We became friends despite the great differences between us whether Muhammad is "that prophet" prophesied by Moses and the solution to the Palestinian conflict. We continued corresponding after I moved to Fargo.
Source/Credit: InForum / Forum Opinion
By Syed Sajid Ahmad | February 1, 2018
While I lived in Boise, Idaho, the local newspaper published a letter claiming that Islam was anti-Semitic by partially quoting a verse from the Quran. It was quoted as such to incite hatred and bash Islam.
I called the writer, the leader of a pro-Israel group, and asked to meet so I could show him the actual verse. He agreed. It was Super Bowl Sunday and already game time. My son Yusuf and I drove to his home, and he came out to see us. I opened the Quran and showed him the verse.
"And remember when you [the Jewish people] said, 'O Moses, surely, we will not remain content with one kind of food; pray, then, to thy Lord for us that He may bring forth for us of what the earth grows - of its herbs and its cucumbers and its wheat and its lentils and its onions.' He said, 'Would you take in exchange that which is worse for that which is better? Go down to some town and there is for you what you ask.' And they were smitten with abasement and destitution, and they incurred the wrath of Allah; that was because they rejected the Signs of Allah and sought to slay the Prophets unjustly; this was because they rebelled and transgressed (2:61/62)."
And the verse that followed it.
"Surely, those who believe [Muslims] and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve" (2:62/63).
The first verse is a historical account similar to ones in Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 in the Bible. This verse cannot be presented as a reflection on Islam when the very next verse dispels any remote adversarial notion.
He invited me to the synagogue to discuss it further. He told me that the synagogue in Boise was the first built west of Mississippi. He showed me the features that had the impress of Islamic architecture. He showed me how they prayed and the piece of cloth that covered a person while he read the Jewish Scriptures.
We became friends despite the great differences between us whether Muhammad is "that prophet" prophesied by Moses and the solution to the Palestinian conflict. We continued corresponding after I moved to Fargo.
On the 15th anniversary of an engineering conference in Boise, the founding members were invited to receive recognition. We were able to meet again, and he outlined his vision about the reformation of Islam. We, of course, differed again, and I told him that reformation in Islam has been prophesied to come from within and not from outside.
But the peace is already here if we can meet and discuss differences respectfully—even during the Super Bowl—and continue to nourish the dove of peace.
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Syed Sajid Ahmad is a regular contributor to The Forum’s opinion pages. He has translated, compiled and co-authored “A Gift for the Queen,” “Points to Ponder,” “Why Islam is my choice” and “Words of Wisdom.” He lives in fargo and can be reached at syedsajidahmad@yahoo.com
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Very interesting article. Millions are watching Superbowl LII right now.
ReplyDeleteGo Eagles Go.