The final two verses of the Fatiha ask Allah: “Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked anger or of those who are astray.”
The traditional Islamic understanding of this is that the “straight path” is Islam — cf. Islamic apologist John Esposito’s book Islam: The Straight Path — while the path “of those who have evoked Allah’s anger” are the Jews, and those who have gone “astray” are the Christians.
The classic Qur’anic commentator Ibn Kathir explains that “the two paths He described here are both misguided,” and that those “two paths are the paths of the Christians and Jews, a fact that the believer should beware of so that he avoids them. The path of the believers is knowledge of the truth and abiding by it. In comparison, the Jews abandoned practicing the religion, while the Christians lost the true knowledge. This is why ‘anger’ descended upon the Jews, while being described as ‘led astray’ is more appropriate of the Christians.”
Ibn Kathir’s understanding of this passage is not a lone “extremist” interpretation. In fact, most Muslim commentators believe that the Jews are those who have earned Allah’s wrath and the Christians are those who have gone astray.
This is the view of Tabari, Zamakhshari, the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, the Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas, and Ibn Arabi, as well as Ibn Kathir. One contrasting, but not majority view, is that of Nisaburi, who says that “those who have incurred Allah’s wrath are the people of negligence, and those who have gone astray are the people of immoderation.”
Wahhabis drew criticism a few years back for adding “such as the Jews” and “such as the Christians” into parenthetical glosses on this passage in Qur’ans printed in Saudi Arabia.
Some Western commentators imagined that the Saudis originated this interpretation, and indeed the whole idea of Qur’anic hostility toward Jews and Christians. They found it inconceivable that Muslims all over the world would learn as a matter of course that the central prayer of their faith anathematizes Jews and Christians.
But unfortunately, this interpretation is venerable and mainstream in Islamic theology. The printing of the interpretation in parenthetical glosses into a translation would be unlikely to affect Muslim attitudes, since the Arabic text is always and everywhere normative in any case, and since so many mainstream commentaries contain the idea that the Jews and Christians are being criticized here.
Seventeen times a day, by the pious.
“Imam at Trump’s Prayer Service Recited a Condemnation of Jews and Christians,” by Andrew G. Bostom, PJ Media, January 24, 2017:
Honoring a tradition that dates back to America’s first president, George Washington, in New York (described here, The Daily Advertiser, April 23, 1789, p. 2), within 24 hours of his swearing-in, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attended a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.
The Saturday prayer service was a modern “interfaith event” which included (as described here, p.11, and seen in this video clip) a recitation by Sajid Tarar, an advisor at Medina Masjid of Baltimore.
He recited the Koran’s very brief first sura, or chapter: the so-called “Fatiha,” or “Opening,” consisting of seven short verses (verses 1-6; verse 7).
As I noted in a tweet shortly after viewing Saturday’s event, regarding verse 7:
“At Natl Cathedral Today ,1/21/17, Koran 1:7, A Curse on Jews, & Rebuke of Christians Recited in Front of Pres Trump.”
This high-profile ecumenical event illustrates starkly the conundrum of mainstream Islamic practice within our free, multi-confessional, but overwhelmingly non-Muslim society. Pious Muslims repeat the Fatiha, including verse 7, up to 17 times per day during their five requisite prayer sessions, and the accompanying “subunits” of prayer (see pp.49-50). While verses 1-6 are confined to Muslims re-affirming their personal devotion to the Islamic creed, and its deity, Allah, verse 7 launches into open condemnation of other faiths — specifically Judaism and Christianity.
An authoritative modern Koranic translation by Drs. Muhammad al-Hilali and Muhammad Khan (p.12) of the Fatiha’s concluding verse 7 includes parenthetical references to the Jews (after the word “anger,” or in the translation distributed at the inaugural prayer service, p.11, “wrath”), and the Christians (after the word “astray”):
The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)….
Read the rest here.
Don McKellar says
Wow, he even looks like some kind of fat leering devil!
Ren says
I don’t know if he’s a devil, but he certainly is FAT!
David McClellan says
Maybe Trump did this so that he could present it as clear proof of the kind of people Obama supported because Obama holds the very same views as this man.
