CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM
List of contents:
I. Introduction
A. Islam
B. Christianity
II. The seal of prophets?
III. Love
IV. Forgiveness
V. Salvation
VI. Absolute predestination
VII. Judgment and eternal destiny
A. The Islamic teaching
B. The Christian teaching
VIII. Violence
IX. Islamic law (Sharia)
X. Freedom of religion
XI. Freedom of speech
XII. Democracy
XIII. Oppression of women
XIV. Polygamy, marriage and divorce
XV. Religious practices
A. Prayer
B. Alms
C. Feasts
XVI. Immoral teachings of Islam
A. Incestuous marriage
B. Sexual abuse of child girls
C. Sexual abuse of female slaves,
servants and war captives
D. Temporary marriages
E. Breastfeeding adults
F. Looting
G. Torture
H. Taqiyya
I. Miscellaneous
XVII. Strange teachings of Islam
XVIII. Conclusion
Selected Bibliography
Inspirationals from the Holy Bible:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life” (John 3: 16); “Jesus said to him, “I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me” (John 14: 6); “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying:
I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life” (John 8: 12); “Behold, I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation
3: 20); “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out
fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made
perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18)
I. INTRODUCTION
Some may think Christianity and Islam are both sourced from the same
God, and they both lead to him. Is this belief true? If it were true,
then their teachings on major doctrinal and ethical issues should be
identical. A close examination shows conclusively that their teachings
are widely divergent and contradictory, which indicates that they do
not originate from the same source. One of them leads to the true living
God; the other does not.
This article discusses their respective teachings on the key issues
of love, forgiveness, salvation, predestination, judgment, eternal destiny,
violence, Islamic law (sharia), freedom of religion and speech, oppression
of women, polygamy and marriage, etc. It shows the gigantic gulf that
separates their respective positions.
This page analyses the major differences between the God of the Holy
Bible and the god of Islam.
This page discusses the major differences between Christ and Muhammad.
A. Islam
The principal source of Islamic belief and practice is the Qur’an.
Muhammad claimed that the Qur’an was the truth of his god. Furthermore,
Islam teaches that the Qur’an is the eternal uncreated word of
the Islamic god—Muhammad being its agent, not its originator.
However, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that historical Islam
is definitely shaped by the manner the man Muhammad was. Islam believes
that Muhammad, its prophet, had received the Qur’an from the god
of Islam beginning in the year 610 AD and ending before his death in
632 AD.
The Hadith complements the Qur’an, and is essential to understand
the Qur’an as it provides its historical context and chronology.
It embodies the Sunna, or “Tradition,” of Muhammad’s
life, deeds and sayings. The most authentic Sunni hadith collections
are those of Imam Bukhari (810-870 AD), about 200 years after Muhammad’s
death, and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (818-875 AD). The central Shia Hadith
collection is that of al-Kulayni (d. 939 AD). Ibn ishaq wrote the biography
of muhammad’s life (Sirat Rasul Allah) about 120 years after muhammad’s
death in 750 AD. Ibn Hisham censored and edited it in 850 AD omitting
disgraceful and derogatory things. Everything written afterwards was
censored, embellished and infused with myths and legends.
The Islamic tradition believes that the Qur’an is the literal
word of the Islamic god. The angel Gabriel gave it to Muhammad without
any real input from the latter. If this being the case, one wonders
why the Islamic god did not hand the Qur’an to Muhammad in the
form of a book written on plates of stone, the way the living biblical
God handed the ten commandments (the Decalogue) to Moses on Mount Sinai
(Exodus 31: 18; 32: 15-16). The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters,
known as suras, each of which is identified by a number and a title,
such as sura 2 called al-Baqarah (the Cow). Islam teaches that the first
sura Muhammad gave was sura 96, al-Alaq (the Blood-Clot). And the last
two suras were sura 5 (al-Ma’idah) and 9 (at-Tawbah). Where there
is conflict, these suras abrogate all the earlier peaceful and tolerant
verses of the Qur’an. They demand holy war (jihad) against all
non-Muslims forever, including killing, enslaving, looting and raping
non-Muslims in the name of the Islamic god.
The suras are arranged according length, with the longest at the beginning
of the Qur’an, and the shortest at its end. The one exception
is sura 1, al-Fatiha (the Opening), which has seven verses. The suras
are also identified as either “Meccan” or “Medinan,”
depending on whether Muhammad gave them before or after his hijra—his
departure from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. Works of Qur’anic interpretation,
or tafsir, abound. One of the earliest and greatest of these works is
the multivolume work of al-Tabari (839-923 AD). For a detailed discussion
of various aspects of the Qur’an, please see this page.
Islamic scholars (ulama) developed the code of Islamic law known as
the Sharia. The Islamic law is based on four sources: the Qur’an,
the Hadith, the ijmah (the consensus of Islamic scholars on an issue),
and the qiyas (the reasoning on the basis of analogy). Instead of qiyas,
the Shia scholars have ijtihad (individual reasoning). Four legal schools
or traditions emerged in the eighth and ninth centuries: the Hanafi
(predominates in central Asia and the Indian subcontinent), the Maliki
(in North Africa), al-Shaf’i (in Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia),
and the Hanbali (in Saudi Arabia). All the major schools of Sharia agree
on more than 70 percent substantive matters. The study of Sharia is
known as fiqh.
The central shrine of Islam is the Kaaba in the city of Mecca, which
is forbidden to non-Muslims. The Islamic tradition holds that the cubic
structure of the Kaaba was built by Adam, and then rebuilt and purified
by Abraham and his son Ishmael. In contrast with that, the holy Bible
tells us that Abraham never traveled to Arabia. History tells us that
the Kaaba was a pagan temple venerated by all the tribes of Arabia.
It had 360 idols at the time of Muhammad who destroyed them. Muslims
turn to the direction of the Kaaba when they pray, and walk around it
three times at their pilgrimage. In one corner of the Kaaba is a small
black stone, perhaps a meteorite or a fragment of an ancient pagan idol,
venerated by Muslims.
About 85% of Muslims belong to Sunni Islam; and 12% to Shia Islam.
The root of the schism between the Sunni and the Shia Muslims goes back
to the historical conflict over the succession of Muhammad. A handful
of respected Muslims chose Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s close follower,
as the first caliph. Others wanted Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad’s
son-in-law, to be his successor. Eventually, Ali was assassinated in
661 AD. The Shia movement arose from the pro-Ali faction. According
to the Shia, the leader, or Imam, of the Muslim community should be
a descendant of Ali from his wife Fatima, Muhammad’s daughter.
The Shia await the twelfth Imam (referred to as Imam Mahdi). In the
interim, the Imam’s full legal and religious authority is bestowed
upon the leading Islamic scholars of the day (called ulama).
Islam originated in Hijaz, the northwest region of the Arabian peninsula,
with particular emphasis on the towns of Mecca and Yathrib, subsequently
known as Medina. Mecca was a small commercial center. Yathrib was an
agricultural community. Most Arabs at that time were pastoral nomads.
The tribe was their principal form of social and political organization.
It provided them with both a sense of identity and physical security.
Islam unifies everything under religion. It rejects secularism. There
is no separation between Church and State in Islam. Muhammad established
the first Islamic state in Medina. He was its first head of state. Jewish
tribes did not support him in Medina. Therefore, he exiled two of them
and massacred the third. At his death on June 8, 632 AD, Muhammad ruled
over much of the Arabian peninsula. Within 100 years from his death,
Islamic Arab armies established a vast Islamic empire extending from
central Asia, through northern India, the Middle East, North Africa,
all the way to Iberia.
Jews and Christians, called people of the Book by Islam, in the conquered
territories were designated as “dhimmis” or “protected”
peoples whose status was inferior to that of Muslims. Dhimmis were forbidden
to propagate their faith or to build new houses of worship. They were
required to pay a special poll tax, the jizya, imposed on non-Muslims
only. In many places and at many times, the dhimmi was required to wear
distinguishing clothes, and was prohibited from bearing arms. The stigma
attached to the dhimmi status was one of the factors that compelled
many non-Muslims to convert to Islam.
The five pillars of Islam are:
1. The Shahadah, the Muslim profession of faith: “There is no
god but god, and Muhammad is his messenger.”
2. Five ritualistic prayers every day following the rite of ritual cleansing
(ablution) that requires washing all exposed parts of the body with
water or sand, if water is not available.
3. Zakat (required alms giving).
4. Fast of the month of Ramadan. During the entire month of Ramadan,
each Muslim over age 14 must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking,
sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset. Failure to fast without legitimate
excuse is an unpardonable sin.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least for those that can afford the
expenses of the journey.
In addition, Muhammad in Medina urged Muslims to engage in armed jihad
against non-Muslims.
The religious practices of Islam are more concerned with superficial
empty dry rites and rituals than with the spiritual inner experience
of the person.
B. Christianity
The Holy Bible presents God’s truth in the person of his incarnate
Word, Jesus Christ. He is the only truth of the living God: “And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”
(John 1: 14; 14: 6).
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ form the foundation
of Christianity. The Christian faith is centered on Christ. Christ is
God’s most important self-disclosure in history. God has revealed
himself in human history by a divine person, not by a book. All is of
God, from God, and by God. God is the revealer and revealed—the
Father and his word, the Son. The Holy Spirit of God is his power at
work in the Christian Church. God is transcendent beyond human imagination,
and yet he is immanent intimately concerned with human welfare and active
in human history. In Christ, the believer is reborn and transfigured
by grace. Spiritual renewal and gradual sanctification to conform to
the image of Christ are the central themes in the life of the follower
of Christ.
True Christian faith consists of three essential elements: the intellectual
element (mental acceptance of the basic doctrines of Christianity),
the affectionate element (the bond of love between God and the person),
and the volitional element (full commitment to follow the teachings
of Christ). Thus, true Christian faith encompasses the totality of the
human person: his intellect, his emotion, and his will. It emphasizes
the love of the true living God, and the love of neighbor.
The basics of the orthodox Christian faith are summarized in this page.
Sectarianism and divisiveness afflict all great religions in varying
forms and degrees. All Christians have the treasure of Christ in their
imperfect weak humanity (2 Corinthians 4: 7). There are three major
Christian traditions: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. A faith
that has about 1.7 billion adherents is bound to have different traditions.
