Lessons from History

The Case of Present-Day Muslims I t is said that Muslims all over the world are engaged in violence. Some Muslims are engaged in passive violence while others are engaged in active violence. Just thinking in extremist terms may be described as passive violence, while adopting the gun culture may be described as active violence. This phenomenon pertains to Muslim practices and has nothing whatsoever to do with Islamic teachings. The fact is that, according to the Quran, Muslims are witnesses of God before mankind, or shuhada ‘ala an-naas (2:143). It was the same duty as was given to the Jews. As the Bible says: ‘Therefore you are my witnesses, said the Lord.’1 In Chapter 3 of the Quran this fact is set forth in these words: ‘God made a covenant with those who were given the Book to make it known to people and not conceal it. But they cast it behind their backs and bartered it for a paltry price.’ (3:187)