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The Jew is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths That Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism
A liberal Muslim and critically acclaimed author explores the historical, political, and theological basis for centuries of Muslim animosity towards Jews, debunking long-held myths and tracing a history of hate and its impact today.
More than nine years after 9/11 and 60 years after the creation of the state of Israel, the world is no closer to solving, let alone understanding, the psychological and political divide between Jews and Muslims. While countless books have been written on the subject of terrorism, political Islam, and jihad, barely a handful address the theological and historical basis of the Jew—Muslim divide. Following the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, in which Pakistani jihadis sought out and murdered the members of a local Jewish centre, Tarek Fatah began an in-depth investigation of the historical basis for the crime.
In this provocative new book, Fatah uses extensive research to trace how literature from as early as the seventh century has fueled the hatred of Jews by Muslims. Fatah debunks the anti-Jewish writings of the Hadith literature, takes apart the Arab supremacist doctrines that lend fuel to the fire, and reinterprets supposed anti-Jewish passages in the Quran. In doing so he argues that hating Jews is against the essence of the Islamic spirit and suggests what needs to be done to eliminate the agonizing friction between the two communities.
More than nine years after 9/11 and 60 years after the creation of the state of Israel, the world is no closer to solving, let alone understanding, the psychological and political divide between Jews and Muslims. While countless books have been written on the subject of terrorism, political Islam, and jihad, barely a handful address the theological and historical basis of the Jew—Muslim divide. Following the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, in which Pakistani jihadis sought out and murdered the members of a local Jewish centre, Tarek Fatah began an in-depth investigation of the historical basis for the crime.
In this provocative new book, Fatah uses extensive research to trace how literature from as early as the seventh century has fueled the hatred of Jews by Muslims. Fatah debunks the anti-Jewish writings of the Hadith literature, takes apart the Arab supremacist doctrines that lend fuel to the fire, and reinterprets supposed anti-Jewish passages in the Quran. In doing so he argues that hating Jews is against the essence of the Islamic spirit and suggests what needs to be done to eliminate the agonizing friction between the two communities.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2010
28 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
About the author
Tarek Fatah
5 books79 followersTarek Fatah was a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author. Fatah advocated LGBT rights, a separation of religion and state, opposition to sharia law, and advocacy for a liberal, progressive form of Islam.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 17, 2018
Interesting Insights into a Difficult Problem
Muslim reformer Tarek Fatah tackles the issues of antisemitism within Islam - its origins and the mechanisms that sustain it. He's a modern secular Indo-Pakistani immigrant Canadian Muslim journalist of Hindu ancestry - a man of many pasts. The book begins with a 2006 trip to his native Pakistan where in a land of no Jews he found widespread examples of antisemitic prejudice. Jews were accused of causing both the 2004 tsunami and the "Bird Flu" epidemic. A shopkeeper hands him a copy of "The Protocols of the Elders of Ziyon", assuring him that it's true. (pp 18). Peshawar millionaires with retinues of servants complain how Muslims are marginalized by Jews, Israel and the United States then asked how they could get a green card for their sons so that the family could migrate to the US. Then in 2008 Punjabi villagers make special pains to target the Jewish Chabad centre in Mumbai, their controller advising them that killing one Jew is worth more than killing 50 people.
Of course we know the problem is much broader and the author supplies related examples throughout the Muslim Ummah. Even the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Matathir bin Mohamad, a man Fatah has admired, subscribed to the belief that it was the "Jewish Lobby" that was behind the war in Afghanistan, and that Jews had to be contained in ghettos and periodically massacred in Europe to contain their influence.
Fatah traces multiple causes of this poisonous dysfunction. Chapters 3 & 2 provide a thorough albeit out of sequence background on Palestinian/Arab powerbroker Hajj Amin al-Hussayni and those he influenced both during and after the war including Veli Kayum Khan and Sayd Qutb. Husayni, who's voice was behind the anti-Jewish riots of 1920,21 and 29, was also responsible for the Arab Strike which boycotted Jewish businesses and waged a guerrilla war from 1936-39 against the British Mandate and Arab rival clans who were more conciliatory. In 1937 he engineered the death of Lewis Andrews, the British Consul for Galilee and was forced to flee to Syria. During the late 30s and 1940s his Arab Higher Committee was largely funded by the Nazis and he spent much of the war engaged in anti-Jewish propaganda directed at the Arab world as an honoured guest of the Reich. In 1945 Husayni escaped via France to Cairo where Arab political threats were used to prevent the west from extraditing him for war crimes.
A second source is Islamofascism which the author claims distorts original the meaning and intent of the Quran by basing itself on questionable Hadiths and interpretations. In particular (Ch 6 & 7) he argues against the authenticity the Battle of the Trench as related by Ibn Ishak who wrote about the Prophet's massacre of Jewish Banu Qurayza tribe, often used to emphasize Islam's superiority and Jews' responsibility for their own death. Citing a lack of corroborating Jewish sources and physical evidence (not that the Saudis are that interested in archeology - he notes their destruction several historic sites including Mohammad's home) he concludes that this event, which would show Mohammad as a mass murderer, never happened. The problem is that many Muslims have been taught that it did and believe that the justification for these events lie in the innately evil nature of Jews.