Disagreements are inherent in the fallen nature of humanity. There are
differences between these traditions. We are not attempting to belittle
the importance of these differences. However, it is important to stress
the fact that all Christian traditions, including the many conservative
Protestant denominations, share the same core doctrines of the Christian
faith, such as the inspiration of the Holy Bible, the Holy Trinity,
the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, the miracles of
Christ, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the second coming
of Christ in glory and power, the work of the Holy Spirit, salvation,
the resurrection of the dead, God’s judgment, etc. What unites
different Christian traditions is far greater than what divides them.
II. THE SEAL OF PROPHETS?
Many Muslims believe that Jesus’ ministry was limited to the
nation of Israel (al-Ma’idah 5: 46-47). They attribute the universality
of Christianity to the early Gentile Church teachings. In fact, after
his resurrection, Jesus has instructed his disciples to preach Christianity
to all the nations of the earth: “And Jesus came and spoke
to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven
and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
(Matthew 28: 18-19; Acts 1: 8).
History tells us that his apostles obeyed his command, traveled far,
and proclaimed the gospel to pagans outside Palestine. For instance,
the apostle Paul proclaimed Christianity in Asia Minor and in Europe.
The apostle Matthew evangelized as far as India; the apostle John in
Asia Minor; and Mark the evangelist in North Africa.
The Jesus of the Qur’an is very different from the Jesus of the
holy Bible. Islam teaches that he was virgin born, and preached the
truth. The Bible teaches that he was virgin born, and he is the truth
(the Word of God): “Jesus said to him, “I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me” (John 14: 6). He was not merely an example of righteousness.
He was the atoning sacrifice that allowed mankind to obtain righteousness.
In Christianity, Jesus is the savior and reigning king of kings, whose
kingdom shall have no end (Luke 1: 33; Hebrews 1: 8; 2 Peter 1: 11;
Daniel 7: 14, 27).
Islam claims that Jesus is only another prophet like many other messengers
of God before him. It also claims that Jesus was not crucified (al-Nisa’
4: 157-159). In fact, non-Christian sources attest the historical event
of his crucifixion.
The central message of Christianity is that Christ is the incarnate
Son of God. He died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead
three days later. It refutes the central message of Islam that God has
no eternal Son, and that Jesus did not die on the cross and rise from
the dead three days later, and that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets.
There is no need for prophets proclaiming their independent
religions after Christ, because:
1. Christ is the incarnate Word (Son) of God.
In him, all the prophecies of the first advent of the Messiah were fulfilled.
He is the culmination of all prophecy. On the other hand, Christianity
expects the coming of the false prophet and the anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians
2: 3; Revelation 19: 20; 20: 10) to be followed by the second advent
of Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead at the end of this
age.
2. After his ascension, Christ has sent the Holy Spirit
of the living God to indwell the believers and guide his Church on earth.
The Holy Spirit guides the believers in their fellowship with Christ
on earth, strengthens them in the faith, and sanctifies them progressively:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall
dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour
out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:
17-18; Joel 2: 28-29); “clearly you are an epistle of Christ,
ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living
God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the
heart.” (2 Corinthians 3: 3). Therefore, there is no
need for prophets inspired by the Spirit of God to provide a new religion
after Christ (Matthew 21: 33-44).
3. One of the main reasons for sending prophets is that
God wants to improve the morality of humanity as humanity develops and
matures, and becomes receptive to higher ethical standards. Every major
prophet provides further moral development for humanity. For instance,
God gave the prophet Moses a law saying: “…you shall
give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot
for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
(Exodus 21: 23-25). The ancient custom before the time of Moses
was that the punishment should be more than the original injury. The
law of Moses moderated the punishment in order to prevent a series of
violent bloody acts that could spiral out of control—instead of
a tenfold vengeance, there would be equality of suffering. This was
a step upward for human morality.
Then Jesus came fourteen centuries later and raised humanity to the
ideal moral standard by teaching love and forgiveness, in the place
of vengeance: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, love
your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you
may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”
(Matthew 5: 38, 44-45). “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but
rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine,
I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing
you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 19-21).
In fact, Jesus implemented this teaching personally to provide the
highest example on love and forgiveness. While he was bleeding and suffering
in agony the death pains on the cross, he did not condemn those who
crucified him to death and destruction. Instead, he prayed for their
forgiveness: “And when they had come to the place called
Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right
hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they do”…” (Luke 23:
33-34).
Instead of the forgiveness and tolerance that Jesus has taught, the
Islamic ethical teachings are a step backward in morality. It teaches
killing and intolerance: “Fight against such
of those to whom the Scriptures were given (Christians and Jews) as
believe in neither god (the god of Islam) nor the last day, who do not
forbid what god and his apostle (Muhammad) have forbidden,
and do not embrace the true faith (Islam), until they
pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued. The Jews say Ezra is
the son of God, while the Christians say the Messiah is the Son of God.
Such are their assertions, by which they imitate the infidels of old.
God confound them! How perverse they are (at-Tawbah 9: 29-30); “When
you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield, strike off their heads,
and when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly…”
(Muhammad 47: 4).
In addition, Islam permits polygamy (instead of the Christian monogamy),
taking concubines (e.g. Muhammad took Rihana and Mary the Egyptian who
were not among his wives), incest (Muhammad married his daughter-in-law
Zaynab bint Jahsh after his adopted son Zayd divorced her (al-Ahzab
33: 37)), breastfeeding adults, marrying child girls (Muhammad married
Aisha when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage when
she was nine years old, still a child (at-Talaq 65: 4)), beating wives
(al-Nisa’ 4: 34), temporary marriage which is prostitution, etc.
Moses and Jesus never permitted these immoralities.
In contrast with the claim of al-Ahzab 33: 40 that Muhammad is the
seal of prophets, the Holy Bible declares that Christ is the seal of
prophethood and the end of God’s revelation to humankind: “…God
the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6: 27; Mark 12: 1-11);
“… Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit
of prophecy” (Revelation 19: 10). There can be no prophets
from the true living God to succeed Christ, his incarnate Son. In fact,
Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14: 6).
However, Christ sends apostles and prophets by his own authority in
his own name to pass on his divine revelation and proclaim his Gospel
to the nations (Ephesians 4: 7, 11-16; Acts 11: 28; 15: 32; Revelation
1: 1-3; 11: 3-6). Muhammad proclaimed a different religion and contradicted
key teachings of the Gospel of Christ.
III. LOVE
One of the most important central teachings of Christianity is the
love of God and the love of neighbor: “For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16;
17: 24, 26); “He who does not love does not know God, for God
is love” (1 John 4: 8). In his teachings and miracles,
Jesus focused human awareness on two most important facts: God’s
overwhelming divine love of humanity, and people accepting that love
and letting it flow through them to others. Love is manifested in relationships.
We will examine the important relationships in Islam and Christianity.
1. The relationship between the messenger and his
god.
The Qur’an and the Hadith do not speak about Muhammad loving
his god, or his god loving him. Muhammad described himself as a slave
of his god (al-Baqarah 2: 23). In fact, in the one hundred or so names
for the Islamic god, there is no word that refers to him as love.
On the contrary, Jesus relationship with God the Father is based on
mutual divine love. God the Father spoke about loving his incarnate
Son: “While he (Jesus) was still speaking, behold, a bright
cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud,
saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear
Him” (Matthew 17: 5; 12: 18; 3: 17). And Jesus stressed
his obedience and love to God the Father, without fear (John 14: 31).
The divine love is the supreme example of the ideal pristine love that
Christ taught: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved
you; abide in My love. This is My commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay
down one’s life for his friends” (John 15: 9, 12-13; 3:
16).
Jesus instructed Christians to love both God and their neighbors: “Jesus
said to him: ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all
the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22: 37-40; Mark 12: 28-31;
John 13: 34-35; 15: 9, 12; Romans 13: 10; 1 John 4: 7-10, 15-16, 20-21;
1 Peter 3: 8-9).
2. The relationship between the messenger and his
people.
Although the Qur’an provides a passing reference for the Islamic
god’s love (Hud 11: 90), it emphasizes obedience to the Islamic
god as a slave to his master (Qaf 50: 8; al-Anfal 8: 13). Muhammad used
to carry out cruel inhumane punishments he claimed his god demanded
whether by beating, cutting off of limbs, stoning to death, etc. In
addition, the Islamic god did not love unbelievers (Al-‘Imran
3: 32). He leads them astray in order to populate the hell he had created:
“If we had so willed, we could certainly have brought every soul
its true guidance: but the Word from Me will come true, "I will
fill Hell with Jinns and men all together” (as-Sajdah 32: 13).
The Christian teaching contradicts the Islamic teaching. The eternal
divine love between God the Father and Jesus, his incarnate Son, is
reflected in their relationship with humanity. Jesus assured his disciples
that God the Father loved them: “For the Father Himself
loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came
forth from God” (John 16: 27). Jesus also expressed his
love to his followers: “As the Father loved Me, I also
have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will
abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments
and abide in His love” (John 15: 9-10). In fact, he gave
up his bodily life to save them from eternal damnation (John 10: 14-15).
Jesus elevated his disciples to the level of friends: “No
longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his
master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that
I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15: 15).
In addition to loving his followers, Jesus loved the unbelievers and
tried to help them (Mark 2: 17; John 4: 1-26; Luke 7: 36-50; 15: 1-2;
23: 39-43). Jesus also taught that God the Father is “…kind
to the unthankful and evil” (Luke 6: 35; Matthew 5: 45; John 3:
16; Romans 5: 8).
3. The relationship between believers, and unbelievers
and enemies.
Although Muhammad called for Muslims to care for each other as brothers
(Al-‘Imran 3: 103; al-Hujurat 49: 10), he instructed Muslims to
reject friendships with non-Muslims (al-‘Imran 3: 28; al-Ma’idah
5: 51; al-Mumtahanah 60: 1), and to participate in holy war (jihad)
and kill unbelievers if necessary in order to force them to submit to
Islam (al-Tawbah 9: 5, 29; al-Baqarah 2: 193; etc.). Christian and Jewish
martyrs are killed for what they believe. Muslim jihadist martyrs kill
for what they believe. Muhammad controlled his followers with rewards
and punishments, and demanded that they do the same—reward believers
and punish unbelievers.
The Islamic supremacist teachings (Al-‘Imran 3: 110, 85; at-Tawbah
9: 28) puff up the ego of Islamists. Non-Muslims are looked down upon,
treated as second-class citizens and sub-humans (al-Anfal 8: 55; al-Ma’idah
5: 59-60; al-Baqarah 2: 65; al-A’raf 7: 166), and persecuted in
Islamic countries. Their suffering at the hands of Muslims poisons Muslim
society—a severe price for advocating hatred.
