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This article is in the = process of=20 editing.

Islam

 

Content:

 

Intruduction.

1.=20 The Muslim Advance and American Collaboration.

2.=20 Are Allah and the God of the Bible the Same? Comparison=20 grid between Christianity=20 and Islamic doctrine. Muhammad=20 and Idolatry.

3.=20 Jihad. Quotes=20 from the Hadith on Jihad To=20 Kill and to Die in the Name of Allah.

4.=20 The Image of Woman in the Modern World: Quotes=20 about women from the Qur'an.

5.=20 Quotes from the Hadith about Muhammad. Muhammad's=20 False Prophecies. Muhammad=20 and his Personal Enemies. Muhammed's=20 Suicide Attempts.

6.=20 Contradictions in the Qur'an. More=20 Quotes from the Qur'an.

7.=20 Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State.

Conclusion.

Addendum

 

Intruduction.

In 1996, = Hillary Rodham=20 Clinton hosted an end of Ramadan celebration in the White House, the = first of=20 what has become an annual affair, which has been interpreted by one = Muslim=20 spokesman as setting "the seal of the officialness of Islam as a = full-fledged=20 religion in America." Until a few decades ago, Islam was a scarcely = noticeable=20 feature of this country's religious landscape. It now lays claim to = being the=20 fastest growing religion in America, citing membership figures between = four and=20 six million, ahead of Episcopalians and Jews. While a more accurate = estimate=20 would bring the numbers down closer to two million, [see Richard John = Neuhaus,=20 "Islamic Encounters," in First Things, Feb 1998] the growth rate is = still=20 significant.

With its increasing numbers, the Islamic community = has begun to=20 assert itself in the public arena, seeking and gaining accommodations = for its=20 religious practices in schools, on college campuses and in the = workplace. Muslim=20 schools and mosques are cropping up in cities from New York to LA. As = this=20 Muslim presence makes itself known here in America, we should ask = ourselves what=20 we know about this religion, a religion that historically has shown = itself=20 inimical towards Christianity, producing scores of Orthodox martyrs = =C2=97 even=20 today, as current events in Serbia and elsewhere tragically = demonstrate.

Islam's founder, the prophet Muhammad (also Mohammed = or=20 Mahomet), was born c. 570 AD, in Mecca, an oasis town in western Arabia, = located=20 on a caravan route between the Persian and Byzantine Empires. His father = Abdallah, of the ruling Quraysh tribe, died soon after Muhammad's birth, = and the=20 child was raised by his uncle Abu Talib. As a young man, Muhammad went = to work=20 in the caravan trade, in the employ of a wealthy widow, Kadifah, whom he = married=20 when he was twenty-four. They had several children, only one of whom, a = daughter=20 Fatima, survived. Now a man of means, Muhammad used his leisure for=20 contemplation, sometimes withdrawing for this purpose into the = mountains. Mecca=20 was a religious center for the polytheistic Arabians, and Muhammad, who = had also=20 been exposed to Jewish and Christian traditions in his travels as a = camel=20 driver, may have been trying to make sense of the conflicting beliefs. = In view=20 of later developments this is at least a credible surmise.

Muhammad was about forty when he felt called to be = God's=20 prophet. According to the traditional Muslim biography, he was sleeping = on Mount=20 Hira when he had a vision of the Archangel Gabriel, who commanded him, = "Recite!"=20 For the next twenty-two years Muhammad continued to receive revelations, = which=20 were recorded by his followers and comprise the Muslim holy scriptures, = called=20 the Qur'an (Koran), meaning "the reading" or "the recitation."

Foremost among Muhammad's teachings was that there is = but one=20 god, Allah (possibly from al illah, which means the god =C2=97 Boa, p. = 49). His=20 first converts were his wife and a young cousin Ali, but he was = otherwise slow=20 in gaining adherents. His teaching angered the Meccan merchants, whose = revenues=20 depended on the town's numerous shrines to various deities. Muhammad = escaped a=20 plan to murder him by fleeing to Yathrib, two hundred and eighty miles = north of=20 Mecca. The traditional date of the flight, the Hijrah or Hegira, July = 16, 622,=20 was adopted as the beginning of the Muslim era, and the name of the town = was=20 changed to Medina, the "City of the Prophet." There, Muhammad was more=20 successful in attracting converts, and he soon established himself as = the head=20 of a model theocratic state, extending his teachings to cover many legal = and=20 political, as well as social and religious matters.

The new religion's basic tenet was surrender to the = will of=20 Allah, islam, and those who professed to do so were called Muslims. = Muhammad=20 himself claimed to be the last in a series of prophets that included the = Jewish=20 Old Testament prophets as well as Jesus Christ. He expected to attract = followers=20 among Medina's considerable Jewish population. When they rejected him, = he=20 stopped praying towards Jerusalem, turning instead towards Mecca, and = began=20 persecuting the Jews, confiscating their properties. Among his followers = Muhammad inculcated a strong bond of brotherhood, while those outside = the faith,=20 like the Jews, were subject to official discrimination, including = special=20 taxes.

For all his moral preaching, Muhammad sanctioned the = plundering=20 of caravans, and, with their treasury thereby enriched, the Medinese = waged a=20 successful war against the Meccans, taking the city in 630. By this time = Muhammad's renown had grown, and even when he tore down the idols he = encountered=20 no serious opposition. He rebuilt the most important shrine, a temple = called the=20 "Kaaba," which housed the Black Stone, thought to have been given by the = Archangel Gabriel to Abraham, and, by continuing the ancient tradition = of=20 pilgrimage to the Kaaba, ensured Mecca's distinction as the religious = center of=20 the Islamic world.

This world expanded rapidly after the death of = Muhammad in 632.=20 He had left his followers with a commission from Allah to spread the = faith to=20 the rest of the world through the jihad. Within a century, this "holy = war" had=20 brought lands from Seville to Samarkand into a new Arab Muslim empire. = By the=20 early ninth century, the wave of Muslim expansion had swept India and = had=20 brushed the borders of China. Arab political supremacy waned, but Islam = held=20 sway in the conquered lands, with the exception of Spain and Portugal, = which=20 reverted to Christianity. In the fourteenth century the Ottoman Turks = resumed=20 the jihad with renewed vigor, extending their rule into Europe almost as = far as=20 Vienna and establishing themselves as the new champions of the Islamic = world.=20 They maintained their power with the same bloody sword, until internal = crises=20 combined with military reversals, beginning with the famous naval battle = of=20 Lepanto in 1571, to initiate the gradual decline of their empire. It was = 1830=20 before Greece achieved its independence, and 1912 before the rest of the = Balkans=20 and their predominantly Orthodox Christian populations were free of = their Muslim=20 oppressors.

The teachings of Islam are set forth in the Qur'an = (Koran),=20 which is divided into 114 chapters or surahs. These are supplemented by = hadith,=20 "sayings," a record of the actions and utterances of Muhammad, which at = first=20 were transmitted by oral tradition and later written down. The Qur'an = and hadith=20 form the basis of the shari'a, the Holy Law, which lies at the = foundation of the=20 Islamic state, and which constitutes a rich body of legislation covering = all=20 aspects of public and private life. Less clearly defined is the ijam, = which may=20 roughly be described as "consensus" and refers to the common opinion of = the=20 believers regarding particular interpretations of Islamic teaching. This = in turn=20 is guided by the Sunna, or accepted "tradition." In the eighth century, = the=20 Sunna was more rigorously defined, and this later gave rise to some = debate=20 between those who continued to adhere to this strict definition, the = Sunnis, and=20 those who restored a greater role to opinion. In both cases, innovation = was and=20 is considered to be equivalent to the Christian concept of heresy.

Briefly summarized, Islam teaches that there is one = God, Allah,=20 omnipotent and omniscient, creator of heaven and earth, and that = Mohammad is his=20 last and greatest prophet; that when the world falls away from Islam the = end=20 will come and there will be a resurrection of bodies and a day of = universal=20 judgment; at that time each man's deeds will be weighed to determine his = destiny=20 in heaven or hell.

In order to attain heaven, the Muslim is to submit to = the will=20 of Allah in all aspects of his life. A fundamental, and required, = expression of=20 this submission is the fulfillment of five basic duties, regarded as = "the five=20 pillars" of Islam. 1) Profession of faith: "There is no God but Allah, = and=20 Muhammad is his prophet." Anyone who confesses this may be considered a = Muslim.=20 2) Prayer. There is a set of prescribed prayers that are to be offered = five=20 times a day : at sunrise, midday, afternoon, evening, and before = retiring. The=20 worshipper must be in a state of ritual purity and prays facing Mecca, = the=20 "prophet's" birthplace. 3) Fasting. During the month of Ramadan, the = ninth month=20 of the Muslim year, all adult Muslims, with the exception of the aged = and=20 infirm, abstain from dawn until dusk from all food, drink and sexual = relations.=20 4) Pilgrimage. All Muslims are expected, at least once in their = lifetime, to=20 make a pilgrimage to Mecca. This is a great unifying force in the = Islamic world,=20 each year bringing together vast numbers of people from different races, = nationalities, and cultures in a single, collective act of devotion. 5) = Charity.=20 The Muslim pays a certain tribute, which goes to the community or the = Islamic=20 state, and he is expected to give generous alms beyond that. A sixth = pillar is=20 sometimes added: jihad, or "holy war." Anyone who dies fighting for the = advance=20 of Islam is assured of going to heaven.

Islam has no equivalent to the Church, nor does it = have an=20 ordained priesthood or any sacraments. Muslims gather on Friday in a = mosque for=20 communal prayer, in which they are led by an imam, who can be anyone = from the=20 community who knows the ritual prayers. Friday is not, however, the = Muslim=20 equivalent of the Jewish or Christian Sabbath; there is nothing in the = Qur'an=20 that prescribes a day of rest. Nor is the mosque a place of holiness; it = has no=20 altar, no sanctuary, and it is open not only for prayer but for study = and for=20 business. In earlier times it served as a social center, a hall of = justice, and=20 a pulpit for public proclamations and important news.

Islam has many recognizable elements taken from = Judaism and=20 Christianity, and Muslims like to stress the similarities: they believe = in one=20 god, creator of heaven and earth; they believe that all human beings = belong to a=20 single family that originated with Adam and Eve; they follow the Ten=20 Commandments; they honor Jesus Christ and the prophets of the Old = Testament;=20 they regard the Pentateuch, the Psalms and the Gospels to be inspired = writings;=20 they believe in a day of judgment, a resurrection, a heaven and a hell. = In fact,=20 any perceived similarities are superficial =C2=97 and deceptive.

Islam is rigorously monotheistic. Allah is not the = God of=20 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Who is revealed in Genesis to be a plurality = of=20 Persons: And God said, Let us make man in our image (Gen. 1:26; cf also = Gen.=20 3:22, 11:6-7). In the New Testament this plurality is more explicitly = revealed=20 to be a Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Essence, = Every-existing,=20 Undivided and Indivisible. Muslims do not accept this mystery and accuse = Christians of being polytheists. (Some compound this error, believing = that=20 Christians worship God, Jesus and Mary). This mystery of the Trinity, = which is a=20 fundamental dogma of the Christian faith, has been described by the = Church=20 fathers as a Trinity in Unity, the perfect expression of perfect love. = This love=20 is not only an attribute of God; God is love (I John 4:8,16). Although = Muslims=20 believe Allah to be loving, merciful, and just, he is more frequently = revealed=20 in Muslim scriptures to be stern, demanding and retributive: "Those that = disobey=20 Allah and His Apostle shall abide forever in the fire of hell" (Sura = 72).

Muslims say that they regard the Pentateuch, the = Psalms, and=20 the Gospels to be inspired writings. And they honor many Old Testament = prophets.=20 However, they consider Muhammad to be the last prophet, whose message = supersedes=20 the revelations of earlier prophets. Any scripture that contradicts = their=20 beliefs they regard as having been corrupted. They believe that Jesus = Christ was=20 born of the Virgin Mary, that He was sinless, and that He did great = things, but=20 they believe that before the crucifixion God took Him away, leaving a = shadow in=20 His place, and that Jesus will return at the end of the world to fight=20 Antichrist.

One of Islam's appeals is that it is egalitarian, and = Muslims=20 claim to champion the brotherhood of man, but Islam officially = discriminates=20 against non-Muslims. The fourteenth-century Muslim theologian, Ibn = Taymiyya,=20 wrote: "Nothing in the law of Muhammad states that the blood of the = unbeliever=20 is equal to the blood of the Muslim, because faith is necessary for = equality."=20 (Almahdy). Therefore, the killing of a non-Muslim is not a capital = crime. In the=20 period of Islamic conquest, pagans were required to convert to Islam = =C2=97 on=20 penalty of death. Jews and Christians, as "people of the Book," were = allowed=20 religious autonomy but were required to pay a special tax and were = subject to=20 certain social and legal restrictions. This dhimmis status is still = enforced=20 today. In many Islamic countries non-Muslims are forbidden any public = expression=20 of their faith, proselytizing is punishable by death, and any Muslim who = embraces Christianity may be killed by another Muslim without penalty to = the=20 killer (Almahdy). This is a far cry from the Christian teaching = illustrated by=20 Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan. I will strike terror into the = hearts of=20 unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips = off=20 them. (Sura 8:13-17)

Muslims would have others believe that Islam is a = religion of=20 peace, but this is problematic both in view of its past history and its = current=20 policies and practices. Under the Ottoman Turks, scores of Orthodox = Christians=20 accepted martyrdom rather than convert to Islam. In 1821, at the = outbreak of the=20 Greek War for Independence, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Gregory V, was = hung from=20 the gates of the patriarchate. The fierce and even brutal persecution of = Christians in Islamic countries today is well documented =C2=97 if = shamefully=20 ignored (see Paul Marshall's Their Blood Cries Out). It has been pointed = out=20 that certain aspects of Islam =C2=97 the shari'a in particular =C2=97 = have been=20 politicized under Western influence, and that the extremist brand of = Islam that=20 has developed in response to the challenge of Western culture is a = significant=20 departure from traditional Islam. Muslims in this country would distance = themselves from the stereotypical profile of the militant Muslim=20 "fundamentalist," inspired by such incendiary leaders as the Ayatollah = Khomeini,=20 Louis Farrakhan, and their terrorist prot=C3=A9g=C3=A9s. However, = Muslims cannot close=20 their eyes to the fact that there are these extremists in their midst, = and these=20 often have the voice in the Muslim community. This admission comes from = the=20 Islamic Supreme Council, a Muslim education group that is criticizing = Islamic=20 leaders here in the US for too often "equivocating between implicit = support for=20 extremists and general condemnation of terrorism." It says that Islamic=20 extremist organizations often operate in the US under "assumed = identities as=20 non-profit organizations or corporate businesses, hiding their origins = and=20 affiliations" (Religion Watch). The KLA's ties with Muslim terrorist = Usama bin=20 Laden and the support it receives from the militantly Islamic state of = Iran were=20 widely reported until this became embarrassing to US policy in = Kosovo.

Perhaps because Islam admits no Church/State = dichotomy =C2=97 in=20 Islam, God is Caesar =C2=97 it is prone to politicization. Certainly we = must not=20 judge all Muslims by a vocal militant minority. However, inasmuch as = this=20 militancy carries the threat of religious coercion, it should be of no = small=20 concern to us as we watch Islam make inroads not only into the heart of = Serbia,=20 but also here at home.

One can admire Muslims who take seriously their = religion as a=20 way of life and who breast the strong current of secularism in order to = follow=20 the precepts and obligations of their faith. As a religion, however, = Islam is=20 deficient in many ways. It does not admit the concept of grace and makes = no=20 provision for sin. Heavily based upon works, it is legalistic, prone to = empty=20 ritualism, and pervaded by a sense of fatalism (kismet). Muhammad = himself=20 inspires little confidence in his claim to be a divinely chosen prophet. = When he=20 was still young, he was subject to fits, leading his foster mother to = suspect=20 that he was possessed by demons. His later visions were accompanied by = similar=20 manifestations, terrifying Muhammad himself. Although some of his = followers=20 persist in believing Muhammad to have been sinless, his behavior in = Medina was=20 in many ways disgraceful =C2=97 he plundered caravans and persecuted = Jews. When=20 Kadijah died, he took several wives, sanctioning polygamy (he himself = exceeded=20 the "proper" limit of four). His sexual indulgences translated into his=20 conception of heaven as a place of sensual gratification.

Islam's fatal flaw, of course, is that it worships a = false god.=20 Ecumenists would have us believe that all religions are basically the = same, and=20 that if we would only lay aside the interpretations, traditions, and = other human=20 accretions that create our differences, we could all stand on common = ground.=20 This, certainly, is the vision of proponents of the New World Order. As=20 Christians, however, we cannot subscribe to such a monstrous = proposition, for it=20 would be tantamount to denying Christ. Holy Scripture says plainly: = Christ and=20 the Father are One (John 10:30), and Whosoever denieth the Son, the same = hath=20 not the Father (I John 2:23). Christ Himself is the way, the truth, and = the=20 life: no man cometh unto the Father except by Him (John 14:6). In Him = dwelleth=20 all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). Our faith in Christ = and His=20 words is supported by numerous prophecies, by the evidence of miracles, = by His=20 divine Incarnation of a virgin, His Resurrection and ascension, and by = countless=20 manifestations of His love for mankind. Islam has no comparable = testimony to=20 offer. It is a composite religion based on one man's alleged revelations = about a=20 strange god, a god who has done nothing for man's redemption and = salvation.=20 Worldwide, Islam currently claims some two billion souls, each of whom = is=20 conscious of his obligation to wage jihad. Would that we, as Christians, = could=20 be more conscious of our commission =C2=97 to spread abroad the love of = Christ, that=20 others might be drawn out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter=20 2:9).

 

Sources:

Dr Saleem Almahdy, "A Look Behind the Veil: How do = Christians=20 Live Under the Islamic Regime?" in Voice of the Martyrs, February = 1998.

Sister Anastasia, "Orthodoxy and Islam" in Orthodox = Life,=20 May-June 1993.

Kenneth Boa, Cults, World Religions and You, Victor = Books,=20 1977.

Bernard Lewis, ed., Islam and the Arab World, Alfred = Knopf,=20 1976.

William L. Langer, ed., An Encycopedia of World = History,=20 Houghton Mifflin, 1968.

Richard John Neuhaus, "Islamic Encounters" in First = Things,=20 February 1998. Daniel Pipes, "The Western Mind of Radical Islam" in = First=20 Things, December 1995.

Father Basile Sakkas, "Do We Have the Same God that=20 Non-Christians Have?" in Foi Transmise April 5, 1970; English = translation in=20 Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future by Fr. Seraphim Rose, St Herman = of=20 Alaska Brotherhood, 1983.

"American Muslim Leaders Silent on Terrorism?" in = Religion=20 Watch, February 1999.

Recommended: James Jatras, "The Muslim Advance and = American=20 Collaboration" in The Christian Activist, Winter/Spring 1999.

 

 

 

1. = The Muslim=20 Advance and American Collaboration.

by James George=20 Jatras.

In addressing = the cultural=20 schism between the western and eastern halves of European, Christian=20 civilization, marked principally by their respective religious = traditions, Roman=20 Catholic/Protestant in the West and Orthodox in the East, one issue = stands above=20 all others in determining whether that millennium-old division shall = eventually=20 prove fatal: the Islamic resurgence that has rapidly come to mark the = post-Cold=20 War era. For the East, which borders on the Muslim world, the problem = continues=20 to be, as it has been since Islam first appeared in the 7th century, = primarily=20 one of direct, violent confrontation, which today stretches from the = Balkans to=20 the Caucasus and through Central Asia. For the West, on the other hand, = the=20 problem today is primarily internal, both in terms of ideological = confusion=20 (which in many instances leads to active collaboration), coupled with=20 demographic infiltration.

The latter factor, largely a consequence of the = West's policy=20 of more-or-less open immigration, is typified in the following example. = A few=20 months ago, the county board of Loudoun County, Virginia, just a few = miles down=20 the road from the federal capital, granted a zoning variance to = facilitate=20 construction of a new Islamic academy over vigorous local opposition. = The=20 institution, one of a number being constructed nationwide, will cover = some 100=20 acres, will include elementary, middle, and high schools, will feature = an=20 800-bed dormitory, and will grace the rolling hills of the Virginia = horse=20 country with a 65-foot mosque dome and an 85-foot minaret.

County residents opposed the academy on a variety of = grounds,=20 notably the loss of tax revenue on land that was otherwise zoned for = business=20 uses and the security threat posed by the school, either from Muslims = that would=20 be attracted to the county or from the possibility that anti-Saudi = Islamic=20 groups might see the academy as a tempting target. But the critics' = central=20 issue and the one that highlights western incomprehension of the = phenomenon in=20 question was the character of the Saudi regime which, according to the = school's=20 bylaws (specifying even that the Saudi ambassador is ex officio=20 chairman), exercises total control, to the extent that it is part = of the=20 structure of the Saudi Ministry of Education: an establishment of a = foreign=20 sovereign on American soil.

Predictably, as soon as Saudi Arabia and Islam became = the=20 issues, the only response from progressive opinion had to be that = rejection of=20 the school would be intolerance of "diversity." Characteristic of this = viewpoint=20 is one county resident who symbolically displayed a crescent and star in = the=20 window of her home to show that "Islam is welcome here." The = ever-vigilant=20 Washington Post weighed in with an editorial blasting = opposition to the=20 school as "religious intolerance" and "the worst kind of bigotry" on the = part of=20 retrograde denizens of the Old Dominion. "Ugly statements that have been = made in=20 public meetings on the issue have run the range of mean-spiritedness," = sniffed=20 the Post , "with some residents asserting that the school = should be=20 rejected because 'the Saudis execute their own people who convert from=20 Islam.'"

In point of correction to the Post's = sarcastic=20 quotation marks, the 1997 U.S. Department of State Report on Human = Rights=20 Practices states the following about Saudi Arabia: "Freedom of religion = does not=20 exist. Islam is the official religion and all [Saudi] citizens must be=20 Muslims=C2=8AConversion by a Muslim to another religion is considered = apostasy.=20 Public apostasy is considered a crime under Shari'a law and = punishable=20 by death." So which is more "ugly" and "mean-spirited" the fact that the = Saudis=20 do indeed behead those who abandon Islam or that Loudoun citizens had = been so=20 tactless to take note of that fact? One witness before the county board=20 testified to the fact that her daughters, who are U.S. citizens, have = been kept=20 from leaving Saudi Arabia for over thirteen years because, as women, = they may=20 not travel, even though the elder one is now an adult, without their = Saudi=20 father's permission. The girls have been forcibly converted to Islam and = can=20 only look forward to their eventual marriage, for which their consent is = at best=20 a formality.

Fawning by county authorities extended even to a = blatant=20 disregard of the county's own laws. A Loudoun ordinance defines a = private=20 institution as one that is neither funded nor controlled by any = government, on=20 both of which counts the Loudoun Islamic academy fails. Yet the county = board=20 even rejected testimony to that effect by a former board member, who = himself=20 was the author of the relevant ordinance, that the academy was not = a=20 private institution. No matter. Today, neither Loudoun County, nor the=20 Commonwealth of Virginia, nor the United States would be able to create = and run=20 an educational institution based on any religious doctrine. But a = foreign=20 government, a government that is every bit as bigoted, intolerant, and = ugly as=20 the Post wrongly tagged the school's critics not only may do so = but is=20 seen as having a positive right to do so.

Especially illuminating in the Loudoun controversy = was the=20 position of local Christian social conservatives, who stayed neutral or = even=20 supported the academy. In the dimmer recesses of the American Christian = mind,=20 the only circuits activated were those questioning what precedent = denying the=20 variance might set for private Christian schools, the availability of = public=20 voucher funds, and so forth. The importation of Shari'a into a=20 once-Christian commonwealth seemingly registered not at all in = evangelical minds=20 blissfully unaware of Islamic aims:

"The Islamist movement makes no secret of its = intentions to=20 convert the West. Its propaganda, published in booklets sold in all = European=20 Islamic centers for the last thirty years, sets out its aim and the = methods to=20 achieve them. They include proselytism, conversion, marriage with local = women,=20 and, above all, immigration. Remembering that Muslims always = began as a=20 minority in the conquered countries ('liberated,' in Islamic = terminology) before=20 becoming a majority, the ideologists of this movement regard Islamic = settlement=20 in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere as a chance for Islam." = [Bat=20 Ye'or, The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam, p. 217, = emphasis=20 added].

