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"JEWS OF ISLAM, THE"
Term Paper ID:19391
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Essay Subject:
(Bernard Lewis) & [The Dhimmi: Jews & Christians Under Islam] (Bat Ye'or). Compares two books on non-Muslim peoples living in Muslim society.... More...
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6 Pages / 1350 Words
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Paper Abstract:
(Bernard Lewis) & [The Dhimmi: Jews & Christians Under Islam] (Bat Ye'or). Compares two books on non-Muslim peoples living in Muslim society.
Paper Introduction:
The Dhimmi, Two Views
"Dhimmi" is a term applied to someone who lives in a Muslim society without being a Muslim (principally Jews and Christians). This paper compares and contrasts two books on the subject of the dhimmi--The Jews of Islam by Bernard Lewis and The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam by Bat Ye'or. This comparison and contrast centers on four points: (1) ways in which the authors express their views, (2) the subjects the authors choose to write about, (3) differences in subject matter, and (4) individual point of view.
As both works have a scholarly tone, neither one reveals particular emotions or views regarding the subject matter. Both are objective and factual, letting the ideas, facts, and interpretations speak for themselves. The formats and styles are
Text of the Paper:
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To revolt would mean death, so theperson became the conscious instrument of his own destruction (Ye'or 143). This comparison and contrast centers on four points: (1) waysin which the authors express their views, (2) the subjects the authorschoose to write about, (3) differences in subject matter, and (4)individual point of view. They, like the women, were considered mere property to be dividedup as booty after a battle. In contrast, Bat Ye'or approaches the subject matter in quite adifferent way, presents different materials, and draws many moreinterpretive conclusions. Other particulars of Jewish life included thetypes of houses allowed. She defines the human aspectsof a historical situation. Soldiers could seize furniture,clothes, and food at will and set houses on fire. (1984). The Dhimmi touches on chronological development,but more importantly, it expands upon broader implications of the position ofthe dhimmi, such as the psychological aspects, economic and social aspects,and the meanings of tolerance and oppression. The Dhimmi, Two Views "Dhimmi" is a term applied to someone who lives in a Muslim societywithout being a Muslim (principally Jews and Christians). The formats and styles are somewhat different, The Lewis workis based on the Gustave A. The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam.Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickenson University Press.----------------------- 3 This interpenetration offaith and power, of religion and authority, has been characteristic ofIslam throughout history (Lewis 5). The presentation is primarily one of verbal discourse,although the author did considerably expand the material originallypresented in the lectures. Lewis seems more concerned with historical and politicalaspects of the dhimmi existence. The churches and synagogues are deemedloathsome places of infidelity, greater than that of bathhouses, cemeteriesor dunghills. Women could be searched at will, lest theyhide ornaments or money in their clothes. The details andastonishing variety of types of materials speak well for Ms. Ye'or'sresearch diligence. Some physicians came to be highly trusted in thefamilies of leadership, and the Jewish bankers became known for the speedwith which they could raise money for business purposes. An example of one of the documents comes from the thirteenth centuryentitled, "Places of Worship, Clothes, and Behavior of Dhimmis". Bat Ye'or goes to greater lengths to describe the plight of women,which is understandable, being a woman herself. Dhimmis may not wear turbans, which are reserved for theArabs. Ye'or, Bat. What is known is that Lewis is a professor ofNear Eastern studies at Princeton University and has authored numerousworks on the Middle East. Turks were allowed to enter a Jew's house and ill-treatthe women without opposition. As both works have a scholarly tone, neither one reveals particularemotions or views regarding the subject matter. Effroymson Memorial lecturesdelivered at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November of 1981(Lewis xi). A document on battle procedures allowed the enslavement of women (Ye!or 17 ), Bat Ye'or includes information about the treatment of children.Routinely Christian and Jewish children were rounded up to serve as, muslimslaves. Both books include photographs, but the Ye'or book includes a greaternumber of photographs and a greater variety of subjects pictured. As to beexpected, she selected interesting prints portraying Jewish women andchildren, Of interest in the Ye'or book is an entire chapter regarding thepsychological aspects of the degradation of the oppressed. (1985). Her interest seems to be that of interpretationrather than a telling of the facts. This papercompares and contrasts two books on the subject of the dhimmi--The Jews ofIslam by Bernard Lewis and The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam byBat Ye'or. The dhimmi is instructed to show honor anddeference at all times. The houses could never be taller than a Muslimhouse, and the doorway was low so that the dhimmi who entered must bow toindicate his inferior status. Dhimmis were notallowed to ride horses