Jesus instructed Christians to love one another as he loved them “A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John
13: 34-35).
In addition, Jesus asked them to love the unbelievers and the enemies,
pray for them, preach the gospel to them, heal their sick, and raise
their dead. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”
(Matthew 5: 43-45, 48; Luke 6: 27-28, 32-33, 35; Romans 12: 14). Christianity
teaches forgiveness, and prevents revenge. “Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy
is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing
you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12: 19-21; Matthew
5: 38-42). Islam demands revenge (al-Baqarah 2: 178, 194; al-Isra’
17: 33; etc.).
In ancient times, Moses had instructed the Jews to “love
the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy
10: 19; Leviticus 19: 34).
IV. FORGIVENESS
Christianity teaches that forgiveness is the healing of a broken relationship
between Christ and the penitent sinner. There is only one path to forgiveness
and reconciliation with God—accepting the atonement Christ offered
on the cross through penitent working faith: “God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us” (Romans 5: 8; 1 Peter 3: 18). Without Christ’s
substitutionary death in the place of the penitent sinner who puts his
faith in Christ, man is hopelessly lost in his sinful ways and corrupted
nature. “He (Christ) was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was
upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53: 5).
The Almighty living God of the Holy Bible gives grace to all those
who receive Jesus as Lord and savior and accept his free gift of atonement.
The atonement of Christ guarantees the forgiveness of all repented sins:
“…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins …” (1 John 2: 1-2; Romans 5: 1-2; 1 Peter 2: 24-25;
Ephesians 1: 7-8); “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews
9: 14); “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
(Acts 4: 12). Christians are thereby set free from the bondage
of sin and spiritual death (Romans 6: 6-7; Galatians 5: 13; 1 Peter
2: 16).
Islam offers no means by which the Muslim person can be reconciled
with the Islamic god and set free from his sins. There is no mediator
for the Muslim person that can plead his case before the Islamic god.
A Muslim person does not have assurance that his repented sins are forgiven
(al-Tawbah 9: 102; al-Nahl 16: 61). The god of Islam gives grace only
arbitrarily to whom he pleases. In fact, a Muslim person can never be
sure that he is not being directed by the Islamic god to do evil, since
that god causes people to sin and do evil: “…Whom god wills
he sends astray, and whom he wills he places on a straight path”
(al-An’am 6: 39; Ibrahim 14: 4).
V. SALVATION
The Qur’an tells that the Islamic god created Adam and breathed
into him his spirit (al-Hijr 15: 26; as-Sajdah 32: 9). The Qur’an
does not mention anything about the time and process of Eve’s
creation. Orthodox Islam believes that man has no godlikeness. God breathing
into man his spirit is interpreted to mean god’s imparting his
faculties of knowledge and will into man.
The Holy Bible informs that God created Adam from clay, and thereafter,
Eve from one of Adam’s ribs (Genesis 1: 26-27; 2: 7, 18-23), which
makes her equal to Adam. God created man in his image indicating man’s
endowment of faculties, powers, and character, which man needs to employ
to become like God by developing the moral perfection and holiness God
intended for him.
Islam teaches that obedience to the Islamic god’s revealed guidance
is the way to salvation. It involves both correct beliefs and good deeds
(al-Ma’idah 5: 10). The Islamic god is presented as both merciful
and also just at the same time. But he is incapable of reconciling his
mercy with his justice. A just God does not arbitrarily forgive sins
without any real just basis for his forgiveness. Islam does not provide
real basis for his forgiveness and does not offer a plan for redemption
and salvation, because it rejects the atoning sacrificial payment that
Christ has offered on the cross to satisfy the justice of God. Based
on this atonement, God can justly justify the penitents who accept Christ’s
payment on their behalf. Christ took their punishment in their behalf.
Despite the Islamic rejection of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement
(al-An’am 6: 164), the Qur’an provides an example of it
in Abraham’s sacrifice of his son on mount Moriah (as-Saffat 37:
102-107).
Christianity teaches that any human sin is an infinite offense against
the infinite God and must be judged with infinite punishment. Good works
no more cover and compensate for bad works than an act of kindness can
take away the guilt of a murderer. It the sinner repents and accepts
the atonement of Christ, his sin is transferred to the account of Christ
who took its just punishment on the cross.
If the human nature could be renewed by guidance alone, then why did
God send multitudes of prophets over the centuries instead of just one?
Why have humans kept disobeying and sinning? This shows that the human
nature which has been corrupted by the fall of Adam and Eve cannot be
renewed by guidance alone. It needs redemption, not merely revelation.
The Orthodox Christian teaching on atonement and salvation by penitent
working faith that accepts the free gift of the atonement Christ has
offered on the cross is explained in that page.
Some Islamists object to the crucifixion of Christ thinking that God
would not allow his servant to suffer. This is human rationalization.
We do not know the mind of God. God said through his prophet Isaiah:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways
My ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55: 8). Many godly prophets
suffered persecutions. In addition, the Qur’an says that this
objection is not valid, because many of the prophets and apostles were
killed in the past (al-Baqarah 2: 87, 91; al-‘Imran 3: 21, 112,
181, 183; an-Nisa’ 4: 155; al-Ma’idah 5: 70). In fact, Jesus
prevailed over his enemies when God raised him from the dead in the
third day. “He (David the prophet), foreseeing this, spoke
concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left
in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised
up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right
hand of God . . .” (Acts 2: 31-33). By Christ’s
death and resurrection, “. . . Death is swallowed up in
victory” (1 Corinthians 15: 54). The death and resurrection
of Christ manifest God’s love and mercy towards fallen humanity:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8).
Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down
one’s life for his friends” (John 15: 13).
Because Jesus Christ died in our behalf on the cross absorbing the
infinite wrath of our all-holy God against sin, Christians no longer
fear the prospect of standing before God’s throne. Christ Jesus,
God’s eternal Son—crucified, risen, and reigning, is the
sole and sufficient savior for all believing persons everywhere at all
times. Our close loving fellowship with God in Christ who intercedes
in our behalf before the divine throne (1 John 2: 1-2) gives us assurance
and extinguishes fear and anxiety: “He who believes in
the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall
not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3: 36,
16; 5: 24; 14: 1-3; 1: 10-13); “There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who
fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18; 5: 9-12;
Hebrews 7: 25; 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10). He is God with us
and God for us for all eternity. Christ has assured Christians of peace
saying: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid” (John 14: 27). “Therefore, having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Romans 5: 1).
Islam teaches that if a Muslim person commits a grave sin (worshiping
another god, denying basic beliefs of Islam, insulting Muhammad, killing
Muslims, etc.), the Islamic god may, or may not, forgive him upon his
repentance. On judgment day, he will discover whether or not he is forgiven.
On the other hand, if he commits a small sin (missing a prayer, lying,
breaking Ramadan’s fast, etc.), he can earn his forgiveness by
good works or going on pilgrimage (hajj).
It is hoped that the Muslim person earns his salvation by his good
works (Al-‘Imran 3: 31). The only hope a Muslim has is that his
good deeds outweigh his bad ones and tip the scale of judgment in his
favor: “On that day all shall be weighed with justice. Those whose
good deeds weigh heavy in the scales shall triumph, but those whose
deeds are light shall lose their souls, because they have denied our
revelations” (al-A’raf 7: 8-9; al-Baqarah 2: 277). Later
in his ministry when he started to send out military expeditions from
Medina, Muhammad claimed to have received revelation about an assured
way for earning his god’s forgiveness and favor by fighting and
dying for the cause of Islam in jihad (Al-‘Imran 3: 195, 157-158;
as-Saff 61: 10-13; al-Nisa’ 4: 74; Bukhari 4.52.48). A Muslim
person who dies in jihad, is believed to go straight to the Islamic
paradise without waiting in his grave for judgment day. The one who
will be awarded the Islamic paradise without passing through judgment
is the Islamic jihadist who kills for the cause of Islam, not the doer
of good deeds.
There is no assurance of salvation in Islam for Muslims who
do not participate and die in jihad. Muhammad depended on his
own works, along with his god’s hoped-for mercy to earn paradise.
However, the Islamic god is exalted and pleased to send people to hell
arbitrarily (Ibrahim 14: 4), and is arbitrary in his forgiveness (al-Baqarah
2: 284). Therefore, Muhammad himself was insecure about his eternal
fate and expressed his doubts and worries about his god’s acceptance:
“…nor do I know what will be done with me or with you…”
(al-Ahqaf 46: 9; al-Jinn 72: 20; Bukhari 5.58.266; 2.23.334; 9.87.145).
In fact, Muhammad asked Muslims to pray for his salvation (al-Ahzab
33: 43, 56). Omar, one of the early guided caliphs, said on his deathbed:
“. . . Had I the whole East and West, gladly would I give up all
to be delivered from this awful terror that is hanging over me”
(Cited in Jens Christensen, The Practical Approach to Muslims, London:
North Africa Mission, 1977, p. 380). Abu Bakr went through the same
anguish on his deathbed. In fact, except for the Islamic martyrs who
die fighting for Islam in jihad (at-Tawbah 9: 111; as-Saff 61: 4, 10-13),
all Muslims will spend time in hell (Maryam 19: 71). This proves the
common saying that “Islam is as arid as the deserts of
its birth.” The final message of Islam is not a message of salvation
and new life, but of hopelessness.
Muhammad’s fears and insecurity about his eternal salvation makes
his prophetic claims doubtful and questionable at best. There is not
a single Biblical or Qur’anic verse which exhorts believers to
pray for the peace and salvation of any of the true prophets and apostles
of the holy Bible after their respective deaths. All the true prophets
and apostles of the living God never doubted their salvation. The only
emphatic guarantee Muhammad had from his god was that he was going to
die (az-Zumar 39: 30-31) and pass through hell (Maryam 19: 68-72). There
is no security for Muslims. If the prophet of Islam and the greatest
Muslims Abu Bakr and Omar were uncertain and insecure about their salvation,
how much more the average Muslim would be?
In contrast with that, the Holy Bible gives assurance that all true
believers, which include God’s true prophets and apostles, will
enter into the heavenly presence of God in paradise right after their
deaths (2 Corinthians 5: 1-10; Philippians 1: 21, 23; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8;
Hebrews 12: 22-24; Revelation 6: 9-11; 7: 9-17).