Yet the first two influences might have died out if not for the Arab discovery of high priced oil in the 1970s. In previous decades clerics were often made fun of as inconsequential. Saudi financed madrases drilled negative imagery across the middle east resulting in a hardline politicization of Islam. In rival Shia Iran the Ayatollah Khomeini introduced the idea of clerical guardianship of the political stream. But on an everyday level communal peer pressure to conform is also a problem. Fatah's acquaintances routinely dismissed his positive reports on the status of Israeli Arabs. One Muslim couple with similar experiences confided that they could not relate this to their friends: "We have to live in our community and cannot be seen as not being anti-Israel." (pp180)
Ch. 4 asks whether or not Israel itself is unintentionally fueling anti-semitism, and here is where we differ. Fatah argues that although the Palestinians have shown great incompetence over the years, both in constructing a national infrastructure and in accepting Israeli overtures for a political settlement, it is Israel who holds all the cards. The author's real fear is that that Islamicism will triumph over secularism - resolving the conflict will take away the "oxygen" that fuels the Islamicists and antisemisitm. He recommends that if Israel is unable to get the Palestinians to the negotiating table that they unilaterally withdraw to borders of their own choosing. Fatah cites two examples of Jewish racism and notes that even though these were the exception and disowned by the vast majority of Jews and Israelis, they were blown out of proportion by Israel's enemies. I don't think unilateralism will work. Hiz b'Allah still thinks it has to liberate Lebanese territory (none is held by Israel) and withdrawal from Gaza hasn't muted Hamas' claims for liberating Al Aqsa (controlled by the Islamic Waqf) and Tel Aviv. Nor are conspiracy theories about Jewish control foreign to Arab secularists who've been influenced by both Marxist and Islamicist propaganda over their formative years. Israel should not be condemned for the imperfection of individuals within it's society that are far more prevalent in it's neighbours, especially when due process prevents instant and autocratic solutions. Even though this might not be clear in Cairo but it should be obvious in Ottawa and New York. Internalization of a new paradigm of acceptance of and collaborative partnership with an non-Muslim Modern Westernized Democratic Middle Eastern Jewish State requires Arab buy in.
Previously I've read Fatah's Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State , which argued for separation of mosque and state. Both books are well worth reading.
Muslim reformer Tarek Fatah tackles the issues of antisemitism within Islam - its origins and the mechanisms that sustain it. He's a modern secular Indo-Pakistani immigrant Canadian Muslim journalist of Hindu ancestry - a man of many pasts. The book begins with a 2006 trip to his native Pakistan where in a land of no Jews he found widespread examples of antisemitic prejudice. Jews were accused of causing both the 2004 tsunami and the "Bird Flu" epidemic. A shopkeeper hands him a copy of "The Protocols of the Elders of Ziyon", assuring him that it's true. (pp 18). Peshawar millionaires with retinues of servants complain how Muslims are marginalized by Jews, Israel and the United States then asked how they could get a green card for their sons so that the family could migrate to the US. Then in 2008 Punjabi villagers make special pains to target the Jewish Chabad centre in Mumbai, their controller advising them that killing one Jew is worth more than killing 50 people.
Of course we know the problem is much broader and the author supplies related examples throughout the Muslim Ummah. Even the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Matathir bin Mohamad, a man Fatah has admired, subscribed to the belief that it was the "Jewish Lobby" that was behind the war in Afghanistan, and that Jews had to be contained in ghettos and periodically massacred in Europe to contain their influence.
Fatah traces multiple causes of this poisonous dysfunction. Chapters 3 & 2 provide a thorough albeit out of sequence background on Palestinian/Arab powerbroker Hajj Amin al-Hussayni and those he influenced both during and after the war including Veli Kayum Khan and Sayd Qutb. Husayni, who's voice was behind the anti-Jewish riots of 1920,21 and 29, was also responsible for the Arab Strike which boycotted Jewish businesses and waged a guerrilla war from 1936-39 against the British Mandate and Arab rival clans who were more conciliatory. In 1937 he engineered the death of Lewis Andrews, the British Consul for Galilee and was forced to flee to Syria. During the late 30s and 1940s his Arab Higher Committee was largely funded by the Nazis and he spent much of the war engaged in anti-Jewish propaganda directed at the Arab world as an honoured guest of the Reich. In 1945 Husayni escaped via France to Cairo where Arab political threats were used to prevent the west from extraditing him for war crimes.
