We must acknowledge, with a heavy heart, that the Scriptures have been misinterpreted throughout history, leading to countless tragedies in human history. To truly honour their wisdom, the Scriptures should be read through the lens of justice, mercy, human unity, the pursuit of peace, and human friendship—timeless values that shine like beacons in a storm-tossed world.
The New Testament declares, with the clarity of a trumpet blast, that humanity is racially one. (1) John the Baptist shatters the illusion of the Jewish Pharisees’ claims that their descent from Abraham makes them racially deserving of the kingdom of God. He reveals that God can raise up children for Abraham even from lifeless stones, (2) a metaphor that underscores the futility of racial pride.
By his startling statement that his mother and brothers were those who did what he said, (3) Jesus Christ was not casting aside his family but striking at the heart of deep-rooted Jewish racial attitudes. Like a surgeon excising a tumour, he exposed the toxic belief that bloodlines determine divine favour.
The Quran, a fountain of divine wisdom, also indicates that racism is a satanic idea (4) and that it has been wielded like a weapon throughout history. (5) It is a poison that corrupts the soul and divides humanity, turning brothers into strangers.
The main sin of Zionism lies in its misinterpretation of God’s promise to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.” (6) This sacred covenant has been twisted into a justification for creating a nation-state dominated by a particular religious group, a distortion as jarring as a beautiful melody played out of tune. The roots of global unrest, war-mongering, and authoritarian tendencies lie in the U.S., a colossus that stands firmly on Western positions and the Zionist ideology that underpins them. The epicentre of global Muslim insecurity and the rise of Muslim terrorism can be traced to Israel’s atrocities in the Middle East and the blind, unyielding support given to them by U.S. imperialism. Together, the United States and Israel have forged chains of oppression around the Palestinians, a people caught in a storm of suffering.
What is happening between Israel and the Palestinians is not merely a religious war. Even Christian Palestinian Arabs, who share the faith of the West, are not spared the rod of oppression. Zionism, an ideology that tramples on the very heart of Judaism, is, in fact, the greatest enemy of the Jews. This analysis seeks to shine a light—historical, political, economic, and biblical—on the roots of the unrest in the Middle East, like a lantern piercing the darkness.
Is Religion the Cause of Conflicts?
It is only partially correct to see religion as the root cause of conflicts. (7) To lay the blame solely at the feet of faith is to miss the forest for the trees. When analysing the relationship between religion and conflict, it is crucial to remember that religion is often hijacked as a political system, divorced from its transcendental ethical roots and twisted to serve earthly ambitions. (8) Like a sword in the hands of a tyrant, religious beliefs can be misused to sow unrest and division. Yet, the potential of religious values to build a just society shines like a diamond in the rough. The concept of timeless truth, morality, and values is a matter of life and death, the very bedrock upon which civilizations rise or fall. The degradation of these principles creates fertile ground for evil forces that shatter human friendship, unleash violence, and drown peace in a sea of blood.
Religion, a lighthouse in the stormy seas of life, gives meaning to human existence. It upholds the dignity of man and clarifies the superiority of eternal principles. It is the compass that guides us toward a life of morality. Yet, like fire, religious faith can warm the soul or burn the world. When it stirs emotions, it can become the fuel for bloody wars and unspeakable atrocities. Here, we witness the violation of the Golden Rule, a principle as universal as the sun and as timeless as the stars, which all religions uphold.
We must not forget that other ideologies have also been wielded as weapons of destruction. Evolutionism, psychosexual theory, and communist principles have been used to provide ideological support for the destructive evils of modernity. Social Darwinism, a storm that uprooted the very foundations of morality and spirituality, and the communism of Lenin and Stalin’s followers sowed seeds of hatred and violence against the ‘other.’ Fascism and Nazism, the right-wing embodiments of hatred and cruelty, turned the world into a slaughterhouse, drenching it in blood. The Enlightenment and Renaissance in Europe, though heralded as beacons of progress, were often spread by the misguided notion that faith in God, morality, and spiritual vision were lost causes. Atheism, materialism, sexual anarchy, and apolitically engulfed human society like a dark cloud, obscuring the light of divine truth.
The mainstream interpretation of history today is steeped in atheism and secularism, like a cup filled to the brim. It is a misconception that those who spread secular thought in Europe were striving for a secular society. True religious diversity is the cornerstone of a practical secular approach. Descartes (1596-1650), Hobbes (1588-1679), John Locke (1632-1704), and Rousseau (1712-1778) were neither heretics nor atheists. Descartes, a philosopher who sought truth like a miner digging for gold, declared that all knowledge comes from the consciousness of God. (9) Rousseau, though he challenged traditional religious understandings, accepted belief in an omnipotent and omniscient God and in a Day of Judgment. (10) Their ideas, like rivers flowing into a vast ocean, contributed to the rich tapestry of human thought, reminding us that the quest for truth is never a straight path but a winding road. There are many references in the Old Testament that could be considered as incitement to racial discrimination. (11) These verses seem like later insertions, cleverly woven into the text to serve as post-hoc justifications for historical atrocities. To interpret them literally in modern times is akin to using an ancient map to navigate a transformed landscape—utterly misleading and dangerous.
