Pope's Speech Vs Quran

Despite the fact that Pope Urban II’s speech at the Council of Clermont and the Qur’an both acknowledge those who live outside of the audience’s faith, these two texts address this issue in extremely different ways. The Pope’s speech is much more hostile towards unbelievers, whereas the Qur’an exists on the other side of the spectrum, taking a much more balanced perspective on those not of Islamic faith. By welcoming others, known as the “People of the Book”, as equals worthy of God’s mercy, this text is much more tolerant and accessible than the Pope Urban II’s call for arms. Lacking any sort of compromise, his speech is less appealing to outsiders. These attitudes translate into the faith’s treatment of war as well. The Qur’an, less divided

The specific mention of circumcision is based in anti-Semitism as well as islamophobia, since circumcision is a crucial practice in the Hebrew faith. By mentioning circumcision, the general ignorance that people held regarding Islam – and Judaism -- becomes prominent. These emotions will fuel their trek across Europe, helping them to carry out the first Crusade. In this same version of the Pope’s speech, the Turks are called “accursed”, as well as “a race utterly alienated from God”. There is no similarity between Muslims and Christians, according to the Pope. The unbelievers in the Pope’s speech are met with very specific punishment for their faith: the righteous Christians. The Turks are deemed as something dirty, facilitating a “cleanse”. Although the three different versions of Pope Urban II’s speech deviate slightly, there is an undeniable point trying to be heard- the Turks, otherwise known as “the vile race”, a “despised and base race”, and “an accursed race” all become targets of God-avenging anger that the Crusaders themselves will carry out. By using diction related to uncleanliness, the status of the eastern, unchristian community suddenly becomes purposefully

This urgency is absent from the Qur’an, which is much quieter. Only when the believers are attacked directly should they be prompted to participate in war, and even then, the actions that would ensue do not match those as discussed in Pope Urban II’s speech. The Qur’an guides believers in the treatment of their captives as such: “strike them in the neck, and once they are defeated, bind any captives firmly- later you can release them… God could have defeated them Himself if He had willed, but His purpose is to test some of you by means of others…” (47:4). There is the acknowledgement that not every believer wants to do right all the time- perhaps drawn in the frenzy of war, ending the life of one’s opponent is an attractive possibility. This is the “test”. However, there is the expectation that believers will, despite their short-sighted emotion, carry out what God intends- a war in which the nonbeliever is captured, though not slain. This returns to the idea that God must be trusted, as he will provide a fair judgement. Moreover, during the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, there are set rules that the believer must follow, including fighting: “Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits. God does not love those who overstep the