A second source is Islamofascism which the author claims distorts original the meaning and intent of the Quran by basing itself on questionable Hadiths and interpretations. In particular (Ch 6 & 7) he argues against the authenticity the Battle of the Trench as related by Ibn Ishak who wrote about the Prophet's massacre of Jewish Banu Qurayza tribe, often used to emphasize Islam's superiority and Jews' responsibility for their own death. Citing a lack of corroborating Jewish sources and physical evidence (not that the Saudis are that interested in archeology - he notes their destruction several historic sites including Mohammad's home) he concludes that this event, which would show Mohammad as a mass murderer, never happened. The problem is that many Muslims have been taught that it did and believe that the justification for these events lie in the innately evil nature of Jews.
Yet the first two influences might have died out if not for the Arab discovery of high priced oil in the 1970s. In previous decades clerics were often made fun of as inconsequential. Saudi financed madrases drilled negative imagery across the middle east resulting in a hardline politicization of Islam. In rival Shia Iran the Ayatollah Khomeini introduced the idea of clerical guardianship of the political stream. But on an everyday level communal peer pressure to conform is also a problem. Fatah's acquaintances routinely dismissed his positive reports on the status of Israeli Arabs. One Muslim couple with similar experiences confided that they could not relate this to their friends: "We have to live in our community and cannot be seen as not being anti-Israel." (pp180)
Ch. 4 asks whether or not Israel itself is unintentionally fueling anti-semitism, and here is where we differ. Fatah argues that although the Palestinians have shown great incompetence over the years, both in constructing a national infrastructure and in accepting Israeli overtures for a political settlement, it is Israel who holds all the cards. The author's real fear is that that Islamicism will triumph over secularism - resolving the conflict will take away the "oxygen" that fuels the Islamicists and antisemisitm. He recommends that if Israel is unable to get the Palestinians to the negotiating table that they unilaterally withdraw to borders of their own choosing. Fatah cites two examples of Jewish racism and notes that even though these were the exception and disowned by the vast majority of Jews and Israelis, they were blown out of proportion by Israel's enemies. I don't think unilateralism will work. Hiz b'Allah still thinks it has to liberate Lebanese territory (none is held by Israel) and withdrawal from Gaza hasn't muted Hamas' claims for liberating Al Aqsa (controlled by the Islamic Waqf) and Tel Aviv. Nor are conspiracy theories about Jewish control foreign to Arab secularists who've been influenced by both Marxist and Islamicist propaganda over their formative years. Israel should not be condemned for the imperfection of individuals within it's society that are far more prevalent in it's neighbours, especially when due process prevents instant and autocratic solutions. Even though this might not be clear in Cairo but it should be obvious in Ottawa and New York. Internalization of a new paradigm of acceptance of and collaborative partnership with an non-Muslim Modern Westernized Democratic Middle Eastern Jewish State requires Arab buy in.
Previously I've read Fatah's Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State , which argued for separation of mosque and state. Both books are well worth reading.
May 5, 2013
This is a helpful book. Tarek is a committed Muslim.
He calls for a reinterpretation of the Qur'an because in it lies the roots of hatred for and jihadist violence towards all non-Muslims, especially "People of the Book", both Christians and Jews.
Peace can never exist between Muslims and all others the way the Qur'an is presently interpreted.
Every School of Islamic Law, regardless of Muslim sect, supports the hateful, violent application of the Qur'an's and Hadith's content followed by violent jihadists.
He calls for a reinterpretation of the Qur'an because in it lies the roots of hatred for and jihadist violence towards all non-Muslims, especially "People of the Book", both Christians and Jews.
Peace can never exist between Muslims and all others the way the Qur'an is presently interpreted.
Every School of Islamic Law, regardless of Muslim sect, supports the hateful, violent application of the Qur'an's and Hadith's content followed by violent jihadists.
February 8, 2015
Buku yang bagus sekali dan membahas "tren" anti-Yahudi di kalangan muslim. Buku ini ditulis oleh seorang aktivis islam di Kanada kelahiran Pakistan yang mempromosikan islam yang progresif dan liberal. Buku ini cukup menambah wawasan saya mengenai sentimen anti yahudi yang terjadi di kalangan muslim.
Salah satu yang paling menarik adalah, orang-orang yahudi mendapat perlindungan lebih baik dibawah kalifah kalifah islam dan dibawah kekaisaran Ottoman selama beribu tahun dibandingkan hidup di Eropa. Namun sentimen anti-yahudi ini akhirnya pindah ke arab saat buku propaganda Protocols of the Elders Zion diterjemahkan ke arab oleh orang kristen arab. Diperparah dengan populernya tulisan anti-yahudi dari Sayyid Qutb, seorang aktivis islam asal mesir anti-yahudi yang sangat berpengaruh dalam membentuk opini anti-yahudi.
Penulis buku ini memberikan pertanyaan menarik: jika Israel dihapus dari muka bumi, apakah muslim akan berhenti membenci orang yahudi?
kalau menurut penulisnya, tidak. negara-negara arab, terutama arab saudi, mengeluarkan biaya besar untuk mengajarkan anak-anak arab di negaranya untuk membenci yahudi. Walau sebenarnya referensi anti-yahudi di quran tidak banyak, atau bahkan tidak signifikan tapi hadis-hadis yang anti yahudi jauh lebih banyak.