The element of willful blindness in western = perspectives on=20 Islam cannot be overestimated. So deeply imbedded is the notion that all = religions are in their fundamentals the same, evidence to the contrary = is simply=20 wished out of existence. When the Ayatollah Khomeini states that = =C2=96

 

"...Muslims have no alternative...to armed holy war = against=20 profane governments,...the conquest of all non-Muslim territories...It = will be=20 the duty of every able-bodied adult male to volunteer for this war of = conquest,=20 the final aim of which is to put Koranic law in power from one end of = the earth=20 to the other..."

...and so on in the same vein, such utterances are as = little=20 heeded as were similar statements by Lenin during the Cold War. After = all,=20 Khomeini is a known "fundamentalist." Surely, his statements = can't be=20 held against the moderates, the "mainstream," who represent " real=20 Islam," whose beliefs and values are not so different from ours, = right? The=20 contention that Khomeini and his ilk are in fact Islam's historical = "mainstream"=20 not only is dismissed but is itself considered evidence of a dangerous=20 "Christian fundamentalism," which is every bit as bad as the Muslim = variety,=20 probably worse. Together with the growing number of Muslims in America = (who,=20 according to some claims, already have overtaken Judaism as the nation's = largest=20 non-Christian religion), the irrebuttable presumption of Muslim = peaceableness=20 has set the stage for Islam to become both a social and political force. = Particularly under the Clinton Administration, Islam has made major = strides to=20 join denatured, humanized Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism in = their=20 semi-established status as kindred denominations of a single American = civic=20 creed, symbolized by Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent sponsorship of the = Eid=20 al-Fitr end-of-Ramadan celebration at the White House.

Likewise, the idea that Islam shares with = Christianity and=20 Judaism an Abrahamic pedigree, that we are all, in the Islamic phrase, = "peoples=20 of the book," is now almost universally accepted. To see how flimsy this = idea=20 is, suppose that during the early Christian era a pagan philosopher from = Athens=20 had claimed to have received a vision from a divine messenger ( = angelos=20 ) to the effect that Zeus/Jupiter ( diu pater), the Greco-Roman = "father=20 god," was the one and only God and in fact was the same God the Father = preached=20 by the Christians; that the Christians had corrupted their own = Scriptures to=20 hide the fact that Jupiter had been worshiped by Adam, Noah, Abraham, = Moses, and=20 Jesus, while only the self-proclaimed prophet's recitation of his own = vision was=20 authoritative; that the rites and sacred places of the Olympian gods = (the=20 Eleusinian Mysteries, the Delphic Oracle) had always pertained to = Jupiter alone=20 and indeed had been established by earlier Abrahamic prophets; and that = those=20 who had surrendered their will to Jupiter were commanded to wage holy = war under=20 his thunderbolt symbol on "infidels" who resisted the divine will. Is = there any=20 doubt that Christians then would have rejected the supposed kinship of = the new=20 teaching to their own faith as unanimously as today's Christians rush to = accommodate Islam?

There is little doubt that Islam's "God" is none = other than the=20 former chief deity of the polytheistic Arab pantheon =C2=97 a variation = on the moon=20 god common throughout the ancient Middle East, among the Babylonians = known as=20 Sin (the Sinai peninsula is probably named after him) and among the = Sumerians as=20 Nanna =C2=97 stripped of his consorts and offspring. Among the pagan = Arabs he was=20 usually called simply "the god," al-ilah: Allah. The moon god = Allah,=20 whose crescent symbol today caps mosques the world over, headed a = pantheon of=20 over 300 lesser divinities, including three daughters called Lat, Uzza, = and=20 Manat; in fact, the controversy over The Satanic Verses by = Salman=20 Rushdie centers upon an embarrassing (and historically documented) = episode=20 during Muhammad's evolving "revelation" (after his death collected as = his=20 Qur'an, "recitation") in which he admitted the possibility of = retaining=20 under his new dispensation the three daughter-goddesses but later = rescinded it=20 as having been of false, "satanic," inspiration. Muhammad (the son of = Abdallah,=20 "slave of Allah," a further attestation of the god's pre-Islamic origin) = was of=20 the Quraysh tribe, the custodians of the Meccan shrine to the pantheon = known as=20 the Ka'bah ("cube"), which then as now houses a black stone, = probably a=20 meteorite, which Muslim pilgrims today continue to venerate, along with=20 performance of other pre-Islamic pagan rites such as stoning the devil = at Wadi=20 Mina and partaking of the waters of the Zamzam well.

In short, Islam is a self-evident outgrowth not of = the Old and=20 New Covenants but of the darkness of heathen Araby. Beside ludicrous = historical=20 suggestions to the contrary (such as the idea that the Ka'bah = was built=20 by Abraham, which would have been big news to him), Muslim apologists = have=20 strained to find in the Bible evidence that a new prophet would arise = after=20 Jesus, seeing Muhammad in obvious prophecies of the Holy Spirit = (that were=20 fulfilled on Pentecost) or of the Second Coming of Christ. One could = find no=20 better refutation of Islam's efforts to appropriate Christian Scriptures = (here,=20 Matthew 24:27) than that of the 14th-century Byzantine saint, Gregory = Palamas,=20 to his Turkish captors:

"It is true that Muhammad started from the east and = came to the=20 west, as the sun travels from east to west. Nevertheless he came with = war,=20 knives, pillaging, forced enslavement, murders, and acts that are not = from the=20 good God but instigated by the chief manslayer, the devil."

St. Gregory's answer is no less devastating to = Islam's=20 fraudulent self-depiction as a pacific creed. Islam was born in = violence, from=20 Muhammad's sanction of raids of pillage and plunder (starting with = attacks=20 against his own Quraysh tribe, which initially rejected his revelation) = to his=20 savage execution of hundreds of men of the Qurayzah clan (which = professed=20 Judaism) and the enslavement and forced concubinage of their women and = children.=20 (Muhammad himself took as his unwilling consort the Jewish 17-year-old = Safiya on=20 the very day of the murder of her menfolk.) From its inception, first = within=20 Arabia and then against all unbelievers, Islam has been unthinkable = without its=20 mandate for violence, war, terror =C2=97 in a word, jihad =C2=97 itself = codified in=20 Muhammad's Qur'an (notably Sura 9:29). Today, Islamic apologists in = America have=20 been quick to latch onto the vocabulary of grievance, denouncing as=20 "stereotyping," "bigotry," and "ignorance" association of Islam with its = violent=20 past and present. Even American elementary school texts have been = rewritten to=20 suggest that once-Christian Egypt, Syria, and Palestine became Muslim = because=20 their conquerors were "invited" in; Muslims are quick to remind = Christians of=20 the Crusaders' later "aggression," but they don't consider as aggression = their=20 own unprovoked seizure of the Christian Middle East.

In the application of jihad, as documented = by Bat=20 Ye'or and others, Islam understands the world in terms of two = domains, or=20 "houses": the House of Islam ( Dar al-Islam ), where Islam = rules and=20 Shari'a , the law of Allah, has been realized; and the House of = War=20 (Dar al-Harb), where the rebellious unbelievers persist in = their (or=20 rather, our) lawlessness. (The parallels are unavoidable to the = similarly=20 Manichaean communist concepts of the "socialist camp" as the zone of = peace and=20 the "capitalist camp" as the zone of war. I will leave it to the = specialists to=20 calculate which =C2=97 Islam or communism =C2=97 can claim the greater = achievement as=20 gigantic Christian-killing machines.) In Islamic terms, we unsubdued = Christians=20 are harbi , and as such we have no legitimate right to our = lands, our=20 property, or even our lives, which by right belong not to us but to the = Muslims;=20 that which we now have we enjoy only as long as Islam has not (yet) = become=20 strong enough to impose Shari'a . As the highly respected and=20 influential 14th century authority Ibn Taymiyya explained:

"These possessions [i.e., the things taken away from = the=20 non-Muslims upon their conquest] received the name of fay [war = booty]=20 since Allah had taken them away from the infidels in order to restore=20 (afa'a, radda) them to the Muslims. In principle, Allah has = created the=20 things of this world only in order that they may contribute to serving = Him,=20 since He created man only in order to be ministered to. Consequently, = the=20 infidels forfeit their persons and their belongings which they do not = use in=20 Allah's service to the faithful believers who serve Allah and unto whom = Allah=20 restitutes what is theirs; thus is restored to a man the inheritance of = which he=20 was deprived, even if he had never before gained possession."

It is worthy of note that this Ibn Taymiyya = is=20 particularly revered by the Wahabi sect, which is the ruling doctrine of = Saudi=20 Arabia; students at the Saudi-controlled Loudoun Islamic Academy will no = doubt=20 receive benefit of such wisdom. But it should not be thought that Ibn = Taymiyya's=20 sentiments are unique to him. On the contrary, Bat Ye'or multiplies = comparable=20 passages from Islamic sages of many times and locales, from the time of = Muhammad=20 to the present day.

In the sweep of the long history of the Islamic = assault on the=20 Christian world, it is sobering to consider how close the latter has = come to=20 annihilation on more than one occasion. In the initial offensive during = the=20 first decade after Muhammad's demise, Christendom lost its birthplace in = the=20 Levant, with the front of the East Roman Empire only being stabilized at = the=20 approaches to Asia Minor. Meanwhile, the Arab armies swept west from = conquered=20 Egypt, subduing the whole north coast of Africa and crossing into = Visigothic=20 Spain in 711. They were finally stopped by the Franks under Karl the = Hammer at=20 Poitiers in 732, the centenary of the pseudo-Prophet's death. The = conversion of=20 the Turkish tribes to Islam in the 9th century lent jihad = renewed=20 impetus; the erosion and final collapse of East Roman power opened the = eastern=20 door to Europe in the 14th century, and the Ottomans were turned back = only at=20 the gates of Vienna in 1683. The site of the first high water mark at = Poitiers=20 and the later one at Vienna are only some 700 miles apart =C2=97 so = narrow has been=20 Christendom's brush with extinction!

The Turkish defeat at Vienna marked the beginning of = two=20 centuries of remission during which European technology, particularly = military=20 technology, seemed to have resolved the contest between the Cross and = Crescent=20 decisively in favor of the former. During the 19th century, the = Christian=20 nations of the Balkans =C2=97 the only conquered Christian lands since = the Spanish=20 reconquista in which the Muslims had not yet reduced the = indigenous=20 population to a minority, as they had in Egypt and Syria, or eliminated = them=20 utterly, as in the Maghreb =C2=97 cast off their Muslim masters, and by = the end of=20 the First World War, most of the Muslim world (with the exceptions of = the=20 Arabian heartland itself and of a truncated Turkey which had assumed the = guise=20 of the modernizing, secular ideology of Kemalism) was subject to = European rule.=20 But at the same time as Europe achieved its military and geopolitical = advantage,=20 the moral and religious decline that culminated in the autogenocides of = 1914 and=20 1939 had become evident. Having found in their grasp places their = Crusader=20 predecessors had only dreamed of reclaiming =C2=97 Jerusalem, Bethlehem, = Antioch,=20 Alexandria, Constantinople =C2=97 effete and demoralized European = governments made=20 no effort to reChristianize them and within a few decades meekly = abandoned=20 them.

The moral disarmament of contemporary post-Christian = Europe in=20 its relations with Islam that began in the late 19th century has now = become=20 near-universal. If in the more remote past Bourbon France had made = common cause=20 with the Sublime Porte (the scandalous "union of the Lily and the = Crescent")=20 against Habsburg Austria, the arrangement at least had the virtue of = cynical=20 self-interest: Catholic France was hardly expected to praise the = sultan's=20 benevolence as part of the bargain. But by the 1870s, Disraeli's = obsession with=20 thwarting Russian ambitions in the Balkans prompted the Tories' = unprecedented=20 depiction of Turkey as tolerant and humane even in the face of the = Bulgarian=20 atrocities; even so, Britain's Christian conscience, prodded by = Gladstone's=20 passionate words, was still sufficient to bring down Lord Beaconsfield's = government in 1880.

After World War I, with the installation of nominally = "pro-Western" governments in many Muslim countries fashioned from the = wreckage=20 of the Ottoman Empire, the West seems to have definitively convinced = itself of=20 the existence of benign Islam. Indeed, the promotion of "moderate" = Muslim=20 regimes, especially those willing to make peace with Israel, and, even = better,=20 those that have a lot of petroleum, has become a linchpin of U.S. global = policy.=20 Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Morocco, the Gulf States, = Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria, Indonesia and a few others have become the = darlings=20 of U.S. policy, valued as supposed bulwarks against "fundamentalism" of = the=20 Iranian variety (Iran itself having lately been a member of the favored=20 assembly).

Operationally, this means not only overlooking the = radical=20 activities of the supposedly "moderate" Muslim states, for example, = Saudi=20 Arabia's and Pakistan's support for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan = (whom even=20 the Iranians denounce as dangerous fanatics), and assistance by = virtually the=20 entire club to the thinly-disguised radical regime in Sarajevo, but a = consistent=20 American bias in favor of the Muslim party in virtually every conflict = with a=20 Christian nation. The most prominent exception to date has been a = pro-Armenian=20 tilt in the Nagorno-Karabakh question, a function of Armenian-Americans' = early=20 cultivation of Congress, but it can be expected that this anomaly will = soon=20 shift to Azerbaijan's favor under the combined pressure of the = Turkey/Israel=20 lobby, of residual Cold War antipathy for Russia (seen as Armenia's main = protector), and of American oil companies fixated on an energy El Dorado = in the=20 Caspian Basin.

It is hardly a surprise that business executives who = would sell=20 their grandmothers to Abdul Abulbul Amir for oil drilling rights would = see the=20 world as a reflection of their balance sheets. Neither is the parallel=20 inclination of secular, socially progressive opinion, which is = viscerally=20 anti-Christian. What is not so expected is that so many western = Christians,=20 Americans in particular, are willing to believe the worst about their = eastern=20 Christian cousins, who, only lately freed from Islamic (and later, in = most=20 cases, communist) servitude, are desperately attempting to avoid a = repeat of the=20 experience. Today, when all of the Russian North Caucasus is subject to = plunder=20 and hostage-taking razzias staged from Shari'a-ruled Chechnya, when not = just=20 Nagorno-Karabakh but Armenia proper is in danger of a repeat of 1915, = when=20 Cyprus and Greece receive unvarnished threats to their territorial = integrity on=20 a weekly basis for the offense of purchasing defensive weapons, and when = the=20 borders of Serbia are rapidly approaching those of the pashaluk = of=20 Belgrade to suit America's new-found friends in Bosnia and Kosovo, = organized=20 Roman Catholic and Protestant sentiment in America overwhelmingly sides = with=20 non- and anti-Christian elite opinion in its pro-Muslim, anti-Orthodox=20 tendency.

For example, in 1993 statements were issued by a = number of=20 Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican spokesmen in the United States = urging=20 military intervention on behalf of the Islamic regime in Sarajevo. "We = are=20 convinced that there is just cause to use force to defend largely = helpless=20 people in Bosnia against aggression and barbarism that are destroying = the very=20 foundations of society and threaten large numbers of people," wrote the = chairman=20 of the U.S. Catholic Conference, at a time when the Muslim beneficiaries = of the=20 called-for intervention were not only roasting alive Serb POWs impaled = on spits=20 but were slaughtering Roman Catholic Croats by the hundreds in an = offensive in=20 central Bosnia. "What is going on in Bosnia is genocide by any other = name,"=20 observed a prominent Baptist spokesman: "The ghosts of Auschwitz and = Dachau have=20 come back to haunt us. If we do nothing we are morally culpable." "Those = of us=20 who opposed the Gulf War believed that war was not the answer," opined = the=20 presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, "but today we find ourselves=20 confronted with an evil war, the sure elimination of which may be = possible only=20 by means of armed intervention." Thus did high-minded guardians of the = West's=20 Christian integrity give their blessing for NATO to assist the = resumption of=20 jihad in Europe. Granted, they were themselves to some extent = victims=20 of the melodramatic media coverage that has characterized the Balkan = war, but=20 that's not much of an excuse. Who told them to believe everything dished = up by=20 CNN?

On a previous occasion, I have noted that western = anti-Orthodox=20 bias, which I have dubbed Pravoslavophobia, rarely means antipathy for = Orthodoxy=20 as such. Most serious Protestants and Roman Catholic often have a fairly = positive attitude toward Orthodox Christianity as a morally conservative = and,=20 especially, liturgically traditional bulwark within the spectrum of = Christian=20 opinion. (In fact, one leading Roman Catholic moral conservative who has = called=20 for Christianity to unite with not only Judaism but Islam in an = "ecumenical=20 jihad" against secularism, a common front in "spiritual = warfare," is=20 explicit in his favorable attitude toward Orthodoxy. But it is beyond me = what=20 spiritual values any Christian has in common with someone whose idea of = beatific=20 bliss is boinking an endless parade of the well-rounded houris = said to=20 inhabit the Muslim paradise.) Perhaps it has been so long since western=20 Christians have had to physically defend themselves as Christians = (as=20 opposed to Americans, Englishmen, Germans, etc.) that they just don't = understand=20 those for whom it is a current concern.

On the other hand, there are Westerners for whom = antipathy is=20 based precisely on the traditional Orthodox character of the front-line = states=20 bordering on Islam. Indeed, from this viewpoint, the desire of these = countries=20 to not only avoid Islamization but Westernization as well is a major = count=20 against them. For example, one columnist, who has made something of a = specialty=20 of painting the Orthodox as the villains in the conflicts with Islam = (and who=20 has even made the bizarre accusation that poor, helpless Islamic Turkey = is=20 threatened in Cyprus by the "burgeoning expansion" of an "Orthodox = Axis"!), has=20 cast it as follows:

"The purposes of the Orthodox Church in Russia today = reflect=20 most of its history. It wants to keep total power and exclude from its = midst any=20 other belief systems or reflections of conscience that might in any way = threaten=20 it. 'Through the Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic Church came to = terms with=20 the modern world,' the Denver-born Archbishop J. Francis Stafford, = president of=20 the Pontifical Council for the Laity, mused with me. 'We finally came to = a=20 willingness to test the waters of the Enlightenment culture against the = ancient=20 traditions of faith. The pope today is preoccupied with the relationship = between=20 freedom and truth, which is one of the primary issues raised by the=20 Enlightenment.' That noble preoccupation unfortunately has not yet = traveled=20 eastward and, indeed, there are no indicators that it will do so. = Meanwhile, it=20 would be good for other Westerners who still dream of rapid change in = Russia to=20 study the Catholic-Orthodox case. It might instill in their hope a touch = of=20 reality and also remind them that the historical Russian propensity to = protect=20 power by remaining isolated and to keep out all those 'foreigners' is = hardly a=20 thing of the past."

I defer to others as to what extent today's Roman = Catholic=20 Church, as well as modern Protestantism, has indeed made its peace with = the=20 Enlightenment's standard of what constitutes "freedom," which has = largely=20 translated into freedom from Christianity altogether. (Indeed, the = fruits of=20 that kind of freedom will be evident when the muezzin's call to prayer = is heard=20 five times a day across Loudoun County.) But what is amazing about this = passage=20 is that it is evidently "remaining isolated" that constitutes the = offense:=20 Russia (and the same could be said for Greece, Serbia, etc.) is wrong = not=20 because she wants to force her faith on the West but because she does = not want=20 to adopt the West's "enlightened" version of Christianity.

Though differing in the specifics, the overall = attitude=20 displayed here is strongly reminiscent of that of the West toward the = East=20 during the last great Islamic offensive in Europe as the dying = Byzantine,=20 Bulgarian, and Serbian states faced Ottoman conquest in the 15th = century. The=20 West then was explicit: we will help you only if you renounce Orthodoxy = in favor=20 of Roman Catholicism. In today's geopolitical context, when western = churchmen=20 join in calls for military action by western governments against = Orthodox=20 countries to help Muslims, Pope John Paul's calls for ecumenical = dialogue and=20 eventual reunion of East and West, the topic of his encyclicals Ut = Unam=20 Sint and Slavorum Apostoli , look suspiciously familiar to = eastern=20 eyes. While this perception is somewhat simplistic if only because the = West=20 today is no longer the Roman Catholic monolith it once was, the larger = question=20 should not be so easily dismissed: the Orthodox East is being told today = that=20 unless they unquestioningly submit to the West's tutelage in political, = social,=20 moral, and economic matters =C2=97 the collective "religion" of the = Enlightenment=20 heritage =C2=97 they again will be thrown to the wolves. In fact, the = West will even=20 help the wolves to devour them.

The immorality, not to mention the stupidity, of this = should be=20 obvious. Maybe Christians will never come to agreement on doctrinal = matters,=20 maybe the East will insist on retaining its distinctive religious and = cultural=20 heritage. But even if, broadly speaking, East and West are never able to = share a=20 common Eucharistic chalice, does that mean they must be enemies? Some = seem to=20 suggest: yes. Instead, I submit that the survival of Christian Orthodox=20 civilization in the East should be hardly less important to the West = than to the=20 Orthodox themselves, and indeed over the long term the West's own fate = may=20 depend on it. The fact that the West cannot recognize this reality is = part of=20 the same inability to recognize its own internal vulnerability, with the = forest=20 of minarets going up mainly in Western Europe but also now in North = America.

Some Christians see the Muslim influx primarily as an = opportunity for evangelization, and indeed we should never neglect to = share the=20 Gospel, the only real liberation, with Muslims, who should not, = as=20 individuals, be held responsible for the violent system into which they = were=20 born and of which they are perhaps more than anyone else victims. At the = same=20 time, in light of the growing volume of Muslim immigration, western = Christians=20 will soon find out =C2=97 maybe sooner than they think, given western = birthrates =C2=97=20 that confronting the Islamic advance has become, as it has always been = for=20 eastern Christians, a simple matter of physical survival. But by that = time it=20 may be too late for the West as well.

 

The Cristian Activist, vol 13

James Buchfuehrer, Publisher /Frank Schaeffer, = Editor

P.O. Box 740, Mt. Hermon CA 95041, Telephone: = 408-353-3240 (voice=20 and fax)

 

 

 

 

2. Are Allah and the God = of the Bible=20 the Same?

by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon

 

Islam teaches that the true God is a being called = Allah, and=20 that all other views of God are false. The Koran emphasizes of Allah: = "There is=20 no God but he, the Living, the everlasting." 1

But who is Allah? Is he anything like the God of = Christian=20 faith?

No. Allah lacks such attributes as holiness, grace = and love. If=20 we compare the Muslim God with the biblical God, we can see that Islam = and=20 Christianity have entirely different views of God. First, Allah is a = distant God=20 with whom no one can have a personal relationship in the manner = described=20 biblically. But the God of the Bible desires men and women to have a = personal=20 relationship with Him (John 1:1,11-14; 15:9-15; 16:27; 17:20-26).

Second, the Muslim God has a different nature and = character=20 from the biblical God. For example, Allah is not ultimately a God of = love, but=20 the Bible teaches "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:16).

Throughout the Koran it is stressed that Allah only = "loves" (is=20 merciful to) those who do good, but that he is not merciful to those who = are=20 bad. Allah repeatedly emphasizes that he does not = love=20 the sinner. 2 Thus the "love" of Allah is not the love of the God of the = Bible.=20 The biblical God does love the sinner; in = fact, He=20 loves all sinners (John 3:16; Romans 5:1-10).

Third, Allah is considered the author of evil. But = the biblical=20 God is not the author of evil. Rather He is infinitely holy and = righteous (1=20 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 77:13; 99:9; Revelation 15:4). His "eyes are too pure = to look=20 on evil" (Habakkuk 1:13).

