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Image
of Arabic Culture in Schoolbooks of France, Poland and Hungary
Professor
Mostafa Al-Halwaji, Faculty of Languages and Translation Al-Azhar University
European
history schoolbooks represent The Arab Muslim civilization as an advanced
civilization for several centuries in the middle ages. History schoolbooks in
France, Poland and Hungary said that the Arabs and Muslims has kept The Old
Greek and Persian heritage and upgraded it. The books also said that the Arabs
invented Algebra and lend the European cultures many of its idioms such as:
Admiral, sugar, cipher, saffron and many others.
This
bright image of Muslim culture contrasts with the negative image of Islam that
is presented (in the same books) through some mistaken concepts about: Jihad,
Sharea (Islamic Law). Islam as surrender, succession of caliphs, position of
women, inspiration and the black stone.
The
progress of the Muslim culture depended mainly on Islam as a base, this stresses
that Islam is a religion of supreme civilized principles. These principles are
clear in many verses of the Quran that stress on the concepts of freedom,
solidarity, tolerance and openness to other cultures. They also stress on using
minds and asking for knowledge. Allah says: "Let there be no compulsion in
religion." (Al Bakara [The Cow] - 256) and says: "O mankind! We
created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into
nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each
other)" (Al Hujurat [The Chambers] - 13).
He
also says: "practice regular Charity" (Albakara [The Cow] - 40) and:
"but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from
Allah." (Sura [Consultation] - 40) and "Read." (Alaq or Iqra
[Read]-1). and "and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." AL-Nisa- [Women]
- 26).
In
spite of all of that, history books of France Poland and Hungary present Islam
as an aggressive violent religion. They define Jihad as deeds of aggression and
sacred wars to spread Islam and defend it.
See
the French history books:
•
The fifth year primary printed in 2001 of the publishing houses Nathan and
Magnard,
page 25 and, Hachette page 26,
•
 Nathan
for the second year primary, 2001 page 30,
•
Belin for the fifth year page 27.
•
Belin for the second year, 2001 pages 64 and 299.
•
Magnard for the second year, 2001, page 72.
•
Hatier for the second year, 2001, page 88,
•
Bordas, for the second year, 2001, page 99, Bertrand Lacoste, page74. And in the
Polish book:
•
Hisotria. Spotexens Two, Elzbieta I Jerzy pp. 80-81
Jihad:
Many
countries had taken the idiom "jihad" form Arabic but they changed its
meaning and this change marred the image of Islam. In Arabic, Jihad means
"to do effort = to strive". One can even strive himself in order to be
obedient to Allah. The text of the Quran ordered to strive against the
disbelievers: "Therefore, listen not to the unbelievers, but strive against
them with the utmost strenuousness, with it." (Al Furqan [The Criterion]-
52). Here, Jihad means to debate using clues and proofs and this needs a mental
effort. So, this "jihad" needs mental effort and not aggression. The
Arabic verb "jahada" means "did mental effort". The Above
verse added "with it" and "it" here refers to the Quran. So,
the verse orders the Muslims to debate with the disbelievers and to use the
Quran in their debate. Some interpreters said that "It" at the end of
the verse means the Quran and others said it means "IsIam"(Al-Tabary's
Gameo El-Bain, Beruit, 1988, part 19, page23).
The
Quran clarified how can a Muslims debate with non-Muslims. The Quran asked
Muslims to be polite and respect the others while talking to them. It also
ordered them to respect the opinions of the others and remember that they are
free. Allah says: "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and
beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and Most
Gracious." (Ai Nahl [The Bees] -125
Allah
orders the prophet to call for Islam by using wisdom and beautiful preaching. He
also orders him to debate with others politely. Using the Quran in Jihad to call
for Islam is a peaceful and polite debate. This kind of Jihad is described in
the above-mentioned verse of the Quran. It is called the biggest jihad. But,
prophet Mohamed talked about tow other kinds of jihad. He said: "Best jihad
is a word of justice in front of an unjust Sultan." It is known that an
unjust president, king or Sultan does not respond to direct preach. The aim of
saying the justice in front of him is to stop his unjust behavior. So, those who
preach Sultans, kings or responsible people must be patient and wise. They must
also choose their words carefully. A hint may be better than a direct word and
wisdom is needed in such a situation. This mission is only fit for wise
experienced people of consultation who are able to choose their words without
doing direct preaching. Direct preaching is useless, while examples and hints
may result in good ends. The aim of this is to send a message (to the unjust
ruler) to stop the despotism done to some people without using fight or
rebellion.