Richard Dawkins, a neo-atheist, draws a striking parallel between Joshua’s destruction of Jericho and Hitler’s invasion of Poland. (12) Christopher Hitchens, another neo-atheist, raises an unsettling question about Jehovah’s expulsion of the Canaanites to make way for the Israelites. (13) Similarly, Sam Harris, a neo-rationalist, condemns the Old Testament’s depiction of slaves as mere agricultural assets, akin to livestock meant for toil rather than human beings with dignity. (14)
However, the Old Testament also reflects progressive steps in an otherwise bleak era, introducing practical measures in favour of slaves and other vulnerable groups. Compared to the dehumanizing chains of slavery prevalent in the ancient world, Israelite slaves found themselves in a relatively better position. Reforms within Hebrew society sought to recognize their humanity. A heavy sword of justice awaited anyone who kidnapped and sold free individuals into slavery, with the crime punishable by death. (16) Furthermore, a Hebrew slave was granted freedom in the seventh year. (17)
Instead of fostering these nascent reforms into a full-blown movement for justice, historian Lindman laments the persistence of racial superiority narratives. He observes how claims of Jewish exceptionalism, coupled with rabbinic assertions in the Talmud about blood purity—even referring to non-Jews as goyim in a derogatory sense—served as fuel for the fire of anti-Semitic ideologies. (18) He does not absolve Jewish exclusivism from its role in alienating Gentiles. (19)
The fiery ideologies of the Gush Emunim-Kahanist movements in Israel exemplify how communal-terrorist tendencies refuse to remain buried in the past, resurrecting themselves in the present. These movements, far from merely being nationalist, even pose a direct challenge to Zionist diplomacy itself. The Gush Emunim movement, born in the wake of Israel’s 1967 conquests, emerged with an aggressive mission: to carve out a Greater Israel, settle Jews across all contested territories, and lay the groundwork for the prophesied arrival of the Messiah.
Islam and the West: A Perpetual Clash?
For centuries, Orientalists have viewed the East in general—and Muslim nations in particular—as their perpetual “other.” Europe saw the East through the lens of ignorance and backwardness, using this distorted vision as both a pretext and a tool for cultural dominance. The Muslim world has often been painted as a relic of the pre-modern era—a land of rigid dogma, absent of reason or progress. Western media, like an echo chamber of historical bias, amplifies narratives that reinforce these stereotypes, subtly embedding them into the global consciousness. Even cultural leaders in India have not remained immune to this tide of distortion. The Muslim world has been systematically portrayed as authoritarian, intolerant, and incompatible with democratic ideals. (20) However, the recent (2010-2011) Arab Spring shattered this monolithic image, proving that the desire for freedom and democracy was no stranger to the Arab psyche.
The Orientalist critique of Islam is not merely an academic exercise; it serves a deeper, more insidious purpose. It has become a convenient justification for the West’s hegemony over the Muslim world. That is why, despite overwhelming counter-evidence, this fabricated narrative is guarded like a fortress. Herein lie the roots of Islamophobia, which continues to spread like wildfire in the Western world.
Samuel Huntington (1927-2008), the architect of the “clash of civilizations” theory, argues that Western values—liberalism, constitutionalism, human rights, equality, freedom, rule of law, open markets, democracy, and the separation of church and state—are glaringly absent in Islamic societies. (21) This claim, however, is as flawed as it is sweeping. The Quran, far from being an antithesis to these ideals, contains within its verses the very seeds of human rights, justice, and governance. It possesses an organic capability to separate religious morality from political structures, ensuring that governance is guided by ethical principles rather than clerical dominance.
Although the tensions between Islam and the West date back to the Crusades, it was the shadow of Western colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries that sowed the deepest seeds of discord.
In 1896, Britain colonized Egypt, and soon after, the Ottoman Empire aligned with Germany in World War I. Britain, playing a double game, struck a deal with the Meccan Leader Sharif Hussein (1853-1931), promising support for an independent Arab state if he revolted against the Ottomans. This agreement, known as the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence (1916), was laced with deception. Unbeknownst to Hussein, Britain had already signed another deal a year earlier, effectively betraying its promise. As a result, the Ottoman Empire was dismantled, and its lands were divided like spoils of war between Britain and France. France took control of Lebanon and the northern part of Iraq, while Britain seized the southern Arabian Peninsula, leaving Sharif Hussein and his descendants with fragmented territories in Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. This British treachery left a wound that never fully healed, deepening Arab mistrust of the West.
This simmering distrust reached its boiling point in 1948 with the establishment of the Zionist state—a dagger plunged into the heart of the Muslim world.