Buku ini cukup menarik untuk dibaca mengingat opini global sedang terbelah dua dalam melihat masyarakat muslim. Satu mengasosiasikan muslim sebagai orang-orang dari agama teroris, dan satu lagi sebagai orang-orang yang menjadi korban fasisme.
Dan saya pun jadi tergelitik untuk bertanya: jika islamophobia lenyap di dunia ini, apakah orang muslim akan berhenti membenci orang yahudi?
buku ini juga memberikan pandangan menarik:
- Menurut Khaleel Muhammad, hak orang yahudi untuk memiliki negeri sendiri (Israel) sebetulnya sudah ditulis dalam al-quran (5:20) karena menggunakan kata arab 'kataba' yang biasanya digunakan untuk ayat-ayat yang bersifat 'harus dituruti' seperti ramadhan. Namun argumen ini dipatahkan oleh Sheikh Darwish bahwa konflik israel-palestina bukanlah konflik teologi, tapi politik. Argumen ini standar ganda karena Hamas menggunakan argumen teologi untuk berperang dengan israel
-dalam negosiasi perdamaian, orang-orang arab mempersepsikan perdamaian sebagai 'kekalahan'
-pembantaian Banu Qurayza kemungkinan besar hanyalah mitos belaka karena tidak pernah ada bukti otentik selain tulisan Ibn Ishaq. Sejauh ini tidak ada bukti tertulis dari sejarahwan yahudi. Argume penulis adalah, orang yahudi memiliki kebiasaan untuk menuliskan penderitaan mereka, sehingga jika pembantaian Banu Qurayza terjadi, tidak mungkin tidak tercatat oleh sejarahwan Yahudi. Penulis menambahkan bahwa tidak ada bukti kuburan mayat seperti tulang belulang dari pembantaian 600-900 orang.
-Orang arab cukup rasis pada orang islam non-arab, menganggap mereka inferior.
Salah satu yang paling menarik adalah, orang-orang yahudi mendapat perlindungan lebih baik dibawah kalifah kalifah islam dan dibawah kekaisaran Ottoman selama beribu tahun dibandingkan hidup di Eropa. Namun sentimen anti-yahudi ini akhirnya pindah ke arab saat buku propaganda Protocols of the Elders Zion diterjemahkan ke arab oleh orang kristen arab. Diperparah dengan populernya tulisan anti-yahudi dari Sayyid Qutb, seorang aktivis islam asal mesir anti-yahudi yang sangat berpengaruh dalam membentuk opini anti-yahudi.
Penulis buku ini memberikan pertanyaan menarik: jika Israel dihapus dari muka bumi, apakah muslim akan berhenti membenci orang yahudi?
kalau menurut penulisnya, tidak. negara-negara arab, terutama arab saudi, mengeluarkan biaya besar untuk mengajarkan anak-anak arab di negaranya untuk membenci yahudi. Walau sebenarnya referensi anti-yahudi di quran tidak banyak, atau bahkan tidak signifikan tapi hadis-hadis yang anti yahudi jauh lebih banyak.
Buku ini cukup menarik untuk dibaca mengingat opini global sedang terbelah dua dalam melihat masyarakat muslim. Satu mengasosiasikan muslim sebagai orang-orang dari agama teroris, dan satu lagi sebagai orang-orang yang menjadi korban fasisme.
Dan saya pun jadi tergelitik untuk bertanya: jika islamophobia lenyap di dunia ini, apakah orang muslim akan berhenti membenci orang yahudi?
buku ini juga memberikan pandangan menarik:
- Menurut Khaleel Muhammad, hak orang yahudi untuk memiliki negeri sendiri (Israel) sebetulnya sudah ditulis dalam al-quran (5:20) karena menggunakan kata arab 'kataba' yang biasanya digunakan untuk ayat-ayat yang bersifat 'harus dituruti' seperti ramadhan. Namun argumen ini dipatahkan oleh Sheikh Darwish bahwa konflik israel-palestina bukanlah konflik teologi, tapi politik. Argumen ini standar ganda karena Hamas menggunakan argumen teologi untuk berperang dengan israel
-dalam negosiasi perdamaian, orang-orang arab mempersepsikan perdamaian sebagai 'kekalahan'
-pembantaian Banu Qurayza kemungkinan besar hanyalah mitos belaka karena tidak pernah ada bukti otentik selain tulisan Ibn Ishaq. Sejauh ini tidak ada bukti tertulis dari sejarahwan yahudi. Argume penulis adalah, orang yahudi memiliki kebiasaan untuk menuliskan penderitaan mereka, sehingga jika pembantaian Banu Qurayza terjadi, tidak mungkin tidak tercatat oleh sejarahwan Yahudi. Penulis menambahkan bahwa tidak ada bukti kuburan mayat seperti tulang belulang dari pembantaian 600-900 orang.