VI. ABSOLUTE PREDESTINATION
Islam teaches that its god is the origin of both good and evil. This
article discusses the Islamic doctrine of absolute predestination, and
provides the Christian position on this pivotal issue.
The Islamic god leads aright whom he wills, and leads astray whom he
wills. One of his goals is to fill hell. This article discusses the
Islamic god’s attitude towards sinners and provides the Christian
position.
VII. JUDGMENT AND ETERNAL DESTINY
A. The Islamic teaching
Islam proclaims the doctrine of “the torment of the grave.”
The soul of a dead Muslim person is believed to return to its corpse
while it is interred. It is claimed that the dead person experiences
physical sensation. Once entombed, the soul is judged by two angels,
after which it is either granted paradise or the torment of the grave.
This torment consists of pulverizing the corpse with a massive iron
hammer that makes it crumble into dust, but the Islamic god reassembles
it and has it struck repeatedly. Then the grave tightens around the
corpse, till its bones crack. Then the tomb-snake (or 70-99 dragons)
eats the flesh of the corpse, but then the flesh returns and is eaten
repeatedly. Muhammad taught that one of the greatest sins that causes
the torment of the grave is failing to properly clean oneself after
urinating. A sure way of avoiding the torment of the grave is martyrdom
in jihad. Muhammad was afraid of the torment of the grave and used to
pray that he may be saved from it (Bukhari 2.23.454; 2.18.164).
This Islamic teaching does not address what happens to a non-existent
corpse which has been destroyed by either the wild beasts of the land
or the sea, or by fire? Physical evidence proves that the torment of
the grave is a mere fiction because exhumed corpses are found intact.
Its bones are not broken and not powdered, and the size of the grave
does not change.
Islam teaches that every Muslim, good and wicked alike, goes first
to hell after his death (Maryam 19: 70-72). In describing the final
judgment, Islam provides two images—the judgment scale and the
bridge.
1. The judgment scale weighs the good deeds of the person
against his evil deeds. “On that day all shall be weighed with
justice. Those whose good deeds weigh heavy in the judgment scales shall
triumph, but those whose good deeds are light shall lose their souls,
because they have denied our revelations” (al-A’raf 7: 8-9;
al-Baqarah 2: 277; al-Anbiya’ 21: 47; al-Qari’ah 101: 6-11;
Hud 11: 114; al-Mu’minun 23: 102-103). This concept is meaningless
and not valid, because good deeds, apart from salvation, are legalistic
and superficial and do not result in internal transformation and purification
of the fallen human nature. Good works no more cover and compensate
for bad works than an act of kindness can take away the guilt of a murderer.
Good deeds, on their own merit, are incapable of bridging the huge gulf
that separates fallen humanity from the divine God, and therefore, they
could not establish communion between the human person and God: “I
do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through
the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2: 21).
The concept of the judgment scale is traceable to a heretical work
called “The Testament of Abraham” written about four hundred
years before Muhammad’s time, and to “The Book of the Dead”
found in the tombs of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
2. The idea of the bridge is based on as-Saffat 37: 23-24; and Yasin
36: 66. This is the last phase of the process of judgment. All Muslims
must finally come to a hair thin bridge across the fire of hell. The
righteous will cross it quickly and safely. But those whose deeds have
fallen short of the Islamic god’s standard will lose their footing
and fall into the flames of hell beneath. This concept is of Persian
Zoroastrian origin. It is called Chinavad meaning “the connecting
link” which joins earth and paradise.
Although some spiritual rewards are briefly mentioned (e.g. peace (Yasin
36: 58; Maryam 19: 62), bliss (al-Tawbah 9: 72)), the Islamic paradise
is mainly a materialistic carnal paradise (an-Nisa’ 4: 57; al-Hajj
22: 23; Maryam 19: 22; az-Zukhruf 43: 71; ad-Dahr 76; 5, 21; al-Mutaffifin
83: 25). It appeals to, and satisfies, the base human fleshy instincts.
It legitimizes the personal hedonistic pleasures of gluttony and polygamy.
It contains the huris which the Islamic god created as devices of lustful
pleasure to gratify Muslim men who fear him (ar-Rahman 55: 72; al-Waqi’ah
56: 22, 35-37; al-Baqarah 2: 25; an-Nisa’ 4: 57). The virgin huris
are like delicate pearls (as-Saffat 37: 49; ar-Rahman 55: 56-58). Their
virginity is reestablished after they are approached. The Islamic paradise
also provides the kawa’ib (an-Naba’78: 33), who are charming
young women (al-Waqi’ah 56: 23; ar-Rahman 55: 58). In addition
to the female companions, the Islamic paradise will have young boys
of perpetual freshness (at-Tur 52: 24; al-Waqi’ah 56: 17; al-Insan
76: 19) endowed with eternal youth. The paradise of the Qur’an
suggests the immoral perverted sexual behavior of pederasty, lustful
erotic sexual indulgence, excessive wine (Muhammad 47: 15), servants,
etc.
It is interesting to note that the things that Islamists decry the
most as satanic sins of the West are what the Islamic paradise consists
of. The Islamic paradise is only to reward men. Muslim women are ignored?
Virgin women are mentioned only in the context of gratifying the sexual
needs of Muslim men (al-Baqarah 2: 25; as-Saffat 37: 39-49; ad-Dukhan
44: 51-59; Muhammad 47: 15; at-Tur 52: 17-24; al-Waqi’ah 56: 12-39;
ar-Rahman 55: 54-59, 70-77; an-Naba’ 78: 31-34). Muhammad claimed
that every Muslim man entering the Islamic paradise will be given 72
huris and virility equal to that of one hundred men. There is a sex
market in the Islamic paradise which makes it sound like an Islamic
brothel in the Islamic heaven. The Islamic paradise is not a liberating
experience. In it, Muslim men live in bondage to gluttony and sexual
lust. The origin of these Islamic teachings is found in Zoroastrian
and Hindu sources. In fact, the word “huri” is derived from
Persian source.
Christ taught saying: “Most assuredly, I say to you,
whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in
the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes
you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8: 34-36).
B. The Christian teaching
The Holy Bible teaches that the human soul is immortal by the grace
of God (Matthew 22: 32; Luke 20: 38). Physical death is the departure
of the soul from the body (2 Corinthians 5: 1-4; 2 Peter 1: 14; Philippians
1: 23; 2 Timothy 4: 6). The Holy Bible distinguishes two states of the
human soul after physical death: the state immediately following death,
and that after the final General Judgment. Immediately after death,
a Particular Judgment of each person takes place, after which the disembodied
human soul enters an intermediate state either of spiritual bliss in
the immediate presence of Christ with the angels and departed saints
(Luke 23: 43; 16: 22-23), or of torment and darkness separated from
God. At that point the destiny of the departed person is fixed into
eternity (Luke 16: 19-31). However, the person does not receive the
full eternal reward or punishment until after the General Judgment.
The second coming of Christ, our Lord, will be in glory and power (Matthew
24: 30; Luke 21: 27). It is the greatest future event in human history.
It signifies the final triumph of justice and life over evil and death.
Only God knows the time of the second coming (Matthew 24: 36; Acts 1:
7). It will be preceded by the appearance of a massive life giving cross
of Christ filling the sky (Matthew 24: 27, 30-31; Mark 13: 26-27; Luke
21: 27). At his first advent, Christ came in simplicity and humility
to redeem, save, heal, and regenerate the human spirit (John 3: 17;
Matthew 20: 28). At his second advent, he will come in power and glory
with multitudes of angels and saints to judge the living and the resurrected
dead, including Muhammad the prophet of Islam, in the final General
Judgment (Matthew 13: 41-43; 16: 27; 25: 31-46; John 5: 22, 28-29 Acts
10: 42; 17: 31; Revelations 19: 11-16; 22: 12). The General Judgment
will occur right after the resurrection of all the dead (John 5: 28-29),
at which time the soul will be united with a resurrected body for eternity.
There are distinguishable levels of rewards and punishments corresponding
to the moral situation of each person at the moment of his death. Those
who died in Christ and those alive in Christ at his second coming will
receive incorruptible immortal spiritual bodies that “…shine
forth as the sun…” (Matthew 13: 43; 1 Corinthians 15: 35-50;
Philippians 3: 20-21). They will live in an eternal spiritual
bliss in a new heaven (Revelation 21: 1-4; 2 Peter 3: 13). “…Eye
has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians
2: 9). They will exist in a state of deification and unbroken
close fellowship with God in his eternal kingdom (Daniel 2: 44; 7: 13-14).
Their spiritual growth towards the infinite God of the universe will
never cease. The eternal bliss is a spiritual bliss at a higher
state of existence in the immediate presence of God. It consists in
deliverance from suffering, grief, corruption, etc.; experiencing the
beatific vision of God; and the reunion with the other righteous souls.
It will not be a materialistic carnal existence centered around gluttony,
polygamy, and sensual pleasures. The biblical God condemns
and abhors these excesses, “for the kingdom of God is
not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Spirit” (Romans 14: 17; Habakkuk 1: 13).
Jesus taught that there is no marriage in the biblical heaven: “For
in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but
are like angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22: 30; Luke 20: 35-36).
This means that human sexuality ceases to exist in eternity.
The eternal hell is a condition of torment for the wicked and demons.
It is represented symbolically by the fire and worms that never die
(Mark 9: 43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1: 8; Revelation 21: 8), where there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8: 12). It is called
the lake of fire (Revelation 19: 20). The cruelest torment is the eternal
deprivation of the glory of God and his eternal kingdom, and the eternal
separation from the vision of God in the outer darkness. Only in God,
its creator, can the human soul find its eternal rest and illumination.
Therefore, eternal hell is called the second death (Revelation 20: 14).
VIII. VIOLENCE
Islam is not a religion of peace. It is the only major religion in
the world of today that institutionalizes violence against non-Muslims,
which it calls jihad (normally translated “holy war,” as
it is usually used in that context. The literal translation is “struggle”).
Only 56 verses in the entire Qur’an mention peace, and most of
it occur in the context of the Islamic greeting of “peace be upon
you.” Others deal with the peace that occurs after a military
battle. A whole sura 8, al-Anfal is called “spoils of war.”
There is no sura called “peace.”
