The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn
History [Hardcover]
Andrew G. Bostom (Editor)
This comprehensive, meticulously documented collection of scholarly
articles presents indisputable evidence that a readily discernible,
uniquely Islamic antisemitism-a specific Muslim hatred of Jews-has
been expressed continuously since the advent of Islam. Debunking the
conventional wisdom, which continues to assert that Muslim animosity
toward Jews is entirely a 20th-century phenomenon fueled mainly by the
protracted Arab-Israeli conflict, leading scholars provide example
after example of antisemitic motifs in Muslim documents reaching back
to the beginnings of Islam. The contributors show that the Koran
itself is a significant source of hostility toward Jews, as well as
other foundational Muslim texts including the hadith (the words and
deeds of Muhammad as recorded by pious Muslim transmitters) and the
sira (the earliest Muslim biographies of Muhammad). Many other
examples are adduced in the writings of influential Muslim jurists,
theologians, and scholars, from the Middle Ages through the
contemporary era. These primary sources, and seminal secondary
analyses translated here for the first time into English - such as
Hartwig Hirschfeld's mid-1880s essays on Muhammad's subjugation of the
Jews of Medina and George Vajda's elegant, comprehensive 1937 study of
the hadith - detail the sacralized rationale for Islam's anti-Jewish
bigotry. Numerous complementary historical accounts illustrate the
resulting plight of Jewish communities in the Muslim world across
space and time, culminating in the genocidal threat posed to the Jews
of Israel today.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Important...."
- New Republic
"For those looking for a serious, scholarly work on the subject of
Islamic hatred of Jews, there is simply no better book available on
the market today."
- Jihad Watch
"Affords important lessons for Jews and Christians alike…. This
important book should become the standard reference work on its
subject."
- Human Events
"[Bostom] provides an extraordinarily thorough look at the history of
Islamic anti-Semitism in practice.… Truly unique…"
- Jerusalem Post
"A seminal treatise likely to enlighten intellectuals in search of the
truth about anti-Semitism for generations to come."
- Kam Williams
"Exceedingly well organized and extensively documented…."
- Choice
"[This] is the place to look for answers.... Bostom's bold book is a
challenge to Muslims to reconsider the beliefs and practical
manifestations of their faith."
- First Things
About the Author
Andrew G. Bostom is the editor of the highly acclaimed The Legacy of
Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims and of The Legacy
of Islamic Antisemitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn History. He is
the author of Sharia versus Freedom: The Legacy of Islamic
Totalitarianism. He has also published articles and commentary on
Islam in the Washington Times, National Review Online, Revue
Politique, FrontPageMagazine.com, American Thinker, and other print
and online publications. More on Bostom's work can be found at
www.andrewbostom.org/blog/.
http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Islamic-Antisemitism-Sacred-History/dp/1591025540