Why you need to read this book:
In 622 C.E., Muhammad wrote and instituted the Constitution of Medina, making “a treaty and covenant with the Jews, establishing them in their religion and possessions, and assigning to them rights and duties.” (Ibn Ishaq) The Constitution said, in part, “Whosoever among the Jews follows us shall have help and equality; they shall not be injured nor shall any enemy be aided against them….
“The Jews shall maintain their own religion and the Muslims theirs. Loyalty is a protection against treachery. …The Jews shall be responsible for their expenses and the Believers for theirs. Each, if attacked, shall come to the assistance of the other….”
Fourteen hundred years later, we can recognize the value of these principles. We can also recognize the opportunity in our day to institute a similar treaty and covenant. Every aspect of this agreement can be such that it is justifiable within the Quran, Ahadith, and Islamic history. Every aspect of this agreement can be such that it is justifiable within Tanakh, Talmud, and Jewish history.
This book presents an option for crafting such an agreement. It is not a peace proposal per se, but rather the proposal of a Scriptural Framework that informs and justifies, as the Constitution of Medina did, “sincere friendship (nas’h wa-nasiha) and honorable dealing” between Israel and Palestine. The book also contains a review of some related historical actions of the great political powers, the problems they caused, and some suggestions for alleviating those problems.
In the Quran, Allah says, “We carried the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his hosts pursued them out of envy and enmity till, when drowning over took them, he said, ‘I believe that there is no God but the one in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am among those who submit.’” (Yunus/Jonah10:90) The realization came too late for Pharaoh, but it need not be too late for this generation.