In contrast with that, the Holy Bible (KJV) provides 420 verses on
the subject of peace. Man strove for peace since ancient times (Isaiah
52: 7). Deep inner peace is the gift of the living God. Man cannot create
his own peace. “The peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4: 7); “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you
peace always in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3: 16; James 3: 17-18);
“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked”
(Isaiah 48: 22; 57: 20-21; 59: 1-4, 7-11; etc).
Muslims are called upon to proclaim Islam by subduing and conquering
non-Muslims. The violent activities of the Muslim zealots are fully
supported and encouraged by the Islamic teachings. Muhammad said: “I
have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has
the right to be worshipped but Allah …” (Bukhari
4.52.196; 1.2.25). Jihad is a Muslim religious duty and obligation,
like pilgrimage. Rejecting jihad amounts to rejecting fundamental Qur’anic
dogma. References to jihad, and killing of infidels who reject Islam
and of apostates who leave Islam abound in the Qur’an: al-Baqarah
2:193, 216, 244; al-Ma’idah 5: 33, 51; al-Anfal 8: 12-17, 39,
65, 67; al-Tawbah 9: 5, 12, 14, 20, 29, 36, 41, 73, 81, 86, 88, 111,
123; al-Fath 48: 16; al-Mumtahanah 60: 1; etc.
Islam divides humanity into two classes: a superior class of Muslims
(Al-‘Imran 3: 110; at-Tawbah 9: 33), and an inferior class of
non-Muslims (infidels). The Qur’an calls the non-Muslim infidels
“… the vilest of animals …” (al-Anfal 8: 55).
It claims that Jews were transformed into apes (al-Baqarah 2: 65 and
al-A’raf 7: 166), and Christians to swine (al-Ma’idah 5:
59-60)? It tells Muslims that Jews are cursed because of their unbelief
(al-Ma’idah 5: 78). The Qur’an goes as far as commanding
Muslims to eschew friendships with infidels, including Christians and
Jews (Al-‘Imran 3: 28, 118; an-Nisa’ 4: 144; al-Ma’idah
5: 51), even if they be their fathers, sons, brothers, or kin (al-Mujadalah
58: 22).
While wars are the exception to the norm in the history of any civilization,
it is the norm in the Islamic civilization in dar-al-harb (the house
of war), which is the territory of the non-Muslim populations. Jihad
is an Islamic institution, not a mere event in Islamic history. The
long bloody history of Islam reflects these teachings. It is rife with
continuous harassment, persecution, subjugation and killing of non-Muslim
infidels.
Traditional orthodox Islam promises the jihadist that if he dies fighting
for the god of Muhammad in Islamic jihad, he is guaranteed to be rewarded
with the Islamic paradise of sexual promiscuity and gluttony (as-Saff
61: 10-13; ad-Dukhan 44: 51-56; at-Tur 52: 17-29; ar-Rahman 55: 46-78;
al-Tawbah 9: 111). Muhammad promised these fictitious rewards in order
to motivate his fighters. On the other hand, should the jihadist survive
and live, he gets a share from the spoils of war, which enriches him
(al-Anfal 8: 41, 60). In addition, he obtains forgiveness of his sins
(as-Saff 61: 11-12), and the love of the Islamic god (an-Nisa’
4: 95; al-Anfal 8: 16). According to orthodox Islamic belief, martyrdom
in Islamic jihad is one of the sure ways a Muslim could take to avoid
the horrifying torments of the grave, and hell.
Muhammad had succeeded in numbing and desensitizing the conscience
of his followers by claiming that an imagined divine authority approved
and encouraged the atrocities they committed, and by promising a fictitious
fleshly paradise as a reward. As a result, they killed, maimed, raped,
and looted without heeding the cries of their victims, without feeling
regret and remorse, and without feeling ashamed and guilty about it.
Pascal, the French philosopher and mathematician, wrote: “Men
never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious
conviction” (Sina, Ali, Understanding Muhammad, 2007-2008,
p. 208). Lord Acton, a famous nineteenth century historian, said, “Power
tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Although Muhammad proclaimed in sura al-Baqarah 2: 256 that there is
no compulsion in religion, he abrogated that concept in al-Baqarah 2:
193; Al-‘Imran 3: 83, 85; an-Nisa’ 4: 89, 101-102; al-Anfal
8: 9, 12-13; al-Tawbah 9: 5, 29; Muhammad 47: 4; al-Hashr 59: 7. He
taught and practiced persecution, military conquest, subjugation, coercion
and killing of non-Muslims. While Islam prohibits Muslims from paying
or charging interest, it permits them to extort money from infidels
and suppress them with usury to gain the upper hand.
At the end of his life, Muhammad said: “… I have
been made victorious with terror, and while I was sleeping,
the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in
my hand …” (Bukhari 4.52.220). On his deathbed, he commanded
his followers to purge Arabia of non-Muslims (Bukhari 4.52.288; 5.59.716;
4.53.392, 380). He started the process (Muslim 19.4366), and his followers
completed it. In fact, till this day, it is illegal to build a church
in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the religious police will raid a house
where Christians are gathered to worship, will arrest the leader of
the worship service and torture him in prison.
In contrast with that, the biblical God condemns violence, saying:
“When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from
you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands
are full of blood” (Isaiah 1: 15). Jesus has instructed
his disciples to proclaim the Gospel peacefully: “And
as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10: 7-8; 28: 18-20;
Mark 16: 20). As part of their mission to proclaim the Gospel
of Christ, Christians are to perform acts of charity and compassion
as Jesus had done. Christians are motivated to share the Gospel by their
love of God and neighbor.
It is important to emphasize the great difference between the spread
of Christianity in the first three centuries of the Christian era, and
the process of Islamization under pressure throughout Islamic history.
Unlike Islam, early Christianity was not dependent on an earthly state
to propagate it by armed expansion. Christ refused to be crowned
a king over an earthly kingdom (John 6: 15; 18: 36). He did
not incarnate to establish an earthly empire in this dispensation, but
to inaugurate the spiritual kingdom of God, the beginning of the new
creation. People converted to Christianity out of deep conviction, commitment
and love to Christ. He and his apostles after him did not send out invading
armies to conquer, rule, and pressure people into Christianity. Instead,
he sent unarmed peaceful evangelists to preach his gospel.
In its first three centuries, Christianity spread by preaching the
gospel and supportive miracles following the teaching and example of
Jesus. Some Islamists claim that Matthew 10: 34-35 and Luke 22: 36,
38 seem to point to holy war. This is the wrong understanding of these
verses. Matthew 10: 34-35 speaks figuratively about divisions and disputes
arising from disagreements on Jesus message. These disputes might lead
to attacks on those that chose to follow him. Luke 22: 36, 38 refers
to a dagger or short sword travelers used for protection against bandits
and wild animals. In fact, on the night of his arrest, when Peter struck
the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear, Jesus responded
by saying: “Put your sword in its place, for all who take
the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now
pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions
of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must
happen thus?” (Matthew 26: 52-54).
When Jesus was threatened, he did not fight back physically. He simply
walked away from the threat (John 7: 1; 8: 59; Matthew 12: 14-15; Luke
4: 28-30). He instructed his disciples to do the same when threatened
(Matthew 10: 23). They followed his instructions (Acts 8: 1, 4; 9: 28-30;
13: 50-51; 14: 5-7). Jesus refused to punish people for rejecting him
(Luke 9: 55-56). He prophesied about the persecution of Christians saying:
“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time
is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service”
(John 16: 2; Revelation 12: 7, 8, 17).
Christianity teaches to live at peace with all (Romans 12: 18; 1 Peter
3: 8-12). It prohibits violence unless it is absolutely necessary for
self-defense. In fact, Christ taught that anger is a sin: “You
have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder
and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I
say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall
be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’
shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’
shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5: 21-22).
Additionally, Christianity prohibits revenge: “Beloved,
do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is
written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him a drink. For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans
12: 19-21).
Christ also commanded saying: “You have heard that it
was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He
makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet
your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the
tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father
in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5: 43-48).
Historically, the turning points in Christian-Muslim relations were
decided in the battlefield by military power: the Arab Muslim conquest
of Jerusalem in 638, and of Egypt in 640; the Ottoman Muslim conquest
of Constantinople in 1453; the European victory over the Arab Muslims
in the Battle of Poitiers (near the town of Tours in southern France)
in 732; the Russian victory over the Muslim Tatars in the battle of
the field of Kulikovo in 1380; and the European victory over the Muslim
Ottomans in the battle of Vienna in 1683.
This page discusses Islamic holy war (jihad) and the biblical and Christian
crusades.
IX. ISLAMIC LAW (SHARIA)
Some Islamists praise Sharia and claim that it expresses the highest
and best goals for all societies. The following brief analysis shows
why this claim is false, and that Sharia is a hindrance to the progress
of the Muslim nations. Sharia prescribes a complete way of life for
the Muslim (social, cultural, religious, military, and political). It
governs the Muslim’s life from the cradle to the grave. Muslims
live in bondage to Sharia. It is a brutally repressive totalitarian
legal code imposed on the people in the name of the Islamic god. By
the beginning of 900 AD, Sharia became rigidly and inflexibly fixed,
and set in its final mold. It is absolute, immutable and stagnant. It
cannot be amended to conform to changing human values, standards and
needs, because Islamists believe that it is divinely inspired and valid
for all times and places.
Abhorrent behavior condoned or commanded by the barbaric laws of Islamic
Sharia includes child marriage (at-Talaq 65: 4), temporary marriage,
honor killing, female circumcision, polygamy (an-Nisa’ 4: 3),
and domestic abuse (an-Nisa’ 4: 34), including marital rape (al-Baqarah
2: 223). Shafi’i school of Sharia mandates the circumcision of
females. This crime of mutilating female genitals is widely practiced
in regions where the Shafi’i school predominates, such as Indonesia,
Egypt, southern Arabia, Kurdistan, Somalia, Malaysia, etc. Parents and
grandparents are not subject to punishment or retaliation for killing
their offspring, which encourages honor killing.
Unjust Sharia laws promote discrimination against women, non-Muslims
(infidels) and lower classes. The testimonies of a slave, a female singer,
a person of low respect (street sweeper, bathhouse attendant, etc.)
and of a non-Muslim against a Muslim are not admissible in Sharia courts.
Compensation for killing (blood money) is based on the dead victim’s
religion and gender. The indemnity paid for death or injury of a woman
is half that paid for a man, for a Jew or Christian is one-third that
for a Muslim, and for a Zoroastrian is one-fifteenth of that for a Muslim.