"We
came back from the smallest Jihad to the greatest jihad." They asked:
"Oh! Prophet of Allah, What is the greatest Jihad? He said: ."Jihad of
the self." The prophet said that speech after returning from a battle with
enemies of Islam. These battles are the smallest jihad. While the jihad of the
self in order to avoid doing evil and to do good for oneself and for the others
is the greatest jihad. Doing good for the self and for others makes man live in
peace with his own self and with others. If the individuals are good the whole
society will be good whether it is a Muslim community or not.
The
fourth kind of Jihad is the minimum jihad that is interpreted in the west as
using violence and killing. Some Muslim politicians utilized this kind of jihad
to achieve their personal benefits. Some Muslim extremists also misused it. All
of them misunderstood the meaning of Jihad. This "smallest jihad" was
put in Islam only to defend the self, the family, the treasure and homeland.
This can be done in the level of individuals if the attacker is an individual
and in the level of the homeland when it is threatened by other nations. In this
last case, the ruler is the one to announce Jihad to stop aggression and not to
attack others. In European and international laws, this kind of jihad is called
lawful self-defense.
A
Muslim does not have the right to attack others whether they are Muslims, or
non-Muslims. This is applied to an individual or a state. Quran forbade
attacking others and made war permissible only for self-defense. Allah says:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress
limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." (Al Bakara [The Cow] - 190).
This verse is one of the principles of Islam.
Some
of the French publishing houses corrected the concept of Jihad in their books
after communications and after a study held in the Egyptian Cultural Center in
Paris in February 2002.
Hatier
publishing House, fifth year, 2001, page 36, Hachette publishing house for the
fifth year, 2002, page 31 define Jihad without using the word aggression or
spreading Islam. So, the student reads that jihad is the effort done to defend
Islam; afterwards it became a synonym of sacred war.
Bertrand
Lacoste publishing house says that Jihad is the sixth of the pillars of Islam
(page 74). Some publishing houses omit half of the verse and present it devoid
of its context. Nathan publishing house, fifth year, stated the verse like that:
"Those who fought or been slain, verily, I will blot out from them their
iniquities." But when reading the whole verse, the pupil will get the right
meaning. The complete verse is as follows, Allah says: "And their Lord has
accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the
work of any of you, be he male or female: you are members, one of another. Those
who have left their homes, or been driven out there from, or suffered harm in My
Cause, or fought or been slain, verily, I will blot out from them their
iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath. A reward
from the Presence of Allah and from His Presence is the best of rewards."
(Al-Imran [The Family of Imran]- 195). This verse was about Muslims fighting the
pagans of Makkah in the 7th century because they expelled Muslims out of Makkah.
So, Muslims fight for self-defense that's why Allah blots out from them their
iniquities, and admits them into his Gardens.
Some
French publishing houses (Bertrand Lacost, fifth year, 2001, page 30) and
(Belin, fifth year, 2001, page 27) cited another verse. Allah says: "Not
equal are those Believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who
strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah
has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and
persons than to those who sit (at home)." (Al-N'isaa [the women]-95). The
Hungarian history book used the verse: "seize them and slay them wherever
you get them."
We
must stress that Muslims fought for self-defense only. Quran forbade aggression.
Allah says: "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." (Al Bakara [The Cow]
- 190). Verses that ordered Muslims to fight related to fight against pagans to
defend the self, because pagans attacked Madenah several times. It is clear that
authors of schoolbooks in France, Hungary and Poland confused the principles of
Islam with some Islamic historical events.