The last time the Jewish question was raised was at the end of the 19th century. At that time, Europe was a cauldron of ethnic strife, bubbling with unrest and turmoil. Two world wars uprooted 80 million people, leaving behind a trail of blood and broken dreams. By the mid-20th century, while racism became more pronounced, human rights gained momentum, and the world began to champion the cause of equality. The tides of thought turned against religious discrimination, like a storm eroding the cliffs of bigotry. Yet, despite this progress, Islamophobia surged in the 1990s, tearing through these advancements like a tempest. Instead of viewing Islam as a kindred faith, hostility and prejudice towards it became institutionalized, enshrined in laws and policies across many nations. Hundreds of foundations in the United States and the West are systematically working to spread this fear and misinformation.
Islamophobia grows like a wildfire as Muslim minorities in Western Europe become politically active. Simultaneously, a religious and political awakening has been sweeping through the Muslim world since the Cold War.
The Christian Right, a formidable force shaping U.S. politics, gained strength in the 1990s and began influencing policymaking. Franklin Graham (1952-) Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) Benny Hinn (1952-) Pat Robertson (1930-2023) and Jimmy Swaggart (1935-) were influential figures in American Evangelical Christianity. Well-known evangelists such as these individuals have consistently criticized Islam, widening the chasm between Muslims and Christians. The right-wing evangelicals believe that erasing Islam from the Middle East is a necessary prelude to the Messiah’s return. According to their eschatology, the sins of modern-day Jews are a mere footnote in a grander divine plan, for they will ultimately be wiped out after the Messiah arrives. Christian Zionists have emerged as a juggernaut of ideological fervour, weaving religious justifications for conflict, militarization, fanaticism, and war. They have turned the Bible into a weapon, wielding its verses to defend Israel’s excesses in the Middle East. The Christian Right remains hell-bent on keeping the embers of Crusader-era animosity burning.
Since 2001, Afghanistan and Iraq have been invaded, and more than 4 million Muslims have perished. Christian Zionists are eager to extend their warpath to Iran. Such an attack, according to Christian Zionist leader John Hagee, could rattle the geopolitical chessboard, forcing Russia—heavily dependent on Persian oil—to align with Arab nations against Israel. (22)
Zionist evangelists hope that an American-backed Israeli triumph will usher in the long-awaited second coming of the Messiah!
The Growth of Christian Zionism
Israel is home to 5.6 million Jews, while the United States hosts an even larger Jewish population—6.4 million. Yet, paradoxically, the vast majority have not returned to the so-called Promised Land. The global Jewish population does not exceed 15 million, yet Christian Zionists alone number a staggering 50 million. Their political muscle in America dwarfs that of Jewish Zionists, making them the true kingmakers of pro-Israel policies. For decades, Christian fundamentalists in America have been the unwavering sentinels of Israeli interests. (23) Five years before Theodor Herzl envisioned a Jewish homeland, William E. Blackstone (1841-1935) had already proposed the idea. (24)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that Christian Zionism was an established movement long before Jewish Zionists rallied around the cause. (25) William Blackstone was instrumental in introducing Zionist ideology to the American Christian world. (26)
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the nerve centre of the Israel lobby in the United States. (27) Senator William J. Fulbright once accused Israel of wielding such influence that it effectively held the US Senate hostage. (28)
Israel continues to trample over the Geneva Accords and UN Security Council resolutions, relentlessly expanding its settlements on occupied land captured in 1967. With each passing year, it tightens its grip on Palestinian territory, defying international mandates with impunity. Over 500,000 Jews have been settled in the West Bank. These settlements serve a dual purpose—fortifying their foothold while also acting as bargaining chips in future peace negotiations.
The American Christian Right provides steadfast and unyielding support for these excesses. They conveniently overlook Jesus’ teachings of compassion and non-violence, such as his Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:29), which exhorts believers to turn the other cheek. Instead, they twist the more obscure passages from the Book of Revelation, weaponizing apocalyptic prophecies to justify war. This war cry, issued in the name of Jesus, shamelessly paints Arabs and Muslims as the eternal aggressors, feeding the flames of conflict that have burned for centuries.
As Jesus Christ had prophesied, the Jewish temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., and the Jews were expelled. The ‘Gospel’ says that this was because they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 19:41-44). Like a tree severed from its roots, the Jewish nation was cast into exile. For atonement, one must obey God’s commandments and do good according to the system of Deuteronomy. (29) Yet, instead of walking the path of righteousness, modern Zionists march to the drumbeat of conquest, committing atrocities that stain history’s pages.
Christian Zionists have no hesitation in portraying the Antichrist in this way, even though there is no New Testament reference to the Jews. This movement twists theology like a potter reshaping clay to fit political ambitions. It is very clear that Christian Zionism is dragging religion along with right-wing political interests.
There is also the Neocon movement that was born in the 1970s in support of evangelical Zionists. The Neocon movement, short for Neoconservative, is a political and intellectual movement that emerged in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Characterized by strong nationalism, interventionism, and scepticism of international institutions, Neocons believe in promoting American interests abroad, often through military force. They advocate for the promotion of democracy and freedom, but critics argue that this has led to unnecessary wars and destabilization.