Fourth, Muslims deny the triune nature of God as = revealed in=20 the Bible. The Koran emphasizes that Christians are unbelievers and = infidels=20 because they believe in the historic Christian doctrine of the trinity. = 3 (The=20 Koran distorts the orthodox view of the Trinity as tritheism=C2=97three = gods.) But=20 the Bible tells us that God has revealed Himself as a triune Being, as = one God=20 eternally existing in three Persons=C2=97Father, Son, and Holy Spirit = (John 1:1,14;=20 Acts 5:3,4). 4

What does all this mean? It means that the Muslim God = and the=20 biblical God constitute two distinct and opposing concepts of God. = Because=20 Muslims teach that Allah alone is the one true God, they claim that = Christians=20 worship a false god, a pagan idol. But perhaps Muslims have forgotten = that it=20 was "Allah" who was originally the pagan god. Scholars agree that before = Muhammad, "Allah" was only one of the pagan deities of the pre-Islamic = Arabic=20 pantheon (collection of gods)=C2=97and not even the central deity. It = was thus=20 Muhammad who transformed and elevated this pagan deity into the supreme = God of=20 Islam. 5

 

Notes:

1. A. J. Arberry, The Koran Interpreted (New = York:=20 MacMillan, 1976), p. 65.

2. Ibid., pp. 81, 90, 142, 178, 204.

3. Ibid., pp. 139-40.

4. For a good study, see E. Calvin Beisner, God = in Three=20 Persons (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1984), and Edward Bickersteth, = The=20 Trinity (Grand Rapids: Kregel).

5. G. D. Newby in Abingdon Dictionary of Living=20 Religions, p. 23.

 

 

Comparison grid=20 between

Christianity and = Islamic=20 doctrine.

 

Term

Christianity

Islam

Afterlife

Christians will be with the Lord in heaven = (Phil.=20 1:21-24), in our resurrected bodies (1 Cor. 15:50-58). = Non-Christians will=20 be cast into hell forever (Matt. 25:46).

There is an afterlife (75:12) experienced as = either an=20 ideal life of Paradise (29:64), for faithful Muslims or Hell for = those who=20 are not.

Angels

Created beings, non-human, some of which, fell = into sin=20 and became evil. They are very powerful. The unfallen angels carry = out the=20 will of God.

Created beings without free will that serve = God. Angels=20 were created from light.

Atonement

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross (1 Pet. = 2:24)=20 whereby His blood becomes the sacrifice that turns away the wrath = of God=20 (1 John 2:2) from the sinner when the sinner receives (John 1:12), = by=20 faith (Rom. 5:1), the work of Christ on the cross.

There is no atonement work in Islam other than = a sincere=20 confession of sin and repentance by the sinner.

Bible

The inspired and inerrant word of God in the = original=20 manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16).

Respected word of the prophets but the Bible = has been=20 corrupted through the centuries and is only correct in so far as = it agrees=20 with the Koran.

Crucifixion

The place where Jesus atoned for the sins of = the world.=20 It is only through this sacrifice that anyone can be saved from = the wrath=20 of God (1 Pet. 2:24).

Jesus did not die on the cross. Instead, God = allowed=20 Judas to look like Jesus and he was crucified = instead.

Devil

A fallen Angel who opposes God in all ways. He = also seeks=20 to destroy humanity (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:13-15).

Iblis, a fallen jinn. Jinn are not angels nor = men, but=20 created beings with free wills. Jinn were created from fire, = (2:268;=20 114:1-6).

God

God is a trinity of persons: Father, Son, and = Holy=20 Spirit. The Trinity is not three gods in one god, nor is it one = person who=20 took three forms. Trinitarianism is strictly monotheistic. There = is no=20 other God in existence.

God is known as Allah. Allah is one person, a = strict=20 unity. There is no other God in existence. He is the creator of = the=20 universe (3:191), sovereign over all (6:61-62).

Heaven (Paradise)

The place where God dwells. Heaven is the = eventual home=20 of the Christians who are saved by God's grace. It is heaven = because it is=20 where God is and Christians will enjoy eternal Fellowship with = Him.

Paradise to Muslims, a place of unimaginable = bliss=20 (32:17), a garden with trees and food (13:35;15:45-48) where the = desires=20 of faithful Muslims are met, (3:133; 9:38; 13:35; 39:34; 43:71;=20 53:13-15).

Hell

A place of torment in fire out of the presence = of God.=20 There is no escape from Hell (Matt. 25:46).

Hell is a place of eternal punishment and = torment (14:17;=20 25:65; 39:26), in fire (104:6-7) for those who are not Muslims = (3:131) as=20 well as those who were and whose works and faith were not = sufficient=20 (14:17; 25:65; 104:6-7).

Holy Spirit

Third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is = fully God=20 in nature.

The arch-angel Gabriel who delivered the words = of the=20 Koran to Muhammad.

Jesus

Second person of the Trinity. He is the word = who became=20 flesh (John 1:1, 14). He is both God and man (Col. = 2:9). 

A very great prophet, second only to Muhammad. = Jesus is=20 not the son of God (9:30) and certainly is not divine (5:17, 75)) = and he=20 was not crucified (4:157).

Judgment Day

Occurs on the day of resurrection (John 12;48) = where God=20 will judge all people. Christians go to heaven. All others to hell = (Matt.=20 25:46).

Occurs on the day of resurrection where God = will judge=20 all people. Muslims go to paradise. All others to hell (10:53-56; = 34:28).=20 Judgment is based on a person's deeds (14:47-52; = 45:21-22).

Koran, The

The work of Muhammad. It is not inspired, nor = is it=20 scripture. There is no verification for its accurate transmission = from the=20 originals.

The final revelation of God to all of mankind = given=20 through the archangel Gabriel to Muhammad over a 23 year period. = It is=20 without error and guarded from error by Allah.

Man

Made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). This does = not mean=20 that God has a body, but that man is made like God in abilities = (reason,=20 faith, love, etc.).

Not made in the image of God (42:11). Man is = made out of=20 the dust of the earth (23:12) and Allah breathed life into man = (32:9;=20 15:29).

Muhammad

A non-inspired man born in 570 in Mecca who = started the=20 Islamic religion.

The last and greatest of all prophets of Allah = whose=20 Qur'an is the greatest of all inspired books.

Original Sin

This is a term used to describe the effect of = Adam's sin=20 on his descendants (Rom. 5:12-23). Specifically, it is our = inheritance of=20 a sinful nature from Adam. The sinful nature originated with Adam = and is=20 passed down from parent to child. We are by nature children of = wrath (Eph.=20 2:3).

There is no original sin. All people are = sinless until=20 they rebel against God. They do not have sinful = natures.

Resurrection

Bodily resurrection of all people, = non-Christians to=20 damnation and Christians are resurrected to eternal life (1 Cor.=20 15:50-58).

Bodily resurrection, some to heaven, some to = hell (3:77;=20 15:25;75:36-40; 22:6).

Salvation

A free gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9) to the person = who trusts=20 in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. He is our mediator (1 = Tim. 2:5).=20 No works are sufficient in any way to merit salvation since our = works are=20 all unacceptable to God (Isaiah 64:6).

Forgiveness of sins is obtained by Allah's = grace without=20 a mediator. The Muslim must believe Allah exists, believe in the=20 fundamental doctrines of Islam, believe that Muhammad is his = prophet, and=20 follow the commands of Allah given in the Koran.

Son of God

A term used to designate that Jesus is divine = though he=20 is not the literal son of God in a physical sense (John = 5:18).

A literal son of God. Therefore, Jesus cannot = be the son=20 of Allah.

Word, The

"In the beginning was the word and the word = was with=20 God and the word was God...and the word became flesh and dwelt = among=20 us..." (John 1:1, 14).

Allah's command of existence which resulted in = Jesus=20 being formed in the womb of Mary.

 

 

 

Muhammad and=20 Idolatry.

Sam=20 Shamoun

One thing that = sticks out=20 in Islam is that most of the rites and practices adopted into the = religion are=20 actually pagan customs that Muhammad claimed were = sanctioned by=20 God. In fact, we find that Muhammad before, during, and after his = mission=20 continued to perform rites that from a biblical perspective are nothing = more=20 than idolatry. For instance, we are told that prior to his calling, = Muhammad=20 made sacrifices to the pagan idols: Narrated 'Abdullah: "Allah's = Apostle=20 said that he met Zaid bin 'Amr Nufail at a place near Baldah and this = had=20 happened before Allah's Apostle received the Divine Inspiration. = Allah's=20 Apostle presented a dish of meat (that had been offered to him by the=20 pagans) to Zaid bin 'Amr, but Zaid refused to eat of it and = then said=20 (to the pagans), "I do not eat of what you slaughter on your = stone=20 altars (Ansabs) nor do I eat except that on which Allah's Name has been=20 mentioned on slaughtering" (Sahi Bukhari 7:407).

 

Despite the fact that the parenthetical statement "to = the=20 pagans" is not part of the Arabic text, the point is still clear that = Muhammad=20 ate food sacrificed to idols that Zaid refused to partake.

In fact, Muhammad's indulgence in idolatrous = practices=20 continued right into his alleged prophetic calling. For instance, after = Muhammad=20 encountered "Gabriel" Ibn Ishaq states: "And when the apostle of God had = finished his period of seclusion and returned (to Mecca), in the = first=20 place he performed the circumabulation of the Ka'ba, as was his = wont.=20 While he was doing it, Waraqa met him and said, =C2=91O = son of my=20 brother, tell me what thou hast seen and heard.'" (Alfred Guillaume, = The=20 Life of Muhammad [Oxford University Press, Karachi], p. 107).

We must keep in mind that at this time in Muhammad's = life,=20 there was no revelation confirming that the Kaba was originally built by = Abraham=20 and Ishmael. That came later in his life. As far as Muhammad was = concerned, the=20 Kaba was nothing more than a pagan shrine erected in honor of pagan = deities.

The Quran itself commanded Muslims to continue = practicing the=20 pagan rites as part of the religion: "Behold! Safa and Marwa are = among=20 the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the = Season or=20 at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. = And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to good, =C2=97 be sure = that Allah=20 is He Who recogniseth and knoweth." S. 2:158

Yusuf Ali states: "The virtue of patient perseverance = in faith=20 leads to the mention of two symbolic monuments of that virtue. These are = two=20 little hills of Safa and Marwa, now absorbed in the city of Mecca and = close to=20 the well of Zam-zam. Here, according to tradition, the lady Hajar, the = mother of=20 the infant Isma'il, prayed for water in the parched desert, and in her = eager=20 quest round these hills, she found here prayer answered and saw the = Zam-zam=20 spring. Unfortunately, the Pagan Arabs had placed a male and = female idol=20 here, and their gross superstitious rites caused offense to the early=20 Muslims. They felt some hesitation in going round these places = during=20 the Pilgrimage. As a matter of fact they should have known that = the=20 Ka'ba (the House of God) had been itself defiled with idols, = and was=20 sanctified again by the purity of Muhammad's life and teaching. The = lesson is=20 that the most sacred things may be turned to the basest uses; that we = are not=20 therefore necessarily to ban a thing misused; that if our intentions and = life=20 are pure, God will recognize them even if the world cast stones at us = because of=20 some evil associations which they join with what we do, or with the = people we=20 associate with, or with the places which claim our reverence" (Ali, = Holy=20 Quran, f. 160, p. 62).

 

Despite the fact that there is not a single shred of = evidence=20 to support that Hagar was in Mecca or that Zam-zam was the well that = sprung=20 forth miraculously by the angel, Ali admits that the hills of Safa and = Marwa=20 originally housed two pagan idols. The Hadith concurs that the Muslims = were=20 hesitant to run between these two hills due to the connection with Arab=20 paganism: I said to 'Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, and I was at that = time a=20 young boy, "How do you interpret the Statement of Allah: "Verily, Safa = and Marwa=20 (i.e. two mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah." So it is = not=20 harmful of those who perform the Hajj to the House of Allah) or perform = the=20 Umra, to ambulate (Tawaf) between them. In my opinion it is not sinful = for one=20 not to ambulate (Tawaf) between them." 'Aisha said, "Your interpretation = is=20 wrong for as you say, the Verse should have been: "So it is not = harmful=20 of those who perform the Hajj or Umra to the House, not to ambulate = (Tawaf)=20 between them.' This Verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who = (during=20 the Pre-Islamic Period) used to visit Manat (i.e. an idol) after = assuming their=20 Ihram, and it was situated near Qudaid (i.e. a place at Mecca), = and they used to regard it sinful to ambulate between Safa and = Marwa=20 after embracing Islam. When Islam came, they asked Allah's = Apostle=20 about it, whereupon Allah revealed:-- "Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two=20 mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah. So = it is=20 not harmful of those who perform the Hajj of the House (of Allah) or = perform the=20 Umra, to ambulate (Tawaf) between them" (2.158) (Sahi Bukhari, Volume 6, = Book=20 60, Number 22).

Other practices that were adopted into Islam include: = And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service = of=20 Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), = send an=20 offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave = your=20 heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of = you is=20 ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He = should) in=20 compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when = ye are=20 in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the = 'umra=20 on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can = afford, but if=20 he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj = and=20 seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those = whose=20 household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear = Allah, and=20 know that Allah Is strict in punishment. S. 2:196

Sheikh Sha'rawi says: "The kissing of the meteorite = is a firm=20 practice in Islamic law because Muhammad did it. You must not = ask about=20 the wisdom behind that because this rite is (an expression) of worship = in spite=20 of the obscurity of its wisdom" (Sha'rawi, Legal = Opinions, pt.=20 3, p. 167 as cited in Behind the Veil, p. 287).

Muslim practices such as gathering on Friday and the = four=20 sacred months of Islam were also pre-Islamic customs: Then, when = the=20 sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find = them,=20 and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each = ambush. But=20 if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave = their way=20 free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. S. 9:5 Pickthall.

Interestingly, Muhammad abrogates the command = forbidding=20 fighting in the sacred months in order to allow Muslims the right to = wage war=20 against the unbelievers: The prohibited month for the prohibited month,- = and so=20 for all things prohibited,- there is the law of equality. If then any = one=20 transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise = against=20 him. But fear God, and know that God is with those who restrain = themselves. S. 2:194

They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to = warfare in the=20 sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great = (transgression),=20 but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in = the=20 Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a = greater with=20 Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease = from=20 fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your = religion, if=20 they can. And whoso becometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such = are=20 they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such = are=20 rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein. S. 2:217 = Pickthall

The fact is that even the Muslim prayers were not = something=20 unique, but something stemming from paganism! Muslim writer Muhammad = Shukri=20 al-Alusi in his Bulugh al-'Arab fi Ahwal al-'Arab states that,=20 "The Sabeans have five prayers similar to the five prayers of = the=20 Muslims. Others say they have seven prayers, five of = which are=20 comparable to the prayers of the Muslims with regard to time [that is, = morning,=20 noon, afternoon, evening and night; the sixth is at midnight and the = seventh is=20 at forenoon]. It is their practice to pray over the dead = without=20 kneeling down or even bending the knee. They also fast for one = lunar=20 month of thirty days; they start their fast at the last watch of the = night and=20 continue till the setting of the sun. Some of their sects fast during = the month=20 of Ramadan, face Ka'ba when they pray, venerate Mecca, and believe in = making the=20 pilgrimage to it. They consider dead bodies, blood and the flesh of pigs = as=20 unlawful. They also forbid marriage for the same reasons as do Muslims"=20 (Ibid., pp. 121-122).

Muhammad ibn 'Abdalkarim al-Sharastani in his = Al-Milal wa=20 al-Nihil, admits that most of the practices of Islam were actually = rites=20 performed by the pagans: "The Arabs during the pre-Islamic = period used=20 to practice certain things that were included in the Islamic = Sharia.=20 They, for example, did not marry both a mother and her daughter. They = considered=20 marrying two sisters simultaneously to be a most heinous crime. They = also=20 censured anyone who married his stepmother, and called him = dhaizan.=20 They made the major [hajj] and the minor = [umra]=20 pilgrimage to the Ka'ba, performed the circumambulation around the Ka'ba = [tawaf], ran seven times between Mounts Safa and Marwa [sa'y], = threw=20 rocks and washed themselves after intercourse. They also gargled, = sniffed water=20 up into their noses, clipped their fingernails, plucked their = hair from=20 their armpits, shaved their pubic hair and performed the rite of = circumcision. Likewise, they cut off th right hand of a = thief" (Ibid., vol. 2 chapter on the opinions of the = pre-Islamic Arabs=20 as cited in al-Fadi, Is the Qur'an Infallible?, p. 122).

To further complicate matters, the pagans, much like = the=20 Muslims, ran around the Kaba seven times. The number of circumambulation = seemingly corresponded to the number of planets which the pagans = venerated as=20 deities. That number totaled seven! Yusuf Ali, commenting on the = paganism of=20 Arabia, states: "But the moving 'stars', or planets, each with a motion = and=20 therefore will or influence of its own. As they knew and understood = them,=20 they were seven in number, viz.: (1) and (2)=20 the moon and the sun, the two objects which most = closely and=20 indubitably influence the tides, the temperatures, and the life in our = planet;=20 (3) and (4) the two inner planets, Mercury and Venus, = which are=20 morning and evening stars, and never travel far from the sun; and (5), = (6) and=20 (7) Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the outer planets whose=20 elongations from the sun on the ecliptic can be as wide as possible. = The=20 number seven itself is a mystic number, as explained in n. 5526 = to lxv.=20 12... It will be noticed that the sun and the moon and the five = planets=20 got identified each with a living deity, god or goddess, with = characteristics=20 and qualities of its own." (Ali, Holy Quran, Appendix = XIII, p.=20 1621).

Finally, after Muhammad had attacked Mecca and won = over the=20 Quraysh tribes, he entered the Kaba and destroyed every icon or = sculptured idol.=20 According to some reports, Muhammad found Christian icons of Jesus, Mary = and=20 Abraham that he did not destroy but left intact. [After the conquest of = Mecca]=20 "Apart from the icon of the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus, and a = painting of=20 an old man, said to be Abraham, the walls inside [Kaaba] had been = covered with=20 pictures of pagan deities. Placing his hand protectively over the icon, = the=20 Prophet told 'Uthman to see that all other paintings, except that of = Abraham,=20 were effaced" (Martin Lings, Muhammad: His Life Based on the = Earliest=20 Sources, p.300; ref.- al-Waqidi, Kitab al-Maghazi = 834, and=20 Azraqi, Akhbar Makkah vol. 1, p. 107. Martin Lings is a = practicing Muslim.).

In conclusion, we must say that Muhammad began and = ended up=20 with a pagan religion with the only difference being that he repackaged = it in a=20 monotheistic context.

 

 

 

3. = Jihad.

Jihad has been = interpreted=20 by Muslims in different ways. The Muslim sect of the Kharijites has = elevated=20 Jihad to one of the Five Pillars of Islam =C2=97 making it Six Pillars. = This kind of=20 belief is seen in the extremist Muslim groups we call terrorists. They = use the=20 concept of Jihad as a justification for killing anyone who isn't a = Muslim.=20 However, most Muslims disagree with this extremist position of some = Muslims and=20 advocate peace. These Muslims view Jihad as a spiritual struggle against = evil in=20 a metaphorical sense.1

Islamic scholar Jamal Badawi, chairman of the Islamic = Information Foundation in Halifax, insists that a jihad is `permitted = only in=20 self-defense or against tyranny and oppression -- not as a tool to = promote=20 Islam.'' But, experts added, the ancient Islamic empires were built as = much by=20 force as by persuasion. Islam's founder, Mohammed, frequently used = force, or the=20 threat of it, to unify the nomadic tribes of the Arabian peninsula. The = caliphs,=20 who succeeded Mohammed as leaders of the Arab world, successfully took = up arms=20 against the Christian Byzantine Empire in Egypt and the Holy Land. By = the end of=20 the ninth century, Arabian armies had extended Islamic power from Spain = to the=20 borders of India.2

Anyone who has studied Islamic history must surely = notice how=20 frequently the Muslims were involved in battle after battle. Within 200 = years=20 after its inception, Islam had spread through a huge geographical area = and many=20 converts were made by the sword.

 

What does the Qur'an = say about=20 Jihad?

The Qur'an is the single most important authority in = all of=20 Islam. It is the scripture given from Allah through the angel Gabriel. = Does the=20 Qur'an teach Jihad? Absolutely yes. As you will see in the following = quotes from=20 the Qur'an, Holy War is definitely taught and encouraged.

"Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in = battle=20 array, as if they were a solid cemented structure" (Surah 61:4).

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but = do not=20 transgress limits... 191And slay them wherever ye catch them. = and=20 turn them out from where they have turned you out; for persecution is = worse than=20 slaughter; But fight them not at the sacred Mosque unless they (first) = fight you=20 there; But if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who = reject=20 faith. 192 But if they cease, Allah is oft-forgiving, Most = Merciful.=20 193And fight them on until there is no more persecution. And = the=20 religion becomes Allah's. But if they cease, Let there be no hostility = except to=20 those who practice oppression" (The Qur'an, Surah 2:190-193).

"O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, = when ye=20 are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the = earth? Do=20 ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the = comfort of=20 this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will = punish=20 you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye = would not=20 harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things. Unless ye go = forth, He=20 will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; = but Him=20 ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things," = (Surah=20 9:38-39).

See also Surah 4:74-76; = 61:10-12.

 

What does the Hadith = say about=20 Jihad?

The Hadith are the recorded sayings and deeds of the = Prophet=20 Muhammad. It is second in authority only to the Qur'an and is often used = to=20 clarify things not specified in the Qur'an. What did Muhammad say about = Jihad as=20 recorded in the Hadith?

"The Prophet said, "The person who participates in = (Holy=20 battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief = in=20 Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a = reward, or=20 booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed = in the=20 battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then = I would=20 not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to = be=20 martyred in Allah's cause and then made alive, and then martyred and = then made=20 alive, and then again martyred in His cause."Volume 1, Book 2, Number = 35,=20 Narrated Abu Huraira

"Allah's Apostle said, "A pious slave gets a double = reward."=20 Abu Huraira added: By Him in Whose Hands my soul is but for Jihad (i.e. = holy=20 battles), Hajj, and my duty to serve my mother, I would have loved to = die as a=20 slave. Volume 3, Book 46, Number 724: Narrated Abu Huraira

"Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees (the person = who=20 carries out Jihad in His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but = Jihad in=20 His Cause and the belief in His Word) that He will either admit him into = Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with reward or booty he has earned to = his=20 residence from where he went out." Volume 9, Book 93, Number 555: = Narrated Abu=20 Huraira.

Obviously Muhammad taught that Holy War was an = acceptable and=20 good thing to do. To clarify, he even stated that if a Muslim were to = die in=20 battle, fighting for the cause of Allah, that he would be guaranteed to = go to=20 Paradise.

 

Why is this=20 important?

Why is understanding the Islamic position of Jihad = important?=20 Simple. People act according to their beliefs. If a large group of = people=20 believes that war against "unbelievers" is a holy thing, that it is a = thing=20 sanctioned from God, then those who are not Muslims should be concerned. = Of=20 course, at this point, most Muslims might accuse me of being = sensationalistic=20 and pointing to only a few extremists and out-of-context verses to make = Islam=20 look bad. First, let me say that by far the majority of Muslims I have=20 encountered here in the United States have been polite and peace loving. = Second,=20 in other parts of the world, Jihad is taken to extremes not simply by=20 terrorists, but by Islamic led governments.