Sharia law protects certain killers from punishment: A Muslim for killing
a non-Muslim; and a Jew or Christian for killing an apostate from Islam.
Sharia encourages Muslims to mistreat non-Muslims by protecting them
from punishment (Umdat al-Salik, Reliance of the Traveler: A Classic
Manual of Islamic Sacred Law, Ahmed ibn Nagib al-Misri).
Sharia prescribes cruel and unusual punishments, not leaving any space
for forgiveness, rehabilitation and restoration. It prescribes death
for the apostates; killing Muslim and non-Muslim critics of Muhammad,
the Qur’an and sharia; stoning adulterers to death; flogging unmarried
fornicators, drinkers and gamblers; killing homosexuals; crucifying
or mutilating highway robbers; cutting the hand of the thief; exacting
physical eye-for-eye revenge; beating wives; etc.
Islamic Sharia encourages vigilante justice under certain conditions,
because a Muslim is not only required to follow the laws of the Islamic
god, but is also entrusted to enforce them on earth without needing
authorization from the state. Every Muslim is required to correct the
conduct of his fellow Muslims. A killer of an apostate who left Islam,
a robber, or an adulterer is forgiven and exempted from punishment for
murder under Sharia law. Muslims who commit genocide are spared from
punishment if they repent. Individual fatwas issued by Islamic clerics
for killing apostates, while not binding on the Islamic state, can be
acted upon by any Islamist without getting punished for his crime. Islamists
brand all who disagree with them as enemies of Islam and apostates.
The violators of Sharia fear vigilante justice by the Islamist public,
such as their friends, neighbors, relatives, parents, brothers, or sisters.
Vigilante justice has no restraints and is bound to be abused. It results
in relationships between Muslims based on fear and arrogance. It leads
to a chaotic society. Death squads or street mobs take justice into
their own hands. Mobs stone women accused of adultery. Boys throw acid
at girls because they do not like their dress, etc. Muslims are turned
against each other. They have to watch their backs. Many of the accusations
of apostasy and blasphemy are the result of personal grudges borne by
the accusers against the defendants to settle personal scores, or are
tools for Islamic governments to silence opposition. Deep-seated distrust
plagues Islamic society. Vigilante justice is where Islam gets
its power. It is not the power of conviction, but the power of fear.
The Western concept of human rights is based on the principle that
“all human beings are borne free and equal in dignity and rights”
(Article 1 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights). This
is in contradiction with the “Cairo Declaration of Human Rights
in Islam” (Aug. 5, 1990), which is subject to the provisions of
Sharia and, thereby, perpetuates the inequality of the sexes and of
religions.
Sharia can only produce tyranny and dictatorships. Because of its cruelty
and oppressive nature, Sharia could not coexist peacefully with the
cultures of free societies. That fear of mixing with the other (the
infidel) cultures was behind the Arab destruction of the surrounding
great ancient civilizations of Egypt and Persia (at-Tawbah 9: 14).
Sharia was created by powerful men to serve the same—from Muhammad
in the seventh century who had the first pick of war-captive women,
to the caliphs, to the Arabian kings and Muslim dictators. It benefits
the wealthy powerful men who can afford four wives and limitless enslaved
women (maids). The poor Muslim man cannot afford even one wife or an
apartment. Fossilized eleven-centuries-old laws of Sharia protect the
oppressors and punish the oppressed. It strips women and non-Muslims
from their God-given right to be human-beings.
Sharia ultimately degrades society and diminishes freedom. That is
why many Muslims choose to rise above the corrupting temptation of Islamic
Sharia and reject what the Islamic god and Muhammad’s example
permit for them. They choose what their basic human decency tells them
is right, not because of Islam, but despite it. They are more humane
and civilized than the Islamic Sharia. On the other hand, many Muslim
men feel weak without Islamic Sharia that grants them master-slave relationships
in their homes. Therefore, they demand Sharia even in the West. Because
of the repulsive nature of the embarrassing Islamic Sharia laws, they
are kept as deep secrets not uttered. Their truth is hidden, suppressed,
and misrepresented in the West.
X. FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Islam does not tolerate freedom of religion (al-Tawbah 9: 5,
11, 12, 29; al-Baqarah 2: 217; an-Nisa’ 4: 89; al-Ma’idah
5: 33). This contrasts with the freedom of conscience proclaimed by
Christianity. In Islam, the person born in a Muslim family
does not choose to be Muslim. He is born Muslim if his/her parents are
Muslims. Islam is much harsher than communism and Nazism,
both of which any one could resign from and still live. Muslims are
not free to leave Islam. Islam is a prison for those that wish to leave
it. If a Muslim leaves Islam, he is considered an apostate, and condemned
to dispossession and death. Islam exercises a stranglehold upon Muslims
from birth to death. Islam has been around for about 1400 years—much
longer than Communism and Nazism, because it claims divine authority
and supremacy.
A consensus exists by all four major schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence
(Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafi’i), as well as Shi’a
junrists that a sane adult male be put to death for abandoning Islam
if he refuses to repent within a brief period of time, usually three
days (an-Nisa’ 4: 89; an-Nahl 16: 106; Bukhari 9.83.17; 9.84.57).
Varying opinions exist on whether females leaving Islam should be killed
or merely incarcerated. Islam is the only religion in the world that
threatens its adherents with death if they try to leave it. Because
of that position, many Islamic states outlaw apostasy and consider it
a capital offense. However, the problem is larger than the Islamic state,
because Sunni and Shiite Islamic scholars largely agree that the Islamic
law (Sharia) empowers Muslim individuals to take the matter in their
own hands, exercise vigilante justice and punish Muslim converts by
death, promising the killers heavenly rewards for their crimes. Therefore,
the biggest threat to the Muslim convert is his own angry Muslim relatives
and friends. Islamic authorities often ignore the attacks on Muslim
converts, because they are sympathetic with the attackers. Unfortunately,
this tradition has followed Muslims to the Western world.
The definition of an apostate is being expanded by Islamic fundamentalists
to include anyone who disagrees with what they think orthodox Islam
is. This leaves the door wide open for condemning other Muslims as apostates
deserving the death penalty. As a result, deep-seated mistrust and insecurity
plague Islamic society.
Several Muslim states in the United Nations have withheld their signatures
from the Declaration of human rights because of its insistence on freedom
of religion. In combating “the defamation of religion (specifically
Islam)” in order to suppress and silence objective criticism of
Islam, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is not motivated
by a commitment to truth, tolerance, or peace, but by the “apostaphobic”
that drives the dictators of the Islamic world. “Apostaphobic”
is the consuming fear of loss of adherents, expressed by fanatic uncompromising
violent oppression.
In Christianity, if a Christian blasphemes aspects of the Christian
faith, he is simply excommunicated (expelled) from the church for committing
this grave sin (1 Timothy 1: 13, 14, 20). Should he change his mind
and repent, he is accepted back into the church. The door of repentance
is open as long as he lives.
The true biblical prophets of the living God never persecuted, oppressed
or killed people that disagreed with their message and rejected it.
Christianity proclaims freedom of conscience: “For you,
brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”
(Galatians 5: 13; 1 Peter 2: 16). In fact, Jesus is called
the prince of peace (Isaiah 9: 6). He taught saying: “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew
5: 9; John 14: 27). Jesus did not coerce pressure or threaten
anyone to follow him. He did not have a sword, did not kill or order
the killing of anyone. He never threatened the life of anyone. The Holy
Bible describes the loving nature of Jesus saying “A bruised
reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench…”
(Matthew 12: 20; Isaiah 42: 3). Jesus and his disciples preached
peace and were the examples of peace (Philippians 4: 7; Ephesians 2:
17). Before his crucifixion, Jesus assured his disciples saying: “Peace
I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do
I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
(John 14: 27).
XI. FREEDOM OF SPEECH
In the absence of the right to freedom of conscience in Islam, other
rights such as the right to freedom of thought and speech are rendered
meaningless.
The Qur’an discourages Muslims from asking questions: “Believers,
do not ask questions about things which, if made known to you, would
trouble you; but if you ask them when the Qur’an is being revealed,
they shall be made plain to you. God will pardon you for this. God is
forgiving and gracious” (al-Ma’idah 5: 101-102). Muhammad
urged his Muslim followers to kill his critics for him in order of silence
them, and praised them for doing it afterwards. This led to the assassination
of Asma’ bint Marawan while she was nursing her baby home (A.
Guilaune, The Life of Muhammad, pp. 675-676), 120-year-old Abu Afak
(Ibn-Sa’d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 2, Trans. S. Moinul,
p. 31), Kaab ibn al-Ashraf (Buchari 5.59.369; Muslim 19.4436), Abu Rafi
Salaam (Bukhari 5.59.371), etc. That practice has been codified in Sharia.
Blasphemy, criticizing or defaming Islam, its prophet, the Islamic god,
the Qur’an, the Hadith or Sharia are punishable by death in all
the schools of Sharia. This stifles and restricts free speech. That
blocks the door of constructive objective criticism of Islam. This created
a huge gap between what is in Islamic scriptures (true Islam) and what
Muslims perceive their religion to be.
Objective criticism of Muhammad or the Qur’an based on authentic
historical documents offends Islamists. Islamist organizations call
for censorship of any criticism of Islam on the grounds of being insulted.
This is a common trick of totalitarian movements and governments. They
mislabel any objective truthful critique as an insult, and attempt to
punish and silence its source. They cannot accept the fact that Islamic
teachings are to blame for crimes committed by Islamist jihadists, and
push the blame off to other imaginary causes. They believe Islam is
always innocent, no matter how obvious the evidence is to the contrary.
They want that only what can bring honor to Islam be revealed, but what
brings shame be concealed. This blocks the light of truth from entering,
as the doors and windows are all closed around the Muslim mind. By killing
apostates and critics of Islam in the vast prison of Islam, Islam produces
frightened followers, not believers. To be a Muslim is to have a relationship,
not with the Islamic god, but with the Sharia run Islamic state.
The intolerance of free thinking has resulted in a paralyzed Islamic
brain and destroyed initiative and innovation. Blind followers in a
tightly controlled intellectual climate that prohibits questioning worry
more about survival than innovation and discovery. Since the restless
Islamists are trained to never doubt, question or criticize the Qur’an
or Sharia, they blame the many dysfunctional aspects of Muslim society
on external factors, such as foreign influence, etc.