Influential Neocons, such as Dick Cheney (1941-), Donald Rumsfeld (1932-2021), Paul Wolfowitz (1943-), and Richard Perle (1941-), have played significant roles in shaping US foreign policy. Their ideas have had a lasting impact, particularly in the lead-up to the Iraq War, which was heavily influenced by Neocon thinking. The movement’s emphasis on American exceptionalism and the promotion of democracy has also shaped debates on counterterrorism and the War on Terror. However, critics argue that Neocon policies have disregarded international law and institutions, promoting American hegemony rather than genuine democracy and freedom.
They began to gather strength during the Ronald Reagan era and gained influence during the George Bush Jr. era (2001-2009). Bill Kristol (1952-), Daniel Pipes (1949-), Elliott Abrams (1948-), Stephen Schwartz (1948-), Ben Wattenberg (1933-2015), and Paul Wolfowitz (1943-) are its ideological leaders, shaping the movement’s foreign policy agenda and ideology. Like puppet masters pulling invisible strings, they manipulate global narratives to stoke Islamophobia. The Neocon movement, which supports globalism, wants aggressive and active American intervention on the global level. They oppose welfare programs for the vulnerable and are advocates of war in foreign policy. They speak of spreading democracy, yet their hands drip with the ink of military contracts and the blood of innocent lives. Although they claim to aim to spread the democratic process in the Middle East, they have a soft approach towards Arab dictatorships. They fully support the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Neocons believe that the best way to strengthen the domestic political order is to raise the threat of foreign aggression. If no monster lurks in the shadows, they conjure one from thin air. They are eager for constant war. They call for the strong confrontation of all those who do not submit to Israeli-American interests, considering them enemies.
William Kristol is the chairman of the Neocon organization ‘Project for a New American Century’, founded in 1997. The project is associated with the Likud Party in Israel throughout its activities. The American arms lobby and the Neocon right-wing evangelical Zionist movements are supported by these three powerful Goliaths. Together, they forge an unholy trinity of war, propaganda, and oppression. They are eager to spread ‘Islamophobia’ and invade Muslim lands.
The double standard of American foreign policy is infuriating the Muslim world. It supports the corrupt dictators of the Muslim world while at the same time supporting them. While claiming to support democracy, the United States has supported military coups against democracy in Algeria and Turkey. The United States refuses to recognize democratic elections in Gaza and Iran. It supports the brutal repression in Bahrain and Yemen. With one hand, they shake the banner of human rights; with the other, they tighten the chains of oppression. Its constant silence against Israel’s brutal atrocities, even in the face of the weakest resistance of the Palestinians, and its constant and ruthless veto of UN resolutions condemning them, reveal its hypocrisy.
In 1953, the CIA overthrew the democratic government of Mossadegh in Iran. The American puppet Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was used to oppress the Iranian people. Like a pawn on a chessboard, he was maneuvered to serve Western interests. When Imam Khomeini came to power in Iran in 1979, he armed Saddam Hussein and turned him against Iran. When Saddam used chemical weapons against the Kurds on March 16, 1988, the United States remained silent.
The U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were battles for control of oil. Black gold, not justice, was the true motive behind the bloodshed. That is why the Wahhabi regime in Saudi Arabia stands with the United States, and the secular Syrian Baathists stand against the United States.
Before 1990, the U.N. passed 175 resolutions through the Security Council, 97 of which were against Israel. Of the 690 resolutions voted on by the UN General Assembly before 1990, 479 were against Israel. Yet, the gavel of justice was repeatedly silenced by the iron fist of the American veto.
The US has already labelled the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. This is nothing but the drumroll before the grand performance of war, orchestrated for the benefit of Zionist Israel!
The Concept of Racism in the Western World
71% of Americans oppose any kind of support for Palestinian Arabs and the creation of a Palestinian state. The pro-Zionist media, a relentless propaganda machine, spins the narrative until the truth is unrecognizable.
The Zionists captured the world’s conscience by proclaiming that it was the duty of the world’s people to show kindness to those who had escaped Hitler’s massacres. This emotional blackmail was wielded like a sword, cutting down any opposition to their colonial ambitions.
The Zionists’ argument is this: Palestine is the promised land of the Jews. Non-Jews have no right to that land. Therefore, all measures to ethnically cleanse the area are justified in their eyes, as if history were a blank slate on which only their story mattered. The helpless Palestinians, who try to throw stones in their hands to protect their self-esteem against the roaring machine guns, are religious extremists and terrorists in the eyes of the Western media!
When Zionism rose, it received overwhelming support from non-Jewish groups throughout the Western world. (30) Like a wildfire fuelled by imperial ambitions, it spread unchecked. The British and American imperial powers, under the guise of neutrality, supported Israeli colonialism by providing financial aid, training, and weapons to the Zionists. (31)
The Soviet Union initially supported Israel to weaken British imperialism. It was a chess move played with calculated precision, but the Soviets failed to anticipate the eventual takeover of Britain by the United States.
Americans generally believe that their nation is divinely ordained, a modern-day ‘city upon a hill.’ According to a 2003 survey, 92% of Americans believe that God has bestowed upon them a unique favour, as if they were the chosen children of destiny. In the conflict between good and evil, there is no middle ground—you must pick a side: either you are with us, or you are against us. All Jews who oppose Israeli policy are labelled as self-hating, treacherous, and anti-Semitic—cast out as pariahs among their own people. In this ideological battlefield, compromise is heresy, and dissent is betrayal. The enemy, once identified, must not be negotiated with but annihilated.