In Egypt, a Muslim country, Christians have been = persecuted=20 heavily for their faith and only recently are things beginning to=20 change.3

"Roman Catholic Bishop John Joseph of Pakistan shot = himself to=20 death on May 6 to highlight the case of Ayub Massih, a Christian = sentenced to=20 death for supposedly making blasphemous remarks against the Prophet = Muhammad and=20 thus against Islam. In a letter sent to a local newspaper just before = his death,=20 the bishop stated that he hoped his suicide would galvanize his fellow = bishops=20 and others to work for the repeal of sections 295 B and Cot the Pakistan = Penal=20 Code (PPC), which make any blasphemy against Islam a serious crime and = blasphemy=20 against Muhammad punishable by death."4

"Farag Foda, an Egyptian intellectual who expressed = scorn for=20 the Islamist program, was shot and murdered. And Naguib Mahfouz, the = elderly and=20 much-celebrated Nobel Prize laureate for literature, was seriously = injured in=20 Cairo when an assailant knifed him in the neck, presumably in revenge = for an=20 allegorical novel written decades earlier."5

"Hundreds of thousands of Muslims assembled in = Jakarta and=20 declared a holy war against Indonesian Christians shortly after dawn = Friday to=20 avenge the deaths of Muslims in religious clashes in the Maluku Islands = (the=20 Spice Islands). Assembled in central Jakarta, the Muslims shouted "Jihad = (Holy=20 War)! Jihad!" Most of those gathered wore white robes and white = bandannas marked=20 with quotes from the Koran about the "Holy War." It is time for us to do = a jihad=20 against Christians," said Husen al-Habsyi, a former political prisoner, = who was=20 jailed for masterminding an explosion in the Borobudur Buddhist Temple = in the=20 early 1980s.6

This Christmas season, Pastor Rod Parsley is taking a = lead in=20 an effort to help free the tens of thousands of Sudanese women and = children held=20 in captivity in the Sudan, many of which are Christians. This great = effort will=20 help stem the horrific tide of genocide and enslavement of Christians in = the=20 African nation. Bridge of Hope, the missions outreach of Breakthrough is = located=20 in Columbus, Ohio...The Government of Sudan, a fundamentalist regime = that=20 represents only 10% of the population in Sudan, has declared a holy war = (jihad)=20 against Christians and animists in their own country. Since 1985, this = reign of=20 terror is responsible for the murder of over 2 million Sudanese ... and = over 4=20 million have been displaced. The Government of Sudan will not stop short = of=20 total annihilation of all Christians and all others that do not believe = in this=20 totalitarian regime...During Government sponsored raids in peaceful = villages,=20 men are killed; village elders are hacked with machetes and left for = dead; the=20 village is burned and devastated; and women and children are captured as = slaves.=20 Slaves are subjected by their masters to systematic physical and = psychological=20 torture, including gang rape, beatings, death threats, genital = mutilation and=20 forcible conversion to Islam.7

Anyone can make any group look bad through selective = quotes.=20 Each religious group has elements of its history it wish it could = ignore. The=20 Muslims could cite the Crusades or the Inquisition as examples of = "Christian=20 behavior." In response, the Crusades, right or wrong, were a retaliation = against=20 the Islamic Jihad that was sweeping through Europe. The Inquisition, on = the=20 other hand, is a perfect example of what happens when a religious group = (the=20 Roman Catholic Church) gets in power and tries to root out heretics and=20 blasphemers. Islam is no different.

The Islamic run country of Pakistan (No. 9 above) has = anti=20 blasphemy laws where the punishment for speaking blasphemy against = Muhammad and=20 the Qur'an is death. Islamic run Sudan has already killed, and still is = killing,=20 millions of people, mainly Christians, in its own country in addition to = making=20 many of them slaves. (No. 12 above). It is these kinds of facts that = cannot be=20 ignored and should not be ignored. Muslim and Christian alike should be = very=20 concerned.

I do not know if other Muslim countries are = condemning the=20 actions of these Islamic nations that so easily violate human rights. I = do not=20 know if Muslims outside of those countries are even aware of the = problems going=20 on within their theologically diverse ranks of other nations. But, when = a Holy=20 Book like the Qur'an advocates Holy War, when the very sayings and deeds = of=20 their beloved Prophet Muhammad advocate Jihad, and when we see some = Islamic=20 nations killing non Muslims =C2=97 because they are not Muslims, how can = we not be=20 worried about what they would do if they had control of the world....as = is their=20 goal.

Here in the States, Muslims enjoy freedom of religion = and=20 expression. Such freedoms for Christians are basically non existent in = many=20 Islamic nations. Is that right?

____________________

Sukhvinder Stubbs, The New Stateman, LTD, "The = hooded=20 hordes of prejudice: to typecast all Muslims as fanatical militants is = unfair=20 and offensive," Feb 28, 1997.

James Deacon and Diane Brady, "The will to = fight--and die,"=20 Maclean's, 2/11/91, Vol. 104 Issue 6, p 39.

Saad Michael Saad, The Christian Century, "A = Christian=20 appeal to Islam. Treatment of Copts in Egypt," by Feb 23, 2000.

Cris E. Toffolo, The Christian Century, = "Christians in=20 Pakistan confront charges of blasphemy," July 29, 1998.

Daniel Pipes, The American Jewish Community, "How = Dare You=20 Defame Islam,." Nov, 1999.

Asian Political News, Jan 10, 2000

(PR Newswire, "Breakthrough Bridge of Hope = Missions to=20 Partner With Christian Solidarity International to Free Slaves in = Sudan."=20 Issue: Nov 30, 2000.

 

 

Quotes from the Hadith = on=20 Jihad

Jihad means striving. It is used to describe the = inner struggle=20 against sin as well as the outer struggle against those who would oppose = Islam.=20 Did Muhammad teach Holy War upon those who reject Islam? Yes he did.

Following are various quotes from the Hadith dealing = with=20 killing people.

 

The second best deed is = to=20 participate in Jihad

Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best = deed?" He=20 replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner = then=20 asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in = Jihad=20 (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." The questioner again asked, = "What is=20 the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To perform Hajj (Pilgrim age to = Mecca)=20 'Mubrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is performed with the intention = of=20 seeking Allah's pleasure only and not to show off and without committing = a sin=20 and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet)." Volume 1, Book = 2, Number=20 25, Narrated Abu Huraira:

 

Muhammad said if = someone leaves=20 Islam, to kill him

Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn = 'Abbas, who=20 said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the = Prophet said,=20 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have = killed=20 them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his = religion,=20 kill him.'" Volume 4, Book 52, Number 260, Narrated Ikrima. = Also, see=20 Volume 9, Book 84, Number 64, Narrated 'Ali.

 

Muhammad approves of = killing=20 someone who hurt him and having the killer = lie

"Allah's Apostle said, "Who is willing to kill = Ka'b bin=20 Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Thereupon Muhammad = bin=20 Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill = him?" The=20 Prophet said, "Yes," Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say = a=20 (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). "The Prophet said, "You may say = it."=20 Then Muhammad bin Maslama went to Kab and said, "That man (i.e. = Muhammad=20 demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has troubled us, and I have = come to=20 borrow something from you." On that, Kab said, "By Allah, you will get = tired of=20 him!" Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Now as we have followed him, we do not = want to=20 leave him unless and until we see how his end is going to be. .." Volume = 5, Book=20 59, Number 369, Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah.

 

Paradise was guaranteed = to the=20 first to take part in a naval battle

That 'Umair bin Al-Aswad Al-Anasi told him that he = went to=20 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was staying in his house at the sea-shore = of Him=20 with (his wife) Um Haram. 'Umair said. Um Haram informed us that she = heard the=20 Prophet saying, "Paradise is granted to the first batch of my = followers who=20 will undertake a naval expedition." Um Haram added, I said, 'O = Allah's=20 Apostle! Will I be amongst them?' He replied, 'You are amongst them.' = The=20 Prophet then said, 'The first army amongst' my followers who will = invade=20 Caesar's City will be forgiven their sins.' I asked, 'Will I be one = of them,=20 O Allah's Apostle?' He replied in the negative." Volume 4, Book 52, = Number=20 175 Narrated Khalid bin Madan:

 

Those who fight in = Jihad have the=20 right to the spoils of the conquered or Paradise if he = dies

The Prophet said, "The person who participates in = (Holy=20 battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except = belief in=20 Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a = reward, or=20 booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is = killed in=20 the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, = then I=20 would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have = loved to be=20 martyred in Allah's cause and then made alive, and then martyred and = then made=20 alive, and then again martyred in His cause." Volume 1, Book 2, = Number 35,=20 Narrated Abu Huraira.

." . . "This is the Will of Allah, "After the people = returned,=20 the Prophet sat and said, "Anyone who has killed an enemy and has a = proof of=20 that, will posses his spoils." I got up and said, "Who will be a = witness for=20 me?" and then sat down. The Prophet again said, "Anyone who has = killed an=20 enemy and has proof of that, will possess his spoils." I (again) got = up and=20 said, "Who will be a witness for me?" and sat down. Then the Prophet = said the=20 same for the third time. I again got up, and Allah's Apostle said, "O = Abu=20 Qatada! What is your story?" Then I narrated the whole story to him. A = man (got=20 up and) said, "O Allah's Apostle! He is speaking the truth, and the = spoils of=20 the killed man are with me. So please compensate him on my behalf." On = that Abu=20 Bakr As-Siddiq said, "No, by Allah, he (i.e. Allah's Apostle ) will not = agree to=20 give you the spoils gained by one of Allah's Lions who fights on the = behalf of=20 Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet said, "Abu Bakr has spoken the = truth."=20 So, Allah's Apostle gave the spoils to me. I sold that armor (i.e. = the=20 spoils) and with its price I bought a garden at Bani Salima, and this = was my=20 first property which I gained after my conversion to Islam." Volume = 4, Book=20 53, Number 370, Narrated Abu Qatada.

." . . . While we were in this state, the Lord of the = Heavens=20 and the Earths, Elevated is His Remembrance and Majestic is His = Highness, sent=20 to us from among ourselves a Prophet whose father and mother are known = to us.=20 Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has ordered us to fight you till = you=20 worship Allah Alone or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has = informed=20 us that our Lord says:-- Whoever amongst us is killed (i.e. = martyred), shall=20 go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, = and=20 whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your master." (Al-Mughira, = then=20 blamed An-Numan for delaying the attack and) An-Nu' man said to = Al-Mughira, "If=20 you had participated in a similar battle, in the company of Allah's = Apostle he=20 would not have blamed you for waiting, nor would he have disgraced you. = But I=20 accompanied Allah's Apostle in many battles and it was his custom that = if he did=20 not fight early by daytime, he would wait till the wind had started = blowing and=20 the time for the prayer was due (i.e. after midday)." Volume 4, Book = 53,=20 Number 386, Narrated Jubair bin Haiya.

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees (the = person who=20 carries out Jihad in His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but = Jihad in=20 His Cause and the belief in His Word) that He will either admit him into = Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with reward or booty he has = earned to his=20 residence from where he went out." Volume 9, Book 93, Number 555, = Narrated=20 Abu Huraira:

The preceding Hadith are translated by Sahih Bukhari = and are=20 quoted from and online source found at=20 http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/.

 

 

To Kill and to Die in the = Name of=20 Allah.

The following are news items quoted from newspapers = in the last=20 few years.

October 19, 1994

"A powerful bomb, apparently placed by Islamic = militants=20 opposed to the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, blew up a crowded bus = during the=20 morning rush hour in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 22 people = and=20 wounding 48."

 

July 18, 1995

"A huge bomb exploded destroying a seven-story = downtown=20 building housing two Jewish groups in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  At = least 26=20 people were killed and 127 injured."

 

February 26, 1993

"A tremendous underground explosion believed to be = caused by a=20 bomb, shook the 110 story twin towers of Manhattan=C2=92s World Trade = Center, in New=20 York, killing at least five people, injuring more than 1000, and sending = tens of=20 thousands of workers fleeing for their lives down crowded smoke-filled=20 stairs."

 

May 4, 1992

"13 Egyptian Christians were shot dead by Muslim=20 fundamentalists in Mansheit Nasser, Egypt.  Ten Christian farmers = were=20 ambushed and murdered while working in their fields.  A Christian = teacher=20 was shot in the local school while teaching a class of ten-year = olds.  A=20 Christian doctor was shot dead outside his home."

 

These are just a few samples out of thousands of = terrorist=20 attacks, which all have one element in common:  They were all = committed by=20 Muslim fundamentalists.  While there are extremists in other = groups, who=20 are capable of committing acts of violence, it seems that violence = committed by=20 Muslim extremists exceeds the violence of all other groups = combined.

 

Why do = Muslim=20 Fundamentalists Act this Way?

 Are Muslim fundamentalists inherently inhumane, = savage=20 and evil?  Of course not.  Muslims are ordinary people, just = like=20 anybody else.  They are fathers, brothers and sons.  They = could be=20 doctors, engineers and lawyers.  They are your co-workers, and your = next=20 door neighbors.

 So what goes on in their minds when they act=20 violently?  To understand this one must understand an important and = dangerous Islamic teaching called "Jihad", ( or Holy War).

 It is important to understand that not every = Arab is a=20 Muslim, not every Muslim is an Arab, and not every Muslim is a=20 fundamentalist.  We are not trying to attack a religion.  We = are only=20 exposing a teaching in a religion that could have a serious effect on = all=20 society.

 It is also important to know that in exercising = Jihad,=20 Muslim fundamentalists may not think they are trying to maliciously hurt = others,=20 but rather they are only obeying God=C2=92s commandments.  And in = doing so,=20 they are assuring themselves a place in Paradise.

 

JIHAD ( = Holy=20 War)

Jihad is one of the most sacred duties Muslims = perform. =20 The word "Jihad", is an Arabic word which means "struggle." In this = sense Jihad=20 is the struggle for the cause of spreading Islam, using all means = available to=20 Muslims, including violence.  This kind of Jihad is often referred = to as "=20 Holy War".

 In resorting to violence, Muslims will not have = any=20 problem finding passages in the Quran ( believed by Muslims to be = Allah=C2=92s=20 word), and the Hadith (Mohammed=C2=92s sayings as recorded by Al = Bukhari), that will=20 not only condone violence, but will also demand it.

 

Jihad in = the=20 "Quran".

 Allah orders Muslims in the Quran to terrorize=20 non-Muslims on His behalf.

 "Strike terror (into the hearts of) the enemies = of God=20 and your enemies."

 Surah 8:60

 Fight (kill) them (non-Muslims), and God will = punish,=20 (torment) them by your hands, cover them with shame." Surah 9:14

"I will instill terror into the hearts of the = unbelievers,=20 smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off = them.  It is=20 not ye who slew them; it was God."

Surah 8:13-17.

 

Jihad in = the=20 "Hadith".

 In the Hadith Mohammed also urges Muslims to = practice=20 Jihad.

 Mohammed was once asked: what is the best deed = for the=20 Muslim next to believing in Allah and His Apostle?  His answer was = : " To=20 participate in Jihad in Allah=C2=92s cause. " Al Bukhari vol 1:25.

 Mohammed was quoted as saying:  "I have = been ordered=20 to fight with the people till they say, none has the right to be = worshipped but=20 Allah."

Al Bukhari vol 4:196.

 Mohammed also said: "The person who = participates in (Holy=20 Battles) in Allah=C2=92s cause and nothing compels him do so except = belief in Allah=20 and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or = booty (=20 if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise ( if he is = killed).  Al=20 Bukhari vol 1:35

 

Mohammed: = an=20 Example.

When the prophet of Islam started preaching his new = religion in=20 Mecca, he was conciliatory to Christians and Jews.  He told them, = "We=20 believe in what has been sent down to us and sent down to you, our God = is the=20 same as your God. "Surah 29:45.  This attitude changed completely = after he=20 gained strength.  Allah then tells him to

"Fight People of the Book (Christians and Jews), who = do not=20 accept the religion of the truth (Islam), until they pay tribute = (penalty tax)=20 by hand, being inferior." Surah 9:29.

 

Regarding Christians and Jews, it seems that Mohammed = hated the=20 Jews more.  During his lifetime, Mohammed devoted much of his = efforts to=20 get rid of the Jews:  "You (Jews) should know that the earth = belongs to=20 Allah and His apostle, and I want to expel from this land ( the Arabian=20 Peninsula), so, if anyone owns property, he is permitted to sell it." = Mohammed=20 was quoted.

At that time there were in Medina three Jewish = tribes. =20 Two of them, the Qaynqa and the Bani-al-Nudair tribes, were besieged by=20 Mohammed=C2=92s men, blocking their access to food supplies, until they = surrendered=20 on Mohammed=C2=92s terms, which were that their lives would be spared, = that they=20 must emigrate from Medina, and that they must deposit all their = belongings at a=20 certain place for distribution among Muslims.

The third tribe, Bani Quayza, was not as lucky.  = After the=20 war of the trench, in which Mohammed was besieged by the Qurayshites = led, by Abu=20 Sofyan, it was alleged that Bani Qurayza agreed to provide help from = within to=20 Abu Sofyan=C2=92s forces.  Although the alleged help did not = materialize and=20 the siege eventually ended, nevertheless, Mohammed never forgave them = for their=20 willingness to help his enemies.

Muslims turned against Bani Qurayza and blocked their = streets=20 for twenty five days.

The Jewish tribe expressed readiness to accept the = surrender=20 terms which had been conceded to the other two Jewish tribes, namely = cession of=20 their belongings and departure with safe conduct.

Mohammed, however, would not consent to this, and = instead=20 appointed as an arbiter Saad iben Moaz, a man who was known to be on bad = terms=20 with Bani Qurayza.  Saad ruled that all Bani Qurayza=C2=92s men = should be=20 beheaded, that the women and children should be sold as slaves, and that = all=20 their property should be divided among the Muslims.

Trenches were dug in the bazaar of Medina for = disposal of the=20 nine hundred Jewish bodies whom Mohammed had spent the night = slaughtering. (See=20 Ibn Hisham: The Propeht=C2=92s Biography: vol 2 pages = 40&41.)

 

Dear Friends:

These are historical facts that happened 14 centuries = ago, they=20 represent a dangerous tendency for violence in the Islamic = mentality.  More=20 serious is that Muslim fundamentalists are trying to repeat these acts = of=20 violence in this 21st century.

Guard our freedom and democracy.  Let = Jesus=C2=92 message of=20 tolerance and non-violence rule our land.  "Put up again thy sword = into its=20 place:  for all they that take the sword shall perish with the = sword.=20 "

 

 

 

 

4. The Image of Woman in = the Modern=20 World:

The beliefs of the Muslims compared with the beliefs = of the=20 Christians.

By Elizabeth-Maria=20 Hanson.

 

When one = searches the=20 Internet regarding the image of the woman in the modern world, he = encounteres=20 many essays written by Muslims defending their treatment of = women.1,2=20 In these essays Muslims ask why, within the last 200 years, the = Christians have=20 recently abandoned modest dress that protects women from the gaze of = lustful=20 men.2 Both moderate and fundamentalist Muslims ascribe that = men=20 normally enjoy lustful thoughts, and that women must be appropriately = dressed so=20 as not to arouse those passions in men. However, Muslims assume that = women do=20 not normally have such lustful thoughts as the following quote from a = Muslim=20 teacher demonstrates: "[The man] ... is by nature aggressive. = If a=20 thing appeals to him, he is urged from within to acquire it. On the = other hand,=20 the woman's nature is one of inhibition and escape. Unless her nature is = totally=20 corrupted, she can never become so aggressive, bold, and fearless, as to = make=20 the first advances toward the male who has attracted her. In view of = this=20 distinction, the Legislator (the Prophet) does not regard a woman's = looking at=20 other men to be as harmful as a man's looking at other women" (Woman in=20 Society 5). Therefore the Muslim man is considered = modestly=20 dressed in public as long as the area from his navel to his knees is = covered,=20 but the woman according to Islamic law must be covered in public from = head to=20 foot with only her face and hands exposed.3

Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that our = bodies (both=20 men and women) are temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. I Cor. 6:19), and = that both=20 men and women must dress modestly (even though most Christians do not = dress=20 modestly today). However, in the late 1950's, I can still remember the = Catholic=20 nuns telling us that it was sinful for Christian men to go around in = public=20 bare-chested (i.e., when mowing the lawn), yet this is permitted for = Muslim=20 men.

Interestingly, the nuns also instructed us that it = was not=20 considered ladylike for women to have their heads uncovered in public = (Cf. I=20 Cor. 11:3-15). However, I Cor. 11: 6-7 is greatly misunderstood by many = persons:=20 "For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is = shameful for=20 a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed = ought not to=20 cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but = woman is=20 the glory of man." (NKJV) This passage simply teaches the obvious: it is = shameful for a woman to have her head shorn, as she is beautiful with = long hair=20 and men glory in this, therefore she is the glory of man, and should = cover=20 herself. Yet, man is the glory of God because Christ-God became man. = However,=20 both men and women are created in the image and likeness of God.

Therefore the Muslim woman, Kim Parker, is not = correct when she=20 writes, "Ironically, the representation of veiling in the Bible is much = more=20 problematic than those in the Qur'an or the Hadith, because the = Judeo-Christian=20 sources imply that women should be covered because of their inherent=20 inferiority." (Woman, Islam, and Hijab 1) Indeed, according to the = Koran, Islam=20 teaches that women are inferior to men: "...And women shall have rights = similar=20 to the rights against them, according to what is equitable, but men have = a=20 degree over them..." (Surah 2:228). The Koran also teaches that men are = superior=20 witnesses in a court of law: "...And get two witnesses out of your own = men, and=20 if there are not two men, then a man and two women such as ye choose, = for=20 witness..." (Surah 2:282). Finally, a woman=C2=92s inheritance is half = that of a=20 man: "...To the male a portion equal to that of two females..." (Surah=20 4:11).4

I Corinthians 11: 8-10 refers to Genesis. Man was = created out=20 of clay, but God fashioned woman from man's rib to be a helpmate for = man. "For=20 as woman came from man, even so man also comes through = woman;=20 but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a = woman to=20 pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach = you that=20 if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him. But if a woman has long = hair,=20 it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a = covering." (I=20 Cor. 11:12-15 NKJV) In the ancient Jewish world, women covered their = heads in=20 modesty, especially when praying. The Blessed Virgin Mary, the = Theotokos, wore a=20 veil as a sign that she had dedicated herself as a virgin to God. Not to = wear=20 the veil implied that a woman was a harlot.

Even before the Taliban mandated that every Afghan = woman must=20 wear the restrictive sack called the burka outdoors,5 the = topic of=20 women=C2=92s veils had been hotly debated in the media, especially over = the=20 Internet. Part of the problem is that there are three different types of = Muslims: secularists, moderates and fundamentalists. The secularists = usually do=20 not know the Koran; neither do they observe the tenets of Islam. = Secularist=20 Muslim women, therefore, have adopted western fashions and are Muslim in = name=20 only. The moderate Muslims observe the Koran=C2=92s less rigid tenets, = preferring=20 those passages that tolerate Christians and Jews. However, the Muslim=20 fundamentalists rigidly obey the more extreme verses of the Koran, = including=20 those that call for Jihad against all non-Muslims.6 According = to the=20 Koran, Muslim women must wear a heavy outer cloak plus a veil in public. = The=20 fundamentalist Muslims, such as the Taliban and Iranians, also require a = face=20 veil to be worn.

The Hijab,7 is a scarf or head covering = commonly=20 worn by Muslim women in the United States of America. Mary Ali states = the=20 reason: "As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her = sexuality to=20 enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who = covers=20 herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be = brought=20 out." (Hijab 1)

Whereas a Muslim man is forbidden to stare or to look = twice at=20 a woman, women can look at other men as long as they don=C2=92t sit with = men and/or=20 stare at them.8 However, Christianity, from which the Islamic = religion came, teaches that both men and women must guard all their = senses, as=20 Christians are to be pure in thought, word and deed. If a person fails = to guard=20 his senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, evil sinful thoughts = can=20 follow which can lead to shameful words and deeds. Thus, Christ condemns = lustful=20 thoughts as equal to the sin of adultery. (Cf. Matt. 5:27-29) Yes, even = within=20 marriage, a Christian is still expected to be modest and should not = defile the=20 marriage bed. This is not easy, and the true Christian must struggle = inwardly to=20 be pure until the day he or she dies.

This is the essential difference between Islam and=20 Christianity. A true Christian should behave well because Jesus Christ = lives=20 within his/her soul, consequently, the law of kindness and love is = within=20 him/her as a guide, unless he/she falls into mortal sin. Unfortunately, = Muslims=20 do not appear to have the same high standards, because God does not = dwell within=20 them, therefore their religion has to be more external. Sadly, the Koran = fails=20 to mention that women can enter Paradise, besides, only martyrs seem = guaranteed=20 a place in the Muslim Paradise.9

Another significant difference in the treatment of = women is the=20 Islamic belief that a husband has the right to discipline or beat his = wife into=20 submission;10 he can even kill her in an Islamic country = without fear=20 of governmental prosecution.

Islam still believes in capital punishment, as did = the ancient=20 Judeo-Christian world. According to Islamic law, if a Muslim man or = woman dares=20 to convert to Christianity, then their relatives have a right to kill=20 them.11 On the contrary, many Christians today no longer = believe in=20 the death penalty because Christ refused to condemn or to stone the = woman caught=20 in adultery (cf. John 8:3-11). Indeed, Christ taught us to love and to = forgive=20 our enemies. Therefore, it is a pity that there are psuedo-Christians = such as=20 the "Arian Nations" who hate and advocate the death of Jews, Blacks, = Catholics,=20 and Orthodox Christians. Truly, it is sad that these cults have = separated=20 themselves from Christ and His Church and have become heterodox.

