Page 158 - Islam Denounces Terrorism
P. 158
156 Islam Denounces Terrorism
Sultan Beyazid II was a devout Muslim. He wel-
comed the Jews who were fleeing from Spanish
persecution, and afforded them the freedom to
practise their religion in Muslim lands.
in Turkey have lived in peace and security. This example alone is
enough to demonstrate the compassion that Islam brings with it and its
understanding of justice.
The compassion and affection exhibited by Sultan Beyazid II
applied to all the Ottoman sultans. When Sultan Mehmet the Con-
queror conquered Istanbul, he allowed the Christians and the Jews to
live freely there. André Miquel, who is known for the valuable works
he has written about the just and compassionate practices of Muslims
and the world of Islam, says:
The Christian communities lived under a well administered
state that they did not have during the Byzantine and Latin
periods. They were never subjected to systematic persecution.
On the contrary, the empire and especially Istanbul had become
a refuge for Spanish Jews who were tortured. People were
never Islamized by force; the movements of Islamization took
place as a result of social processes. 12
