By: Houda Awali
Do Muslims really believe they will go to heaven for killing innocent Christians and Jews? In Islam, killing a believer intentionally is clearly forbidden, as quoted from the Quran, “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever): And the wrath and the curse of God are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him” ("Quran" 4:93).
Mythical Infidel
Many would argue that the Muslims believe Christians and Jews are infidels. Yet the very word infidel is of Latin origin, used in 1400 b.c. by Christians to describe non Christians. specifically Muslims . The word was later used to describe non Christians such as Jews, but especially Muslims. “In 1095 Pope Urban II preached a sermon in in Clermont, France, urging Christians to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to rescue it from “infidel” Muslims and thereby achieve for themselves a place in paradise” . As a result of this, Christian hostilities were first directed at the nearest rejecters of Christianity, namely the Jews, who had for centuries lived in peace amongst them. Thousands of Jews were killed. The crusaders set out for the Holy Land, but they met strong resistance from the Muslims. Yet they still made it to Jerusalem in 1099. “Sacking the city, they slaughtered thousands of Muslim women, men and children” (Trible, and Russell 14).
Whereas in the Quran, Christians and Jews are described as “the People of the Book”, pronounced Ahel el Kitab in Arabic. The Quran clearly establishes tolerance towards “the People of the Book” i.e. Christians and Jews, “And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit” (Quran 29:46).
And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account. (Quran 3:199).
There is also a clear distinction between Jews and Christians vs. non believers. The Arabic word kafir is used to describe a non believer or pagan in the Quran (non believer in the God of Abraham). Under Islamic law it is a punishable offense to use the word kafir against a Christian or a Jew. Clearly Jews and Christians are not classified as non believers in the Quran, thus the term “People of the Book” is used to describe them.“Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” ( Quran 2:62).
