spread knowledge of the true God in the world.
Before quoting a passage in illustration of the attitude of Maimonides, I would like to say that tolerance is one of the great needs of the day and calls with the exhortation and reminder of the prophet of old: “Have we not all one Father; hath not one God created us ? Why do we deal treacherously each man against his brother?”
And now for the quotation from the writings of Maimonides. It is taken from one of his Responsa in which he was asked whether the Mohammedans were to be regarded as heathens. In the course of his reply he stated: “They are definitely not idolaters and idolatry has completely disappeared from their mouth and heart. They ascribe Unity to God as is proper…. And if anyone should say that the temple which they praise is a house of idolatry and idol worship is stored there which their fathers used to worship; what if they do prostrate themselves before it today, so long as their heart is directed to heaven!”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