A Muslim woman must obey her husband in everything, = and must=20 obtain his permission before she leaves the house to go shopping, or = before she=20 receives a visit from her parents.12 Furthermore, she can = neither=20 object to his taking another wife nor can she contest a divorce (unless = she has=20 a prenuptial agreement).13

However, the Orthodox Christian Church today still = follows the=20 ancient teaching of St. Paul (cf. Eph. 5:18-33) which states that = husbands and=20 wives are to submit to each other, but that husbands are to love their = own=20 wives, even dying for them. Wives are also to respect their husbands. = Since God=20 joins the couple together during the wedding (Service of Crowning) which = occurs=20 at church, a Christian husband cannot take another wife, and the spouses = may not=20 divorce except for adultery. This guarantees stability for the wife and = for her=20 children. If a marriage is destroyed with no hope of reconciliation, = then the=20 Church may give a special blessing for a second marriage.

Today, as in ancient Christian times, women come to = church with=20 or without their husbands to participate in the Divine Liturgy and to = commune=20 with Christ through the Mystery of Holy Communion. However, in the = Islamic=20 religion, women are either forbidden or discouraged from going to the = mosques to=20 pray, but are encouraged to pray only at home.14 Whereas in = ancient=20 times, women were not always allowed to chant or to sing in the = Christian=20 churches so as not to distract men, today women are encouraged to sing = as long=20 as they do so with moderation.

Anyone with an open mind, who has studied history = from the time=20 of Christ, must realize that Islam is filled with contradictory=20 teachings.13 Indeed, Islam=C2=92s sole objective is to = forcefully spread=20 its heretical religion throughout the world and to subjugate all people = of other=20 faiths. Thus the Koran encourages terrorism: "Kill the = Mushrikun=20 (polytheists, Christians and non-Muslims), wherever you find them, and = capture=20 them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every = ambush. But,=20 if they repent and perform As-salat (public prayer with Muslims) and = give Zakat=20 (Islamic alms), then leave their way free. Allah is oft-forgiving, most=20 merciful." (Surat At-Taubah 9:5 as quoted in Understanding Islam 3)

Witness the struggle in the Holy Land, in the Middle = East, in=20 Egypt against the Christian Copts, in the Balkans, in Indonesia, in the=20 Philippines, in Algeria, in Somalia, in the Sudan, in Afghanistan, in = Pakistan,=20 and now in the United States. If Islam prevails, because we are afraid = to call a=20 spade a spade, women's rights might be banished, and we of the fairer = sex may be=20 exiled to harems for men's pleasure, and our families could be forced to = convert=20 or face death as the Koran dictates. Freedom may end, but not for ever.=20 According to the Sacred Scriptures, Christians believe that Christ will = come=20 again in triumph to judge the living and the dead (cf. John 5: 19-47), = and that=20 His reign will last forever.

Contrary to what Islam teaches, the image of women = today within=20 Christianity is one of respect and this viewpoint has always been held. = Woman=C2=92s=20 place in the Church has been elevated ever since the Blessed Virgin = Mary, the=20 Theotokos, gave birth to Christ, the Messiah, the eternal Son of God, = who=20 assumed His humanity from her humanity, and who was incarnated of the = Holy=20 Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Through her Son, Jesus Christ, men and women = are=20 both truly liberated through the waters of Baptism, since Satan's power = over us=20 has been destroyed.

Christ even honored women in a special way. Mary = Magdalene was=20 one of the myrrh-bearing women who came boldly to the tomb where Christ = was laid=20 early in the morning to anoint the dead body of Christ. She was blessed = to be=20 the first disciple to see Christ rise from the dead, not the Apostles = who were=20 hiding in fear (cf. Matt. 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-14; Luke 24: 1-12; John = 20:1-18).=20 Every year the Orthodox Christian Church solemnly celebrates the Sunday = of the=20 Myrrh-bearing Women, honoring Saint Mary Magdalene and the other brave = women who=20 loved Christ so much that they risked a confrontation with the Roman = soldiers=20 guarding the tomb of Christ.

There are many other accounts of brave and heroic = women in both=20 the Old and the New Testaments: Sarah, Esther, Ruth, Deborah, Elizabeth, = The=20 Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Mary Magdalene, to name only a few. These = saintly=20 Judeo-Christian women are still remembered with honor since they paved = the way=20 for women to be respected in our Judeo-Christian society today.

Today we still witness the holiness in the Church as = Christ has=20 promised. An example of modern holiness was Mother Teresa of India. = Another=20 modern day saint was Abbess Taisiia of blessed memory, who lived in=20 pre-revolutionary Russia and who died on January 2, 1915. In her = autobiography,=20 Mother Taisiia, a highly educated woman of noble birth, truthfully = shared very=20 candidly and humbly her moments of anger and frustration, and her = visions and=20 triumphs, doing so to help others along the path of salvation. She was = not=20 afraid of ridicule and hard labor, as she built schools for peasant = girls and=20 orphans, monasteries and temples16.

Today, the vision continues as countless women serve = in the=20 military to keep our country free. Others boldly proclaim the truth as=20 journalists or newscasters, many teach our children, or teach at the = college=20 level; still others serve in hospitals as doctors and nurses. We cannot = forget=20 the most important vocations in which women serve as dedicated mothers = or devout=20 nuns. The rest serve in countless other professions that keep our = country strong=20 and free. May God continue to bless our Judeo-Christian heritage, and = God Bless=20 America!

 

End = Notes

1 Kim Parker, "Women, = Islam and=20 Hijab." 1996

http:www.cc.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Veil.html

2 Sherif Abel Azim, = "Women in=20 Islam versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition: The Myth and the = Reality."=20 11/9/01

http://www.islam.org/mosque/w_islam/intro.html

3 Abdur Raman I. Doi, = "Women in=20 Society: Modesty." 11/9/01, 2-4. http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam/womenins= ociety.html

4 Abdullah Al-Araby, = "The Issues=20 of Life According to the "Quran." 11/27/01, 1.=20 http://www/islamreview.com/articles/issues_of_life.html

5 "Interpreting veils." Seattle Times = Company.=20 11/10/01, 1.

http:seattletimes.nwsource.com.news/lifestyles/links/veils_05.ht= ml

6 Dr. Labib Mikhail, Islam Review, 12/1/01. = 1-2.

http://www.islamreview.com/articles/understanding.html

7 "Interpreting = veils."=20 2

8"Women in Society: Lowering the Eyes"=20 4-5

9Abdullah Al-Araby, "The Issues of Life = According to=20 the "Quran." 11/27/01, 6.=20 http://www/islamreview.com/articles/issues_of_life.html

10 "Women in Society: The Family" = 2

11 "Understanding Islam: The Attack on the = World=20 Trade Center and the Pentagon." 3

12 "Women in Society: The Family" = 2

13 "Women in Society: The Family" = 2

14 "Women in Society: The Mosque"=20 12-14

15 "Understanding Islam: The Attack on the = World=20 Trade Center and the Pentagon." 1-4.

16Brenda Meehan, Holy Women of Russia: = The Lives=20 of Five Orthodox Women Offer Spiritual Guidance for Today. (San = Francisco,=20 Harper 1993) 95-151

 

References=20 Cited

Al-Araby, Abdullah, "The Issues of Life According to = the=20 "Quran." 11/27/01,1.=20 http://www/islamreview.com/articles/issues_of_life.html

Ali, Mary C., "Hijab." Institute of Islamic = Information and=20 Education. 11/9/01 http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam/w= hatishijab.html

Azim, Sherif Abel, "Women in Islam versus Women in the = Judaeo-Christian Tradition: The Myth and the Reality." 11/9/01=20 http://www.islam.org/mosque/w_islam/intro.html

Coniaris, Anthony M., Orthodoxy: A Creed for Today: = Plain=20 talks on the Orthodox Faith based on the Nicene Creed. Minneapolis: = Light=20 and Life, 1972.

Doi, Abdur Rahman I.,"Women in Society," Center for = Islamic=20 Legal Studies 11/9/01. http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam/womeninsociety.html

Harakas, Stanley S., Living the Faith: The Praxis of = Eastern=20 Orthodox Ethics. Minneapolis: Light and Life, 1992.

"Interpreting veils." Seattle Times, 2001

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/lifestyles/links/veils_05.html

Macaila, Dumitru, The Right to Life: The Eastern Orthodox = Christian=20 Perspective on Abortion. Regina Orthodox Press: Salisbury, 2001.

Meehan, Brenda, Holy Women of Russia: The Lives of Five Orthodox = Women=20 Offer Spiritual Guidance for Today. Harper: San Francisco, 1993.

Meyendorff, John, Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective. 3rd Rev. = Ed. St.=20 Vladimir=C2=92s Seminary: Crestwood, 1984.

Mikhail, Labib. "Understanding Islam: The Attack on the World Trade = Center=20 and the Pentagon." Islam Review, 12/1/01. 3.

http://www.islamreview.com/articles/understanding.html

The Orthodox Study Bible, = New=20 Testament and Psalms, New King James Version, Ed. by J. Allen, M. Najim, = J.=20 Sparks and T. Stylianopoulos. Thomas Nelson: Nashville, 1993.

Parker, Kim, "Women, Islam and Hijab." 1996

http://www.cc.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Veil.html

"The Plight of the Afghan Woman: Muslim Women=C2=92s = Perspective on=20 Women=C2=92s Plight in Afghanistan" Afghanistan Online, 2001.

http://www.afghanweb.com/woman/talibanwomen.html.

"Saudi Arabia culture" ArabNet =C2=96 Saudi, = Culture,=20 Clothing. 2001. = http:www.arab.net/saudi/culture/sa_clothing.html

Schmemann, Alexander, The Presence of Mary. Ed. = Fr. Jack=20 N. Sparks. Ben Lomond: Conciliar Press, 1988.

 

 

Quotes about=20 women from the Qur'an.

It can be said = that a=20 religion is judged by what it says about its women. The Qur'an says much = of=20 them. All quotes from the Qur'an are from Yusuf Ali and can be found at = the=20 Qur'an online.

 

Men have more rights = regarding=20 divorce than do women.

Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for = three=20 monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath = created in=20 their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their = husbands=20 have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for = reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights = against them,=20 according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) = over them.=20 And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise," (2:28)

 

Muslim men may marry up to four women, but no such = provision is=20 made for Muslim women.

"If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly = with the=20 orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye = fear that=20 ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a = captive)=20 that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent = you from=20 doing injustice," (4:3).

 

A man's inheritance = should be a=20 portion of two females.

Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's=20 (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if = only=20 daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if = only=20 one, her share is a half," (4:11).

 

It is okay to beat=20 wives.

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, = because Allah=20 has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they = support them=20 from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, = and guard=20 in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those = women=20 on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), = (Next),=20 refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they = return=20 to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is = Most=20 High, great (above you all)," (4:34).

 

In Paradise, voluptuous = women await=20 men for sensual gratification.

" In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining = their glances,=20 whom no man or Jinn before them has touched," (55:56).

"We have created (their Companions) of special = creation. And=20 made them virgin =C2=97 pure (and undefiled), =C2=97 Beloved (by = nature), equal in age,-=20 For the Companions of the Right Hand," (56:35-38)

"Verily for the Righteous there will be a fulfillment = of (the=20 heart's) desires; Gardens enclosed, and grapevines, And voluptuous women = of=20 equal age," (78:31-33).

 

 

 

 

5. = Quotes from=20 the Hadith about Muhammad.

Muhammad was a white=20 man.

While we were sitting with the Prophet in the mosque, = a man=20 came riding on a camel. He made his camel kneel down in the mosque, = tied its=20 foreleg and then said: "Who amongst you is Muhammad?" At that time the = Prophet=20 was sitting amongst us (his companions) leaning on his arm. We replied, = "This=20 white man reclining on his arm." The an then addressed him, "O Son = of 'Abdul=20 Muttalib." Volume 1, Book 3, Number 63. Narrated Anas bin=20 Malik:

 

Muhammad owned a black=20 slave.

I came and behold, Allah's Apostle was staying on a = Mashroba=20 (attic room) and a black slave of Allah's Apostle was at the top = if its=20 stairs. I said to him, "(Tell the Prophet) that here is 'Umar bin = Al-Khattab=20 (asking for permission to enter)." Then he admitted me. Volume 9, Book = 91,=20 Number 368. Narrated 'Umar:

 

Muhammad had people=20 killed.

Allah's Apostle entered Mecca in the year of its = Conquest=20 wearing an Arabian helmet on his head and when the Prophet took it off, = a person=20 came and said, "Ibn Khatal is holding the covering of the Ka'ba (taking = refuge=20 in the Ka'ba)." The Prophet said, "Kill him." Volume 3, Book 29, = Number=20 72. Narrated Anas bin Malik:

 

Muhammad said to die in = battle for=20 Allah grants you Paradise.

The Prophet said, "The person who participates in = (Holy=20 battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except = belief in=20 Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a = reward, or=20 booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed = in the=20 battle as a martyr). Volume 1, Book 2, Number 35. Narrated Abu=20 Huraira:

 

Muhammad was a=20 sinner.

Allah's Apostle used to keep silent between the = Takbir and the=20 recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short = one. I said=20 to the Prophet "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in = the=20 pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet said, "I say,=20 'Allahumma, ba'id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba'adta baina-l-mashriqi = wa-l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqim min khatayaya kama = yunaqqa-ththawbu-l-abyadu=20 mina-ddanas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bil-ma'i wa-th-thalji wal-barad = (O=20 Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are = set apart=20 from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of = dirt=20 (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and = hail.)"=20 Volume 1, Book 12, Number 711. Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying." By Allah! I ask = for=20 forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy = times a=20 day." Volume 8, Book 75, Number 319, Narrated Abu = Huraira:

 

Muhammad said more women were in hell than men and = that women=20 lacked intelligence.

Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to = offer the=20 prayer) o 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and = said,=20 "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers = of=20 Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's = Apostle ?"=20 He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. = I have=20 not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than = you. A=20 cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women = asked, "O=20 Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He = said,=20 "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one = man?" They=20 replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her=20 intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast = during=20 her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the = deficiency in her religion." Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301, Narrated Abu = Said=20 Al-Khudri:

 

Muhammad had some people drink camel urine as = medicine.

Some people from the tribe of 'Ukl came to the = Prophet and=20 embraced Islam. The climate of Medina did not suit them, so the = Prophet=20 ordered them to go to the (herd of milch) camels of charity and to = drink, their=20 milk and urine (as a medicine). They did so, and after they had = recovered=20 from their ailment (became healthy) they turned renegades (reverted from = Islam)=20 and killed the shepherd of the camels and took the camels away. The = Prophet sent=20 (some people) in their pursuit and so they were (caught and) brought, = and the=20 Prophets ordered that their hands and legs should be cut off and that = their eyes=20 should be branded with heated pieces of iron, and that their cut hands = and legs=20 should not be cauterized, till they die. Volume 8, Book 82, Number 794, = Narrated=20 Anas.

 

Muhammad has his chest opened and washed by the angel = Gabriel.

Allah's Apostle said, "While I was at Mecca the roof = of my=20 house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed = it with=20 Zam-zam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and = faith and=20 having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my = hand and=20 ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I reached the nearest = heaven,=20 Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, 'Open (the gate).' The = gatekeeper=20 asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' He asked, 'Is there = anyone with=20 you?' Gabriel replied, 'Yes, Muhammad is with me.' He asked, 'Has he = been=20 called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' So the gate was opened and we went over = the=20 nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his = right and=20 some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when = he=20 looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet = and=20 pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' He replied, 'He is Adam and = the people=20 on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right = are the=20 people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when = he=20 looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he = weeps.'=20 Volume 1, Book 8, Number 345, Narrated Abu Dhar:

The preceding Hadith are translated by Sahih Bukhari = and are=20 quoted from and online source found at=20 http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/.

_______________

Note: I am indebted to Morey, = Robert, The=20 Islamic Invasion, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon, 1992, = pages=20 177-208, for many references in the Hadith concerning Muhammad.

 

 

Muhammad's False=20 Prophecies.

Sam Shamoun.

 

The Holy Bible gives us a test to determine a true = prophet from=20 a false one:

"But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name = anything I have=20 not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other = gods,=20 must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a = message=20 has not been spoken by the LORD?' If what a prophet proclaims in = the=20 name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the = LORD=20 has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid = of=20 him" (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

In light of what God says in the preceding passage, = we will=20 examine several predictions made by Muhammad in the Quran and Islamic = traditions=20 to see if whether he passes God's test.

 

On the Roman Conquest = of=20 Persia

S. 30:2-4:

"The Roman Empire has been defeated =C2=97 in a land = close by: But=20 they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious = =C2=97 within a=20 few years."

As the prophecy stated the Byzantines did become = victorious=20 over the Persians who had at first defeated them. Yet there are = fundamental=20 problems with this alleged prophecy:

According to Yusuf Ali the Arabic word for "a few = years,"=20 Bidh'un, signifies a period of three to nine years; yet = according to=20 some scholars the victory did not come until nearly twelve years later. = The=20 Persians defeated the Byzantines and captured Jerusalem at about A.D. = 614 or=20 615. The Byzantine counter-offensive did not begin until A.D. 622 and = the=20 victory was not complete until A.D. 625, making it a period between ten = to=20 eleven years, not "a few years" alluded to in the Quran.

The original Quranic text had no vowel marks. Thus, = the Arabic=20 word Sayaghlibuna, "they shall defeat," could easily have been=20 rendered, with the change of two vowels, Sayughlabuna, "they = (i.e.=20 Romans) shall be defeated." Since vowel points were not added until some = time=20 after this event, it could have been quite possible for a scribe to = deliberately=20 tamper with the text, forcing it to become a prophetic statement.

This fact is solidified by Muslim commentator = al-Baidawi. C.G.=20 Pfander mentions Baidawi's comments on the variant readings surrounding = this=20 passage:

"But Al Baizawi shatters the whole argument of the = Muslims=20 by informing us of certain varied readings in these verses of = Suratu'r=20 Rum. He tells us that some read (Arabic text appears here) = instead of=20 the usual (Arabic text appears here) and (Arabic text appears here) = instead of=20 (Arabic text appears here). The rendering will then be: 'The Byzantines = have=20 conquered in the nearest part of the land, and they shall be = defeated in=20 a small number of years'. If this be the correct = reading, the=20 whole story about Abu Bakr's bet with Ubai must be a fable, since Ubai = was dead=20 long before the Muslims began to defeat the Byzantines, and even long = before the=20 victories which Heraclius won over the Persians. This shows how = unreliable such Traditions are. The explanation which Al Baizawi gives = is, that=20 the Byzantines became conquerors of 'the well-watered land of Syria' = (Arabic=20 text appears here) and that the passage predicted that the Muslims would = soon=20 overcome them. If this is the meaning, the Tradition which records the = 'descent'=20 of the verses about six years before the Hijrah must be wrong, and the = passage=20 must belong to A.H. 6 at earliest. It is clear that, as the = vowel points=20 were not used when the Qur-an was first written down in Cufic letters, = no one=20 can be certain which of the two readings is right. We have seen = that=20 there is so much uncertainty about (1) the date at which the verses were = 'sent=20 down', (2) the correct reading, and (3) the=20 meaning, that it is quite impossible to show that the = passage=20 contains a prophecy which was fulfilled. Hence, it cannot be = considered=20 to be a proof of Muhammad's prophetic office" (C.G. Pfander, = Mizan-ul-Haqq=20 =C2=97 The Balance of Truth, revised and enlarged by W. St. Clair = Tisdall=20 [Light of Life P.O. Box 18, A-9503, Villach Austria] 279-280) [emphasis=20 ours]

This being the case, a Muslim cannot confidently tell = us what=20 the true reading of the text is and hence cannot insure us that this = verse=20 originally predicted the Byzantine victory over the Persians. Yet either = rendering leaves us with a false prophecy within the Quran.

It amazes us that a prophecy from God would not = specify the=20 exact time of the victory, seeing that God is all-knowing and all-wise,=20 declaring the end from the beginning. When God specifies a time frame as = an=20 important part of a prophecy we would expect that it be precise, not a = mere=20 guess. For God to guess that the Byzantines would win at some time = within "a few=20 years" as opposed to specifying the exact year, is inconsistent with the = belief=20 in an Omniscient, Omnipotent Being. Hence, it is unlikely that the true = God=20 would actually make such a prophecy.

Interestingly, the phrase "a few years" serves to = further=20 discredit this alleged prophecy. Abu Bakr believed the term "a few = years" meant=20 that the Byzantines were going to win in three years:

"This passage refers to the defeat of the Byzantines = in Syria=20 by the Persians under Khusran Parvis. (A.D. 615 =C2=97 6 years before = the Hegira).=20 However, the defeat of the Persians should take place soon 'in a small = number of=20 years'. In the light of this prediction, Abu-Bakr undertook a bet with=20 Ubai-ibn-Khalaf that this prediction would be fulfilled within = three=20 years, but he was corrected by Mohammed who stated that the 'small = number' is=20 between three and nine years (Al-Baizawi). Muslims tell us that = the=20 Byzantines overcame their enemies within seven years. The fact, = however,=20 is that the Byzantines defeated Persia in A.D. 628 (Al-Baizawi=20 commentary). That was twelve years after the prediction of = Mohammed.=20 Consequently this passage does not qualify as a prophecy, particularly = as the=20 time between prophecy and fulfilment was far too short, and in addition = the=20 event was easily predictable." (Gerhard Nehls, Christians Ask = Muslims=20 [Life Challenge, SIM International; Africa, 1992], pp.=20 70-71)

 

On Entering=20 Mecca.

Sura 48:27 makes the following promise:

"Truly did Allah fulfill the vision for His = Messenger.=20 Ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, IF ALLAH WILLS, with minds=20 secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. For He = knew=20 what ye knew not, and He granted, besides this, a speedy victory."

This verse was revealed in conjunction with the = Muslims' failed=20 attempt of entering Mecca to perform Tawaf (the ritual during = Hajj of=20 running between two mountains that was supposed to commemorate Hagar's = fetching=20 of water for Ishmael).

On their way to the Ka'bah, they were met with a = Meccan=20 deputation headed by Suhail b. Amr who forbade the Muslims from = completing their=20 journey. This meeting then led to the signing of the treaty of = Hudaibiya.

Several problems arise from this whole incident. = First, at the=20 signing of the Hudaibiya treaty Muhammad agreed with the pagan Meccans = to return=20 to them those who had converted to Islam. At the same time Muhammad also = bowed=20 to their demands of replacing his signature of 'Muhammad, Messenger of = God' with=20 'Muhammad, son of Abdullah' so that he might be allowed to make = pilgrimage to=20 Mecca the following year. The following is taken from Sahih = al-Bukhari,=20 Volume 3, Book 50, Number 891:

"When Suhail bin Amr came, the Prophet said, = =C2=91Now the matter=20 has become easy.' Suhail said to the Prophet 'Please conclude a peace = treaty=20 with us.' So, the Prophet called the clerk and said to him, 'Write: By = the Name=20 of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful." Suhail said, = 'As for=20 "Beneficent," by Allah, I do not know what it means. So write: By Your = Name O=20 Allah, as you used to write previously.' The Muslims said, 'By = Allah,=20 we will not write except: By the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the = most=20 Merciful.' The Prophet said, 'Write: By Your Name O = Allah.'=20 Then he dictated, 'This is the peace treaty which Muhammad, = Allah's=20 Apostle has concluded.' Suhail said, 'By Allah, if we = knew that=20 you are Allah's Apostle we would not prevent you from visiting the Kaba, = and=20 would not fight with you. So, write: 'Muhammad bin Abdullah.' = The=20 Prophet said, 'By Allah! I am Apostle of Allah even if you people do not = believe=20 me. Write: Muhammad bin Abdullah.' (Az-Zuhri said, = 'The=20 Prophet accepted all those things, as he had already said that he would = accept=20 everything they would demand if it respects the ordinance of Allah, = (i.e. by=20 letting him and his companions perform 'Umra.)') The Prophet = said to=20 Suhail, 'On the condition that you allow us to visit the House = (i.e.=20 Ka'ba) so that we may perform Tawaf around it.' Suhail said, = 'By Allah,=20 we will not (allow you this year) so as not to give chance to = the Arabs=20 to say that we have yielded to you, but we will allow you next year.' = SO, THE=20 PROPHET GOT THAT WRITTEN.

