Preface

This book examines the foundations of the philosophy of Freemasonry, one of the world's most secret organizations, and reveals what lies behind Masonic rituals, ceremonies and superstitious beliefs. The research shows that the Kabbalah, which occupies an important place in Judaic belief, is also important in Masonic belief and practice. However, as with our other books on the subject, it will be useful to remember one important truth in evaluating the information revealed by statements appearing in Masons' own reference sources, work by historians and investigators, and various documents: Masons' misinterpretation of certain information in the Kabbalah in the light of their own interests stems from their own prejudice and flawed perspective. Judaic belief and practice is not responsible for the false Masonic interpretation. The criticism made when considering the connection between Freemasonry and Kabbalistic teaching is not, therefore, aimed at Judaic belief.

The Kabbalah, which is derived from the Hebrew root meaning "to receive, to accept," is one of the main Judaic texts. According to Judaic belief, in the same way that the Torah teaches the form Jewish life should take, the laws and moral values to be adopted and forbidden actions to be avoided, so the Kabbalah is a means whereby devout Jews acquire a deeper understanding of matters of faith. Only people over the age of 40 and who have already studied the Torah and the Talmud (another Judaic scripture), can receive instruction in the Kabbalah. The Kabbalah contains both elements compatible with the true faith and also interpretations that appear to have gradually been distorted over the course of time.

Certain symbolic descriptions in the Kabbalah have led people throughout the course of history to produce different interpretations of it. The best-known of these is the idea that students of the Kabbalah engage in sorcery. It is true that various people who engaged in magic also took a close interest in the Kabbalah, but this should not give rise to the misconception that the Kabbalah is a book of sorcery. One of the main reasons for the emergence of this claim is that leading rabbis have kept some of the information contained in the Kabbalah secret. This gave rise to suspicion and misinterpretation in other communities. The symbols that dominate the Kabbalah in general also helped reinforce this idea. The Masons acted in the light of this conception that spread among some Jews and made the mistake of thinking that their own false systems could rule the world by the use of the symbols and descriptions in the Kabbalah, assumed to provide secret information.

Naturally, these misconceptions, and the behavior of some Jews and the secret plans of the Masons based on those misconceptions, cannot be laid at the door of Jewish society as a whole. No matter how much some of their beliefs and practices may have been corrupted over the course of time, the Jews are society whom Allah has revealed to be People of the Book, who believe in the Prophets Abraham, Solomon, David, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and all the other blessed prophets sent to them as messengers (peace be upon them all), who believe in Allah and subscribe to moral values also contained in the true faith. The Muslim view of the Jews is based on compassion, affection and understanding, in line with the moral values of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Indeed, Allah reveals in one verse of the Qur'an how Muslims should call to the People of the Book: