Rosh Hashana Saudi Textbook Edification (2) - Jihad Can Be Violent? What
Yeah, we were also shocked - shocked - to find that there are high-level Muslim scholars who interpret Islam as endorsing non-defensive violence. Shocked:
SIXTH GRADE
"Just as Muslims were successful in the past when they came together in a sincere endeavor to evict the Christian crusaders from Palestine, so will the Arabs and Muslims emerge victorious, God willing, against the Jews and their allies if they stand together and fight a true jihad for God, for this is within God's power."
TWELFTH GRADE
"Jihad in the path of God - which consists of battling against unbelief, oppression, injustice, and those who perpetrate it - is the summit of Islam. This religion arose through jihad and through jihad was its banner raised high. It is one of the noblest acts, which brings one closer to God, and one of the most magnificent acts of obedience to God."
When they say that Islam "arose through jihad" and that "through jihad... its banner [was] raised high", that's meant metaphorically. When they said that "jihad is the path of God - which consists of battling against unbelief", that's meant metaphorically too. As rhetoricians, it warms out hearts to know that millions upon millions of kids are being taught so much about metaphors:
The Saudi public school system totals 25,000 schools, educating about 5 million students. In addition, Saudi Arabia runs academies in 19 world capitals, including one outside Washington in Fairfax County, that use some of these same religious texts. Saudi Arabia also distributes its religion texts worldwide to numerous Islamic schools and madrassas that it does not directly operate... Education is at the core of the debate over freedom in the Muslim world. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden understands this well; in a recent audiotape he railed against those who would 'interfere with school curricula.'"
Two words: job market.
SIXTH GRADE
"Just as Muslims were successful in the past when they came together in a sincere endeavor to evict the Christian crusaders from Palestine, so will the Arabs and Muslims emerge victorious, God willing, against the Jews and their allies if they stand together and fight a true jihad for God, for this is within God's power."
TWELFTH GRADE
"Jihad in the path of God - which consists of battling against unbelief, oppression, injustice, and those who perpetrate it - is the summit of Islam. This religion arose through jihad and through jihad was its banner raised high. It is one of the noblest acts, which brings one closer to God, and one of the most magnificent acts of obedience to God."
When they say that Islam "arose through jihad" and that "through jihad... its banner [was] raised high", that's meant metaphorically. When they said that "jihad is the path of God - which consists of battling against unbelief", that's meant metaphorically too. As rhetoricians, it warms out hearts to know that millions upon millions of kids are being taught so much about metaphors:
The Saudi public school system totals 25,000 schools, educating about 5 million students. In addition, Saudi Arabia runs academies in 19 world capitals, including one outside Washington in Fairfax County, that use some of these same religious texts. Saudi Arabia also distributes its religion texts worldwide to numerous Islamic schools and madrassas that it does not directly operate... Education is at the core of the debate over freedom in the Muslim world. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden understands this well; in a recent audiotape he railed against those who would 'interfere with school curricula.'"
Two words: job market.