"Then Suhail said, 'We also stipulate that = you should=20 return to us whoever comes to you from us, even if he embraced your=20 religion.' The Muslims said, 'Glorified be Allah! How will such = a=20 person be returned to the pagans after he has become a Muslim?'" (bold = emphasis=20 ours)

One of those forced to return to Mecca with the = pagans was Abu=20 Jandal. In Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasulullah (The Life of = Muhammad,=20 trans. Alfred Guillaume, Oxford University Press), p. 505 we are = told:

'When Suhayl (the Meccan representative and the = treaty's=20 compiler) saw Abu Jandal he got up and hit him in the face and = took hold=20 of his collar, saying, 'Muhammad, the agreement between us was=20 concluded before this man came to you.' He replied, 'you are right.' = He=20 began to pull him roughly by his collar and to drag him away to return = him to=20 Quraysh, while Abu Jandal shrieked at the top of his = voice,=20 'Am I to be returned to the polytheists that they may entice me = from my=20 religion O Muslims?' and that increased the people's=20 dejection'" (bold and italic emphasis ours)

And:

'While they were in this state Abu- Jandal = bin Suhail=20 bin 'Amr came from the valley of Mecca staggering with his = fetters and=20 fell down amongst the Muslims. Suhail said, 'O Muhammad! This is the = very first=20 term with which we make peace with you, i.e. you shall return Abu Jandal = to me.'=20 The Prophet said, 'The peace treaty has not been written yet.' Suhail = said, 'I=20 will never allow you to keep him.' The Prophet said, 'Yes, do.' He said, = 'I=20 won't do: Mikraz said, 'We allow you (to keep him).' Abu Jandal said, 'O = Muslims! Will I be returned to the pagans though I have come as = a=20 Muslim? Don't you see how much I have suffered?'

Abu Jandal had been [previously] tortured severely = for the=20 cause of Allah' (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 50, Number = 891)

We need to ask did Moses ever return a convert = (especially one=20 who was an Egyptian) back to the pagan Pharaoh in order to please the = latter in=20 obtaining what he wanted? Did Jesus ever compromise the truth of God by = agreeing=20 with the Pharisees in turning back all gentile seekers in order to be = accepted=20 by the Jewish ruling council? Would either Moses or Jesus go so far as = to deny=20 their apostleship in order to please the demands of pagans'? Would these = men=20 refuse to glorify the true God in the manner commanded by the Creator = and=20 acquiesce to the request of addressing God in a manner pleasing to the=20 unbelievers, much like Muhammad did?

As one would expect the Muslims were enraged, = especially Umar=20 b. al-Khattab who rebuked Muhammad:

' Umar bin al-Khattab said, 'I went to the Prophet = and said,=20 "Aren't you truly the messenger of Allah?" The Prophet said, "Yes, = indeed." I=20 said, "Isn't our cause just and the cause of the enemy unjust?" He said, = "Yes."=20 I said, "Then why should we be humble in our religion?" = He=20 said, "I am Allah's messenger and I do not disobey Him, and He will make = me=20 victorious"'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 50, Number = 891)

The anger of the Muslims is justifiable when we = realize that=20 Muhammad promised that his followers would have access to Mecca that = very same=20 year. When that did not occur, Muhammad attempted to justify his = statement by=20 stating, "Yes, did I tell you that we would go to Ka'ba this=20 year?" (Ibid)

In other words, since he did not specify when they = would enter=20 Mecca this cannot be considered a false prophecy! This is simply = erroneous since=20 the Muslim contingent was on their way to Mecca when a deputation from = the pagan=20 Arabs stopped them. In fact, one of Muhammad's demands in signing the = treaty was=20 that the pagans permit the Muslims to complete their journey to Mecca in = order=20 to perform Tawaf. Suhail denied Muhammad's request and instead = made an=20 agreement that the Muslims could enter Mecca the following year. Ibn = Kathir=20 further supports this in his commentary on S. 48:27:

"In a dream, the Messenger of Allah saw himself = entering Makkah=20 and performing Tawaf around the House. He told his Companions = about=20 this dream when he was still in Al-Madinah. When they went to Makkah in = the year=20 of Al-Hudaybiyyah, none of them doubted that the Prophet's = vision WOULD=20 COME TRUE THAT YEAR. When the treaty of peace was conducted = and=20 they had to return to Al-Madinah that year, being = allowed to=20 return to Makkah the next year, SOME OF THE COMPANIONS DISLIKED WHAT=20 HAPPENED. 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked about = THIS,=20 saying, 'Haven't you told us that we will go to the House and perform=20 Tawaf around it?'" (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Abridged, Volume 9, = Surat=20 Al-Jathiyah to the end of Surat Al-Munafiqun, Abridged by a group = of=20 scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Safiur-Rahman = Al-Mubarakpuri=20 [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New = York,=20 London, Lahore; first edition, September 2000], p. 171; bold and capital = emphasis ours)

This proves that Muhammad actually believed he was = going to=20 enter into Mecca, a plan that never materialized. In order to save face = he had=20 to deny admitting that he actually implied that the Muslims would enter = Mecca=20 that same year.

Second, to make matters worse Muhammad broke the = treaty with=20 the Meccans by refusing to return a Muslim convert from the Quraysh. = This=20 refusal was in clear violation of things expressly stipulated in the = very=20 document that Muhammad had agreed to sign:

"Umm Kulthum Uqba b. Mu'ayt migrated to the apostle = during this=20 period. Her two brothers 'Umara and Walid sons of 'Uqba came and asked = the=20 apostle to return her to them in accordance with the agreement = between him=20 and Quraysh at Hudaybiyya, but he would not. God forbade = it."=20 (Sirat Rasulullah, p. 509; italic emphasis ours)

Hence, Muhammad justified the breaking of his oath by = claiming=20 that it was God's will to do so. Unfortunately for Muslims, this would = prove=20 that Muhammad's God is not the God of the Holy Bible since breaking = one's oath=20 is strictly forbidden. (Cf. Numbers 30:1-2)

In light of all these considerations we are again = compelled to=20 ask the following questions. Did Moses ever bow down to Pharaoh's = requests in=20 order to bring Israel out of bondage from Egypt? Did Jesus ever deny his = Messiahship to gain access to the Temple? Did any true prophet of God = ever=20 compromise with the unbelievers in order to fulfill the will of God? Did = these=20 men proceed to break their oaths and promises in order to gain an unfair = advantage over the unbelievers?

One final problem with all this is that Muslims claim = that=20 every single word in the Quran was revealed directly by God to Muhammad = through=20 Gabriel. Based on this assumption Muslims further reason that one will = not find=20 Muhammad's words intermingled with the words of God. This being the = case, how do=20 Muslims explain the fact that S. 48:27 has Allah saying insha' = Allah,=20 i.e. "If Allah wills"? Does God not know what his will is? If so, is he=20 uncertain whether his purpose shall come to pass necessitating him to = then=20 qualify his statement with the phrase, insha' Allah?

One can understand how fallible humans who are = unaware of God's=20 purpose can qualify their statements with the expression "If God wills" = (Cf.=20 James 4:13-15). But for God to make such a qualification is beyond=20 reasoning.

Furthermore, if God is in fact speaking then whom is = he=20 referring to when he says "If Allah wills"? Is he addressing himself or = someone=20 else? If he is addressing someone else, than how many Gods are there? Or = perhaps=20 Allah is also a multi-personal Being seeing that there are more than one = Person=20 that make up the unity of Allah?

This leads us to conclude that Muhammad's prediction = not only=20 failed to materialize, but that his motives in concocting revelation = were power,=20 money and fame. This verse also proves that God cannot be the author of = the=20 Quran.

 

On the Appearance of the Antichrist and the End of = the=20 World.

Muhammad allegedly claimed that the Antichrist = (called the=20 Dajjal) was to appear shortly after the Muslim conquest of=20 Constantinople. The following traditions are taken from the Sunan = Abu=20 Dawud:

Book 37, Number 4281:

Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The flourishing = state of=20 Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib = will be=20 when the great war comes, the outbreak of the great war will be = at the=20 conquest of Constantinople and the conquest of Constantinople when the = Dajjal=20 (Antichrist) comes forth. He (the Prophet) struck his thigh or = his=20 shoulder with his hand and said: This is as true as you are here or as = you are=20 sitting (meaning Mu'adh ibn Jabal).

Book 37, Number 4282:

Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The greatest = war, the=20 conquest of Constantinople and the coming forth of the Dajjal = (Antichrist) will=20 take place within a period of seven months.

Book 37, Number 4283:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Busr:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The time = between the=20 great war and the conquest of the city (Constantinople) will be six = years, and=20 the Dajjal (Antichrist) will come forth in the = seventh.

Accordingly, Muslims conquered Jerusalem in 636 AD.=20 Constantinople was taken over by Muslims in May 1453 AD. Yet the = prophecy=20 regarding Yathrib (Medina) being in ruins and Antichrist's advent to = take place=20 seven months after the conquest of Constantinople did not materialize. = Based on=20 the preceding traditions Antichrist was to appear in November 1453.

Some may wish to argue that these events refer to = future=20 conquests. For instance some may wish to say that Constantinople is used = as a=20 synonym for the Roman Christian Empire. This would therefore be = predicting that=20 Muslims are to takeover Rome before Antichrist appears.

The problem with this is that if Muhammad was = speaking of Rome=20 he could have simply used the word Romans (Arabic: Ar-Rum). In = fact,=20 Romans/Ar-Rum is the name given to chapter 30 of the Quran. To = call=20 Rome either Constantinople or even Byzantium would be rather = anachronistic. See=20 above.

Hence, in light of the preceding factors we are = forced to=20 conclude that Muhammad's predictions failed to materialize, thus = disqualifying=20 him regarding his claim to prophethood.

Muhammad also believed in a young earth and that the = world was=20 about to end shortly after his advent. The following citations are taken = from=20 The History of al-Tabari, Volume 1 =C2=97 General Introduction and = from the=20 Creation to the Flood (trans. Franz Rosenthal, State University of = New York=20 Press, Albany 1989), with all bold emphasis being ours:

"According to Ibn Humayd- Yahya b. Wadih- Yahya b. = Ya'qub-=20 Hammad- Sa'id b. Jubayr- Ibn Abbas: This world is one = of the=20 weeks of the other world- seven thousand years. Six thousand two = hundred=20 years have already passed. (The world) will surely experience hundreds = of years,=20 during which there will be no believer in the oneness of God there. = Others said=20 that the total extent of time is six thousand years." (Tabari, = pp.=20 172-173; emphasis ours)

"According to Abu Hisham- Mu'awiyah b. Hisham- = Sufyan-=20 al-A'mash- Abu Salih- Ka'b: This world is six thousand = years."=20 (Ibid.)

"According to Muhammad b. Sahl b. 'Askar- Isma'il b. = 'Abd=20 al-Karim- 'Abd al-Samad b. Ma'qil I- Wahb: Five thousand six = hundred=20 years of this world have elapsed. I do not know which kings and = prophets lived in every period (zaman) of those years. I aksed = Wahb b.=20 Munabbih: How long is (the total duration of) this world? He replied:=20 Six thousand years." (Tabari, pp. 173-174; emphasis = ours)

According to at-Tabari Muhammad believe that the end = of the=20 world was to occur 500 years after his coming:

"According to Hannad b. al-Sari and Abu Hisham = al-Rifa'i- Abu=20 Bakr b. 'Ayyash- Abu Hasin- Abu Salih- Abu Hurayrah: The = Messenger of=20 God said: When I was sent (to transmit the divine message), I and the = Hour were=20 like these two, pointing at his index and middle fingers." = (Tabari, p.=20 176; emphasis ours, see also pp. 175-181)

At-Tabari comments on the meaning of the Hour being = as close as=20 Muhammad's index and middle fingers:

"Thus, (the evidence permitting) a conclusion is as = follows:=20 The beginning of the day is the rise of the dawn, and its end is the = setting of=20 the sun. Further, the reported tradition on the = authority of the Prophet is sound. As we have mentioned = earlier, he=20 said after having prayed the afternoon prayer: What remains of this = world as=20 compared to what has passed of it is just like what remains of this day = as=20 compared to what has passed of it. He also said: When I was sent, I and = the Hour=20 were like these two- holding index finger and middle finger together; I = preceded=20 it to the same extent as this one- meaning the middle finger- preceded = that one-=20 meaning the index finger. Further, the extent (of time) between the mean = time of=20 the afternoon prayer- that is, when the shadow of everything is twice = its size,=20 according to the best assumption ('ala al-taharri)- (to sunset) = is the=20 extent of time of one-half of one-seventh of the day, give or take a = little.=20 Likewise, the excess of the length of the middle finger over the index = finger is=20 something about that or close to it. There is also a sound = tradition on=20 the authority of the Messenger of God, as I was told by Ahmad = b. 'Abd=20 al-Rahman b. Wahb- his paternal uncle 'Abd-allah b. Wahb- Mu'awiyah b. = Salih-=20 'Abd al-Rahman b. Jubayr b. Nufayr- his father Jubayr b. Nufayr- = the=20 companion of the Prophet, Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani: = The=20 Messenger of God said: Indeed, God will not make this nation incapable = of=20 (lasting) half a day- referring to the day of a thousand = years.

"All these facts taken together make it clear that of = the two=20 statements I have mentioned concerning the total extent of time, the one = from=20 Ibn Abbas, and the other from Ka'b, the one more likely to be correct in = accordance with the information coming from the Messenger of God is that = of Ibn=20 'Abbas transmitted here by us on his authority: The world is one = of the=20 weeks of the other world- seven thousand years.

"Consequently, because this is so and the = report on the=20 authority of the Messenger of God is sound =C2=97 namely, that he = reported that what=20 remained of the time of this world during his lifetime was half a day, = or five=20 hundred years, since five hundred years are half a day of the days, of = which one=20 is a thousand years =C2=97 the conclusion is that the time of this world = that had=20 elapsed to the moment of the Prophet's statement corresponds to what we = have=20 transmitted on the authority of Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani from the = Prophet, and=20 is 6,500 years or approximately 6,500 years. God knows best!" = (Tabari,=20 pp. 182-183, bold emphasis ours)

Hence, according to these traditions Muhammad = believed that not=20 only was the world less than 7,000 years old but it was to end on the = seventh=20 day, or seven thousand years from the time it was created.

Accordingly, the world should have ended sometime = between=20 1070-1132 AD, approximately 500 years after the birth and death of = Muhammad.=20 This is based on the fact that according to at-Tabari and others, the = advent of=20 Muhammad took place approximately 6,500 years from the time of creation. = This is=20 clearly a false prophecy.

Yet this date contradicts the one approximated by Abu = Dawood in=20 his Sunan. There, we saw that Antichrist was to appear seven months = after the=20 conquest of Constantinople, an event that took place in 1453 AD. This = being the=20 case, how could Muhammad have claimed elsewhere that the world was to = end 500=20 years after his own birth and death? To make matters worse, the Islamic=20 traditions claim that Antichrist was actually present during Muhammad's=20 lifetime. In fact, according to the traditions Antichrist was a man = named Ibn=20 Saiyad:

Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number=20 437:

 

Conclusion.

We have examined both the Quran and the Islamic = traditions and=20 found that both sources contain false predictions. In light of the = prophetic=20 criteria given by God in Deuteronomy 18 we discover that Muhammad fails = this=20 test. This means that Muhammad is neither a true prophet nor is he the = prophet=20 like Moses.

 

 

Muhammad and his=20 Personal Enemies.

One of the = most telling=20 observations about the character of people is how they deal with their = enemies.=20 When we are put under pressure by being challenged and questioned, then = our real=20 character and personality is revealed that might easily be hidden when=20 everything is under control.

The following are names of people whose execution was = suggested, requested or ordered by Muhammad. Many of them were = assassinated,=20 some got away for reasons of unforeseen circumstances. But deeds are = judged by=20 intention and the intention or request for assassination is serious in=20 itself.

Ka`b = bin=20 al-Ashraf, Salla= m Ibn=20 Abu'l-Huqayq (Abu Rafi)., Al-Nadr= bin=20 al-Harith, `Uqba = bin Abi=20 Mu`ayt, `Ab= dullah=20 bin Ubai bin Salul al-`Aufi, Umaiy= a bin=20 Khalaf Abi Safwan, `Amr b. = Jihash, An=20 anonymous man, I= bn=20 Sunayna, Abd = Allah Ibn=20 Sa`d Ibn Abi Sarh, Abu = `Afak, `Asma' = Bint=20 Marwan, The= Meccan=20 Ten:, Ikrimah Ibn Abi Jahl, Habbar Ibn al-Aswad, Miqyas Ibn Sababah=20 al-Laythi, Abd Allah Ibn Sa`d Ibn Abi Sarh (more detail in the above = article)., Al-Huwayrith Ibn Nuqaydh, Abd Abbah Ibn Hilal Ibn Khatal = al-Adrami, Hind Bint Utbah, Sarah the mawlat of `Amr Ibn Hashim, = Fartana,=20 Qaribah, Al-Yusayr b. Rizam and Khalid b. Sufyan b. Nubayh, &nbs= p;Ibn=20 Sunayna.

 

Here is the text of the message the Prophet Mohammad = sent to=20 the Julanda brothers through the intermediary of his Messengers, 'Amr = bin al-'As=20 al-Sahmi and Abu Zaid al-Ansari. "Peace be upon the one who follows the = right=20 path! I call you to Islam. Accept my call, and you shall be unharmed. I = am God's=20 Messenger to mankind, and the word shall be carried out upon the = miscreants. If,=20 therefore, you recognize Islam, I shall bestow power upon you. But if = you refuse=20 to accept Islam, your power shall vanish, my horses shall camp on the = expanse of=20 your territory and my prophecy shall prevail in your kingdom."

 

 

Muhammed's=20 Suicide Attempts.

Few people are = aware of=20 Muhammad's suicide attempts. Following his initial visitation by a = spiritual=20 being, that claimed to be Gabriel, Muhammad was frantic with fear and = attempted=20 suicide. He walked up to the top of a mountain and intended to throw = himself off=20 a cliff. This same being that caused his fear then intervened. Later, = over the=20 course of up to the next three years, the visitations by this spirit = became=20 rare, and Muhammad would then again attempt suicide in a like manner. = Again, it=20 was only due to the intervention of this being that Muhammad did not = kill=20 himself.

Few Islamic leaders will teach this to their fellow = Muslims=20 because it casts a stain upon Muhammad; it brings doubt to his = credibility and=20 the credibility of his assumed "prophetic" experience. Some Muslims deny = the=20 sources the story comes from. Other, more intelligent Muslims, = knowledgeable=20 about the sources, respond by saying that the shock of the experience = caused him=20 to attempt suicide; it was a natural thing to do.

However, the shock of the initial experience would = have worn=20 off over the next few days, if not weeks, hardly cause for Muhammad's = continued=20 suicide attempts over the next years.

It is undeniable that something distressing happened = to=20 Muhammad. He returns back to his wife bewildered, terrorized, "What's = wrong with=20 me?," he asks his wife. Just as children hide under the covers when they = are=20 afraid of monsters in the dark, so Muhammad had his wife wrap him in a = blanket;=20 he did not want to see the cause of terror again.

Not satisfied with her comfort, he goes to the = mountain=20 instinctively knowing that something evil had happened to him. The only = way he=20 knows how to deal with it is the final solution: commit suicide.

But on top of the mountain this spirit intervenes, = consoles=20 him, strokes his ego, "O Muhammad, you are God's apostle." Muhammad = returns.

But it's not over. The terror, depression, and doubt = Muhammad=20 experienced were too real, too persistent to shake. Soothing words are = eroded by=20 the inward torments, doubts, and fears, "Woe is me poet or possessed...I = will go=20 to the top of the mountain and throw myself down that I may kill myself = and gain=20 rest."

As time goes on, this spirit visits Muhammad less = often, the=20 torments and depression return, and gain strength. He again goes to kill = himself. And, just in time, the spirit intervenes, telling him, stroking = his ego=20 again and again, he is an apostle of god. Muhammad begins to believe he = is a=20 messenger of god. A messenger of a god who's influence caused him to = attempt=20 suicide.

 

Muhammad=C2=92s Demonic = Experiences.

In the Quran, [7], there are references that people = believed=20 that Muhammad was possessed or influenced by demons. Sura 81:22-25 says, = "No,=20 your compatriot [Muhammad] is not mad. He saw him [Gabriel] on the clear = horizon. He does not grudge the secrets of the unseen, nor is this the = utterance=20 of an accursed devil."

Sura 69:41, 42 say, "It [the Quran] is no poet's = speech: scant=20 is your faith! It is no soothsayer's divination: how little you reflect! = It is=20 revelation from the Lord of the Universe.

Here Muhammad is saying to his critics that he really = saw an=20 angel, and his words are not from a devil, or from his own imagination. = No doubt=20 the people living at that time thought he was inspired by a devil, so = Muhammad=20 spoke these words, as the Quran, in self-defense.

An experience Muhammad had as a child.

When Muhammad was a child a Bedouin woman nursed him. = During=20 this time he had an experience with "two men in white raiment." Here is = W. M.=20 Watt's translation of Ibn Ishaq's biography of Muhammad, page 36:

"...two men in white clothes came to me with a golden = basin=20 full of snow. They took me and split open my body, then they took my = heart and=20 split it open and took out from it a black clot which they flung away. = Then they=20 washed my heart and my body with that snow until they made them = pure."

This event deeply disturbed the Bedouins and they = returned=20 Muhammad to his mother. Here is the story told by Muhammad's wet-nurse, = related=20 in Guillaume's translation of Ibn Ishaq, page 72:

"His [Muhammad's friend's] father said to me, "I am = afraid that=20 this child has had a stroke, so take him back to his family before the = result=20 appears. ..... She [Muhammad's mother] asked me what happened and gave = me no=20 peace until I told her. When she asked if I feared a demon had possessed = him, I=20 replied that I did."

Even in his childhood, some people thought he was = demon=20 possessed. Note that even Muhammad's wet-nurse believed he had been = demon=20 possessed. One would expect some degree of attachment between the two, = since she=20 cared for him and nursed him. And note that even Muhammad's mother = brought up=20 the possibility of her son being demon possessed. So it is peculiar that = both=20 the mother would suggest it and the wet nurse would return Muhammad in = those=20 circumstances: something very troubling actually occurred.

 

 

 

6. = Contradictions in the Qur'an.

The Qur'an = states that it=20 is a perfect book preserved on tablets in heaven (Surah 85:21-22). If = the Qur'an=20 is a perfect book from Allah, then there shouldn't be any contradictions = in it.=20 Of course, the Muslims will deny any contradictions exist in the Qur'an, = but=20 they do. Some of the contradictions below could be debated, but some of = them are=20 clearly contradictions.

A contradiction occurs when one statement on a = subject excludes=20 the possibility of another. The first one here is a good example. In = Surah=20 19:67, it states that man was created out of nothing. In 15:26, man is = created=20 from clay. Since clay is something, we have a = contradiction=20 since "nothing" excludes the possibility of "clay." Both cannot be = true.

All quotes from the Qur'an, unless otherwise = specified, are=20 from Yusuf Ali and can be found at the Qur'an online.

 

What was man created = from, blood,=20 clay, dust, or nothing?

"Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed = blood,"=20 (96:2).

"We created man from sounding clay, from mud = moulded=20 into shape, (15:26).

"The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of = Adam; He=20 created him from dust, then said to him: "Be." And he was," = (3:59).

"But does not man call to mind that We created him = before=20 out of nothing?" (19:67, Yusuf Ali). Also, 52:35).

"He has created man from a sperm-drop; and = behold this=20 same (man) becomes an open disputer! (16:4).

 

Is there or is there = not compulsion=20 in religion according to the Qur'an?

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth = stands=20 out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath = grasped=20 the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and = knoweth=20 all things," (2:256).

"And an announcement from Allah and His = Messenger, to=20 the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah = and His=20 Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye = repent, it=20 were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate = Allah.=20 And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith," = (9:3).

