For nearly two decades since 2001, my
company has placed full-page advertisements in The Star newspaper during
festive seasons. These ads typically carried messages of unity, cooperation,
and peace.
In 2006, for the Aidilfitri celebration,
our message was part of the “Imagine” series. The advertisement read as
follows:
“ Imagine… Peace in the Middle East
It breaks our hearts each time we see the
innocent especially children hurt, made homeless and murdered regardless
whether they are Arabs or Jews. In our hearts we all want an end to the
conflict.
To make peace, we must first understand Jew
insecurity and comprehend why they opted for the Zionist solution. We must
empathize with their history of persecution and pogroms, identify with their
need to be both Jew and free. Free to reach their highest potential and
contribute to humanity just like any other community.
Ironically, Jews experienced the longest
peace and freedom to practice Judaism; their way of life, during Muslim rule.
The Covenant of Medina gave them the rights and dignity to join the human race
and made them universal citizens and put an end to the status of an exiled
outlaw.
They were free to live, contribute and be
Jews in any corner of the Muslim administrative. Judaism prospered. It is no
exaggeration to say that Islam is the best friend Judaism ever had.
Jews were free and secure for centuries
when Muslims were united and strong. Jew security and freedom was tied to
Muslim unity and success. Muslim Unity can go a long way to bring peace in the
Middle East.
Here Malaysia can contribute. Islam Hadhari
can be a catalyst for Muslim Unity. The Malaysian constitution resembles The
Covenant of Medina where Islam is the official religion and other traditions
are allowed the freedom to practice and prosper. Our history of compromise and
working together is a living example and a workable model. Our framework is
peace and respect for each other’s way of life. Malaysians can show the way.
The prerequisite for any community to be
successful is Peace. Peace requires change from both sides. Jews must realise
that Zionism cannot bring about security, they must work with Muslims and
return what is not theirs to the Palestinians. Muslims must get their act
together, unite and becoming strong again to set the platform for peace in the
Middle East.
Imagine you and I… changing the world for
the better!”
Typically, our ads receive positive
feedback from fellow Malaysians. Many call or write in with words of
encouragement, thanking us and urging us to continue the good work.
However, this particular ad drew a
different kind of response.
A few days after the advert appeared, my personal assistant passed me a phone call from an elderly Malaysian gentleman. He began by asking if I was the one who wrote the advert. Expecting the usual kind words, I happily said yes.
His next question took me by surprise:
“Are you anti-Semitic?”
I laughed out loud and replied, “Absolutely
not!”
But he insisted that I was. Calmly, I
responded, “Brother, I have Arab ancestry. I’m one of the Semitic people. I
cannot be anti-myself, can I?”
There was a pause. Then, he shouted, “What
nonsense are you talking about?” I was about to explain who the Semitic people
are, but he abruptly hung up.
That exchange made me realise how little
many Malaysians—perhaps many people in general—know about the term “Semitic.”
So, let me briefly explain.
Who Are the Semitic People?
To understand who the Semitic peoples are,
it’s important to see them not as a single race or ethnic group, but as a
family of languages and cultures that have evolved over thousands of years.
What unites them is not only shared ancestry but also the languages they speak
and the deep historical contributions they’ve made to human
civilization—especially in religion, philosophy, and science.
The term “Semitic” comes from Shem, one of
Prophet Noah’s sons, as mentioned in the Bible. In the 18th century, European
scholars began using this name to classify a group of languages, including
Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, and Akkadian. Over time, the term came to refer to the
peoples who spoke these languages.
In ancient times, Semitic peoples were
central to early human civilizations, especially in the Middle East and North
Africa. The Akkadians established one of the earliest empires in Mesopotamia.
Other major Semitic groups included the Amorites, Canaanites, Arameans, and
Phoenicians—who spread their alphabet and culture across the Mediterranean. The
Hebrews, who became the Jews, were also part of this broader Semitic world.
Aramaic became the lingua franca of the region and was even spoken during the
time of Jesus.
Today, Semitic peoples include Jews, Arabs,
Assyrians, Maltese, and Ethiopian groups such as the Amhara and Tigray. Arabic
is now the most widely spoken Semitic language and the language of the Qur’an.
Hebrew, once mostly dormant, has been revived as the national language of
Israel. Aramaic still survives in small Christian communities, and
Maltese—written in the Latin alphabet—is the only Semitic language that is also
an official language of the European Union.
A Final Reflection
The Qur’an, revealed in Arabic, belongs to
the Semitic family of languages. Arabic is a Central Semitic language within
the Afroasiatic linguistic group, and today it is spoken not only across the
Middle East and North Africa but also recited daily by Muslims around the
world.
So, when someone accuses another of being
“anti-Semitic,” it’s important to understand what the term truly encompasses.
Criticizing unjust policies or calling for peace is not hatred—it is, in fact,
a call for understanding, justice, and unity not just among all Semitic
brothers and sisters, but humanity as a whole.
Peace, anas
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