1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In order to appreciate the urgency of such
cooperation, we must have
before
us an outline of the
historical background of the
interaction between the
Jews,
the
Christians, and the Muslims. This interaction can
be divided into
eight
phases
FIRST
PHASE: A
fierce hostility and rancor has
dominated
the relationship between the
Jews
and the Christians during the period of 600 years that lasted
from
the
departure of Jesus Christ to the advent of
Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be
upon them). The first three centuries were characterized by severe persecution of the
Christians at the hands of the Jews, who were patronized in this
respect
by the rulers of the
pagan
Roman empire. Unitarians, who were the true followers of
Prophet Jesus (Peace
be upon him), were present in
considerable numbers at that time.
The
incident
of
the “People of the Cave” that is referred to in the Holy Qur’an
(Al-Kahf 19:9-25) belongs to this
very period.
The
conversion of
the Roman Empire to Christianity during the 3rd century CE changed the whole situation upside down – or right side up, depending upon
your viewpoint. The Christians. Who had been suffering all sorts of torments and oppression up till that time,
were
now in a position to have their revenge. As a result,
the Jews now became
the target of official harassment
and persecution. As the Christians saw it, Jews were guilty of
“deicide” – the murder of their “God” – and therefore it is not surprising that they banished the latter
from the
mainstream of socio-economic life.
One exception to this trend, however, is reported
by the historians thus. It so happened that, about forty years before the birth of Prophet
Muhammad (Peace
be upon him), the Jews were able to form their government in
Yemen,
a hitherto
Christian country.
The
Jews
then attacked Najran in Southern Arabia and
tried
to force its Christian inhabitants to give up their faith, who resisted and
were, consequently, tortured
by the aggressors. In this
incident thousands of Christians were burned alive.
This
is also
mentioned in the
Holy Qur’an (Al-Burooj 85:4-10).
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