Does the Quran Force Jews and Christians to Submit to Islam?

Does the Quran Force Jews and Christians to Submitoffering. It is most holy to the Lord' (Exod. 30: 10.
to Islam? By Gabriel Sawma The Quran states theNRSV. Biblia Hebraica). The term 'kfr' is used to
following: INNA ALLADHIINA KAFARU SWAA ONdescribe the 'sin offering' as is shown in the following
ALAYHIM ANDHARTAHUM AM LAM TUNDHIRHUMBiblical passage: 'These are the ordinances for the
LA YUMINOON, (Quran 2: 7). Muslim commentatorsaltar, on the day when it is erected for burnt offerings
render the following interpretation: 'God hath set a sealupon it and for dashing blood against it…a bull
on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyesfor (kfr) sin offering' (Ezekiel 43: 19. NRSV. Biblia
is a veil; great is the penalty they incur. As those whoHebraica). 'kfr' is used to mean 'cover over, pacify,
reject the faith, it is the same to them whether thoupropitiate' as indicated in the Book of Genesis: 'Let me
warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe'cover over his face by the present ) so that he does
(translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali). The translatornot see the offense, i.e. pacify him' (Gen. 32: 21). In the
renders the following interpretation: 'Kafara, kufr, kafir,New Testament, the "kfr" (i.e. ransom) is no longer
are derivative forms of the word, imply a deliberateassociated with the temple sacrifices, still less with
rejection of Faith as opposed to a mistaken idea ofpayments of money, or incense, or even with prayers.
God or faith, which is not inconsistent with an earnestIt is the life of Jesus and his death by crucifixion, with
desire to see the truth. Where there is such desire, thethe actual shedding of blood that makes the ransom
grace and mercy of God gives guidance. But that"kfr" possible. The New Testament declares that in
guidance is not efficacious when it is deliberatelyChrist and his death is all that man needs in order for
rejected, and the possibility of rejection follows fromhis sins to be forgiven, and his life is "kfr" (i.e.
the grant of free will. The consequence of theransomed). There is no indication in the Aramaic
rejection is that the spiritual faculties become dead tolanguage of the Bible that the word 'kfr' means 'infidel'
impervious to better influence. The roots kafara hasor 'those who did not accept Islam'. Misinterpretation of
many shades of meaning: (1) to deny God's goodness,the Quran led Muslim commentators to render an
to be ungrateful. (2) To reject Faith, deny His revelation.erroneous definition to the Aramaic word "kfr". It is
(3)To blaspheme, to ascribe some limitation or attributeimportant to keep in mind that the early copies of the
to God, which is derogatory to His nature. In aQuran did not have the vowel signs necessary for
translation, one shade or another must be put forwardvocalization. When the vowel signs were introduced at
according to the context, but all are implied'. (Seea later time, Aramaic 'kfr' changed to 'kafaru'. The
Abdullah Yusuf Commetary on the Glorious Qur'an,Quranic word 'sawaa' has been interpreted
numbers 30 and 93). The Quranic word 'kafara', whicherroneously as 'whether'. Aramaic 'shwh' means 'to
is interpreted in modern days as 'infidel', does notagree with' (Isa. 16: 6). The shift from /sh/ to /s/ and
necessarily mean 'to reject faith'. Aramaic 'kfr' meansvice versa is interchangeable in the Semitic languages
'the price of life, ransom'. Akkadian "kaparu" meansas for example 'sham[s]' (sun) and 'sham[sh]a'; 'M[es]ih'
'wipe off, redemption, ransom'. In the book of Exodusand 'M[sh]iha' (Messiah) etc. The Quranic word
we read the following: 'If a ransom is imposed on the'andhartuhum' has been interpreted as 'you warn them'.
owner' (Exod. 21: 30. NRSV). Paying ransom for lifeSyriac (a dialect of Aramaic) 'etnadrat' means 'you
was a form of taxes. It was a natural obligation ongive a notice, make a vow' (Syriac Peshito, Gen. 31: 13).
individuals to buy protection for their lives. During theAramaic 'ndr' means 'vow' (Psalms 132). In Aramaic,
time of Moses, God imposed a ransom on eachletter /d/ is also spirant /dh/ like 'there'. When the
Israelite, the Bible reads: 'The Lord spoke to Moses:Arabic vowel signs, which developed later, were
When you take a census of the Israelites to registeradded, Aramaic 'ndr' change to 'nadhara' or 'andhara'.
them, at registration all of them shall give a (kfr)The Quran is saying: 'those who used sin offering for
ransom for their lives to the Lord, so that no plagueransom agree (Jews and Christians), whether you give
may come upon them for being registered' (Exod. 30:them a notice or not, are not going to believe (i.e. in the
11. NRSV. Biblia Hebraica). 'kfr' also means 'ransom forQuran). In Syriac, the verse is pronounced as following:
sin offering' as stated in the Biblia Hebraica: 'Throughout'holen kafore, showe 'layhoon, etnadrat lhun ao lo
your generations he shall perform the atonement for itatnadrat lhun lo mhaymne enun'. Gabriel Sawma, P. O.
once a year with the blood of the atoning 'kfr' sin