Relationships from Bible days

Heidi Kantor exercises gross ignorance by quoting Genesis 12:1-3 without having researched the historical background to the Biblical verse. Firstly, Almighty God was addressing the holy prophet Abraham who was neither a Jew nor a Christian.
Secondly, the verse reads:- “Now the Lord had said unto Abram: get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house, unto a land I will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
This is one of the conditions fulfilling the covenant given to Abraham. The words “I will bless them that bless thee” are very significant. Muslims alone of all the people of the world bless Abraham incessantly and in express terms by reciting Darood-E-Ibrahim (salutations and blessings for Abraham) – in their five times daily prayers and in various invocations.
The Jews and Christians accuse Abraham of siring an illegitimate son, Ishmael, implying he was a bastard. In other words they are the ones cursing this great prophet of God and not the Muslims. So the verse “. . I will curse them that curse thee,” points to the Jews and Christians and not Muslims.
The Jews, from the moment they rejected and condemned Jesus Christ to death, ceased to be “the chosen people,” as it is written: “Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof.” (Matthew 21 : 43), and that title “children of God” was given only to those who believe in his prophet-hood.
Presently in Israel 80% of Jews are secularist, paying lip service to orthodox Judaism. Therefore one finds it strange and ridiculous that when it comes to the heritage of Palestine, secularists become firm believers.
There are three distinct points which every true believer in God must accept as truths:
The first point is that Ishmael is the legitimate son of Abraham, his firstborn, and therefore his claim to birth-right is just and legal.
The second point is that the covenant was made between God and Abraham as well as his only son Ishmael 14 years before Isaac was born. The covenant would have no value or significance without the repeated promise, “Through thee all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” and, “The seed that shall come out from thine own bowels, he will inherit thee” (Genesis 15:4). This promise was fulfilled when Ishmael was born.
The inheritance to which Ishmael was entitled by birth-right was to subjugate and occupy forever all the territories extending from the Nile to the Euphrates. These lands were never subdued by the descendants of Isaac, but by those of Ishmael (the Arabs) to this day.
The third point is that Isaac was also born miraculously and also specially blessed by the Almighty, that for his people the land of Canaan was promised and actually occupied under Joshua. No Muslim does ever think of disparaging the sacred and prophetical position of Isaac and his son Jacob; for to disparage or to lower a prophet is impiety. When we compare Ishmael and Isaac, we cannot but reverence and respect them both as holy servants of God. In fact, the people of Israel, with its law and sacred scriptures, have had a unique religious history in the old world. They were indeed the chosen people of God. Although that people have often rebelled against God, and fallen into idolatry, yet they have given to the world myriads of prophets and righteous men and women, and the Muslims recognise and accept all their Prophets as their very own also.
ANWAR SYED
Stanger
Letter shortened – Editor.