In America, one can openly discuss the scars of racial conflict—be it the deep wounds of Black-White tensions or the genocidal erasure of Native Americans. But Israeli policies are treated as a sacred cow, beyond the reach of moral scrutiny. The moment someone dares to frame the issue in terms of justice, the debate is hijacked by waves of emotional outcry, drowning out reason and logic.
US President George W. Bush Jr. fashioned himself as a modern-day crusader, a divine instrument entrusted with the mission of exporting modernity, progress, and freedom—one bomb at a time. But a deity who sanctions destruction and violence is unacceptable to the majority of the world’s population.
Controlling Israel
During India’s struggle for independence, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru denounced Zionism as the last vestige of imperialism—a relic of colonialist ambition intertwined with racial supremacy. The Non-Aligned Movement, during its golden era, stood firm against Israeli aggression. But after 1990, India made an about-face, loosening its moral compass and warming up to Zionism.
Today, India stands as the single largest buyer of Israeli arms—pouring billions into an industry that thrives on perpetual war. The non-aligned stance that once earned India a towering presence on the world stage was tossed aside by P.V. Narasimha Rao (1921-2004), who, under the pretence of pragmatism, embraced communalism. The BJP government that followed did not just carry the torch but fanned the flames—deepening India’s ties with Israel.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 shook India’s geopolitical foundations. Narasimha Rao, grasping at straws, declared that servitude to American imperialism was India’s only viable path forward. Before Rao’s tenure, India neither recognized Israel nor engaged in military or trade agreements with it. But as the Hindutva brigade—the Sangh Parivar—tightened its grip on power in 1997, India’s embrace of Israel became a full-fledged love affair.
Even today, the ghost of Brahminical supremacy lingers in India’s political and economic structures, shaping the nation’s trajectory like an invisible puppeteer. True democracy in India remains a mirage, as long as the upper-caste elite continue to see democratic ideals as a mere inconvenience rather than a guiding principle.
The Hindutva-driven Indian fascism of the Sangh Parivar is a soulless entity—stripped of spirituality, secularism, or ethical integrity. It is a machine fuelled by hatred, animosity, violence, and an unrelenting thirst for dominance. Far from representing the essence of Sanatana Dharma, it distorts and perverts it—turning an ancient spiritual tradition into a tool of oppression. Given the growing bureaucratic influence of this ideology, it is no surprise that India has become a fertile ground for Zionist collaborations.
According to WikiLeaks documents, Zionist Israel prefers the Sangh Parivar in power—a natural alliance between birds of the same feather. This underscores a crucial reality: the fight against fascism and racism is not just a regional struggle but a global one.
Islamophobia and Muslims
It must not be overlooked that certain Muslim leaders and organizations, through their narrow interpretations and reactionary rhetoric, unwittingly contribute to the spread of Islamophobia. The Quran, which defines itself as the culmination of divine guidance and the true essence of prophetic missions, envisions a ‘global parliament of religions’—a world where faiths coexist in harmony. (32) Yet, many Muslims fail to see beyond the boundaries of sectarianism, reducing Islam to a mere communal identity rather than a universal moral force.
Some misguided Muslim figures, intoxicated by self-righteous zeal, spout fiery rhetoric that fuels imperialist propaganda. Instead of dispelling fears, they reinforce them—giving ammunition to Islamophobic narratives that paint Islam as a force of coercion rather than compassion.
True leadership lies not in empty proclamations or rigid dogmas but in reclaiming the lost legacy of knowledge, justice, and progress. Only those who rise from their intellectual slumber, who evolve from ‘readers’ to ‘thinkers,’ and who break free from the chains of past grievances to forge a vision for the future—only they have the right to be called the caliphs of God on earth.
It is regrettable that even within Muslim leadership, there are those who seek legitimacy not through wisdom, cooperation, and social justice but through hollow arguments and reactionary posturing. Like other religious communities, Muslims too have fallen into the abyss of ritualism—placing excessive emphasis on external practices while neglecting the soul’s thirst for higher values.
Within the Muslim world, a bitter tug-of-war rages between two extremes: secular fundamentalism on one side and religious fundamentalism on the other. While Iran mandates the hijab, Turkey and Tunisia outlaw it—two sides of the same oppressive coin. (33)
Pakistan’s blasphemy and apostasy laws are not just distortions of Islam but grotesque perversions of justice. The Taseer-Bhatti assassinations stand as grim reminders of what happens when faith is hijacked by fanaticism. Such madness is a betrayal of Quranic teachings, a travesty that mocks the very essence of divine mercy. (34)
The following Quranic verses serve as a stark reminder that Muslims who take it upon themselves to kill blasphemers are, in truth, the greatest blasphemers themselves. By assuming the role of divine executioners, they desecrate the very essence of God’s justice, replacing divine wisdom with the arrogance of human vengeance.