Quran
forbade killing a person and equals between who kills one person and who kills
all people. Allah says: "If any one slew a person- unless it be for murder
or - for spreading mischief in the land- it would be as if he slew the
whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life
of the whole people." (Al Ma'idah [The Repast] - 32). Islam also guarantees
freedom of religion. Allah says: "Let there be no compulsion in religion.
(Al Bakara [The Cow] - 256). The mission of prophet Mohamed was to tell people
about his message only, Allah says: "Therefore do thou give admonition, for
thou art one to admonish. * Thou art not one to manage (men's) affairs. (Al
Ghashiyah [The Overwhelming Event]- 22-23).
Islam
never used the idiom "sacred war" which was used by the crusades, and
in order to understand a Quranic verse we must know all other verses related to
the same subject. We must also know the historical, geographical, cultural,
social, economical and political context of each verse. Above all, we must also
know the principles and instructions of Islam.
The
History book of Magnard, 2001, second year, page 73 and the fifth year, page 25,
and Bordas, second year, page 86 cited a quotation form Al-Selmy (a historian of
the 12lh century) who lived during the crusades. He said: "Each Muslim
ruler must attack his enemies every year and expel them out of their
lands." The history book of Hachette, second year, 2001, page 109 quoted
from the same document of Al-Selmy saying: "Jihad is a lawful right for the
Muslims to defend themselves. The ruler must attack the pagans to liberate the
land that was occupied by the crusaders."
Muslims
had some defensive wars at the time of prophet Mohamed. They returned back and
opened Makkah when the Makkan people breached their pact with prophet Mohamed.
Before that, the pagans attacked the Muslims in Madenah several times (Battles
of: Badr, Uhud and Ahzab). In spite all of that, history schoolbooks in Europe
present prophet Mohamed as a man of war who attacks the neighboring cities to
force them to be Muslims.
Islam
is a religion of peace and security. The word Islam's stem is "salema"
and it means peace and security. As-Salam (peace) is one of the names of Allah.
The greeting of Islam is "Peace and blessings be upon you." A Muslim
repeats the word "peace" several times in each prayer.
Books-of
History in France and Hungary present the Islamic Law (Sharea) as a set of laws
of the seventh century that depends on the Quran and the Speeches of the
prophet, as if it is not valid for today.
See:
•
Magnard, fifth year, 2001, page 22.
•
Bordas, fifth year, 1997, page 26
•
Bnel, second year, 2001, page 98.
•
Belin, second year, 2001, page 64.
•
Bertrand Lacoste second year, 2001, page 75.
•
And in the Hungarian book under the title "Islam: Essence of Islam".
Quranic
verses and speeches of the prophet aim at justice that goes with current
international laws. Muslim scholars agree that there are many other sources of
"Sharea" in Islam like: unanimity, analogy, customs, opinion and
public utility.
History
schoolbooks in France and Hungary presented the succession of the rulers as a
religious and political authority. While the election of Abou Bakr, Umar, Uthman
and Ali clarify that the caliph was a political job. Prophet Mohamed himself was
not a religious leader, Allah says: "Therefore do thou give admonition, for
thou art one to admonish. Thou art not one to manage (men's) affairs. (Al
Ghashiyah [The Overwhelming Event]- 22-23). Islam that calls Muslims to think,
be just, respect the freedom of others and live with all people in
brotherhood and equality cannot be against current international laws.
History
books of France, Hungary and Poland refer to Islam as a religion of, complete
surrender.
See
fifth year books of:
•
Hachette,, 2002, page 27. • Hatier, 2001,
page 30.
•
Belin, 2001, page 38. • Bordas, 1997, page 22.
•
Nathan, 2001, page 24.
And
books of the second year, 2001 of:
•
Briel, page 98. • Bordas, page 74.
•
Nathan, page 84. • Bertrand Lacoste, page 83.
And
in the Polish book: Hisotria, Spotexens Two, Elzbieta I Jerry pp. 78-79.