-Orang arab cukup rasis pada orang islam non-arab, menganggap mereka inferior.
July 7, 2012
If you want a book that makes you think this book certainly does that. If you are expecting Bat Yeor
or a trashing of Islam this isn't the book. Oddly, the people who need to read this book the most are the least likely to read it.
Genrally, I do not like books by leftists as they tend to rationalize items that frankly have no excuse.
This is not the case here and to a great extent the author lets his fellow leftists off the hook too much. The author cites Arab cultural imperalism of non Arab Muslims and intransigence. The author does point to the all or nothing fantasies of Arabs. He does not cite the Marxist left for stoking these unreasonable claims and stoking every criminal act of terrorism against Jews.
If you want to have your assumptions challenged it is well worth reading. On the whole Stephen Schwartz
does this better, but it is a vantage point we do not see enough of.
or a trashing of Islam this isn't the book. Oddly, the people who need to read this book the most are the least likely to read it.
Genrally, I do not like books by leftists as they tend to rationalize items that frankly have no excuse.
This is not the case here and to a great extent the author lets his fellow leftists off the hook too much. The author cites Arab cultural imperalism of non Arab Muslims and intransigence. The author does point to the all or nothing fantasies of Arabs. He does not cite the Marxist left for stoking these unreasonable claims and stoking every criminal act of terrorism against Jews.
If you want to have your assumptions challenged it is well worth reading. On the whole Stephen Schwartz
does this better, but it is a vantage point we do not see enough of.
April 2, 2011
Well balanced analysis of the current status of relationships between Jews and Muslims and some of the reasons for the problems between Israel and most of the Muslim dominated nations. Can add significantly to an understanding of why prejudice develops.
September 11, 2017
Great to see such introspection into one's own religion. I commend Tarek for being so bold as to be this critical of his own faith. I'm an atheist and I have no problem promoting and supporting the work of a religious person like Mr. Fatah who has the honesty to not pick and choose apologetically.
April 10, 2018
Well thought & well researched views. Tarek Fatah goes quite deep into the origins of Jew hatred and how it has propagated throughout history and targetted different communities at different times and places and how it is still affecting our world.
April 18, 2011
Well-researched and documented by a courageous, forthright author.
June 10, 2011
Excellent well balanced insight into Muslim Anti-Semitism... I suspect there is a large Jewish audience for the title but wonder how many moslems are reading it...
January 11, 2017
I don't speak much about it, most of it has been revealed in the title itself...
Probably, a must book in your library...
Probably, a must book in your library...
October 13, 2017
A myth buster. A very beautiful book that discusses why we Muslim hate Jews. it is well organised and referenced. Every Muslim should read. It will help us find who has been feeding us on hatred.
October 28, 2017
A welcome voice of sanity and reason which, if taken to heart could make our world more peaceful.
February 16, 2018
clears a lot of historical misconceptions.
June 5, 2018
Very interesting and easy to read.I always read Tarek's articles.
October 7, 2025
“Irrespective of who is responsible for the sorry state of the Palestinians, after 35 years of occupation, the cause of Palestine is still invoked around the Muslim world, both to distract the community from its own needs and to blame all our shortcomings on some fictitious Jewish conspiracy. By refusing to recognize not just a legality of the state of Israel, but also the right of Jews to have a state of their own in the holy land, that Arab leadership has failed the Palestinian people time after time.“
WTF is this quote? This book is written by an Israeli flunky and emphasizes the “two-state solution” but places blame solely on Islam and Muslims without providing any causal reasoning or background information. The author is a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim…but his attitude indicates he had a lot of internalized racism while he was alive. He’s dead now. Lots of interesting historical events were mentioned without context and the why questions are never answered. He used a lot of embellishment in his writing throughout the book. The author fails to discuss any reasons for why Muslims supposedly hate Jews or why they supposedly hate each other. He says there is evidence predating Palestine and the creation of the Israel state, but then doesn’t state what the evidence is. His writing is heavily opinionated and lacks basis for what he’s talking about. Everything is cherry picked and embellished to the point this reads like a work of bad fiction. He also generalizes to the point of assigning himself as a voice for ALL Muslims, when he is not any kind of spokesperson for all of Islam. Each individual Muslim and each Muslim community can speak for themselves and come up with their own reasoning. The author also recommends books on Islamic history written by Jews… the author generally placed full blame on Muslims, without any context or explanation, just pointing fingers and perpetuating negative stereotypes about Islam with false leads.
Additionally, there is a lack of context in the way the events are presented as well as the quotes throughout this book.
For anyone who believed this book without fact checking and reading other resources, this book has only done damage. This author is not trustworthy at all. His sources are listed, however, his personal opinions are littered throughout each sentence, I am skeptical about this author’s code of ethics because they did not shine through his writing skills.