David McClellan says
I highly recommend that you watch the video but I want to warn you that it presents two false ideas. One is that it implies that religion is not a total way of life when that’s exactly how it’s presented in the Bible. The other error is that it presents the popular idea of what the gospel is. Jesus did not die to pay for anyone’s sins or to provide a free ticket to heaven in other words. What Jesus did was simply to demonstrate the price everyone would have to be prepared to pay for accepting him as king and following him into the battle with the Romans that he said he’d come to wage. Everyone, he said, would need to be ready to pick up their own cross if they intended to follow him because if they failed and were captured crucifixion would be their fate.
The Muslim Brotherhood: Origin, Identity, and agenda.
eduardo odraude says
In one essential sense, Christianity is not a total way of life. Jesus in the Bible says to “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, to God the things that are God’s.” Christianity is not a “total way of life,” at any rate it does not include a takeover of governments.
john spielman says
I disagree, following Christ is total way of life, however we who follow Him are to be “in the world, but not OF the world”
Tjhawk says
Did the imam manage to hide his contempt as he launched into v. 7, or did he let some of it slip out for all to see?
Jaladhi says
Why was he even invited to pray? We know the Muslim prayer is always a call to allah to kill or convert infidels. And if he was invited why he wasn’t asked what he is going to pray?? A big blunder by Trump people! He needed extreme “vetting”!
James Christopher says
Almost precisely what I stated in my letter to the President two days ago!
Pray for him; that he will be more discerning in the future, in these matters; and that he will surround himself with knowledgeable and insightful experts on Islam, Jihad and terrorism.
Pray, also, for the inimitable Dr. Robert Spencer whose unsurpassed knowledge, wisdom and courage affords us the opportunity to be warned and warn others about the clear and present dangers associated with ignoring Civilizational Jihad.
cheryl s. says
Does Robert Spencer have access to President Trump? If so, he could have warned him about this Imam and the interpretation of what he was saying. I was utterly astounded that this guy was even allowed in, let alone, speak this curse.
MacUalraig says
Lol, yeah the extreme vetting didn’t work out to good in this situation.
Dum Spiro says
Wake up, people! Thank God President Trump has a high IQ and (according to Dr. Bill Warner) is again allowing people like Dr. Bill Warner to address counterterrorism groups in the US government.
Watch Dr. Bill Warner’s highly viewed and rated “Why we are afraid — a 1400 year secret” video on YouTube. Another similar illustrative YouTube video of his is called “Why people are afraid…”
Watch and learn…
–Spero
Aspy says
Don’t they, the concerned US authorities, ask all those speaking to submit their speech/sermon etc for official approval before allowed to utter nonsense??
I’am shocked he was allowed to utter derogatory b*** s****……
james cavalieri says
The final authority is always Donnie the amoral trump! He loves to associate, and identify, with people of high moral standards, principals, and integrity. Good people like Don King, Mike Tyson, Kenyane West, Jeffrey Epstein, Corey Lewandowski, Paul Manafort, Bill and Hillary, Vince McMahon, Putin, Steve Bannon, and thousands more!!!!!
grouchyoldman, Al Gom says
Why was an enemy of the one true GOD asked to speak???
Westman says
Islam, the only religion that prays like a Pharisee, completely bound to the ideology of supremacism.
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Luke 18:11
Noah T says
If a Muslim wants to say a prayer at an interfaith ceremony,he should be required to say it in English so everyone present could understand what he’s saying. Not just rattle off whatever he likes in Arabic.
Angemon says
Yeah, but how many people in the audience knew what the verses meant?
Phil Copson says
His audience wasn’t the Christians and Jews etc who were present; it was the Muslims who weren’t present – all of whom are now sniggering with delight that within a day of his appointment, the new President has been “owned” by an Iman.
How naive can you get ?
Wellington says
I thought you said it was I who insulted people I don’t agree with and here you are insulting Angemon, who, I might add, is one of the sharpest and best informed commenters at JW.
Phil Copson says
My comment about naivety was in reference to Trump’s team.
Rob Porter says
Phil, give it a break, in the spirit of the moment Trump’s team included this Muslim scumbag, not expecting him to use the occasion to ridicule Jews and Christians. Once Trump learns of what this worthless Muslim said, he and other imams will be toast for such occasions.
