Page 458 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

dren, and suddenly declare her to be cursed only because she is a
Christian or a Jew. How can he decide, after spending his whole life
with her, to say, "This tree has told me that my wife is a Jew and that
she is hiding behind it," and then kill her? One would have to be pro-
foundly psychologically disturbed to do that. This verse describes
the love to be shown to a Jew or Christian by a rational Muslim who

heeds the Qur'an.

The verse also bestows a special authorization on Muslims: the
authority to eat food prepared by the People of the Book. This is very
important. As we know, Muslims have to pay great attention to cer-
tain prohibitions when preparing food; pork, and meat from an ani-
mal that has not been slaughtered in the name of God, is prohibited
in Islam. The fact that food prepared by Jews and Christians is made

lawful shows that these people are to be trusted. The same thing also
applies to Christians and Jews, and the verse makes food prepared
by Muslims lawful for them.

456