"But when the forbidden months are past, then = fight and slay=20 the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer = them, and=20 lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they = repent,=20 and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open = the way=20 for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful," = (9:5).

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the = Last Day,=20 nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His = Messenger,=20 nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the = People=20 of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and = feel=20 themselves subdued," (9:29).

 

The first Muslim was = Muhammad?=20 Abraham? Jacob? Moses?

"And I [Muhammad] am commanded to be the first of = those who=20 bow to Allah in Islam," (39:12).

"When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, = and his=20 Lord addressed him, He said: "O my Lord! show (Thyself) to me, that I = may look=20 upon thee." Allah said: "By no means canst thou see Me (direct); But = look upon=20 the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When his = Lord=20 manifested His glory on the Mount, He made it as dust. And Moses fell = down in a=20 swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to Thee! = to Thee I=20 turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe." (7:143).

"And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his = sons, and=20 so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die = not=20 except in the Faith of Islam," (2:132).

 

Does Allah forgive or = not forgive=20 those who worship false gods?

Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up = with=20 Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up = partners=20 with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed," (4:48). Also = 4:116

The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to = descend to=20 them from heaven: Indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle), = for=20 they said: "Show us Allah in public," but they were dazed for their = presumption,=20 with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after = clear signs=20 had come to them; even so we forgave them; and gave Moses = manifest proofs=20 of authority," (4:153).

 

Are Allah's decrees = changed or=20 not?

"Rejected were the messengers before thee: with = patience and=20 constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did = reach=20 them: there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of = Allah.=20 Already hast thou received some account of those messengers," = (6:34).

"The word of thy Lord doth find its fulfillment in = truth and in=20 justice: None can change His words: for He is the one who heareth = and=20 knoweth all, (6:115).

None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to = be=20 forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest = thou not=20 that Allah Hath power over all things?" (2:106).

When We substitute one revelation for = another,- and=20 Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say, "Thou art but a = forger": but most of them understand not," = (16:101).

 

Is wine consumption = good or=20 bad?

O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, = (dedication=20 of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, of = Satan's=20 handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper," = (5:90).

(Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the = righteous are=20 promised: in it are rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of = which=20 the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who = drink; and=20 rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of = fruits;=20 and Grace from their Lord. (Can those in such Bliss) be compared to such = as=20 shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, = so that=20 it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)?" (47:15).

Truly the Righteous will be in Bliss: On = Thrones (of=20 Dignity) will they command a sight (of all things): Thou wilt recognize = in their=20 faces the beaming brightness of Bliss. Their thirst will be slaked = with Pure=20 Wine sealed" (83:22-25).

This list was compiled from resources found on the = web at=20 Answering Islam, a List of problems in the Quran. and Errors in the = Qur'an as=20 well as my own research.

 

 

 

More Quotes from the=20 Qur'an.

The Qur'an is = the sacred=20 book of Islam. It is supposed to be a perfect book, inspired, and = flawless.=20 Would you expect the following quotes from an inspired and flawless = book?

All quotes from the Qur'an, unless otherwise = specified, are=20 from Yusuf Ali and can be found at the Qur'an = online.

 

It is not good to enter = a house=20 from the back.

"They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They = are but=20 signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for = Pilgrimage.=20 It is no virtue if ye enter your houses from the back: It is virtue if = ye fear=20 Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors: And fear Allah: That ye = may=20 prosper," (2:189).

 

Cities (Sodom and = Gomorrah) are=20 turned upside down =C2=97 literally!

"(The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers = from thy=20 Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family = while yet a=20 part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy = wife (will=20 remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning = is their=20 time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?...When Our Decree issued, We = turned=20 (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as = baked clay,=20 spread, layer on layer," (11:81-82)

"And We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained = down on=20 them brimstones hard as baked clay" (15:74).

 

A boy and his dog sleep = for 309=20 years in a cave.

"Such (being their state), we raised them up (from = sleep), that=20 they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have ye = stayed=20 (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." = (At=20 length) they (all) said, "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have = stayed=20 here...So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add = nine=20 (more)" (18:19,25).

 

The sun set in a pool = of murky=20 water

"Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he = found it set=20 in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O = Zul-qarnain!=20 (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with = kindness"=20 (18:86, Yusuf Ali, translation).

 

Jesus spoke while in = the=20 cradle

" But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we = talk to=20 one who is a child in the cradle?" 30He said: "I am = indeed a=20 servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet"=20 (19:29-30).

 

King Solomon learned = the speech of=20 birds

"And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! = We have=20 been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) = of all=20 things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)" (27:16).

"And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O = mankind! Lo! we=20 have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) = of all=20 things. This surely is evident favour" (27:16, Pickthall,=20 trans.).

 

Ants can = speak

"At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of = ants, one of=20 the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and = his hosts=20 crush you (under foot) without knowing it" (27:18).

"Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an = ant=20 exclaimed: O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies = crush you,=20 unperceiving," (27:18, Pickthal, trans.).

 

Allah made seven = heavens and seven=20 earths

"Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the = earth a=20 similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: = that ye=20 may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah = comprehends, all=20 things in (His) Knowledge" (65:12)

 

Shooting stars are for = driving away=20 evil spirits

And we have, (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven = with=20 Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the = Evil Ones,=20 and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire,=20 (67:5).

 

The soul exits through = the=20 collar-bone when leaving the body.

"Yea, when (the soul) reaches to the collar-bone (in = its exit),=20 27And there will be a cry, "Who is a magician (to restore = him)?"=20 28And he will conclude that it was (the Time) of Parting,:=20 (75:26-28).

 

 

 

 

 

7. Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic=20 State.

By Samuel Shahid

 

Foreword..

Recently a few books have been written = about the=20 rights of non-Muslims who are subjugated to the rule of the Islamic law. = Most of=20 these books presented the Islamic view in a favorable fashion, without = unveiling=20 the negative facet inherited in these laws. This brief study attempts to = examine=20 these laws as they are stated by the Four Schools of the Fiqh = (jurisprudence).=20 It aims at revealing to the reader the negative implications of these = laws=20 without ignoring the more tolerant views of modern reformers. Our ardent = hope=20 that this study will reveal to our readers the bare truth in its both = positive=20 and negative facets.

S.S.

 

Concept of = "Islamic=20 State."

"An Islamic state is essentially an = ideological state,=20 and is thus radically different from a national state." This = statement=20 made by Mawdudi lays the basic foundation for the political, economical, = social,=20 and religious system of all Islamic countries which impose the Islamic = law. This=20 ideological system intentionally discriminates between people according = to their=20 religious affiliations. Mawdudi, a prominent Pakistani Muslim scholar,=20 summarizes the basic differences between Islamic and secular states as=20 follows:

 

    1. An Islamic state is ideological. People who reside in it are = divided=20 into Muslims, who believe in its ideology and non-Muslims who do not = believe.=20

    2. Responsibility for policy and administration of such a state=20 "should rest primarily with those who believe in the Islamic = ideology." Non-Muslims, therefore, cannot be asked to = undertake or=20 be entrusted with the responsibility of policymaking.=20

    3. An Islamic state is bound to distinguish (i.e. discriminates) = between=20 Muslims and non-Muslims. However the Islamic law "Shari`a"=20 guarantees to non-Muslims "certain specifically stated = rights beyond=20 which they are not permitted to meddle in the affairs of the state = because=20 they do not subscribe to its ideology." Once they embrace = the=20 Islamic faith, they "become equal participants in all = matters=20 concerning the state and the government."=20

       

      The above view is the representative of the=20 Hanifites, one of the four Islamic schools of = jurisprudence. The=20 other three schools are the Malikites, the = Hanbilites (the=20 strictest and the most fundamentalist of all), and the = Shafi`ites.=20 All four schools agree dogmatically on the basic creeds of Islam but = differ=20 in their interpretations of Islamic law which is derived from four=20 sources:

       

      • Qur'an (read or recite): The sacred book of Muslim = community=20 containing direct quotes from Allah as allegedly dictated by = Gabriel.=20

      • Hadith (narrative): The collections of Islamic = traditions=20 including sayings and deeds of Muhammad as heard by his = contemporaries,=20 first, second, and third hand.

      • Al-Qiyas (analogy or comparison): The legal decision = drawn by=20 Islamic Jurists based on precedent cases.

      • Ijma' (consensus): The interpretations of Islamic = laws handed=20 down by the consensus of reputed Muslim scholars in a certain = country.=20

     

    Textual laws prescribed in the Qur'an are = few. The=20 door is left wide open for prominent scholars versed in the = Qur'an,=20 the Hadith, and other Islamic discipline to present their=20 Fatwa (legal opinion) as we shall see = later.

     

    Classification of=20 Non-Muslims:

    In his article, "The Ordinances of the People of = the=20 Covenant and the Minorities in an Islamic State," Sheikh Najih = Ibrahim Ibn=20 Abdullah remarks that legists classify non-Muslims or infidels into = two=20 categories: Dar-ul-Harb or the household of War, which refers = to=20 non-Muslims who are not bound by a peace treaty, or covenant, and = whose blood=20 and property are not protected by the law of vendetta or retaliation; = and=20 Dar-us-Salam or the household of Peace, which refers to those = who=20 fall into three classifications:

    1)

Zimmis (those in custody) are non-Muslim = subjects who=20 live in Muslim countries and agree to pay the Jizya (tribute) = in=20 exchange for protection and safety, and to be subject to Islamic law. = These=20 enjoy a permanent covenant.

2)

People of the Hudna (truce) are those who = sign a peace=20 treaty with Muslims after being defeated in war. They agree to reside in = their=20 own land, yet to be subject to the legal jurisprudence of Islam like=20 Zimmis, provided they do not wage war against = Muslims.

3)

Musta'min (protected one) are persons who = come to an=20 Islamic country as messengers, merchants, visitors, or student wanting = to learn=20 about Islam. A Musta'min should not wage war against Muslims = and he is=20 not obliged to pay Jizya, but he would be urged to embrace = Islam. If a=20 Musta'min does not accept Islam, he is allowed to return safely = to his=20 own country. Muslims are forbidden to hurt him in any way. When he is = back in=20 his own homeland, he is treated as one who belongs to the Household of=20 War.

This study will focus on the laws pertaining to=20 Zimmis.

 

Islamic = Law and=20 Zimmis

Muslim Muftis (legal authorities) agree that = the=20 contract of the Zimmis should be offered primarily to the = People of the=20 Book, that is, Christians and Jews, then to the Magis or Zoroastrians. = However,=20 they disagree on whether any contract should be signed with other groups = such as=20 communists or atheists. The Hanbalites and the = Shafi`ites=20 believe that no contract should be made with the ungodly or those who do = not=20 believe in the supreme God. Hanifites and Malikites = affirm=20 that the Jizya may be accepted from all infidels regardless of = their=20 beliefs and faith in God. Abu Hanifa, however, did not want pagan Arabs = to have=20 this option because they are the people of the Prophet. They. must be = given only=20 two options: accept Islam or be killed.

 

The Jizya=20 (tribute)

Jizya literally means penalty. It is a = protection tax=20 levied on non-Muslims living under Islamic regimes, confirming their = legal=20 status. Mawdudi states that "the acceptance of the = Jizya=20 establishes the sanctity of their lives and property, and thereafter = neither the=20 Islamic state, nor the Muslim public have any right to violate their = property,=20 honor or liberty." Paying the Jizya is a symbol of = humiliation=20 and submission because Zimmis are not regarded as citizens of = the=20 Islamic state although they are, in most cases, natives to the = country.

Such an attitude alienates the Zimmis from = being an=20 essential part of the community. How can a Zimmi feel at home = in his=20 own land, among his own people, and with his own government, when he = knows that=20 the Jizya, which he pays, is a symbol of humiliation and = submission? In=20 his book The Islamic Law Pertaining to non-Muslims, = Sheikh=20 `Abdulla Mustafa Al-Muraghi indicates that the. Jizya can only = be=20 exempted from the Zimmi who becomes a Muslim or dies. The=20 Shafi`i reiterates that the Jizya is not automatically = put=20 aside when the Zimmi embraces Islam. Exemption from the = Jizya=20 has become an incentive to encourage Zimmis to relinquish their = faith=20 and embrace Islam.

Sheik Najih Ibrahim Ibn Abdulla summarizes the = purpose of the=20 Jizya. He says, quoting Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, that the = Jizya=20 is enacted:

"...to spare the blood (of the Zimmis), to be = a symbol=20 of humiliation of the infidels and as an insult and punishment to them, = and as=20 the Shafi`ites indicate, the Jizya is offered in exchange for = residing=20 in an Islamic country." Thus Ibn Qayyim adds, "Since = the entire=20 religion belongs to God, it aims at humiliating ungodliness and its = followers,=20 and insulting them. Imposing the Jizya on the followers of = ungodliness=20 and oppressing them is required by God's religion. The Qur'anic = text=20 hints at this meaning when it says: `until they give the tribute by = force with=20 humiliation.' (Qur'an 9:29). What contradicts this is leaving the = infidels to=20 enjoy their might and practice their religion as they wish so that they = would=20 have power and authority."

 

Zimmis and = Religious=20 Practices

Muslims believe that the Zimmis are = Mushrikun=20 (polytheists) for they see the belief in the Trinity as belief in three = gods.=20 Islam is the only true religion, they claim. Therefore, to protect = Muslims from=20 corruption, especially against the unforgivable sin of shirk=20 (polytheism), its practice is forbidden among Muslims, because it is = considered=20 the greatest abomination. When Christians practice it publicly, it = becomes an=20 enticement and exhortation to apostasy. It is significant here to notice = that=20 according to Muraghi, Zimmis and infidels are polytheists and=20 therefore, must have the same treatment.

According to Muslim jurists, the following legal = ordinances=20 must be enforced on Zimmis (Christians and Jews alike) who = reside among=20 Muslims:

 

 

Mawdudi, who is a Hanifite, expresses a more = generous=20 opinion toward Christians. He said:

"In their own towns and cities they are = allowed to do=20 so (practice their religion) with the fullest freedom. In purely Muslim = areas,=20 however, an Islamic government has full discretion to put such = restrictions on=20 their practices as it deems = necessary."

Apostasy = in=20 Islam.

Apostasy means rejection of the religion of Islam = either by=20 action or the word of the mouth. "The act of apostasy, thus, put = an end=20 to one's adherence to Islam." when one rejects the fundamental = creeds=20 of Islam, he rejects the faith, and this is an act of apostasy such an = act is a=20 grave sin in Islam. The Qur'an indicates,

"How shall Allah guide those who reject = faith after=20 they accepted it and bore witness that the Apostle was true and the = clear sign=20 had come unto them. But Allah guides not the people of unjust of such = the reward=20 is that on them rests the curse of Allah, of His angels and of all = mankind in=20 that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite = be their=20 lot, except for those that repent after that and make amends; for verily = Allah=20 is Oft-forging, Most Merciful (Qur'an = 3:86-89).

Officially, Islamic law requires Muslims not to force = Zimmis to embrace Islam. It is the duty of every Muslim, they = hold, to=20 manifest the virtues of Islam so that those who are non-Muslims will = convert=20 willingly after discovering its greatness and truth. Once a person = becomes a=20 Muslim, he cannot recant. If he does, he will be warned first, then he = will be=20 given three days to reconsider and repent. If he persists in his = apostasy, his=20 wife is required to divorce him, his property is confiscated, and his = children=20 are taken away from him. He is not allowed to remarry. Instead, he = should be=20 taken to court and sentenced to death. If he repents, he may return to = his wife=20 and children or remarry. According to the Hanifites an apostate = female=20 is not allowed to get married. She must spend time in meditation in = order to=20 return to Islam. If she does not repent or recant, she will not be = sentenced to=20 death, but she is to be persecuted, beaten and jailed until she dies. = Other=20 schools of Shari`a demand her death. The above punishment is = prescribed=20 in a Hadith recorded by the Bukhari: "It is = reported by=20 `Abaas ... that the messenger of Allah ... said, `Whosoever changes his = religion=20 (from Islam to any other faith), kill him."

In his book Shari`ah: The Islamic = Law, Doi=20 remarks, "The punishment by death in the case of Apostasy = has been=20 unanimously agreed upon by all the four schools of Islamic=20 jurisprudence."

A non-Muslim wishing to become a Muslim is encouraged = to do so=20 and anyone, even a father or a mother, who attempts to stop him, may be=20 punished. However, anyone who makes an effort to proselytize a Muslim to = any=20 other faith may face punishment.

 

Civic=20 Laws

Zimmis and Muslims are subject to the same = civic laws.=20 They are to be treated alike in matters of honor, theft, adultery, = murder, and=20 damaging property. They have to be punished in accordance with the = Islamic law=20 regardless of their religious affiliation. Zimmis and Muslims = alike are=20 subject to Islamic laws in matters of civic business, financial = transactions=20 such as sales, leases, firms, establishment of companies, farms, = securities,=20 mortgages, and contracts. For instance, theft is punishable by cutting = off the=20 thief's hand whether he is a Muslim or a Christian. But when it comes to = privileges, the Zimmis do not enjoy the same treatment. For = instance,=20 Zimmis are not issued licenses to carry weapons.

 

Marriage = and=20 Children

A Muslim male can marry a Zimmi girl, but a=20 Zimmi man is not allowed to marry a Muslim girl. If a woman = embraces=20 Islam and wants to get married, her non-Muslim father does not have the=20 authority to give her away to her bridegroom. She must be given away by = a Muslim=20 guardian.

If one parent is a Muslim, children must be raised as = Muslims.=20 If the father is a Zimmi and his wife converts to Islam, she = must get a=20 divorce; then she will have the right of custody of her child. Some=20 fundamentalist schools indicate that a Muslim husband has the right to = confine=20 his Zimmi wife to her home and restrain her from going to her = own house=20 of worship.

 

Capital=20 Punishment

The Hanifites believe that both = Zimmis and=20 Muslims must suffer the same Penalty for similar crimes. If a Muslim = kills a=20 Zimmi intentionally, he must be killed in return. The same = applies to a=20 Christian who kills a Muslim. But other schools of Law have different=20 interpretations of Islamic law. The Shafi`ites declare that a = Muslim=20 who assassinates a Zimmi must not be killed, because it is not=20 reasonable to equate a Muslim with a polytheist (Mushrik). In = such a=20 case, blood price must be paid. The penalty depends on the school of law = adopted=20 by the particular Islamic country where the crime or offense is = committed. This=20 illustrates the implication of different interpretations of the Islamic = law=20 based on the Hadith.

Each school attempts to document its legal opinion by = referring=20 to the Hadith or to an incident experienced by the Prophet or = the=20 "rightly guided" Caliphs.

 

The = Witness of=20 Zimmis

Zimmis cannot testify against Muslims. They = can only=20 testify against other Zimmis or Musta'min. Their oaths = are not=20 considered valid in an Islamic court. According to the Shari`a, = a=20 Zimmi is not even qualified to be under oath. Muraghi states = bluntly,=20 "The testimony of a Zimmi is not accepted because Allah =C2=97 = may He be=20 exalted =C2=97 said: `God will not let the infidels (kafir) have an = upper hand=20 over the believers'." A Zimmi, regarded as an = infidel,=20 cannot testify against any Muslim regardless of his moral credibility. = If a=20 Zimmi has falsely accused another Zimmi and was once punished, = his=20 credibility and integrity is tarnished and his testimony is no longer=20 acceptable. One serious implication of this is that if one Muslim has = committed=20 a serious offense against another, witnessed by Zimmis only, = the court=20 will have difficulty deciding the case since the testimonies of = Zimmis=20 are not acceptable. Yet, this same Zimmi whose integrity is = blemished,=20 if he converts to Islam, will have his testimony accepted against the=20 Zimmis and Muslims alike, because according to the = Shari`a,=20 "By embracing Islam he has gained a new credibility which would = enable=20 him to witness..." All he has to do is to utter the Islamic=20 confession of faith before witnesses, and that will = elevate him=20 from being an outcast to being a respected Muslim enjoying all the = privileges of=20 a devout Muslim.

 

Personal=20 Law

On personal matters of marriages, divorces, and = inheritance,=20 Zimmis are allowed to appeal to their own religious courts. = Each=20 Christian denomination has the right and authority to determine the = outcome of=20 each case. Zimmis are free to practice their own social and = religious=20 rites at home and in church without interference from the state, even in = such=20 matters as drinking wine, rearing pigs, and eating pork, as long as they = do not=20 sell them to Muslims. Zimmis are generally denied the right to = appeal=20 to an Islamic court in family matters, marriage, divorce, and = inheritance.=20 However, in the event a Muslim judge agrees to take such a case, the = court must=20 apply Islamic law.

 

Political = Rights and=20 Duties

The Islamic state is an ideological state, thus the = head of the=20 state inevitably must be a Muslim, because he is bound by the = Shari`a=20 to conduct and administer the state in accordance with the = Qur'an and=20 the Sunna. The function of his advisory council is to assist = him in=20 implementing the Islamic principles and adhering to them. Anyone who = does not=20 embrace Islamic ideology cannot be the head of state or a member of the=20 council.

Mawdudi, aware of the requirements of modern society, = seems to=20 be more tolerant toward Zimmis. He says,

"In regard to a parliament or a legislature = of the=20 modern type which is considerably different from the advisory council in = its=20 traditional sense, this rule could be relaxed to allow non-Muslims to be = members=20 provided that it has been fully ensured in the constitution that no law = which is=20 repugnant to the Qur'an and the Sunna should be = enacted, that=20 the Qur'an and the Sunna should be the chief source of = public=20 law, and that the head of the state should necessarily be a=20 Muslim."

Under these circumstances, the sphere of influence of = non-Muslim minorities would be limited to matters relating to general = problems=20 of the country or to the interest of the minorities. Their participation = should=20 not damage the fundamental requirement of Islam. Mawdudi adds,

"It is possible to form a separate = representative=20 assembly for all non-Muslim groups in tbe capacity of a central agency. = The=20 membership and the voting rights of such an assembly will be confined to = non-Muslims and they would be given the fullest freedom within its=20 frame-work."

These views do not receive the approval of most other = schools=20 of the Shari`a which hold that non-Muslims are not allowed to = assume=20 any position which might bestow on them any authority over any Muslim. A = position of sovereignty demands the implementation of Islamic ideology. = It is=20 alleged that a non-Muslim (regardless of his ability, sincerity, and = loyalty to=20 his country) cannot and would not work faithfully to achieve the = ideological and=20 political goals of Islam.

 

Business=20 World

The political arena and the official public sectors = are not the=20 only area in which non-Muslims are not allowed to assume a position of=20 authority. A Muslim employee who works in a company inquires in a letter = "if it is permissible for a Muslim owner (of a company) to = confer=20 authority on a Christian over other Muslims? (Al-Muslim Weekly; Vol. 8; = issue=20 No. 418; Friday 2, 5, 1993).

In response to this inquiry three eminent Muslim = scholars=20 issued their legal opinions:

Sheikh Manna` K. Al-Qubtan, professor of Higher = studies at the=20 School of Islamic Law in Riyadh, indicates that:

Basically, the command of non-Muslims over = Muslims in=20 not admissible, because God Almighty said: 'Allah will not give = access to=20 the infidels (i.e. Christians) to have authority over = believers=20 (Muslims) {Qur'an 4:141}. For God =C2=97 Glory be to Him =C2=97 has = elevated Muslims to=20 the highest rank (over all men) and foreordained to them the might, by = virtue of=20 the Qurtanic text in which God the Almighty said: 'Might and = strength be to=20 Allah, the Prophet (Muhammad) and the believers (Muslims) = {Qur'an=20 63:8}.

Thus, the authority of non-Muslim over a = Muslim is=20 incompatible with these two verses, since the Muslim has to submit to = and obey=20 whoever is in charge over him. The Muslim, therefore becomes inferior to = him,=20 and this should not be the case with the = Muslim.

Dr. Salih Al-Sadlan, professor of Shari`a at the = School of=20 Islamic Law, Riyadh, cites the same verses and asserts that it is not=20 permissible for a infidel (in this case is a Christian) to be in charge = over=20 Muslims whether in the private or public sector. Such an act:

"entails the humiliaton of the Muslim and the = exaltation of the infidel (Christian). This infidel may exploit his = position to=20 humiliate and insult the Muslims who work under his administration. It = is=20 advisable to the company owner to fear God Almighty and to authorize = only a=20 Muslim over the Muslims. Also, the injunctions issued by the ruler, = provides=20 that an infidel should not be in charge when there is a Muslim available = to=20 assume the command. Our advice to the company owner is to remove this = infidel=20 and to replace him with a Muslim."

