Produce your proof: Muslim exegesis, the Hadith, and the Jews

Judaism, Wntr-Spring, 2004 by Khaleel Mohammed

One of the most popular exegetical works among Muslim laypersons is the Tafsir al Imamayn al-Jalalayn, prepared by Jalal al-Din al Mahalli and Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti. The reason for its popularity lies in the fact that is it a one-volume encapsulation of the dominant views and is written in a style that allows for easy reading. The two scholars note with curt authority in their comment on the last of the verses: al-Maghdubi alayhim: they are the Jews and the Dalin are the Christians.

The Modern Propaganda

With its petro-riches, the Saudi Arabian government has become the most prolific supplier of free Qur'ans and Quran translations. It should be noted that the Kingdom does not allow the printing and publication of any document without the vetting of such document by a governmental body. The translation of the Qur'an that can be obtained from any Saudi Embassy, and is distributed to almost every Sunni mosque throughout the world is Translation of the Meanings of The Noble Qur'an in the English Language, translated by Muhammad Taqi-al-Din al-hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan. In their translation published by the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Qur'an, they rely on footnotes to supply the same information as provided in the foregoing works by al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, as well as the famed Andalusian exegete, al-Qurtubi (d. 1273). In the edition published by Darussalam Publishers in Riyadh (with a slight title change), the information is however supplied in the form of interpolations of the translated text and reads thus: "Not the way of those who have earned Your anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)." (14)

It is extremely important to note that each page of the above translation has the Arabic text, with the English rendition alongside. Most Muslims do not understand Arabic (even if they recite it as the language of prayer), and the interpolation has far more weight than just a footnote, as if to fill the void of a lacuna. Also important is the fact that both editions come with a note from the translators thus: "Some additions, corrections, and alterations have been made to improve the English translation and to bring the English interpretation very close to the correct and exact meanings of the Arabic text." (15)

As noted above, most Muslims cannot understand Arabic, but many know the names of famous scholars who only wrote in Arabic. The translation under discussion also comes with the compelling subtitle: "A summarized version of al-Tabari, al-Qurtubi, and Ibn Kathir with Comments from Sahih al-Bukhari." In short, this translation seeks to fulfill the need of every Muslim: a translation with commentary from not only the famed exegetes, but also from the Hadith. The anti-Jewish (and anti-Christian) message, when delivered in the guise of such authority, is designed to reach any Muslim who wants to read the Qur'an in English. Many organizations in the Middle East have taken responsibility for translating and disseminating this basic message in as many languages as possible. In Europe and North America, this is done in the form of donations of several copies of such Qur'ans to mosques, Islamic schools, and Muslim student associations. The madrasas that spawned the Taliban movement did not purchase their Qur'an exegeses: they were supplied by benefactors.