The books were published in 2000. FRONTLINE cannot verify how many Saudi schools have used these textbooks, or how these passages were taught or interpreted by teachers in Saudi Arabia. However, these textbooks are part of the official curriculum for Saudi students and are a fundamental part of their education. Approximately 35% of school studies is devoted to compulsory Saudi religious education. (For more on Saudi religious education, see FRONTLINE's interviews with Ali al-Ahmed, Mai Yamani, and Hassan Youssef Yassin.)

This first extract, "The Victory of Muslims Over Jews," is the last two pages from the prophet Mohammed's sayings,HADITHS

Hadith narrated by Abi Hurira:

"The last hour won't come before the Muslims would fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them so Jews would hide behind rocks and trees. Then the rocks and tree would call: oh Muslim, oh servant of God! There is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only "Gharkad" tree, it is of Jews' trees."

Explanation of words

"Last Hour: the hereafter will not come

"Gharkad": a big tree with thorns and the Jews grew it a lot in Palestine those days

Teachings of the Hadith

1/ It's fate decided by Allah that the Muslims and Jews will fight till the end of the world.

2/ The Hadith predicts for the Muslims God's victory over the Jews.

3/ The victory for the Muslims because they are right, and who ever is right is always victorious, even though most people are against him.

4/ God grants victory to the Muslims if they have a true will, if they unite, hold on to God's sharia, if they go by God's ruling, if they are patient.

5/ The material strength won't be enough to warrant victory, it is necessary to invoke God seek his support.

6/ Who ever is with God, God is with him; no matter what hardships and ordeals one would undergo what counts is the final result.

7/ Jews and Christians are the enemies of believers they will never approve of the Muslims, beware of them.

Questions for discussion

1/ What was the prophecy of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in this Hadith?

2/ What is the name of the tree that will tell about the Jews?

3/ At the end, who will be victorious?

4/ What should the Muslims arm themselves with against the Jews?

Questions about duties

1/ Will the Jews and the Christians ever approve of the Muslims and why?

2/ What is 'garkad'?

3/ Give four factors that would grant victory of Muslims over their enemies?

From: M. H. Shakir's translation of the Holy Qur'an

This second extract, from EXPLANATIONS [of the Koran], also deals with Muslims and Jews and presents an interpretation of part of a Sura from the Koran, which says "murder" is a form of punishment for those who acted in opposition to Allah (pbuh).

Order Of Revelation 101, Verses: 24

"59.3": And had it not been that Allah had decreed for them the exile, He would certainly have punished them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have chastisement of the fire.

"59.4": That is because they acted in opposition to Allah and His Apostle, and whoever acts in opposition to Allah, then surely Allah is severe in retributing (evil).

"59.5": Whatever palm-tree you cut down or leave standing upon its roots, It is by Allah's command, and that He may abase the transgressors.

Occasions of revelation

When the prophet (pbuh) besieged the tribe of Ibn Nadhir and burned and cut some of their palm trees so God sent His saying: "Whatever palm-tree you cut down or leave standing upon its roots, It is by Allah's command"

Explanation of Vocabulary

	Word	Explanation
1.	And had it not been that Allah had decreed for them	fated for them
2.	Exile	Getting out of the city with family and children once and for all
3.	punished them in this world	with murder and imprisonment
4.	they acted in opposition to Allah and His Apostle	They parted to an other side than the one of Allah and His Apostle, means: opposed and made enemies with
5.	leave standing upon its roots	left up on its trunk without being cut
6.	It is by Allah's command	by His will and order
7.	He may abase the transgressors	humiliate them, weaken and devastate  them by cutting ,because of their crazing for money since it is the Muslims'

Benefits and Rules (Teachings)

1. God decreed for Ibn Nadhir tribe to leave their bastions and homes and left them for the Muslims. If they were not granted exile, they would have been tortured by God with murder and imprisonment, that was out of his mercy, beneficence and clairvoyance, and for the believers since He granted them (Muslims) their (Ibn Nadhir's) lands, homes, monies without having pained for it. God Says: "And had it not been that Allah had decreed for them the exile, He would certainly have punished them in this world"

2. The opposition of God and his Apostle and the opposition of His Sharia- is a reason for retribution of Allah that is what happened to the Jews of Ibn-Nadhir. God Says: "That is because they acted in opposition to Allah and His Apostle, and whoever acts in opposition to Allah, then surely Allah is severe in retributing (evil)"

3. When the Muslims besieged Ibn-Nadhirs, they had farms, palm trees outside of the bastions. So the Muslims had burned some of their palm trees and cut others. Some Muslims had condemned it thinking that all this will end up for the Muslims. But God had sent with this verse to express His support for the cutting and the devastation because it does humiliate and weaken the Jews

4. It's allowed to demolish, burn or destroy the bastions of the Kufar (infidels)- and all what constitutes their shield from Muslims if that was for the sake of victory for the Muslims and the defeat for the Kufar

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