Photo Credit: a heavy heart to carry

In the centuries before Islam, the Arab peninsula was filled with warring nomadic tribes. The only time they could meet peacefully was in certain designated religious sanctuaries such as Mecca where the Kaaba was located. Inside the Kaaba were 360 idols representing numerous religions. Jesus was one such idol, Abraham another, as well as pagan and Arabian tribal gods of all sorts.

1400 years ago the Quraysh tribe was in charge of the Kaaba. A member of that tribe named Mohammed concocted a religion combining Christian, Jewish and pagan rituals and concepts in order to induce the faithful of the disparate religions to join his new order.

But not everyone was willing to accept him as the final prophet of their religion. For example, one tribe of Arabs who were of the Jewish faith, the Banu Qurayza, who warred against Mohammed, were dealt with rather harshly. All the males who did not convert to islam were beheaded while all the women and children were taken as slaves.

And so began 14 centuries of torture, conversion, murder and slavery. The book that fed this feast of anger, hatred and fury? The Qur'an.

There exists no written work that has caused as much suffering and misery as this single book. Which reminds me of the following story from Don't Feed The Wolf:

Two Wolves

One winter’s evening whilst gathered round a blazing camp fire, an old Sioux Indian chief told his grandson about the inner struggle that goes on inside people.

“You see” said the old man, “this inner struggle is like two wolves fighting each other. One is evil, full of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, deceit, false pride, superiority, and ego”.

“The other one,” he continued, poking the fire with a stick so that the fire crackled, sending the flames clawing at the night sky, “is good, full of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith”.

For a few minutes his grandson pondered his grandfather’s words and then asked, “So which wolf wins, grandfather?”

“Well”, said the wise old chief, his lined face breaking into a wry smile, “The one you feed!”