or to carry arms, which made them very vulnerable inan armed society. Her humanitarian treatment, developed quiteapart from scholarly circles, is more creative, going a step beyond cursoryfacts. More wouldneed to be explored regarding the details of their histories in order torelate those to their books. They are places of Divine Wrath. The author says that twelvecenturies of humiliation create a form of alienation called the dhimmisyndrome, which was characterized by a profound dehumanization. Lewis' treatment includes a thorough discussion of the situation ofthe dhimmi through various historical time periods. Jews often were required to live in acertain area, and when walking outside of that area, they wore specialsandals to identify their status. Thepublication does not indicate her-discipline of academic study, merely thatshe was born in Egypt, and now lives in Switzerland. Certain occupations were totally closed to Jews, primarily those ofpower in politics. The dhimmi eventually,through this psychological process of debasement, perceived and acceptedhimself as a devolved human being. Thesedocuments arranged in chronological order cover a broad sweep of manyaspects of the Jewish life under Islam oppression. Jews and Christians were given the most menial tasks ofcleaning and hawking goods. They could ride mules, which symbolized their lesserstatus. As stated before, The Jews of Islam isprimarily historical. They were not permitted to veil their faces in public,which visibly placed them in the same category as slaves or prostitutes.Wives were often forced to work without their husband's consent. It is forbidden to address the unfaithful as "sir" or "master", asthis is considered to angerthe Lord. Both are objective andfactual, letting the ideas, facts, and interpretations speak forthemselves. The Jews of Islam. This approach allowsthe reader to gradually build understanding of the changes in the dhimmiexperience through history. Theindividual became permanently passive, vulnerable, servile, and ignorant.He projected his personal hatred onto his group. and Mamie W. She states that dhimmis were not necessarily more virtuous than theirconquerors: "Human nature being the same everywhere, similar qualities anddefects existed in both groups" (Ye'or 141). Lewis' emphasis on the historicalaspects of the dhimmi life indicates that this is what he views as mostimportant. Over time, those who were able moved intomedicine and banking, allowing them to at least align themselves with thosein positions of power. Bat Ye'or's broader approach focuses on a higher level of thinking.She mentions early in the book that in history there is no one truth, "buta multiplicity of constantly changing and contradictory situations,interdependent one with another (Ye'or 38). Weddingshad to be secret. The Jews of Islam contains onlyfour chapters. The last three chapters are a chronological considerationof the Jews under the rule of Islam. Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press. The Dhimmi by Bat Ye'or is more lengthy, more detailed, and organizedin a different manner from the Lewis work. She uses primary sourcesto elucidate real human happenings and the meanings of those experiences.Her treatment is more that of a sociologist or psychologist. The Jews of Islam carries his academic imprint,that of a historian. Women wereconsidered inferior and without strength. The bulk of the book deals withthe meaning of the events. After battles, womenwere divided up as chattels among the Muslims (Ye'or 44). Bat Ye'or's work, The Dhimmi, includes more detailregarding the Egyptian dhimmi, and the experiences of women. These range from letters to legal documents. Bat Ye'or does present ahistorical outline, but it is quite brief. The documents and Ms.Ye'or's discussions reveal that the lives of the dhimmi women wereincredibly harsh. He must not uncover his legs nor raise his voicein the presence of Muslims. She has writtenprevious works on non-Muslim minorities. The-first chapter is a generaldiscussion of the relations between Islam and other religions--in theology,law, theory and practice. Thispiece goes on for several pages, delineating precise behaviors and items ofclothing forbidden to the dhimmi. Theseoriginal materials communicate much about the dhimmi experience. Bells can only be rungwithin churches where they cannot be heard. Dhimmis are required to pay a poll tax whichis a temporary protection from the wrath of the Muslims. References Lewis, Bernard. He makes an interesting point in thefirst chapter to explain the distinction of the position of Muhammad.During his lifetime he was head of state, commanding armies, collectingtaxes, administering justice, and creating laws. More than half of the book, the latter sectionof the book, is a massive compilation of primary sources used for theauthor's work. Apparently her work was criticized by academicians, as the preface by Jacques Ellul includes an extensive defense of her book as ascholarly piece. Those who live apart fromIslam must be visibly distinguished so that they may be constantlyhumiliated. Bat Ye'or expresses in this book her opinion that theactual human experiences are what are important. It is not clearly evident that the two writers' backgrounds greatlyinfluenced the treatment of their ideas in these two books. Muslims are instructed to merely call, "You there, 15Jew" (Ye'or 196-197). They were routinely raped byplunderers. Both authors deplore the conditions under which the dhimmi lived anddisclose details to help the reader understand the exact conditions of lifeas a dhimmi.
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