But
in fact Islam made everyone responsible for his own deeds and several verses of
the Quran call Muslims to read, learn, use his mind, work and invent.
History
schoolbooks in France and Hungry dealt with polygamy by quoting half of a
Quranic verse. So, the European student understands that Islam orders his
followers to marry more than a woman. These books quoted the following:
"marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four." Other books
state that Islam permitted polygamy without mentioning the hard conditions put
for it. (See: 2001 books of Nathan- page 27, Hatier - page 33, and copies of
2002 of Hachette-page 29, and 2001 of Magnard- page 22, and Belin - page 29 and
the Hungarian book also). uranic verse that dealt with polygamy is always quoted
incomplete oks and without its historical context. The books always begin the
veddle: "marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four." Reading
clarifies its real meaning and shows that there is a condition put for that
Allah says: "If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with y
women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that y able to
deal justly (with them). Then only one or (a captive) that you assess. That will
be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice* Women! - 3).
Reading the whole verse shows that one reason to care for the orphans and that
one must be just with his wives wife is enough. The verse as a whole is
conditional and a part of rase cannot be quoted without the rest of the
sentence, it will also refer to the fact that man in the -Arab peninsula during
the 7 marry whatever number of women without any
conditions. He could laughter, sell her or get her married without asking
her opinion. His wife if she betrayed him. A woman had no share in
inheritance. I and son only was the one to inherit, and this continued to happen
after Islam, a woman had the right to accept or refuse a suitor: free. Women had
their share in inheritance. They can also go for courts like men. The Quran says
that women have equal rights.
Publishing
houses like Nathan, Hachette and Hatier corrected the concept of Jihad in their
books. But, jihad is still presented as terrorism in the other books. Hachette
and Nathan corrected the ideas about the black stone. Nathan deleted an
incorrect verse (see versions of 2001-2002). This was after a study presented to
schoolbooks publishing houses at the beginning of 2001-2002.
There
are still many mistakes in European and French schoolbooks. The concept of
succession of the caliph was not corrected in versions of 2001 in the books of
the fifth year (see Nathan - page 30, Belin - page 38, Hachette - page 36 and
Magnard, page 25 - and versions of 2002 of Hachette page 28. The black stone is
still represented in a mythical way in Belin- page 28 and Hachette- page 28.
Nathan-page 27 Hatier- page 33 and Hachette-page 29 still insist on presenting
half of the polygamy verse. Some other publishing houses present inspiration to
the prophet in a mythical way (Nathan-24-25 and Hatier page 31). Books of
Magnard of the fifth year, 2001, page 23 say that Muslims fast in Ramadan from
sunrise to sunset (Correction: from dawn to sunset). The Polish book (Historia)
says that a Muslim must perform the hajj (pilgrimage) once at least. The right
thing is that a Muslim may perform the hajj once at least if he could (having
enough money, in good heath and his road is safe) (correction: omit "at
least':). The same book says that Muslims were ordered to pray in the 9th hejri
year (correction: 5th hejri year).
Authors
of European schoolbooks may make sure not to misuse religious texts due to old
verdicts about Islam that prevailed in Europe at the times of The Ottoman State,
the Crusades or the colonial wars. Current media campaign may also link between
Islam and terrorism. Islam is free of terrorism and extremism like Christianity
and Judaism. Presenting a text without its historical, geographical, social,
cultural political or economical context may lead to a different meaning of it.
This
study is for exchanging information and ideas. We do not have any doubt in the
proficiency, ability or fairness of French and European authors. Through this
debate, we try to enrich both European and Arab cultures.
We
hope that mistaken concepts in the European schoolbooks will be corrected. This
is to protect culture and to save Muslim students in European schools form
falling in the trap of extremism or terrorism.
Islam
is a religion of noble principles such as: freedom, equality, brotherhood,
solidarity and openness to other cultures. It calls for using the mind, working
hard and being educated. These principles are valid for Muslim or non-Muslim
nations and help a peaceful coexistence of both.
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