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Arabs and Muslims

First to say I was dismayed by your imprecise use of the word “Arabs” in your Vayyera sheet which I have just read. ARe you unaware that not all Arabs are Muslim – some of Xtian. One cannot be imprecise in a halachic analysis.
Anyway, what I want to ask is – what about Xtians? Do we say they are like Muslims (as Xtianity is, according to many poskim, not avoda zara for Goyim except possibly catholicism)
or do they say no because it is not pure monotheism?
Incidentally I am not convinced that there is not a veneration of Mahomet by Muslims to the point of actual avoda zara – e.g. they regard any criticism of the prophet as blasphemy.

Answer:

Of course you are quite right: Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are Arabs. The article related specifically to Muslims, and not to Arabs, and the word was used loosely and inaccurately.

Christians Arabs share the same halachah as non-Arab Christians, and the same halachic debate concerning the status of Christians [of various denomination] will apply to Arab Christians.

Mohammed is seen by Muslims as a prophet, or the last of the prophets, and his word is considered a vehicle of the word of God. I don’t think that there is any element of idolatry or breach of Monotheism in their belief system.

Best wishes.

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1 Comment

  1. Thank you. I am nevertheless reminded of the several times the Muslim world has been up in arms because someone has been seen to “blaspheme” Mahomet as though he were Divine. For example: Judaism would see nothing untoward in a little girl naming her teddy bear Moshe!
    We have no concept of blasphemy except vis-a-vis HaShem whereas it appears with Muslims it extends to their supreme “prophet” as well.

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