In the West, we can critically study Christianity and Judaism. In Islamic
countries, Islamist writers attack Christianity. However, Christians
are not allowed to criticize and refute Islam objectively. Intimidation
and censorship express lack of confidence and weakness in the Islamic
religion and its teachings. It cannot defend itself by reason.
Therefore, Islamists resort to violence to protect it. Respect should
be earned, not forced by intimidation.
XII. DEMOCRACY
Muslims suffer disproportionately from the rule of dictators. Islam
is associated with few political rights. The Islamic law (Sharia) developed
over a millennium ago is anti-democratic. It emphasizes the will of
the Islamic god as interpreted by Islamists over popular sovereignty,
and encourages violent jihad in order to impose Islam and expand its
borders. It privileges Muslims over non-Muslims, men over women, and
free persons over slaves. It imposes death sentences for blasphemy (criticizing
Islam) and apostasy (leaving Islam). Imagined Islamic supremacy and
democracy are fundamentally incompatible and cannot coexist for long
in the same country. Democracy requires the basic freedoms of thought,
conscience, religion and speech. Democracy functions only by critical
discussion, by reconciling opposing views, and by compromise. These
concepts are alien to the authoritarian Islamic theocracy.
Democracy and Islamic Sharia are antagonists. Sharia law protects the
Muslim head of state from being charged with serious crimes (e.g. murder,
adultery, theft, rape, etc.). Democracy exposes the Muslim ruler and
the barbaric Sharia itself. Sharia makes the rebellion against the caliph
(ruler) a serious offence, even if he is unjust. Sharia annuls its protection
for the Muslim ruler only if he leaves Islam. In this case, his Muslim
subjects are called upon to rise and topple or assassinate him.
The powerful Islamist movement seeks to create thoroughly anti-democratic
totalitarian theocratic regimes. The first Islamic theocracy
in history was established in Medina in the seventh century with Muhammad,
the prophet of Islam, its head of state. This is the model of Islamic
theocracy Islamists attempt to impose. There is no separation between
mosque and state in Islam. In the Islamic theocracy, the Islamic god
is the absolute ruler who could not be questioned. He rules through
the Muslim caliph who is his shadow on earth. Therefore, the caliph
should be obeyed absolutely as a religious duty. Anyone who rebels against
him rebels against the Islamic god (an-Nisa’ 4: 59, 83). The Islamic
caliphate was an autocracy wielding despotic power. It became hereditary
in the families of the Umayyads and the Abbasids preserving the practice
of bai’a that symbolized fictitious election. There is no legislative
function in the Islamic state. Therefore, there is no need for democratic
legislative assemblies. These are not democratic principles.
Sharia prescribes a complete way of life for the Muslim (social, cultural,
religious, military, and political). It governs the Muslim’s life
from the cradle to the grave. It is a brutally repressive totalitarian
legal code imposed on the people in the name of the Islamic god. It
is absolute and stagnant. It cannot be amended to conform to changing
human values, standards and needs, because Islamists believe that it
is divinely inspired and valid for all times and places. Democracy is
the rule of the people. Sharia is the alleged rule of the Islamic god.
Islamists denounce democracy as un-Islamic. The Muslim
Brotherhood founder, Hasan al-Banna, considered democracy a betrayal
of Islamic values. The Muslim Brotherhood theoretician, Sayyid Qutb,
rejected popular sovereignty. Yousuf al-Qaradawi, al-Jazeera television
imam, claims that elections are heretical. However, Islamists
use elections to attain power. The Islamist organization Hamas
has won an election in Gaza. Erdogan, the Islamist prime minister of
Turkey, explained that “Democracy is like a streetcar. When you
come to your stop, you get off it.” Like communists, once Islamists
take over power through elections, democracy is terminated. Islamism
is the world leading anti-democratic force.
Unlike Islam, Christianity is not a religious-political system. Christ
refused to be crowned an earthly king, “when Jesus perceived
that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king,
He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (John 6: 15).
He said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were
of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered
to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18: 36);
“…Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,
and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22: 21).
Christianity teaches the separation of Church and State.
XIII. OPPRESSION OF WOMEN
Although Muhammad improved some conditions for women in his day and
cared for widows, those improvements fall far short and are inadequate,
because Islam does not protect women from the abuses of conservative
Islamic societies. Women under Islam are treated like properties owned
by men. They are considered inferior to men (al-Baqarah
2: 228; al-Nisa’ 4: 34).
1. Women are under the control of male relatives or husbands who are
considered their guardians. They are considered to be the absolute property
of males, such as fathers, brothers, husbands, etc. (al-‘Imran
3: 14). Therefore, financial independence and sexual freedom are all
but impossible for women in Islam.
2. The Islamic god sanctions wife beating
for a variety of reasons: “. . . As for those (women) from whom
you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and
BEAT THEM . . .” (an-Nisa’ 4: 34b). Muhammad himself hit
his girl-bride, Aisha (Muslim 4.2127). He said: “A man will not
be asked why he beat his wife.” This domestic violence is a form
of wife abuse, which is considered a crime punishable by law in the
West. In addition, the Qur’an allows the Muslim husband to punish
his wife by withholding the conjugal relation from her for four months
(al-Nisa’ 4: 34; al-Baqarah 2: 226). Nevertheless, the Muslim
wife is required to settle marital disputes through negotiations with
her rebellious husband (an-Nisa’ 4: 128). The double standard
is obvious.
3. A woman can inherit only half of what
her brother inherits (an-Nisa’ 4: 11, 176).
4. The testimony of one woman in court is given one-half the value
and credibility of a man’s testimony (al-Baqarah 2: 282; Bukhari
3.48.826).
5. If a woman is killed, her indemnity money is half the indemnity
money of a man.
6. If the family of a Muslim girl follows the Sharia Shafi’i
law, they can force her to get circumcised at a young age by removing
her clitoris and inner lips, which is female genital mutilation (Abu-Dawud
41.5251).
7. Marriage of Child girls is permitted in Islam.
Islam sanctions sexual abuse of child girls under the pretext of child
marriage (at-Talaq 65: 4). Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s friend, wed his
child daughter, Aisha, to Muhammad, the role model of all Muslims, when
she was six years of age. Muhammad consummated the marriage when she
was a nine-year-old pre-pubescent child (Muslim 8.3309-3311; 31.5981;
Bukhari 5.58.234, 236; 7.62.64, 65, 88; 7.65.88). He was 54 years old,
45 years older than her, old enough to be her grandfather. A Muslim
man has the right to force his daughter into marriage without her consent.
The sexual abuse of a child is a heinous crime punishable by law in
the West.
8. A Muslim wife is considered her husband’s property and sex
object (al-Baqarah 2: 223). If a Muslim wife refuses the sexual advances
of her husband, she is accursed for the night (Bukhari 4.54.460; 7.62.121).
In addition to four legal wives, the Qur’an (al-Ahzab 33: 50;
an-Nisa’ 4: 3, 24) allows a Muslim man as many women as he wants
(war captives, slaves, and concubines). The Muslim man can marry more
than four wives by simply divorcing one and replacing her with another
(an-Nisa’ 4: 20). Polygamy completely disregards and disrespects
the feelings of women. The harem is a system of domestic slavery.
9. In Islam, men can divorce their wives for any cause (at-Tahrim 66:
5). Only the man has the right to divorce his wife by saying three times
“I divorce you” (al-Baqarah 2: 226-232). A woman does not
have this right. Divorce and reconciliation are always on the man’s
terms (Bukhari 7.62.134; 3.49.859).
10. Muhammad demeaned women as sex objects by permitting temporary
(pleasure) marriages that last anywhere from an hour up to three days.
The only thing the woman gets from this humiliation is material compensation
from the man (Muslim 8.3243; Bukhari 7.62.13). This is a form of legalized
religiously-sanctioned prostitution.
11. Islam permits a Muslim man to compel his slave girl to prostitution
for his financial profit (an-Nur 24: 33).
12. Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, taught that most of the inhabitants
of hell are women (Bukhari 1.6.301; 1.2.29; 2.24.541; 8.76.456; 4.54.464).
13. Muhammad taught that women are deficient in intelligence and religion
(Bukhari 2.24.541; 1.6.301; 3.48.826).
14. A host of oppressive laws regarding women are enforced wherever
misogynistic Islamic law (sharia) is strictly followed (e.g. wearing
the veils (niqabs) and lowering their gaze (al-Ahzab 33: 59, 33; an-Nur
24: 31, 58ff), forbidding education for women, etc). By covering the
entire body of the Muslim woman except for her eys, wrist and feet,
the niqab adds to her alienation and loneliness. It is a shield of isolation
and a symbol of subjugation and oppression. It makes Muslim women look
like ghosts or the walking dead. It declares their inferior status in
society.
15. Islamic Sharia treats rape victims very unjustly. In order to prove
rape, either the rapist has to confess, or four male witnesses of the
rape testify. That makes it impossible for any woman to prove rape.
She may then become a victim of honor killing or be flogged or stoned
by the Islamic court for committing premarital sex or adultery, if she
is married. Even if rape is proven, the rapist can get away by paying
the bride’s money, without marrying her.
16. The Qur’an teaches that women are unclean by their very nature.
A man is considered unclean if he touches a woman (even his own wife)
before prayer (an-Nisa’ 4: 43; al-Ma’idah 5: 6). If a dog,
donkey or a woman walk by a man who is praying, his prayer is cancelled
out, and he will have to restart it again from the beginning (Bukhari
1.9.490). The woman is unclean during her monthly period (menses) and
could not pray or fast on those days (Bukhari 1.6.301).
If a woman is honored and respected in an Islamic household, it is
in spite of the teachings of Islam, not because of them.
The teachings of Christianity are dramatically opposed to those of
Islam on women. Christianity teaches that men and women are equal before
God: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one
in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3: 28, Colossians 3: 11).
Jesus treated men and women equally. He praised women for their faith
(Luke 21: 1-4; Matthew 15: 28). He healed women (Mark 5: 21-34), and
cast demons out of them (Luke 8: 1-3; 13: 10-13). He also forgave their
sins (John 4: 1-42; 8: 3-11; Luke 7: 36-50) and blessed them (Luke 7:
50).
The top ranking and most revered saint in Christianity is a woman,
Mary the mother of Jesus. The first Christian evangelist was the Samaritan
woman (John 4: 5-43). The first person who saw, and spoke with the resurrected
Christ was a woman, Mary Magdalene (John 20: 11-18). Jesus never considered
nor taught that the touch of a woman is unclean and defiling.