“Messengers were mocked before you, but those who mocked them were met with that which they used to mock.” (21:41)
“Accept compromise and enjoin what is right and turn away from the foolish.” (7:199)
“Indeed, you will be tested in your wealth and your lives, and you will hear much insult from those who were given the Scripture before you and from the polytheists. If you are patient and righteous, then that is a firm decision.” (3:186)
“When you see those who are busy mocking Our signs, turn away from them until they enter upon some other matter.” (6:68)
(O Prophet,) say to the believers: Forgive the disbelievers who do not expect the Days of Allah. That God may reward every nation for what it has earned. Whoever does good, it is for his own good, and whoever does evil, it is against his own evil. Then to your Lord you will be returned. (45:14-15)
A nation’s greatness is not measured by its military might, its economic power, or the grandeur of its monuments. Rather, it is determined by how it treats its weakest members, how it upholds justice for minorities, and how it ensures dignity and equal citizenship for all. The mullahs of Pakistan, blinded by their own self-righteousness, fail to grasp this fundamental truth.
The events following the tragic assassinations of Salman Taseer (1946-2011) and Shahbaz Bhatti (1968-2011) serve as a grim reminder that religious thought, when corrupted by fanaticism, can become an instrument of oppression rather than a beacon of enlightenment. The decline of Muslim intellectual tradition is not just a historical accident—it is a self-inflicted wound, worsened by those who mistake dogma for devotion and vengeance for virtue. Any religious interpretation that does not strive for universal, uncompromising, and absolute justice is like a body without a soul—void of its true essence. This truth is laid bare in the following Quranic verses:
“O you who believe, be steadfast in justice, witnesses for God, even if it be against yourselves or your parents or your near relatives.” (4:135)
“O you who believe, be steadfast in justice, witnesses for God, and let not hatred of a people prevent you from acting justly. But act justly. That is nearer to righteousness.” (5:8)
History is full of cautionary tales, and the Quran highlights one such lesson from the fate of Israelite religious scholars. Their failure to speak out against corruption and moral decay led to their downfall—a fate that should serve as a wake-up call for Muslims today. (35)
Towards a Pluralistic Theology
One of the greatest failures of the Muslim world has been its reluctance to develop a theological framework that embraces diversity rather than fearing it. The Islamic scholar Fahmi Huwaidi (1935-2012) has rightfully argued that the outdated concept of dhimmi should be rewritten—placing Muslim and non-Muslim citizens on equal footing. This is not just a necessary reform but a moral imperative, a step towards reclaiming Islam’s original vision of justice.
Over a century ago, Jamaluddin Afghani (1838-1897) warned that the biggest afflictions plaguing Muslim societies were the absence of justice and the lack of shura (consultation). Rashid Rida (1865-1935) later reinforced this idea, asserting that the oneness of God and the consultation of the people in governance are the two foundational pillars of Islam. (36)
Throughout history, whenever Muslim thought has embraced intellectual rigor and rejected blind literalism, it has flourished. The progressive voices of the early 20th century were part of a renaissance that challenged anti-intellectualism and championed reform.
In the 1930s, Rashid Rida not only advocated for women’s education but also championed their socio-political participation. Abdurrahman Kawakibi (1849-1903) went even further, arguing that the exclusion of women from public life was a root cause of Muslim stagnation. Yet, despite such progressive insights, the Muslim world largely failed to translate these ideas into meaningful change.
Scholars such as Fahmi Huwaidi (1935-2012), Rashid Ghannouchi (1941-), and Ali Gomaa (1952-) have consistently emphasized the values of democracy, freedom, and legal equality. Meanwhile, thinkers like Ismail Raji Farooqi (1930-1986), Jamal Badawi (1931-2016), Muzammil Siddiqui (1943-), Ingrid Mattson (1963-), Hamza Yusuf (1958-), Zaid Shakir (1956-), and Zaki Badawi (1922-2006) have shown that Islam is not an obstacle to building an open, tolerant, and multicultural society—it is, in fact, an enabler of such a vision. In the fight for gender justice, Sheikh Muhammad al-Ghazali (1917-1996), Mahmoud Shaltoot (1893-1963), and Asma Barlas (1950-) have all made invaluable contributions. Their work underscores a crucial reality: Islam is not the problem; rather, its misinterpretation and misuse by those in power have distorted its message.
Beyond Religious Boundaries: A Universal Message
From a Quranic perspective, religious diversity is not an accident but a product of history—shaped by time, geography, human biases, and political interests. Beneath this diversity, the original essence of God’s religion remains unaltered—the spiritual foundation upon which all humans are born.
If the core ethical teachings of different religious traditions were made accessible to everyone, it would serve as a powerful force for peace, social cohesion, and a truly secular outlook—one that is inclusive rather than exclusionary.
Ultimately, only an interpretation of Islam that fosters pluralism, restores human dignity, and prioritizes justice above religious identity will remain relevant in the modern world. Anything less is a betrayal of Islam’s timeless moral compass.
