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of Islam in Austrian Schoolbooks
Dr.
Mohamed Mansour, Faculty of Languages and TranslationAl-Azhar University
The
study handled thirteen books of history and social studies printed during the
period 2000-2003. These books are taught to pupils of the primary stage (grades
2-6) and are certified by the Austrian Ministry of Education. The books present
a shiny image of the Muslim civilization in spite of some negative concepts.
These concepts are about Islam as a religion, prophet Mohamed and the spread of
Islam. These concepts were deprived from their real meaning due to presenting
them without the right historical, geographical, social. religious. military or
political context. They were presented without am explanation
Some
of the books explored Islam without considering it as a heavenly religion. They
presented it as a set of Christian and Jewish instructions that Mohamed studied
during his trade voyages. This in spite of that the Quran stresses that Islam
came as complement of Christianity and Judaism .
The
books described Mohamed as a shepherd to show that he was not from a high social
class and did not talk about him as a prophet. They did not describe him as
faithful. The books also mentioned that Mohamed received instructions in his
dreams and did not mention that the he received his message through inspiration
from Allah via the angel Gabriel. This is not fit for talking about a prophet of
Allah like prophet Mohamed and may irritate some Muslims.
The
books also used pictures of Bedouins and this conveys a sense of
underdevelopment and helps to convey that bedouinism is a part of the Arabic
Muslim Culture.
These
books talked about the spread of Islam and stressed that it spread through the
"sacred war". Islam does not use this idiom at all but the crusaders
used it. The books also said that Muslims gave the choice for the people of the
newly invaded countries either to be Muslims, to pay tribute or to fight. They
also cited verses that talk about war in of the Quran and did not refer to the
source of the translation.
It
is clear that the verses were deprived from their right historical,
geographical, social, cultural, military or political context. Quranic verses
that order to fight are related to defensive situations. Other verses order
Muslims not to attack others. Allah says: "Fight in the cause of Allah
those who fight you but do not transgress limits: For Allah loves not the
transgressors." (Al-Bakara [The Cow]- 190).
It
is better for schoolbooks to present Quranic verses within their real context
and to stop connecting between Islam and wars. Presenting texts in their right
context is enough to show the real meaning. The Austrian school system -which is
one of the best school systems of the world can give short explanation of the
verses of the Quran in its schoolbooks. This leads to enrich both cultures, a
co-operation between the Arab world and Austria and a peaceful coexistence.
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The Papers' Abstract
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