I read this for more information, as a supplementary read, however it is outdated now by over a decade. I don’t know a single Muslim person who has been taught to hate Jews or any mosque community teaching that. I know a few mosque communities and several Muslims who are active in building interfaith relationships and want to move forward and progress as there are billions of peaceful Muslims. I know several Muslims who have experienced racism and discrimination. I don’t know who the intended audience was for this book but there is something wrong with the way the author asserts Muslims as aggressors towards Jews. This reads like something that is trying to make enemies of Jews and Muslims and put them against each other, not to break stereotypes and build relationships. It’s also lacking in empathy from a a Muslim perspective even though it’s written by an author with an Islamic background.
There have been anti-Jewish sentiments for hundreds of years and a perceived animosity of discord and contention between Jews and Muslims, there has been an even higher growth of anti-Muslim sentiments and attitudes, racism, prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and violence and slaughter that has been unfolding live streamed for the past few years, spurred further by 9/11 and atrocious Hollywood stereotypes designed to persuade the viewers to dislike Muslims. And because there are many muslims with “darker” skin who are not white or white passing, there isn’t enough attention or fight against this.
A lot of Jews are white so they get white privilege especially if they aren’t wearing anything identifying them as a Jew. European/White Jews can also conceal their Jewishness. Maybe it’s for protection or maybe they aren’t practicing or maybe there is a nefarious reason behind it but I’ve met Jews who do this. With Muslims, even with Hindus and Sikhs and anyone who looks like they are stereotypically Muslim because of just not being white or European looking, they can’t conceal anything or even explain their belief system because it may be assumed for them.
When Jews are victims, they are allowed to be and can become memorialized and almost mythologized for it to the point that their pain is not only famous, but exploited for profit under the guise of soliciting funds from those who feel unexplainably guilty and are ignorant of how the holocaust is exploited. When Muslims are victims, they are not allowed to be victims and are ignored and victimized more.
Currently, it feels like a peaceful Muslim person will show up beaten and bashed with barely any life left and the enemy perpetrator will still carry on threats with a gun or bulldozer claiming they are innocent and defending themselves with destructive weapons against someone who can only use their voice and fists and feet to fight.
Islam and Muslims have a lot of ignorant enemies. The completely twisted situation in Iran where religion is extremely distorted and then forced upon everyone sure doesn’t help.
People can co-exist respectfully even if they are incompatible because of differences in religion, culture or whatever.
WTF is this quote? This book is written by an Israeli flunky and emphasizes the “two-state solution” but places blame solely on Islam and Muslims without providing any causal reasoning or background information. The author is a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim…but his attitude indicates he had a lot of internalized racism while he was alive. He’s dead now. Lots of interesting historical events were mentioned without context and the why questions are never answered. He used a lot of embellishment in his writing throughout the book. The author fails to discuss any reasons for why Muslims supposedly hate Jews or why they supposedly hate each other. He says there is evidence predating Palestine and the creation of the Israel state, but then doesn’t state what the evidence is. His writing is heavily opinionated and lacks basis for what he’s talking about. Everything is cherry picked and embellished to the point this reads like a work of bad fiction. He also generalizes to the point of assigning himself as a voice for ALL Muslims, when he is not any kind of spokesperson for all of Islam. Each individual Muslim and each Muslim community can speak for themselves and come up with their own reasoning. The author also recommends books on Islamic history written by Jews… the author generally placed full blame on Muslims, without any context or explanation, just pointing fingers and perpetuating negative stereotypes about Islam with false leads.
Additionally, there is a lack of context in the way the events are presented as well as the quotes throughout this book.
For anyone who believed this book without fact checking and reading other resources, this book has only done damage. This author is not trustworthy at all. His sources are listed, however, his personal opinions are littered throughout each sentence, I am skeptical about this author’s code of ethics because they did not shine through his writing skills.
I read this for more information, as a supplementary read, however it is outdated now by over a decade. I don’t know a single Muslim person who has been taught to hate Jews or any mosque community teaching that. I know a few mosque communities and several Muslims who are active in building interfaith relationships and want to move forward and progress as there are billions of peaceful Muslims. I know several Muslims who have experienced racism and discrimination. I don’t know who the intended audience was for this book but there is something wrong with the way the author asserts Muslims as aggressors towards Jews. This reads like something that is trying to make enemies of Jews and Muslims and put them against each other, not to break stereotypes and build relationships. It’s also lacking in empathy from a a Muslim perspective even though it’s written by an author with an Islamic background.
There have been anti-Jewish sentiments for hundreds of years and a perceived animosity of discord and contention between Jews and Muslims, there has been an even higher growth of anti-Muslim sentiments and attitudes, racism, prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and violence and slaughter that has been unfolding live streamed for the past few years, spurred further by 9/11 and atrocious Hollywood stereotypes designed to persuade the viewers to dislike Muslims. And because there are many muslims with “darker” skin who are not white or white passing, there isn’t enough attention or fight against this.