The Trumpet of Human Unity
The prophet Micah proclaimed: “Do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with your God. What does the Lord require of you?” (Micah 6:8)
Jesus Christ echoed this divine wisdom, declaring: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
These profound words capture the moral heartbeat of both the Old and New Testaments. They remind us that God’s will is not bound by race, sect, or nation—His blessings are meant to rain upon the entire world like a nourishing downpour. (37) This universal grace can only be realized through the restoration of the Abrahamic ethic, a moral compass that transcends religious divides.
When the prophet Ishmael journeyed to Mecca and Muslims emerged from his lineage, his brother Isaac’s descendants became the Hebrew race and the Jewish people. (38) Like estranged brothers forced apart by time and turmoil, Jews and Palestinians must awaken to the truth that their birth -right is not a weapon to wield but a treasure to share. A day must dawn when, like Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau, they embrace each other not as adversaries but as heirs to a shared blessing. (39)
The racial fallacy that Abraham was the father of a so-called “master race” (the Jews) is an unacceptable distortion of history. Abraham himself was neither Jewish nor Christian. (40) He was the patriarch of monotheism, not of exclusion. The Quran affirms a profound truth—that all can unite under the ethical legacy of Abraham, where righteousness holds more weight than race or religion. (41)
The simplest distillation of Abrahamic ethics lies in the Golden Rule—wishing for one’s fellow man what one wishes for oneself. This principle stands on two unshakable pillars: first, that all humans possess inherent dignity and honour. (42) Second, that moral absolutes—right and wrong, justice and oppression—exist beyond the whims of time and power.
The Great Betrayal: Capitalism vs. the Golden Rule
In the grand theatre of human society, two forces are locked in perpetual combat: those who uphold the Golden Rule and those who trample upon it under the banners of greed, power, and distorted ideology. Capitalism, in its rawest form, is the antithesis of the Golden Rule, a doctrine that worships profit over people. It is an empire built on the backs of labourers, where capital holds the whip hand and selfishness is enthroned as the highest virtue.
Capitalism resists anything that threatens the privileged elite. Like a fortress built on injustice, it shields the powerful while dismissing the suffering of the weak as mere collateral damage. It preaches that life is a ruthless contest, where the strong prevail and the weak are crushed underfoot.
Communism, though claiming to be an alternative, was merely a rebranding of capitalist structures, replacing one form of exploitation with another. It failed to erase inequality, merely redistributing oppression under new banners. Both capitalism and communism stand in defiance of the Golden Rule—one sanctifies greed, the other enforces submission, but neither honours human dignity.
The Golden Rule forbids us from seeing another religious or ethnic group as an enemy. Yet, Zionism—a movement that has twisted the noble aspirations of a people into an ideology of apartheid and racial supremacy—stands in direct opposition to this principle. Zionism’s vision of God as a tribal deity who grants superiority to one race must be shattered, for it is an insult to divine justice. (43) Only through its dissolution and the establishment of a secular democracy—one that ensures equal citizenship for Palestinians and Jews alike—can justice prevail.
Jerusalem: The Gate of Peace
If peace is to be restored, we must rekindle the lost spirit of tolerance that once graced Jerusalem, a city whose walls have witnessed both the darkest betrayals and the noblest acts of mercy.
History remembers that the Crusaders, upon capturing Jerusalem, turned its streets into rivers of blood, slaughtering 30,000 Jews and Muslims. Yet, for over five centuries under Muslim rule, the Abrahamic faiths coexisted in relative harmony within its sacred walls. (44)
Unlike the Crusaders and other conquerors, Caliph Umar (D.644) did not ride into Jerusalem with a sword dripping in conquest. Instead, he approached with monotheistic humility and an unshakable commitment to justice. Upon assuming leadership of the city, he did not kill a single Christian, seize their property, or desecrate their places of worship. He saw no need to force his faith upon others, for true faith needs no coercion. (45)
Umar’s arrival in Jerusalem marked a historic turning point, as it brought an end to the city’s nearly 600-year ban against Jews, which had been in place since 70 AD. His wise and just rule serves as a powerful testament to the triumph of compassion and justice over vengeance and might.
The Quran does indeed criticize certain Jewish communities of the past, yet it never condemns all Jews across all times. The Quran’s rebuke is aimed at the moral failings of a specific group, not at an entire people. This is why, alongside its warnings, it also acknowledges the righteous among them. (46)
Jerusalem: A City of Many Names, One Sacred Truth
Known as Al-Quds, the Holy City, the Heart of Abrahamic Faiths, Jerusalem is one of the oldest and most contested cities in human history. It stands at the crossroads of Asia and Africa, a bridge between civilizations, a witness to the triumphs and tragedies of faith.
For over 4,000 years, Jerusalem has been at the centre of religious devotion and geopolitical strife. To Jews, it is the city where their ancestors dreamed of returning, as expressed in their daily greeting: “Next year in Jerusalem.” To Christians, it is where Jesus was imprisoned, tried, and crucified. During the Crusades (1099–1187), Christian rulers controlled it for less than a century. For Muslims, Jerusalem holds the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the three holiest pilgrimage sites in Islam. Before facing Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad and his followers turned their prayers toward Jerusalem.
