This morning on the radio,a Rabbi talked about Abraham's Children. He said the Jews and Arabs are Abraham's Children.I didn't understand what he was getting at.History has shown that they are common enemies.This hatred has gone on ever since Ishmael and Issac had two different Mothers.Hagar and Sarah.Both men would Father great nations that would be in rivalry throughout history.That is of course if you believe the bible history vs.secular history.My thought is that there has always been Races of people and Nationalities that have always been common enemies,throughout the world and its history. Why would it be any different between the Jews and the Arabs.I understand the Rabbi's concern for peace between the two peoples. Blueblades
Abraham's Children
by Blueblades 4 Replies latest jw friends
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kes152
I am not certain of what he was getting at either, but what is to be taken note of is, the son of the free woman is persecuted by the son of the slave woman (Ish'ma'el).
All who are of the seed, are heirs to a promise. Those who are of Ishmael, are heirs to the flesh and all the things of the flesh. Sadly, not all of those who are from the direct line of Isaac remained in the promise. The promise was made to those in union with the spirit. Ishmael chose the things of the flesh over the things of the spirit. Isaac chose the things of the spirit and thus remained an heir to the promise.
All who are in union with the flesh have and will constantly persecute those who are heirs to the promise. Much of the Jews chose the things of the flesh, including its hatred, and thus chose not to be heirs with reference to the promise. The heirs to the promise were noted by this: they loved their enemy no matter how much their enemy persecutes and slaps them.
The Jews as well as all of Israel were told to love those hating them. But, due to the adundance of their desire to please their flesh, they chose to hate their enemies just like the nations around them. They began to choose hate against the Arabs and the Arabs remained in their hatred against them. Thus, the two became no different than all the nations in the earth who also have race vs. race hatred.
Those who remain sons of the promise are still hated even to this day, but they themselves do not hate those hating them. They are still doing good to those hating them and praying and blessing them. They are viewed by the world as weak, and stupid for taking care of someone who hates them. Yet, these ones are knowing who they are, knowing who the world is (their brothers), and knowing who their God is. They are a special possession, chosen and precious. Rejected of men, but precious with God.
The lesson from Isaac and Ishmael was a beginning of what is to come to those who choose the promise and those who choose the flesh.
Peace to you,
Aaron
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seedy3
BlueBlades,
The part about the Jews and those of Islam having been enemies through out history is not quite true. In the early days of Islam the Jews were often sheltered by the Arabs and other Islamic groups. It was not until much later that the Jews and those of Islam became rivals. In fact it was the Christians that rally have always had a bad time accepting the Jews, not so much the Islamic groups. Here is a piece of history that you may find interesting as many people do not know it exists:
(1) PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S TREATY WITH JEWS (622)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) decided to leave Mecca because the Meccan chiefs had taken action to kill him at his home. It was the year 622 CE. As far the choice of migrating to Medina (known as Yathrib at that time), the decision was made easier by the second Pledge of Aqaba made a year before on the occasion of the annual rites of pilgrimage. The pledge was made by seventy three men and two women of Khazraj and Aws communities of Medina. They had accepted Islam and wanted to invite the Prophet to migrate to Medina. Their motivation for this move, apart from recognizing him as the Prophet, the trustworthy, and the best in conduct in Mecca, was to bring peace and security between the Khazraj and Aws. They were often at war with each other and the Battle of Bu'ath had shattered their strength completely. They desperately needed a leader who could be trusted by both communities and bring peace in Medina. As part of the pledge, they were to protect the Prophet as they would protect their women and children if he were attacked by the Meccans.
Among the people in Medina, there was a small community (three tribes) of Jews with Arab communities constituting the majority of the population. Because of wars going on for several generations, the resources of the Arabs were depleted and their influence in Medina was dwindling. The Jews were traders and many of them used to lend money at exorbitant interest. The continuing wars boosted their economy and personal wealth.
The immediate result of the Prophets migration to Medina was peace and unity between the communities of Aws and Khazraj. The Prophet, motivated by the general welfare of citizens of Medina, decided to offer his services to the remaining communities including the Jews. He had already laid down the basis for relationship between the Emigrants from Mecca (known as Muhajirin) and Medinites (known as the Ansar, the helpers).
The Treaty between Muslims, non-Muslim Arabs and Jews of Medina was put in writing and ratified by all parties. It has been preserved by the historians. The document referred Muhammad (pbuh) as the Prophet and Messenger of God but it was understood that the Jews did not have to recognize him as such for their own religious reasons. The major parts of the document were:
In the name of Allah (The One True God) the Compassionate, the Merciful. This is a document from Muhammad, the Prophet, governing the relation between the Believers from among the Qurayshites (i.e., Emigrants from Mecca) and Yathribites (i.e., the residents of Medina) and those who followed them and joined them and strived with them. They form one and the same community as against the rest of men.