In his response Dr. Fahd Al-`Usaymi, professor of = Islamic=20 studies at the Teachers' College in Riyadh, remarks that the Muslim = owner of the=20 company should seek a Muslim employee who is better than the Christian=20 (manager), or equal to him or even less qualified but has the ability to = be=20 trained to obtain the same skill enjoyed by the Christian. It is not = permissible=20 for a Christian to be in charge of Muslims by the virtue of the general=20 evidences which denote the superiority of the Muslim over others. Then = he quotes=20 (Qur'an 63:8) and also cites verse 22 of Chapter 58:

Thou wilt not find any people who believe = in Allah=20 and the Last Day, loving those who resist Allah and His Apostle, even = though=20 they were their fathers or their sons, or their brothers, or their=20 kindred.

`Usaymi claims that being under the authority of a = Christian=20 may force Muslims to flatter him and humiliate themselves to this = infidel on the=20 hope to obtain some of what he has. This is against the confirmed = evidences.=20 Then he alludes to the story of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab the second Caliph, = who was=20 displeased with one of his governors who appointed a Zimmi as a = treasurer, and remarked: "Have the wombs of women become sterile = that=20 they gave birth only to this man?" Then `Usaymi adds:

Muslims should fear God in their Muslim = brothers and=20 train them... for honesty and fear of God are, originally, in the = Muslim,=20 contrary to the infidel (the Christian) who, originally, is dishonest = and does=20 not fear God.

Does this mean that a Christian who owns a business = cannot=20 employ a Muslim to work for him? Even worse, does this mean that a=20 Zimmi, regardless of his unequal qualification, cannot be = appointed to=20 the right position where he would serve his country the best? This = question=20 demands an answer.

 

Freedom of = Expression

Mawdudi, who is more lenient than most Muslim = scholars,=20 presents a revolutionary opinion when he emphasizes that in an Islamic=20 state:

"all non-Muslims will have thc freedom of = conscience,=20 opinion, expression, and association as the one enjoyed by Muslims = themselves,=20 subject to the same limitations as are imposed by law on=20 Muslims."

Mawdudi's views are not accepted by most Islamic = schools of=20 law, especially in regard to freedom of expression like criticism of = Islam and=20 the government. Even in a country like Pakistan, the homeland of = Mawdudi, it is=20 illegal to criticize the government or the head of state. Many political = prisoners are confined to jails in Pakistan and most other Islamic = countries.=20 Through the course of history. except in rare cases, not even Muslims = have been=20 given freedom to criticize Islam without being persecuted or sentenced = to death.=20 It is far less likely for a Zimmi to get away with criticizing=20 Islam.

In Mawdudi's statement, the term "limitations" is = vaguely=20 defined. If it were explicitly defined, you would find, in the final = analysis,=20 that it curbs any type of criticism against the Islamic faith and=20 government.

Moreover, how can the Zimmis express the = positive=20 aspects of their religion when they are not allowed to use the media or=20 advertise them on radio or TV? Perhaps Mawdudi meant by his proposals to = allow=20 such freedom to Zimmis only among themselves. Otherwise, they = would be=20 subject to penalty. Yet, Muslims are allowed, according to the = Shari`a=20 (law) to propagate their faith among all religious sects without any=20 limitations.

 

Muslims = and=20 Zimmis

Relationships between Muslims and Zimmis are = classified in two categories: what is forbidden and what is = allowable.

 

I. The Forbidden:

A Muslim is not allowed to:

  1. emulate the Zimmis in their dress or behavior.=20

  2. attend Zimmi festivals or support them in any way which = may give=20 them any power over Muslims.=20

  3. lease his house or sell his land for the construction of a church, = temple,=20 liquor store, or anything that may benefit the Zimmi's faith. =

  4. work for Zimmis in any job that might promote their faith = such as=20 constructing a church.=20

  5. make any endowment to churches or temples.=20

  6. carry any vessel that contains wine, work in wine production, or = transport=20 pigs.=20

  7. address Zimmis with any title such as: "my=20 master" or "my lord."

II. The Allowable

A Muslim is allowed to:

  1. financially assist the Zimmis, provided the money is not = used in=20 violation of Islamic law like buying wine or pork.=20

  2. give the right of pre-emption (priority in buying property) to his = Zimmi neighbor. The Hanbilites disapprove of this.=20

  3. eat food prepared by the People of the Book.=20

  4. console the Zimmis in an illness or in the loss of a = loved one.=20 It is also permissible for a Muslims to escort a funeral to the = cemetery, but=20 he has to walk in front of the coffin, not behind it, and he must = depart=20 before the deceased is buried.=20

  5. congratulate the Zimmis for a wedding, birth of a child, = return=20 from a long trip, or recovery from illness. However, Muslims are = warned not to=20 utter any word which may suggest approval of the Zimmis' = faith, such=20 as: "May Allah exalt you," "May Allah honor you," or=20 "May Allah give your religion victory." =

Conclusion

This study shows us that non-Muslims are not regarded = as=20 citizens by any Islamic state, even if they are original natives of the = land. To=20 say otherwise is to conceal the truth. Justice and equality require that = any=20 Christian Pakistani, Melanesian, Turk, or Arab be treated as any other = citizen=20 of his own country. He deserves to enjoy the same privileges of = citizenship=20 regardless of religious affiliation. To claim that Islam is the true = religion=20 and to accuse other religions of infidelity is a social, religious and = legal=20 offense against the People of the Book.

Christians believe that their religion is the true = religion of=20 God and Islam is not. Does that mean that Great Britain, which is headed = by a=20 Queen, the head of the Anglican Church, should treat its Muslim subjects = as a=20 second class? Moreover, why do Muslims in the West enjoy all freedoms = allotted=20 to all citizens of these lands, while Muslim countries do not allow = native=20 Christians the same freedom? Muslims in the West build mosques, schools, = and=20 educational centers and have access to the media without any = restriction. They=20 publicly advertise their activities and are allowed to distribute their = Islamic=20 materials freely, while native Christians of any Islamic country are not = allowed=20 to do so. Why are Christians in the West allowed to embrace any religion = they=20 wish without persecution while a person who chooses to convert to = another=20 religion in any Islamic country, is considered an apostate and must be = killed if=20 he persists in his apostasy? These questions and others are left for = readers to=20 ponder.

 

References

  1. Abdullah, Najih Ibrahim Bin, The Ordinances of the People of = the=20 Covenant and the Minorities in an Islamic State, Balagh Magazine, = Cairo,=20 Egypt, Volume 944, May 29, 1988; Volume 945, June 5, 1988. =

  2. Al Muslimun, Vol. 8; issue No, 418; Friday 2, 5, = 1993.=20

  3. Doi, `Abdur Rahman I.; Shari`a: The Islamic Law; = Taha=20 Publishers; London UK; 1984.=20

  4. Mawdudi, S. Abul `Ala', The Rights of Non-Muslims in Islamic=20 State, Islamic Publications, LTD. Lahore, Pakistan. 1982=20

  5. Muraghi, Abdullah Mustapha, Islamic Law Pertaining to=20 Non-Muslims, Library of Letters. Egypt. Undated

 

 

Conclusion.

=

A casual = reader of history=20 will not fail to note the great and ferocious animosity of Islam to=20 Christianity. One would ask why is this so, since both religions are = supposed to=20 worship the same God? The crux of the matter lies in focusing on the = originators=20 of these two religions, since followers of one or the other religion = have a wide=20 range of virtues or vices, resulting in complex and inscrutable = historical=20 developments.

Therefore let us concentrate on the two leaders, = Jesus Christ=20 and Muhammad. Let us look at their lives, what they both said and more=20 importantly what they did. Which one of the two was forgiving, = a=20 peacemaker, kind, magnanimous? Which one would you trust more to be your = friend?=20 Which one was self-serving? Which one gave of himself and even his life = for=20 others? It is a relatively simple comparison, and the differences are = obvious=20 from their respective biographies. Which one of the two was interested = in=20 earthly power, a legalistic worldly empire, many wives and concubines? = (in the=20 Quran, Muhammad blesses the union of a man with four wives, except for = himself,=20 where he is blessed to have eight). Did Muhammad love his enemies or = kill=20 them?

We have many historically well documented witnesses = who testify=20 who Jesus is, who recorded His life, teachings, and deeds in the Gospels = and=20 Epistles, and who died martyrs' deaths for Him, without gaining any = material=20 benefits in return from a worldly point of view. There are also secular=20 historians who are outsiders to the Christian tradition, such as the = Jews=20 Josephus and Philo, and the pagans Tacitus, Pliny, and Suetoneus, who = have=20 recorded corroborating facts about Jesus and his followers. In fact, = during the=20 first three centuries of the rise of Christianity, being a follower of = Christ=20 usually resulted in great hardship, persecution, and often martyrdom. = All the=20 apostles died as martyrs except St. John the Evangelist. A great many of = the=20 early Church leaders died as martyrs. Why would any of these intelligent = and=20 eloquent people, many highly educated, be ready to die for the cause of = Christ=20 if they were not convinced that He is True? On the other hand, we know = that=20 Islam from the outset was very militaristic and conquered by the sword,=20 bestowing great earthly benefits on Muhammad himself and his entourage, = granting=20 power, wealth, and all the prestige that empire building reaps. His = followers=20 were ready to die for him, with a sword in hand, a very different = situation than=20 the early followers of Christ, who were peaceful subjects falsely = accused and=20 tortured by pagan Rome. Mohammad is the only source of the Quran. There = is no=20 other source of information to validate what he claims to be. He did not = perform=20 any miracles. His claim is that the beauty of the Quran is a sufficient = miracle,=20 but may I suggest that his cousin Ali's writings are sometimes equally = or more=20 eloquent? If Islam is true, why is it that Muslims are encouraged to = kill other=20 Muslims who leave Islam? Why is the Bible, a cross, or any Christian = literature=20 prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia? If Islam is true, it should = welcome any=20 fair challenge from other faiths, since the Truth always triumphs when = compared=20 to non-truths.

As for Muhammad, he is a false prophet, whose coming = was=20 predicted by Christ. Jesus foretold in the Gospels the apparition of = many false=20 prophets after Him, one of the most successful of which turned out to be = Muhammad. If you study carefully Muhammad's life, you will realize that = he is of=20 great religious, political, and military genius. He composed his own = scriptures=20 (the Quran) based on the Torah, the canonical Gospels, gnostic gospels = (also=20 called pseudepigrapha), and Arabian pagan customs. I, as a = follower of=20 Christ, do love Muslims, some of whom have great piety and love = for=20 God, surpassing the nominalism of many modern Christian peoples born = under Islam=20 are victims of their environment and have great difficulties breaking = away from=20 Islam because of many social pressures and the threat of being killed = for the=20 supposed crime of apostasy from Islam, even if they lose faith in their = native=20 inherited religion. The light they have received is a small fractional = glimpse=20 of the revealed full brightness of the True God, and their vision of God = is=20 shadowy and blurred. Their responsibility in front of God may not be as = great as=20 many Christians who are born in a free society and apostatize from = Christ.=20 Loving all Muslims, I, however, reject the teachings of Muhammad and = Islam=20 because they are misleading, discriminating, and often cruel, = contradicting=20 divine revelation in Christ, and mixing some of the revealed truths of=20 Christianity (the fulfillment of Judaism) with falsehood and lies. Make = no=20 mistake about it: Islam is not compatible with Christianity and is not = another=20 path to God revealed by a late-coming prophet. What prophet does God = need to=20 send after He Himself came to show us the Royal Path to salvation in His = Church,=20 the Ark of salvation? The God depicted by Muhammad is very different = than the=20 God revealed in Christ, although the name of the deity and few of His = attributes=20 might be held in common. If one of these two religions is true, the = other is=20 false by simple deduction. Both can of course be considered false by=20 non-believers, but both cannot be true. Orthodox Christianity teaches = that God,=20 the All-Merciful and Compassionate, will judge everyone according to = what they=20 have received and according to their deeds. Those who have received more = will be=20 accountable for more. Every human being is created and loved by God, and = is=20 given free will to chose good from evil, truth from falsehood, abundant = Life=20 from perdition, some according to the Truth revealed by the Son of God = in=20 Christianity, and others, who have not yet received Christ's = illumination,=20 according to the natural law inscribed in their heart and conscience by = their=20 Creator. The more one receives from God, the more one is accountable for = on the=20 Last Day. Ultimately, some non-Christians will be saved, and, on the = other hand,=20 some Christians will not be saved. God is All-Loving, Just, and = Compassionate,=20 and does not wish the death of a sinner, but patiently awaits his = return. The=20 height and breadth of His love was shown to us by the birth, death, and=20 resurrection of His Only-Begotten Son.

[John 3:16] For God so loved the world, that He gave = His only=20 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but = have=20 everlasting life. [John 8:57].

 

 

Addendum

 

Other = Inconsistencies in=20 Islam.

Let us look at what Muhammad says in the Quran on his = own=20 terms. Since the Quran is allegedly verbatim the word of God, let us = hereafter=20 examine what God has to say about Jesus (called Issa in the Quran).

We will demonstrate enormous inconsistencies in the = Quran about=20 who Jesus is.

[Maryam 19:20] She (Mary) said: How can I have a son = when no=20 mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? [Maryam 19:21] He = said: So=20 (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that = We may=20 make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a = thing=20 ordained. [Maryam 19:22] And she conceived him (Jesus), and she withdrew = with=20 him to a far place.

Muhammad here acknowledges that Jesus' birth was = miraculously=20 done without human seed and was announced to the Virgin Mary by an = angel.=20 [Maryam 19:27] Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They = said: O=20 Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. [Maryam 19:28] O sister of = Aaron!=20 Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. [Maryam = 19:29] Then=20 she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the = cradle, a=20 young boy ? [Maryam 19:30] He (Jesus) spake: Lo! I am the slave of = Allah. He=20 hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, [Maryam = 19:31] And=20 hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me = prayer and=20 almsgiving so long as I remain alive, [Maryam 19:32] And (hath made me) = dutiful=20 toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. [Maryam = 19:33]=20 Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall = be raised=20 alive! [Maryam 19:34] Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement = of the=20 truth concerning which they doubt. Here Muhammad records the first = miracle of=20 Jesus, who being still a baby, spoke as an adult to the kins of Mary who = were=20 accusing her of unchastity, since she had a child without being married = to a=20 man. Jesus defends her innocence and declares that he is the slave of = Allah, who=20 blessed him and appointed him to be a prophet. Then he prophesied about = his own=20 life saying : " Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and = the day I=20 shall be raised alive!" Therefore, Jesus was to die and to be raised = alive.

[an-Nisa' 4:157] And because of their saying: We slew = the=20 Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger =C2=97 they slew him not = nor crucified=20 him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning = it are=20 in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a = conjecture;=20 they slew him not for certain. [an-Nisa' 4:158] But Allah took him up = unto=20 Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.

[Al-Imran 3:55] (And remember) when Allah said: O = Jesus! Lo! I=20 am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing = thee of=20 those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those = who=20 disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection.

Muhammad here contradicts what he said previously by = denying=20 that Jesus was crucified, died, and was raised alive from the dead! He = alleges=20 that Jesus was rather taken up to heaven, "but it appeared so unto them" = (the=20 disciples) that Jesus was crucified. [al-Baqarah 2:87] And verily We = gave unto=20 Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after = him, and=20 We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), = and We=20 supported him with the Holy Spirit.

[al-Baqarah 2:253] Of those messengers, some of whom = We have=20 caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah = spake, while=20 some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son = of=20 Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with = the Holy=20 Spirit.

[an-Nisa' 4:171] O People of the Scripture! Do not = exaggerate=20 in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The = Messiah,=20 Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He = conveyed=20 unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His = messengers, and=20 say not "Three" =C2=97 Cease! (it is) better for you! =C2=97 Allah is = only One God. Far=20 is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a Son. = His is=20 all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is = sufficient=20 as Defender.

[al-Ma'idah 5:17] They indeed have disbelieved who = say: Lo!=20 Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. [al-Ma'idah 5:72] They surely = disbelieve who=20 say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: = O=20 Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso = ascribeth=20 partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is = the=20 Fire.

[Maryam 19:35] It befitteth not (the Majesty of) = Allah that He=20 should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a = thing, He=20 saith unto it only: Be! and it is.

[at-Taubah 9:30] And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of = Allah,=20 and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their = saying=20 with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of = old.=20 Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they! Muhammad = here says=20 that God bestowed on Jesus the Holy Spirit, exalted him above other = prophets in=20 degrees, and gave him clear proofs of Allah's sovereignty (i.e. = miracles), but=20 Muhammad denies the Holy Trinity and denies that Jesus is the Son of = God.=20 [al-Baqarah 2:53] And when We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the = criterion=20 (of right and wrong), that ye might be led aright.

[an-Nisa' 4:163] Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired = Noah and=20 the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and = Jacob=20 and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and = as We=20 imparted unto David the Psalms;

[al-Ma'idah 5:46] And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, = to follow=20 in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in = the=20 Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a = light,=20 confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah =C2=97 a = guidance and an=20 admonition unto those who ward off (evil).

[al-Hadid 57:27] Then We caused Our messengers to = follow in=20 their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave = him the=20 Gospel, and placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who = followed him.=20 Muhammad says that he follows the line of revelation of all the previous = prophets, including Moses, Job, Jonah, David, Solomon, and Jesus. = However, Islam=20 rejects the authority of the Hebrew and Christian Holy Scriptures. This=20 gratuitous debunking of the Bible is based on the allegations that it = has been=20 corrupted from the original and deviated from the truth. This is the = reason why=20 God finally sent his last and ceal of all prophets, Muhammad, to bring = humanity=20 back to the straight path. Islam, in a self-serving manner, totally = ignores any=20 archeological or historical scholarship that proves that the Bible is = authentic=20 and unaltered. [Al-Imran 3:45] (And remember) when the angels said: O = Mary! Lo!=20 Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the = Messiah,=20 Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the hereafter, and one = of those=20 brought near (unto Allah). [Al-Imran 3:46] He will speak unto mankind in = his=20 cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. [Al-Imran 3:47] = She said:=20 My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me ? He = said: So (it=20 will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith = unto it=20 only: Be! and it is. [Al-Imran 3:48] And He will teach him the Scripture = and=20 wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel, [Al-Imran 3:49] And will make him = a=20 messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you = with a sign=20 from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a = bird, and I=20 breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was = born=20 blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I = announce=20 unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein = verily is a=20 portent for you, if ye are to be believers.

[al-Ma'idah 5:110] When Allah saith: O Jesus, son of = Mary!=20 Remember My favour unto thee and unto thy mother; how I strengthened = thee with=20 the Holy Spirit, so that thou spakest unto mankind in the cradle as in = maturity;=20 and how I taught thee the Scripture and Wisdom and the Torah and the = Gospel; and=20 how thou didst shape of clay as it were the likeness of a bird by My = permission,=20 and didst blow upon it and it was a bird by My permission, and thou = didst heal=20 him who was born blind and the leper by My permission; and how thou = didst raise=20 the dead by My permission; and how I restrained the Children of Israel = from=20 (harming) thee when thou camest unto them with clear proofs, and those = of them=20 who disbelieved exclaimed: This is naught else than mere magic;

[al-Ma'idah 5:114] Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, = Lord of=20 us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may = be a=20 feast for us, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign = from Thee.=20 Give us sustenance, for Thou art the Best of Sustainers. [al-Ma'idah = 5:115]=20 Allah said: Lo! I send it down for you. And whoso disbelieveth of you = afterward,=20 him surely will I punish with a punishment wherewith I have not punished = any of=20 (My) creatures.

[az-Zukhruf 43:63] When Jesus came with clear proofs = (of=20 Allah's Sovereignty), he said: I have come unto you with wisdom, and to = make=20 plain some of that concerning which ye differ. So keep your duty to = Allah, and=20 obey me. Here Muhammad describes the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus, = how he=20 spoke from his cradle as in maturity, fashioned a bird of clay and = breathed on=20 it to give it life (this is reminiscent of the Genesis account of the = creation=20 of Adam! Is not Jesus the Word of God by whom all things were made?), = brought=20 food down from heaven to feed the multitudes, healed the blind and the = lepers,=20 and raised the dead! Who can do these things other than God Incarnate? = No other=20 prophet before or after Jesus has done anything close to this. [Al-Imran = 3:37]=20 And her Lord accepted her (Mary) with full acceptance and vouchsafed to = her a=20 goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went = into the=20 sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! = Whence=20 cometh unto thee this (food) ? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah = giveth=20 without stint to whom He will.

[Al-Imran 3:42] And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! = Allah=20 hath chosen thee and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above (all) = the=20 women of creation.

[at-Tahrim 66:12] And Mary, daughter of 'Imran, whose = body was=20 chaste, therefore We breathed therein something of Our Spirit. And she = put faith=20 in the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and was of the obedient. = Muhammad=20 here believes that Mary, as a child, was sent angels from God to feed = her in the=20 temple's sanctuary, that she was pure and chaste, and that God has = preferred her=20 above all the women of creation and has given her of "Our Spirit" = (meaning the=20 Holy Spirit). Muhammad never claims anything remotely close to Mary's = virtues=20 for his mother. [as-Saff 61:6] And when Jesus son of Mary said: O = Children of=20 Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which = was=20 (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a = messenger who=20 cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come = unto them=20 with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic. The Holy Scriptures and = Sacred=20 Tradition of the Christian Church has never even remotely taught that = Jesus=20 predicted the coming of a prophet after Him. On the contrary, Jesus = taught that=20 false prophets and wolves will come after Him to tear apart the flock of = His=20 sheep. These contradictions, taken verbatim from the Quran, are very = dramatic.=20 They point to conflicting accounts about who Jesus is and what He did. = The most=20 overwhelming inconsistency is the affirmation that Jesus was to die and = to be=20 raised alive in one verse, and the denial that he ever was crucified in = another=20 remote verse, but was rather taken up to heaven. Could the word of God, = which=20 was dictated to Muhammad directly by the angel Gabriel, be in error? = Would God=20 make mistakes and change His mind? On the other hand, all four Gospels, = written=20 by four different witnesses, concur on the events of Jesus' life, death, = and=20 resurrection. Could it be that Muhammad started out earlier in his = public life=20 by accepting part of the Christian Gospel, when he himself had few = followers,=20 was persecuted, and fled to Medinah, but later reversed his opinions = when he=20 sensed an opportunity for establishing his own religion and kingdom, = after his=20 first successful battles at defeating his enemies and returning as = victor to=20 Mecca? Is it unthinkable or impossible for the All-Mighty God to enter = His=20 creation and become incarnate, the Maker of this vast universe? God can = do all=20 things and is absolutely sovereign, even according to Islam. Muhammad, = as a=20 mortal man like many others before and after him, was interested in all = the=20 usual enticements that appeal to ambitious leaders: power, fame, = authority,=20 women, wealth. On the other hand Jesus is unparalleled in all humanity = on=20 account of his birth, life, death, and resurrection, being disinterested = in=20 common pursuits, keeping His eyes on the eternal kingdom which He = promised to=20 establish and which He is capable of delivering, having shown clear = proofs in=20 His life on earth of His sovereignty over the elements of nature, = sickness,=20 life, and death. His life and deeds were prophesied with great accuracy=20 centuries before His birth. Is it not plausible that He is the author = and=20 fulfillment of all these prophesies? As for me, I confess, after many = careful=20 years of learning from life and books, and after continuous and honest=20 soul-searching, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of the = Living God,=20 the Only-Begotten of the Father before all ages, eternally reigning and=20 co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the God-man, the = Incarnate Word=20 of God, uniting divine nature and human nature in one Person, the Logos, = the=20 Second Person of the All-Holy, Consubstantial, Tri-Personal, Triune, and = Undivided Trinity. He took on human flesh and made it His own, without = change,=20 confusion, or separation of the divine and human natures, both operating = simultaneously without diminution or alteration in the One Person, the = Logos=20 (this is the Orthodox Christian Faith of the Apostles, confirmed and = defined at=20 the fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, Asia Minor, 451 A.D).