Yet, despite its sacred status, Jerusalem has only been the political centre of Jewish power for a fleeting moment in history—just 33 years under David and 40 years under Solomon.
The true test of our moral compass is not who controls Jerusalem, but whether justice reigns within its walls. If we allow sectarian greed and historical grievances to dictate its fate, then Jerusalem will forever remain a battleground of broken dreams. But if we uphold the principle that Jerusalem belongs not to one faith, but to all of humanity, then it can become a true “Gate of Peace.”
Justice: The Sole Path to True Peace
At the heart of every conflict lies a simple but profound question: where do we stand on the issue of justice?
Without justice, peace is but an illusion—a fragile ceasefire that crumbles under the weight of unresolved wrongs. Only when we honour the dignity of every human being, regardless of creed or colour, can we hope to achieve a peace that is not imposed by force, but embraced by all. Jerusalem, the ancient crossroads of faith, must rise beyond the shackles of past conflicts. It must become a symbol not of conquest, but of coexistence. Not of division, but of unity. For only through justice shall the world know true peace.
Notes
(1) Acts 17:26
(2) Matthew 3:112
(3) Mark 3:21
(4) Quran 15:33, 38:76, 15:27, 2:34, 17:62, 38:74
(5) Quran 23:47, 26:22
(6) Genesis 12:3
(7) Richard C. Holbrooke, “Forward,” in David Little (Ed), Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution, Cambridge University Press: New York, 2007, p.xii
(8) Bassam Tibi, Political Islam: World Politics and Europe, Routledge: New York, 2008, p.22
(9) Rene Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (Tr: John Cottingham), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1986, p.49
(10) Jean Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract (Tr: Maurice Cranstaon), Penguin: Harmandsworth, 1968, p.186
(11) See, for example, Exodus 23:2333, Deuteronomy 7:16, 20:16-18.
(12) Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, Houghton Miffin: Boston, 2006, p.243
(13) Christopher Hichens, God is Not Great, Hachette Book Group: New York, 2007, p.101
(14) Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation, Alfred P. Knopf: New York, 2006, p.18-19
(15) Christopher J.H. Wright, Walking in the Ways of the Lord, Intervarsity: Downers Grove, IL, 1995, p.124
(16) Exodus 21:16
(17) Leviticus 29:35-43
(18) Albert S. Lindeman, Esau’s Tears: Modern Anti-Semitism and the Rise of the Jews, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1997, p.72-73
(19) Ibid, p.3-5
(20) Zachary Lockman, Contending Victims of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientatlism, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2004, p.58
(21) Quoted in John L. Esposito, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality, Oxford University Press: New York, 1999, p.230
(22) Sarah Posner, God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud and the Republican Crusade for Values, Polipoint Press: Sausallito, 2008, p.106
(23) David Rausch, Zionism within Early American Fundamentalism, 1878-1918, The Edwin Mellen Press: New York, 1979, p.2
(24) Ibid, p.66
(25) Benjamin Natanyahu, A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World, Bantam: New York, 1993, p.16
(26) David Rausch, The Middle East Maze, Moody Press: Chicago, 1991, p.66
(27) Paul Findley, They Dare to Speak Out, Lawrence Hill and Co.: West Fort, 1985, p.26
(28) Ibid, p.95
(29) Deuteronomy 30:15
(30) Michael Palumbo, The Palestinian Catastrophe: The 1948 Expulsions of a People from their Homeland, Faber and Faber: London, 1987, p.5-8
(31) John Coleman, Diplomacy by Deception, Joseph Publishing Co: Neveda, 1993, p.107
(32) Quran 26:192-196.
(33) John O. Voll, Islam: Continuity and Change in the Muslim World, Syracuse University Press: Syracuse, 1994, p.339
(34) Salman Taseer, the former Governor of Punjab, was assassinated on January 4, 2011, and Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistani Minister for Minority Affairs, was assassinated on March 2, 2011, in Pakistan, on charges of blasphemy.
(35) Quran 5:78-79
(36) Albert Hourani, Arab Thought in the Liberal Age 1798-1979, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1991, p.228
(37) Genesis 12:13
(38) Houston Smith, The World’s Religions, Harper Collins: San Francisco, 1991, p.237
(39) Joshua 23:14-16
(40) Quran 3:67
(41) Quran 3:68, 29:46
(42) Quran 17:70
(43) Matthew 16:13
(44) Karen Armstrong, Islam: A Short History, Modern Library: New York, 2000, p.179
(45) Karen Armstrong, Jerusalem: One City Three Faiths, Knopf: New York, 1996, p.228
(V.A. Mohamad Ashrof is an independent Indian scholar specializing in Islamic humanism. With a deep commitment to advancing Quranic hermeneutics that prioritize human well-being, peace, and progress, his work aims to foster a just society, encourage critical thinking, and promote inclusive discourse and peaceful coexistence. He is dedicated to creating pathways for meaningful social change and intellectual growth through his scholarship. He can be reached at [email protected])
