The Crusades. Were the Christian Attacks on Muslims Justified?

The Muslims believed the Christians were not justified in wanting to control the Holy Land. They thought that the nonbelievers of Muslim faith did not deserve to control this land. The Qur’an, or the Holy book for Muslims, states that when meeting in battle “those who disbelieve, then smite the necks intil when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners…” (“Translations”). The Muslims strongly believed that the Holy Lands should be kept under Muslim rule, and that those who did not believe in their faith had no right to control the Holy Land. Furthermore, the Muslims believed that the Christians were using unacceptable violence towards them. “They [the Musulman prisoners] numbered more than three-thousand and were all bound with ropes… [the franks] massacred them with a sword and lance in cold blood” (“Slaughter”). Christians were treating the Muslims in a very cruel manner, and the Muslims were offended by these ruthless and merciless actions. The Muslims did not present such malicious violence towards the Christians, so they thought the Christians had no right to rule a land that was considered “holy”. Additionally, the Muslims believed Allah was on their side during the war, another assurance that the Holy Land was truly meant for them. “If you help the cause of Allah, he will help you and make firm your feet. For those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and he has made their deeds ineffective” (“Translations”). The Muslims believed that ruling the Holy Land was the will of Allah, and they were willing to protect it from the disbelievers. Therefore, according to the Muslims, the Holy Land was not meant for the Christians but instead for the Islamic faith.

Although it was admirable of the Christians in wanting to defend their faith, their violence and negative views towards the Muslims were not justified. The Christians were honorably right in desiring to defend their faith since there were “vicious attacks on the Christian pilgrims and their sacred shrines” (“Crusaders”). The Christians were arguably justified in wanting to defend their people and their holy sites that were being disrespected and destroyed. It would have been dishonorable for them not to do anything about these incidents. However, extreme violence and revenge was not the solution for such circumstances. The Christian attacks on Muslims were not justified because the amount of violence the Christians used towards them. There were “reports of robberies, beatings, killings, and degradation of holy sites and the kidnapping from ransom of the city’s patriarch” (“Crusaders”). Moreover, the Christians preformed “such slaughter” that the men were “up to their ankles in the enemy’s blood” (“Capture”). It was unjust, unreasonable, and inhumane for the Christians to carry out such brutal actions towards a group of people Ironically, the Bible states that it is wrong to kill and to harm others, making people question whether Christians were truly achieving what was asked of their faith. Also, Christian attacks on the Muslims were not justified in stereotyping and viewing Islamic beliefs in negative fashions. The wars were undertaken “in pursuance of a vow, and directed against infidels, i.e. against Mohammedans” (Brehier). The Christians were wrong in assuming all the Muslims were infidels. These stereotypes and beliefs did not justify the Christians on their attack of the Holy Land. Furthermore, the Muslims did not think of the Christians in such degrading manners, but instead respected them and viewed them as the “protected people”. Therefore, the Christian attacks against the Muslims were not acceptable duce to the cruel actions put forth towards the Muslims.

Both the Muslims and the Christians had differing views as to what was to become of the Holy Land. The Christians believed they were doing right in taking back the Holy Land from which their faith was centered upon. However, the Muslims believed otherwise, believing it was Allah’s will for them to live on the Holy Land. Ultimately, the Crusades were an age of faith in which both the Muslims and the Christians were willing to defend their faith, the center aspect of people’s lives. In Doing so, however, the Christians used unnecessary violence towards the Muslims that created a hostile relation between both groups that continues even in present day. The negative relationship between the Muslims and Christians came as a result of insolence towards other religious groups from which we can learn from in present day. Unfortunately, religious intolerance continues today and is to blame for much of the world’s current political disputes. Our understanding of the Crusades nowadays can help to demonstrate the importance of respecting others views and beliefs. The Crusades were a crucial time in our world’s history from which people can now learn from in order to use this knowledge for the future.

The Crusades were abolished in 1902.