Phil Copson says
Unfortunately, generosity is not contagious.
stan lee says
It is so simple to understand. As vile as we believe this Imam’s message is, it is his “default reaction” and result of most likely generations of brain-washing. Obviously too, it must be universal in these types, they are damned sincere about it. I won’t overlook this for the sake of political correctness. As you can see, this is where our expenditures on “political correctness” took us, kind people that we would like to be.
somehistory says
He wasn’t present when Washington was sworn. Those guys back then recognized how evil and vile and slimy islam is and how deceitful are its adherents.
A den of snakes is islam, a wild beast from satan. It shows in his face.
eduardo odraude says
If Ibn Kathir says it, you know it’s mainstream. Kathir might be the most respected Qur’an commentator of all time. And as Spencer points out, many many other commentators interpret the verse in the same way.
1reader says
Wow, I thought the cult I was in for years, was strict! We only had to meditate on our Guru’s face several times a day. Repeating the I hate Christians and Jews prayer 17!! times per day, is really next level cult activity.
:Dman says
“those who have incurred Allah’s wrath are the people of negligence, and those who have gone astray are the people of immoderation.”
Okeeeyy, immoderation. Once again the mental illness of the finger wagging accuser seeks to harm and deceive peaceful people by demonstrating what immoderation looks like.
Thomaspj Poovathinkal SSP says
FRIGHTENED CHRISTIANS are NOT TRUE CHRISTIANS.
LISTEN to a TRUE Apostle of today and ACT – Your FEAR will FLEE
(He is a PREACHER of GOD’S PURE WORD in THE SEHION RETREAT CENTRE, Kerala, INDIA)
https://www.facebook.com/ilovesehion/videos/552784328245973/
OR : make a RETREAT in any of the Branches of THE DIVINE RETREAT CENTRE in any of these places :
SOME ADDRESSES of the Branches of THE DIVINE Retreat Centre :
(FOR Telephone Nos. and the E-mail addresses Please go to GOOGLE and search.)
DivinePrayer Centre, 426, Route 57 West, Washington, NJ 07882, USA. 30 Alvin SlovanAve., Washington Township, NJ 07882-4173, USA.
DivineRetreat Centre, St. Augustine Abbey, St. Augustine’s Road, Ramsgate, CT119PA,Kent, UK.
DivineRetreat Centre, P.O. Box 6327, West Gosford 2250, NSW, Australia.
VincentianHouse, Divine Mercy Prayer House, 2905 S Frontage Road, Plant City, FL 33566,USA.
DivineRetreat Centre, Vincentian Prayer Centre, 69 William Street, Toronto, ON, M9N2G6, Canada.
ExerzitienzentrumDer Gottlichen Barmherzigkeit, St. Clemens Kirche, Stresemann Str. 66 a, 10963,Berlin, Germany.
Director, Prayer Centre, Vincentian Fathers, Centenary Vincentian House, P.O. Box No. 200, Entebbe, Uganda, East Africa.
Tommy Peters says
Perhaps Robert could clarify 5.51 vis-à-vis the position of Imran Hosein who said the verse is misinterpreted when the conjunction ‘such’ Jews and Christians and read with the phrase ‘who themselves are friends and allies of each other’ is not emphasized.
He said the conjunction (such) refers to the awkward Judeo-Christian alliance given Christians have traditionally blamed the Jews for the ultimate crime of killing their Lord.
Imran holds the verse read with the conjunction (such) is interpreted to mean that Muslims are prohibited from maintaining friendly ties only with ‘such’ an alliance and not with all Christians and Jews; and that the Quran had predicted this strange alliance between Jews and Christians in the historical process, that he holds culminated in the first (Vatican supported) Zionist Congress a century ago.
gravenimage says
I’m sorry–this is silly. Muslims have always hated Jews and Christians and claimed that they deliberately “corrupted” their scriptures.
And this Mohammedan just hates that Jews and Christians are friendly with each other, which makes it harder for Muslims to conquer them.
solange silverman says
Let;s hope that this will be the last time this will ever happen.
Johli Baptist says
These people have been allowed to urinate in our soup. They are really takling the proverbial.