No Believer shall oppose the client of another Believer. Whosoever is rebellious, or seeks to spread injustice, enmity or sedition among the Believers, the hand of every man shall be against him, even if he be a son of one of them. A Believer shall not kill a Believer in retaliation of an unbeliever, nor shall he help an unbeliever against a Believer.
Whosoever among the Jews follows us shall have help and equality; they shall not be injured nor shall any enemy be aided against them.... No separate peace will be made when the Believers are fighting in the way of Allah.... The Believers shall avenge the blood of one another shed in the way of Allah ....Whosoever kills a Believer wrongfully shall be liable to retaliation; all the Believers shall be against him as one man and they are bound to take action against him.
The Jews shall contribute (to the cost of war) with the Believers so long as they are at war with a common enemy. The Jews of Banu Najjar, Banu al-Harith, Banu Sa'idah, Banu Jusham, Banu al-Aws, Banu Tha'labah, Jafnah, and Banu al-Shutaybah enjoy the same rights and priviledges as the Jews of Banu Aws.
The Jews shall maintain their own religion and the Muslims theirs. Loyalty is a protection against treachery. The close friends of Jews are as themselves. None of them shall go out on a military expedition except with the permission of Muhammad, but he shall not be prevented from taking revenge for a wound.
The Jews shall be responsible for their expenses and the Believers for theirs. Each, if attacked, shall come to the assistance of the other.
The valley of Yathrib (Medina) shall be sacred and inviolable for all that join this Treaty. Strangers, under protection, shall be treated on the same ground as their protectors; but no stranger shall be taken under protection except with consent of his tribe....No woman shall be taken under protection without the consent of her family.
Whatever difference or dispute between the parties to this covenant remains unsolved shall be referred to Allah and to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. Allah is the Guarantor of the piety and goodness that is embodied in this covenant. Neither the Quraysh nor their allies shall be given any protection.
The contracting parties are bound to help one another against any attack on Yathrib. If they are called to cease hostilities and to enter into peace, they shall be bound to do so in the interest of peace; and if they make a similar demand on Muslims it must be carried out except when the war is agianst their religion.
Allah approves the truth and goodwill of this covenant. This treaty shall not protect the unjust or the criminal. Whoever goes out to fight as well as whoever stays at home shall be safe and secure in this city unless he has perpetrated an injustice or commited a crime.... Allah is the protector of the good and God-fearing people.
Also from the same article:
SeedyOn the midnight of August 2 nd 1492, when Columbus embarked on what would become his most famous expedition to the New World, his fleet departed from the relatively unknown seaport of Palos because the shipping lanes of Cadiz and Seville were clogged with Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain by the Edict of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.
The Jews forced either to convert to Christianity or to "leave" the country under the menace "they dare not return... not so much as to take a step on them not trespass upon them in any manner whatsoever" left their land, their property, their belongings all that was theirs and familiar to them rather than abandon their beliefs, their traditions, their heritage.
In the faraway Ottoman Empire, one ruler extended an immediate welcome to the persecuted Jews of Spain, the Sepharadim. He was the Sultan Bayazid II.
In 1992, the discovery year for all those connected to the American continents north, central and south world Jewry was concerned with commemorating not only the expulsion, but also seven centuries of the Jewish life in Spain, flourishing under Moslem rule, and the 500th anniversary of the official welcome extended by the Ottoman Empire in 1492.
This humanitarianism is consistent with the beneficence and goodwill traditionally displayed by the Turkish government and peoples towards those of different creeds, cultures and backgrounds. Indeed, Turkey serves as a model to be emulated by any nation that finds refugees from any of the four corners of the world standing at its doors. In 1992, Turkish Jewry celebrated not only the anniversary of this gracious welcome, but also the remarkable spirit of tolerance and acceptance which has characterized the whole Jewish experience in Turkey. The events which were planned symposiums, conferences, concerts, exhibitions, films and books, restoration of ancient Synagogues etc. will commemorate the longevity and prosperity of the Jewish community. As a whole, the celebration aimed to demonstrate the richness and security of life Jews have found in the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic over more than five centuries and show that indeed it is not impossible for people of different creeds to live together peacefully under one flag.
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Carmel
Old Abe had three wives not two. Katura, the third bore children that gave rise to the great Sansaid dynasty of Persia. All are "seed" of Abraham and contray to the Christocentric BS, shall inheret the earth. Too bad Xtians are so closed minded to see the evidence.
caveman
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DJ
Kes,
You verbalized my thoughts exactly! Love, Dj