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of Islam in Schoolbooks in Greece
Dr.
Tarek Radwan, Faculty of Languages and Translation, Al-Azhar University
The
book titled "Christianity and other Religions" printed in 2002 and
issued by the Ministry of Education in Greece is taught to the second year
secondary students in Greece. They also study the book titled "Byzantine
History". Both books talked about Islam.Both books tried to handle Islam in
a subjective way in spite of some inherited wrong ideas about Islam such as: The
Jihad (State of Allah and sacred war).
Image
of women in Islam, locality of Islam in the Arab Peninsula, Reality of Islam and
reality of Muslims in modem times and other subjects that need clarification and
study.
For
example, "Jihad" is mentioned more than once in the book titled
"Byzantine History" to stress that Islam could -at its beginning-
unify different tribes under on God (That is Allah). It also unified these
tribes in one state (the state of Allah). The book also added that Muslims had
to leave their private social lives and their customs and traditions and serve
Allah and his state that is erected on religious and political pillars at the
same time. The book also sees that prosperity of Islam is due to that Islam is
not only a religion but it is also a political and racial movement. Islam is the
state of Allah.
We
must reply that Islam kept the privacy, customs and traditions of all those who
became Muslims as far as they go with its instructions (i.e. go with all
international laws). Islam did not try to deprive these peoples from their
identity and did not change their culture or impose itself. People had full
freedom in worship. Islam kept those who refused to be Muslims safe and peaceful
for a tribute while Muslims also paid zakat. When Islam entered Egypt, it did
not change its culture. Statues of the Pharaohs are still found everywhere in
Egypt and sphinx is an evident proof for that. It also kept the churches
untouched. Islam also took part in the welfare of these countries. It does not
impose certain political system but it puts forward the bases for it such as:
justice, equality and democracy. Allah says: "and consult them in
affairs." (A-Imaran [The Family of Imran]- 159) and says: "If they
both decide on weaning by mutual consent and after due consultation there is no
blame on them." (Al-Bakara - [The Cow] - 233). All of these concepts go
with the current international laws and human rights. We must also refer that
Islam never disagrees with democracy that is claimed by the west now. Democracy
is the best human system to practice the "shura" (consultation) which
is a pure Islamic concept.
Both
books spoke a lot about the spread of Islam by force and that Islam was imposed
on people by sword. They also added that prophet Mohamed was the beginner to
attack in most of his battles and that he was longing to fight and meet his
enemies. This gives the Greek students a completely wrong idea about Islam.
There is no doubt that pagans were the first to attack prophet Mohamed in many
battles such as Uhud and Al-Khandak. Those battles -where Muslims were the
beginners- were defensive battles. In fact, Islam treats those who oppose it
with great tolerance. It also orders its followers to bear whatever hurt from
their opponents and to leave the matter for the justice of Allah, who will judge
between them on The Day of Judgment. Fight is only permissible to stop an attack
or face those who come to fight. If Muslims are obliged to fight, they must
follow the ethics of fighting and follow the orders of Allah. They must not kill
a woman, a child, a baby, and old man, a monk in his hermitage, a farmer in his
farm or a merchant in his shop. They must not spoil things, destroy houses, cut
trees or lead astray. When the prophet opened Makkah he ordered his followers
not to kill a wounded man, not to chase those who flee, not to kill a captive.
He declared that those who shut their houses (don't carry arms and go to fight)
are also safe.
All
what is mentioned in both books led to an important question: Was Mohamed a man
of peace or a man of war? We know that he was really a man of peace. Muslims
only attacked the pagans of Makkah after repeated attacks of the pagans (Badr,
Uhud and Al-Ahzab). Pagans of Makkah did not fulfill the treaty they signed with
the Muslims. Muslims attacked others just to defend themselves, their treasures,
their homeland and their religion. 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). He also says: "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
loves those who are just." (Al-Mimtahinah - 8) He also says: "Thou art
not one to manage (men's) affairs". (Al-Ghashia - 22). Muslims did not
fight pagans just because they are pagans, but because they killed many Muslims
or tortured them in Makkah. Wars during the times of Prophet Mohamed, Caliph
Abou Bakr, and caliph Umar were just defensive or protective wars. As for wars
of Ottoman State, its wars were for mere political reasons. So, we must
differentiate between the instructions of Islam and the history of some Muslim
rulers. Allah says: "Therefore, if they withdraw from you but fight you
not, but (instead) send you (guarantees) of peace, then Allah has opened now way
for you (to war against them). (Al-Nisa' - [Women] -90). So, Muslim battles were
defensive and protective wars to protect the borers of the state form its
enemies who threaten it. These wars were not a tool of spreading Islam or
imposing itself on people. It also respects other religions. The verses of the
Quran stress that, Allah says: "Let there no compulsion in religion."
(Al-Bakara [the Cow] -254) and says: "To you be your way (religion) and to
me mine." (Al-Kafirun- 6).
We
must also clarify that Jihad was just for self-defense against those who attack
us. Jihad does not only mean fight, it also means being useful and faithful to
our country whether it is a Muslim country or not. But Jihad is only known in
the west as "fight".
These
wrong ideas about Islam and its instructions in the west are due to many
reasons: Crusades, Ottoman Wars in Europe, acts of extremists, and the western
media campaign against Muslims. We must differentiate between "Jihad"
and "war" they are not the same. Jihad is a religious idea that hopes
to realize peace, justice and tolerance between nations. "War" is
purely military actions that lead to destruction, poverty, illnesses, and
corruption.
We
hope that the Greek school system -as one of the best school systems in the
world- may care more about the historical, geographical, religious, social,
political and military context of the concepts mentioned in its school books
about the Arab and Muslim civilization. This enriches both cultures and leads to
a peaceful coexistence.
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