English translation of the WASATIA book

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heavenly Abrahamic faiths. This interpretation is widespread among theMuslim masses.Here, the question this poses is: Is a Muslim in the eyes of Godbetter than a Christian or a Jew? Should one become a Muslim to be a‘Muslim’? Should a Jew or a Christian adopt Islam to become a Muslim?Does Islam urge Christians and Jews to forsake Judaism andChristianity and adopt Islam in order to enter heaven?In seeking answers in the Holy Quran to these questions, we findthat it responds to all questions: Definitely NOT.Another example is the interpretation of the verse,{“Thus have We made of you an Ummatan Wasatan (justlybalanced- Mid-ground nation).”} [Cow Surah (286 verses); verse143]This surah in the Holy Quran among many others tends tocapture the religious mind set of the Moslem people which calls uponMoslems to avoid extremism, such as: {“Be neither miserly norprodigal, for then you should either earn reproach or be reduced topenury”.} [Isra’ Surah; verse 27]. In the Quranic Surah of Al-In’am,verse 153, God instructs Muslims to avoid extremist religious practices.Prophet Muhammad is quoted to have said: “The best affairs are thosethat are centrist.”So, how is the verse {“We have created you ummattan wasatan”}interpreted?36
1. Interpretation I: In the Holy Quran, wasat is used to mean,justice, balance, moderation, centrism: The Islamic nation is ajust and moderate nation.2. Interpretation II: Muslims take a mid-ground interpretationthat stands between those who sanctify literally the text andtradition and those who opt for rational thinking and ijtihad(analytical explanation) in reading, comprehending, andunderstanding the surahs in the Holy Quran.3. Interpretation III: Muslims are center between Jews “whobrought God’s anger at them”; and Christians “who have goneastray.”4. Interpretation IV: Muslims are ‘moderate’ between Jews whoare too strict in implementing the text of the Talmud; andChristians who are too liberal in implementing the text of theBible.5. Interpretation V: Muslims stand in-between “Jews who killedprophets” and “Christians who made their prophet a God.”6. Interpretation VI: Muslims are midway between thosecommunities which prayed for many gods and those communitieswhich did not believe in any god.Now, the important questions are: Which interpretation to select?How to decide which to select? According to what criteria?In selecting the first and second interpretations, we were guided by theHoly Quran and the Sunnah where wasat is used to mean temperance,justice, balance, moderation, and centrism. Actually one of the signs37
Page 3 and 4: Prof. Mohammed S. Dajani DaoudiWASA
Page 5: WASATIAThe Spirit of IslamProf. Moh
Page 8 and 9: DEDICATIONTo all unfortunate victim
Page 10 and 11: Yet, all those privileges end there
Page 12 and 13: The pervasive perception is that th
Page 14 and 15: THE USES OF LANGUAGEThe Western Ara
Page 16 and 17: in terms of the Western concept of
Page 18 and 19: some of your own people. Only the u
Page 20 and 21: • {"Among His other signs are the
Page 22 and 23: as:Islam shares with Judaism and Ch
Page 24 and 25: Similarly, Judaism and Christianity
Page 26 and 27: {“Their salutation on the Day the
Page 28 and 29: JUSTICEIslam asserts essentiality o
Page 30 and 31: of the just. And it is to all of us
Page 32 and 33: IV. Wasatia:The Spirit of Islam(“
Page 34 and 35: or peace, love, pluralism, respect,
Page 38 and 39: that guided us to make this selecti
Page 40 and 41: 143] The rest of the verse reads:
Page 42 and 43: 2. THE SUNNAHThe Sunnah relates to
Page 44 and 45: knowingly above the nations. We sho
Page 46 and 47: CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY QURAN• {
Page 48 and 49: number of Arab historians such as B
Page 50 and 51: ecome intoxicated by secular pleasu
Page 52 and 53: separates them is more than what br
Page 54 and 55: Under the British Mandate, Muslims,
Page 56 and 57: Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), and
Page 58 and 59: eligion and fundamentalism, but wer
Page 60 and 61: peace. However, this cannot be achi
Page 62 and 63: (a) To clarify the distortions to w
Page 64 and 65: 3. hiwar - dialogue and discussions
Page 66 and 67: Wasatia advocates the establishment
Page 68 and 69: were enemies, and He joined your he
Page 70 and 71: • {"Had your Lord pleased, He wou
Page 72 and 73: The Holy Quran hammers on the notio
Page 74 and 75: English version were the hidden mes
Page 76 and 77: people in their own country.” Thi
Page 78 and 79: , referring to both East and West J
Page 80 and 81: (2) Peace: Enter into a peace agree
Page 82 and 83: VII.Conclusions[Fear not the path o
Page 84 and 85: advancement and progress. Women sho
Page 86 and 87:
family, its members excelled in man
Page 88 and 89:
Glossary abd: servant Ahl al-Kitab:
Page 90 and 91:
Islamic Law: Jahiliyya: jihad:compl
Page 92 and 93:
ANNEX I:FINAL RESOLUTIONS:The First
Page 94 and 95:
ANNEX II:FINAL RESOLUTIONS:The Seco
Page 96 and 97:
12. To approach the Prime Minister
Page 98 and 99:
3. To call for taking legal measure
Page 100 and 101:
Quran meaning moderation, balance a
Page 102 and 103:
Annex V: Hanukkah Light of CourageH
Page 104 and 105:
while the other seeking to usher ec
Page 106 and 107:
do not impose on the state its shar
Page 108 and 109:
“Nothing is more precious than li
Page 110 and 111:
“The true boundary of man is mode
Page 112 and 113:
BibliographyI. BooksAbdel Haleem, M
Page 114 and 115:
Rahman, Fazlur. Islam and Modernity
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English translation of the WASATIA book

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