. The man replied, “We are cousins.” I have cherished that story for many years, but it has gone from warming me to breaking my heart as the Israeli genocide in Gaza continues. I think it’s worth reminding people: we are cousins. We help and support our cousins, we don’t arrest and torture them and we don’t kill them. We are cousins.
Yes, jews and muslims were neighbours. And jews were welcomed and found refuge in Arab countries. But Zionists, accept no one but other zionists. And theres even in-fighting amongst them. Especially between orthodox jews and other jewish demographics. Zionism was afterall born from antisemitism. The idea of "Israel" was the idea of Theodor Herzl BECAUSE of the antisemitism. Arthur James Balfour that authored the "balfour-declaration" was an antisemite that saw Zionism as a way to deal with "the jewish problem".
Great History Lesson, the time lines are testament to Muslim tolerance and enlightened leadership or rule! This tolerance is what today in the US we call liberal religion or liberal
Outstanding!
Dear Quasim, I read this article not knowing quite what to expect. I have learned something new and profound. As a Christian (Church of England) it pains me to realise how much damage has been done in the name of Christianity - and continues to be done now. As Christians, it is not our duty to bash people over the head with a Bible and tell them that we are right and every other religion is wrong. If we truly followed the ways of Jesus, we would accept people just as they are and have meaningful conversations to find our common ground. I would also say that to any group who uses their religion for violence. It’s the rigidity of men’s (and it’s usually men) thinking that they must dominate and use any excuse they can to force their beliefs onto everyone else. I support a charity called Embrace the Middle East (it is Christian based) but they support any one of any faith who needs help, and also elevate the work of women who are seeking peace.
https://embraceme.org/welcome-to-embrace
Thank you so much for this important history lesson.
Somewhere in the tangled, greedy, capitalist, and colonial history of Europe it became advantageous to foment discord between Islam and all other inhabitants of the Middle East Perhaps because Islamic peoples occupied most of the lands sitting on top of unfathomable reserves of oil. Just as the great upheaval of WWI; the last peasants war, the war to end all wars, the war to topple dynasties and to unfurl the horrors of colonialism that was actually starting to fail wherever it had spread; the new bully on the block, the US under Pres Wilson started throwing its weight around. The US gilded age was already succumbing to the lure of CHEAP energy, its own and the oil owned by others which looked like a primo investment. Enter the rot.
LOVE, LOVE LOVE! I was familiar with the peaceful coexistence in Moorish Spain, but very little else on what was shared in this awesome history lesson. Another one to save! Thank you for this, Qasim!
Thank you for reading!
Looking at the end of Moorish Spain to the Spanish Empire also includes the Doctrine of Discovery. That non-Christians weren’t people and thus the Americas were uninhabited and thus claimable. Both the slave trade and Indigenous genocides were the outcome.
And Pope Francis (RIP) repudiated them in 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167056438/vatican-doctrine-of-discovery-colonialism-indigenous
Indeed, well said.
Thank you for sharing this! This is an excellent article! I hope that one day there will be peace..
I am going to share this article with my family and friends.
You have taught me a history that I never knew about.
Thank you for reading and sharing!
Having read about different belief systems and what those in power do with those belief systems to people who don’t embrace it, I’ve pretty much turned my back on all of it. I always look at human nature first. In my analysis, it always seems to appear that no matter how lofty the idea, and meaningful the intent, it becomes corrupted by said egregious humans over time.
I have been awed and thankful for this article. You have taught me a history I have never heard about. The overwhelming feeling I have is that in order to heal our world, we need to learn history from perspectives not our own. We need to support people who are doing this work. Thank you from the depth of my being. Peace.
Amen to that, Susan. The more we know of history the better we do today.
History has demonstrated that matriarchies are far less prone to conflict and bloodshed than patriarchies of any given period.
I understand that the "Antisemitism" in this alleged conflict is a bit specious: "Semites" are all peoples who descended from the Ibrahimic societies, meaning almost all of the native inhabitants of the Middle East territories.
I believe there are numerous studies that demonstrate that more women in a given government legislature corresponds to a decrease in the potential for violent conflict with other nations.
I am grateful for this post. It is a welcome corrective to some of my impressions of the Middle East. My impressions haven't been affected by provocateurs. In fact, I was unaware of such provocation until I read the article. Rather, my impressions come from news reports from the mainstream media my entire life, which have painted a picture of continuous conflict. Being aware only of this continuous conflict since 1948, it was easy for me to assume that it has always been that way. Thank you for correcting my view.
I cannot express my gratitude to you, John, for taking the time to read and continue to grow your knowledge base.
Thanks for putting this detailed history out there.
I like to bring the receipts! :)