A lot of Jews are white so they get white privilege especially if they aren’t wearing anything identifying them as a Jew. European/White Jews can also conceal their Jewishness. Maybe it’s for protection or maybe they aren’t practicing or maybe there is a nefarious reason behind it but I’ve met Jews who do this. With Muslims, even with Hindus and Sikhs and anyone who looks like they are stereotypically Muslim because of just not being white or European looking, they can’t conceal anything or even explain their belief system because it may be assumed for them.
When Jews are victims, they are allowed to be and can become memorialized and almost mythologized for it to the point that their pain is not only famous, but exploited for profit under the guise of soliciting funds from those who feel unexplainably guilty and are ignorant of how the holocaust is exploited. When Muslims are victims, they are not allowed to be victims and are ignored and victimized more.
Currently, it feels like a peaceful Muslim person will show up beaten and bashed with barely any life left and the enemy perpetrator will still carry on threats with a gun or bulldozer claiming they are innocent and defending themselves with destructive weapons against someone who can only use their voice and fists and feet to fight.
Islam and Muslims have a lot of ignorant enemies. The completely twisted situation in Iran where religion is extremely distorted and then forced upon everyone sure doesn’t help.
People can co-exist respectfully even if they are incompatible because of differences in religion, culture or whatever.
July 17, 2023
Title: A Profound Exploration of Harmony and Common Ground
Review:
"The Jew is Not My Enemy" by Tarek Fatah is an exceptionally powerful and thought-provoking book that courageously delves into the complex dynamics between Jews, Muslims, and the broader issues surrounding religious tolerance. Fatah's words are an inspiring call for unity, understanding, and the rejection of divisive prejudices.
From the very beginning, Fatah captivates readers with his eloquent writing style, effortlessly guiding us through his personal experiences and the historical context that shapes the narrative. His ability to navigate sensitive topics with empathy and intellectual honesty is truly commendable. Throughout the book, Fatah carefully analyzes the misconceptions and historical biases that have led to strained relationships between Jews and Muslims, ultimately challenging these preconceived notions head-on.
What sets "The Jew is Not My Enemy" apart is Fatah's unwavering commitment to promoting harmony and finding common ground. He expertly highlights the shared values and historical connections between these two great Abrahamic faiths, illustrating that the animosity is not inherent but rather a product of political, social, and historical circumstances. Fatah's message is crystal clear: it is high time for both communities to embrace their shared humanity and work towards a future of mutual respect and cooperation.
Fatah's extensive research and deep understanding of the subject matter shine through in every chapter. He deftly examines the roots of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, shedding light on the systemic issues that perpetuate these harmful ideologies. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical events, he invites readers to question their own biases and encourages open-mindedness in forging a path towards a more inclusive society.
"The Jew is Not My Enemy" not only challenges the reader's perspective but also offers practical solutions and actionable steps towards fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding. Fatah's emphasis on education, empathy, and cross-cultural engagement is a refreshing departure from the often polarized rhetoric surrounding these sensitive topics.
In conclusion, Tarek Fatah's "The Jew is Not My Enemy" is a seminal work that has the potential to transform our understanding of interfaith relations. Through his compassionate and enlightening exploration, Fatah serves as a bridge-builder, offering hope for a brighter future rooted in unity, respect, and shared values. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to embrace diversity and promote peaceful coexistence in our ever-changing world.
Review:
"The Jew is Not My Enemy" by Tarek Fatah is an exceptionally powerful and thought-provoking book that courageously delves into the complex dynamics between Jews, Muslims, and the broader issues surrounding religious tolerance. Fatah's words are an inspiring call for unity, understanding, and the rejection of divisive prejudices.
From the very beginning, Fatah captivates readers with his eloquent writing style, effortlessly guiding us through his personal experiences and the historical context that shapes the narrative. His ability to navigate sensitive topics with empathy and intellectual honesty is truly commendable. Throughout the book, Fatah carefully analyzes the misconceptions and historical biases that have led to strained relationships between Jews and Muslims, ultimately challenging these preconceived notions head-on.
What sets "The Jew is Not My Enemy" apart is Fatah's unwavering commitment to promoting harmony and finding common ground. He expertly highlights the shared values and historical connections between these two great Abrahamic faiths, illustrating that the animosity is not inherent but rather a product of political, social, and historical circumstances. Fatah's message is crystal clear: it is high time for both communities to embrace their shared humanity and work towards a future of mutual respect and cooperation.
Fatah's extensive research and deep understanding of the subject matter shine through in every chapter. He deftly examines the roots of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, shedding light on the systemic issues that perpetuate these harmful ideologies. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical events, he invites readers to question their own biases and encourages open-mindedness in forging a path towards a more inclusive society.
"The Jew is Not My Enemy" not only challenges the reader's perspective but also offers practical solutions and actionable steps towards fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding. Fatah's emphasis on education, empathy, and cross-cultural engagement is a refreshing departure from the often polarized rhetoric surrounding these sensitive topics.
