The Roots of the Middle East Conflict

The Roots of the Middle East Conflict

If we believe the Bible, the roots of this conflict go way back to the time of Abraham and the Patriarchs. The Arabs today are descended especially from the ancient Egyptians, the children of Ishmael and the children of Esau. God said concerning the children of Ishmael that they would be a warlike people - their hand would be against every man's and every man's hand against them. This has clearly been fulfilled in the case of the Arab people, who for all their good qualities do tend to see violence as an important option at any time - one they are all too willing to use. Added to this national tendency is the influence of the teachings of Islam, which encourage Jihad or "Holy War" upon the enemies of Islam. Qu'ranic doctrine basically justifies any attacks on others who do not submit to its doctrines. For example, when Mohammed could not convince the Jews that he was God's special prophet, he and his men went off and murdered them and took their money and their women for himself and his men. This was seen as a "holy" thing - Allah's judgment upon the infidels. Such thinking continues today. I've read the testimonies of former muslim terrorists who admitted that they were instructed that the womenfolk of the enemy were fair game for them - they could rape them, humiliate them or whatever as the spoils of war. All this and more is justified by the Qu'ran itself. If anyone doubts this I would be happy to provide evidence to back it up.

There has always been enmity between the children of Jacob (Israel) and the children of Ishmael and Esau, as well as the Egyptians. The Bible is full of such history, and it has continued down to the present time.

As a Christian, I believe there are many spiritual factors at work in this conflict, and that these events and what they are leading up to is extremely significant. No doubt they will lead into some of the most dramatic events in the history of the world, as the conflict concerning the truth comes to a climax.

The only real solution to this conflict would lie in Jesus Christ. If Arabs and Jews would come to Jesus Christ, recognising Him as the Son of God, and following His teachings, there would be no need for conflict. They would actually become blood brothers in Christ, because of a common interest in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ given for our eternal salvation. However, at the present time, the Jewish people for the most part despise Jesus Christ, and the majority of Arabs see Jesus as an Islamic prophet, and the Bible as a corrupted document. They trust the Qu'ran and believe that God will reward them with a sensual paradise if they die in the battle for islamic glory and conquest.

Implications of converting to Islam

If you convert to Islam, there are important changes in your legal status and what you can or cannot do. Your conversion to Islam will be registered with the Religious Department and the National Registration Department, both of which are computerised, so that access to this information is available throughout the country.

Under Syariah enactments of most of the 13 States of Malaysia:

1. Conversion back to your former religion is either (a) not allowed under the law, or (b) a criminal offence which means you may be fined, whipped, detained or imprisoned under most State Islamic laws.

2. If you are under 18 years of age, you require your parent’s permission to convert to Islam.

3. Your identity card will record your conversion to Islam. Therefore, even if you are no longer practising Islam, you may be fined, whipped, detained or imprisoned for violation of Syariah laws, such as praying in church, eating in public during fasting month, khalwat etc.

4. You cannot marry a non-Muslim. If you decide to divorce and attempt to convert out of Islam, you will lose custody of your children because they are Muslims.

5. Upon death, your non-Muslim relatives will lose their rights to any money, property, money etc. that you want to leave to them. The corpse of a convert to Islam will be taken away from his or her non-Muslim family for Islamic rites and burial even if you have not been a practising Muslim for many years.

6. In the event that your spouse converts to Islam, you may have no right to either your children or your spouse’s property.



We know that certain Christians who convert to Islam for whatever reasons, are not aware of or do not consider seriously the implications of such conversion.

Hence the need to inform you. By this, we are neither against Islam nor freedom of religion, which is guaranteed for all Malaysians in Article 11 of our Constitution which give the right to an individual to freely choose his or her religion.

But to choose correctly, you need to know clearly what you choose and the consequences of your choice.





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The above was a letter that appeared in HERALD (The Catholic Weekly) on Aug 14, 2005. It was signed by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, Bishop Antony Selvanayagam and Bishop Paul Tan, SJ. Reprinted with permission.