In conclusion, Tarek Fatah's "The Jew is Not My Enemy" is a seminal work that has the potential to transform our understanding of interfaith relations. Through his compassionate and enlightening exploration, Fatah serves as a bridge-builder, offering hope for a brighter future rooted in unity, respect, and shared values. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to embrace diversity and promote peaceful coexistence in our ever-changing world.
January 17, 2024
Timely read and excellently handled and presented. The Palestinians are not a people - they have been waylaid by supposed grifting leaders for centuries, and have no social framework or cohesion except for religion, and that millstone has kept dragging them under, with hate for their cousins and best allies, the major facet of their existence. The defaming of the Jews has been based on falsehoods, and the willful misinterpretations of their texts.
The one question Mr Fatah did not answer is how the Muslims can lay anything but facetious claims of Jerusalem as being sacred to Islam. The possible identification as Jerusalem as 'the far place' from which Mohammed ascended to Heaven in what was nothing more than a dream is laughable in itself, and a tragedy in that so many lives have been cut short over a foundless claim that has been perpetuated just so one set of people can supplant and continue to harass another with historical and significant sacred claim.
The one question Mr Fatah did not answer is how the Muslims can lay anything but facetious claims of Jerusalem as being sacred to Islam. The possible identification as Jerusalem as 'the far place' from which Mohammed ascended to Heaven in what was nothing more than a dream is laughable in itself, and a tragedy in that so many lives have been cut short over a foundless claim that has been perpetuated just so one set of people can supplant and continue to harass another with historical and significant sacred claim.
December 16, 2020
The book vividly and meticulously identified the hatred and discrimination faced by the jews in history. The present-day high-level anti-jewish agenda by many Muslim countries is being critically analyzed in the book. It is evident that Israel has an integral role to play in bringing peace to the region specifically to Palestine. The author of the book explicitly gave due credit to many Muslims who rightly deserve it.
October 25, 2018
Writing style was not particularly engaging. I only got about a third of the way through. He spent much of that time blaming Muslim anti-semitism on the Christians. Jot sure I buy his theory.
November 12, 2024
An ode to anti-isms and phobia’s
time has come!
for Revaluation,
of our faith, its interpretations of insinuations,
for Recaliberation,
of metrics of hate and boundaries of partition
for Retelling,
of stories of love, respect and compassion
for Reconsideration,
of our reasons of bigotry and shamelessness
for Rediscovery,
of our civilisational spirit of unity and harmony
for Reimagining,
of how we see our living kind without dogmas of divisiveness
time has come!
for us to stop being a messenger of poison.
time has come!
for Revaluation,
of our faith, its interpretations of insinuations,
for Recaliberation,
of metrics of hate and boundaries of partition
for Retelling,
of stories of love, respect and compassion
for Reconsideration,
of our reasons of bigotry and shamelessness
for Rediscovery,
of our civilisational spirit of unity and harmony
for Reimagining,
of how we see our living kind without dogmas of divisiveness
time has come!
for us to stop being a messenger of poison.
May 18, 2025
Tarek Fatah is a smart and rational individual who seems to really know his stuff in regard to antisemitism in the Muslim world. The book makes a lot of strong arguments for why antisemitism by Muslims is so irrational and why Muslims need to accept Jews. He argues that Muslims need to realize that they have a medieval mentality since they blame the Jews for all their troubles and that they have the capability to leave this mentality behind and to catch up to the current century's way of thinking & treating others. Here is the table of contents for the book: (It's a good outline of the topics he dives into.)
Despite my long rant above, the other 7 chapters are really good. The book is great and I highly recommend it to everyone (especially Muslims).
Despite my long rant above, the other 7 chapters are really good. The book is great and I highly recommend it to everyone (especially Muslims).
March 1, 2014
Tarek Fatah describes himself as a liberal Muslim, which I think is about right. Unfortunately, this just about assures that he will not be taken seriously by much of the Muslim world. His dismissive attitude about Hadith in particular will be a turn off to virtually every Muslim. Furthermore, the tone of this book was simply too bitter. That is a shame, because there is a lot of useful information and ideas for both Muslims and non-Muslims who are willing to overlook the polemical nature of the book.
July 27, 2014
While Mr Fatah acknowledges the existence of rampant antisemitism within Islam he dismisses any historical Islamic context for it. He chooses instead to blame European antisemitism imported to the region during colonial era of the eighteen hundreds.He dismisses violent passages of the Qur'an as being taken out of context and and being of very little weight in the history of Islam, and insists that the area was an oasis religious tolerance before the Europeans came.
November 25, 2011
Intelligent look at the sources of Muslim anti-Semitism. Questions the validity of some of the stories traditionally told to support contemporary anti-Semitism within Islam. Fatah is definitely writing from the viewpoint of a moderate, progressive Muslim. Not well accepted in the conservative Muslim community.
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