XIV. POLYGAMY, MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
The Qur’an (an-Nisa’ 4: 3) permits no more than four wives
for a Muslim man at one time. Muhammad broke that law and had thirteen
wives in addition to concubines, slaves, war captives, and devout Muslim
women who gave themselves to him (al-Ahzab 33: 50). Muhammad claimed
that he received revelation that his god had made an exception for him
(al-Ahzab 33: 50). He could marry any number of women, in addition to
taking slave girls and concubines.
The god of Muhammad encourages polygamy (at-Tahrim 66: 1, 5). The wife
cannot prevent her husband from taking other wives. She does not have
a say in the matter. Islam sees the marriage relationship from a usurious
exploitative male perspective. Polygamy causes domestic instability
and family discord. It also leads to high fertility rates and poverty.
It is a device used by Islam to increase the Muslim population, not
only because the man is fathering children from several wives, but also
because the wife, insecure in her marriage, would burden her husband
with more children that he could not afford to multiply wives. Muhammad
encouraged polygamy saying: “… Is not the worth of a Muslim
measured by the number of his wives? …”
Most of the ills and resentment within the Muslim family are caused
by the institution of polygamy. The family is polarized as each wife
becomes a separate center of power within the family resulting in fierce
competition, animosity, and rivalry. Children grow up in this venomous
atmosphere of quarrelling and insults. That makes them acquire a negative
outlook on life. They hate their stepmothers and their father who caused
that mess. A mother’s dependence on her sons for protection complicates
her relationship with her daughters who feel left out by her special
treatment of her sons, which often results in arrogant spoiled sons,
and troubled relationships between the mother and her daughters-in-law.
Muslim women deep-seated fear from the institution of polygamy exists
even among those in happy monogamous marriages.
The God of the Holy Bible intended marriage to be monogamous. In the
beginning, he had created only one woman Eve for one man Adam (Genesis
2: 24; Matthew 19: 5-6; Mark 10: 7-8). Although polygamy was permitted
in ancient times, the Old Testament (Torah, etc.) did not encourage
it (Malachi 2: 13-15). Most of the major prophets of God (Moses, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, etc) were monogamous; and some were celibate (Elijah, Elisha,
etc). Jesus never married. Christianity stresses monogamy (Matthew 19:
4-5; 1 Corinthians 7: 2). Christianity teaches monogamous marriage (1
Timothy 3: 2-3, 12; Titus 1: 6), and teaches that the wife is an equal
partner.
Christianity gives marriage a high spiritual status, and restricts
divorce. The biblical God hates divorce (Malachi 2: 16). Christianity
asserts that a husband should never abuse his wife in any way. They
have complementary roles. He is required to love her as Christ has loved
his Church and sacrificed his life for her. She is required to respect
him as her head “. . . Husbands, love your wives, just
as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. . . So husbands
ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his
wife loves himself. . . Nevertheless let each one of you in particular
so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects
her husband” (Ephesians 5: 22-33; 1 Peter 3: 7; 1 Corinthians
7: 14; Colossians 3: 19).
Christianity teaches that marriage is an honorable institution. It
is a sacred life-long bond blessed by God between man and wife. It unites
the two persons in one family unit (Ephesians 5: 31; Genesis 2: 24).
The marriage ceremony is a holy event officiated in the church by the
priest. The bride and groom exchange the sacred marriage vows of faithfulness,
love, and honor in a sacred marriage covenant blessed by God. It is
a new beginning for the couple that unites them in the life-long bond
of marriage broken only by death, adultery, or equivalent.
The Islamic marriage is dramatically different. It is a big
step backward. According to Sharia, the Islamic marriage is
a legal and financial contract between families. It is not a life-long
covenant between a man and a woman blessed by God. It is not conducted
in a mosque. Traditionally, the Muslim marriage contract is called “Aqd
Nikah” which means “Contract of sexual intercourse.”
Some Arab countries changed it to “Aqd Zawag” meaning “Marriage
contract,” because they found the word “Nikah,” which
is the word used in the Qur’an and Hadith to describe marriage,
offensive.
The Islamic marriage contract is a document that grants sexual intercourse
rights to the male. It transfers the control of the woman and of her
sexuality from her male guardian to her husband. It asks the bride about
her virginity status, and states the amount of dowry the groom has to
pay. It asks the groom to list three wives, if he has other wives. The
payment of the dowry creates a master-servant relationship between the
Muslim husband and his wife. The Qur’an often calls the dowry
ujur, meaning wages (an-Nisa’ 4: 24; al-Ahzab 33: 50; etc). It
is obvious that the Muslim marriage contract is about sexuality. It
degrades and reduces marriage to a commercial transaction. In fact imam
Ghazali (1058-1111) defined Muslim marriage as “a form of slavery.
The woman is man’s slave, and her duty therefore is absolute obedience
to the husband in all that he asks of her person” (al-Ghazali,
Book of Etiquette of Marriage).
The happiness of some Muslim marriages is in spite of the marriage
contract, not because of it. The Muslim marriage contract downgrades
the institution of marriage, is defective and should be replaced. It
demeans women by reducing them to property. It can only produce a mean-spirited
relationship based on selfishness, anxiety and misery.
Islamic law (Sharia) prevents Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim
men (al-Baqarah 2: 221). However, it permits Muslim men to marry non-Muslim
women (al-Ma’idah 5: 5). The children of this mixed marriage are
required to be Muslim. This is one aspect of the double standard of
Islamic Sharia which discriminates against women.
The Qur’an tells the wife that she is replaceable (at-Tahrim
66: 5). The problem of Islamic polygamy makes the Islamic marriage unstable
and insecure. Some Muslim wives attempt of procreate more children in
order to prevent their husbands from marrying other women because they
will not be able to support them.
Islamic divorce is as easy as the man saying to his wife “I divorce
you” three times. He can even do it by a sticky note, by leaving
a message on the telephone answering machine, by email, or by text messaging.
In addition, a divorce could be forced on the couple by Sharia court
for a variety of reasons, such as one partner leaving Islam, one partner
belonging to a different social class, etc. In some Islamic countries,
the only way a wife can get divorce is by convincing the Sharia court
and paying a large sum of money, which exceeds her dowry, to her husband.
A divorced woman receives financial support after divorce for a maximum
of three months, and may lose her children. She will definitely lose
custody of her children if she remarries.
A Muslim man can divorce his wife three times. Afterwards, he cannot
remarry her unless she first marries another man and gets divorced from
him (al-Baqarah 2: 229-230; Muslim 8.3354, 3359). The biblical
God condemns this practice and calls it “abomination” (Deuteronomy
24: 1-4). Her first husband who had divorced her is prohibited from
remarrying her after her second husband divorced her or died.
Three types of Islamic marriages are available for the Muslim man:
the standard marriage acknowledged in public and recorded in the court;
the urfi marriage which is not registered in the court and usually done
secretly with witnesses; and the mutaa (pleasure) marriage (more prevalent
in Shia Islam) which is a temporary marriage contract to sanction a
brief sexual relationship which may last anywhere from an hour to a
few days (Bukhari 7.62.13; Muslim 8.3243). The dowry is paid in exchange
for sexual intercourse. This is a religiously sanctioned prostitution
in disguise. Muslim women covered from head to toe are treated and act
like prostitutes in these religiously sanctioned temporary pleasure
marriages. The Holy Bible condemns prostitution in all its forms (Leviticus
19: 29; Deuteronomy 23: 18).
According to the four schools of Sharia, a Muslim wife is to receive
daily support from her husband within marriage only if she makes herself
available to him sexually. Payment for sex in one form or another is
the basis for the Islamic marriage. A Muslim wife is treated as a tool
for her husband’s pleasure. While the Qur’an gives the Muslim
husband the right to deny his rebellious wife conjugal relations and
to beat her (an-Nisa’ 4: 34), it requires the Muslim wife to settle
differences through negotiations with her rebellious husband (an-Nisa’
4: 128). The double standard is obvious. Even in the carnal Islamic
paradise, Muslim women will have to compete constantly for their husbands
with the huris. He may have 72 of them.
To many a Muslim woman, her husband is a source of fear. The police
will not rescue the Muslim wife when beaten by her husband in an Islamic
country. She has no recourse but to accept humiliation by sharing her
husband with his other wives if he so chooses. She cannot complain to
the domestic or foreign media, because this is considered rebellion
against Islam itself severely punishable by the sword of Sharia.
XV. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
A. Prayer
The Muslim person is required to offer ritualistic scripted prayers
five times daily following the right of ritual cleansing (ablution)
using water or sand, if water is not available (an-Nisa’ 4: 43;
al-Ma’idah 5: 6). The first prayer is required at predawn around
4 a.m., the fifth in the evening around 8:30 p.m. The Islamic prayer
is not a personal communication between a person and God. It is a compulsory
duty external to the person saturated with formal rituals (al-Ma’idah
5: 6). Muslims may also offer additional voluntary scripted prayers
during specific periods of the day. Personal non-scripted prayers are
discouraged in Islam. Only the small Sufi sect focuses on this type
of prayer. The five times of Muslim prayers are the same as five of
the seven prayers common to the Zoroastrians.
Prayer in Islam is a required duty. Muhammad taught that if a person
refused to do the five prayers, he was no longer a Muslim. Through prayers,
Muslims hope to avoid the wrath of their god and his punishment on judgment
day, and be admitted into his paradise. Only on judgment day Muslims
will know whether their god is pleased with their prayers.
Islam teaches that its god does not communicate with people directly.
He does that through the angel Gabriel who can only be in one place
at a time (al-Baqarah 2: 97-98; ash-Shu’ara’ 26: 193; an-Nahl
16: 102). Islam calls the angel Gabriel the holy spirit. But he is a
limited creature distinct from the Islamic god. Therefore, Muslims do
not expect their god to communicate with them directly during their
prayers. Nor do they expect the angel Gabriel to come and speak to them.
Muslims hope to hear from their god through Gabriel on the last night
of Ramadan fast (al-Qadr 97: 4).
The Holy Bible’s teaching about the Holy Spirit is very different.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the living God. He is the third divine
Person in the Holy Trinity. Therefore, he is present everywhere at once,
and able to communicate with multitudes of people at the same time.
Christ has taught that one should pray often at any time, and that
God rewards the person who prays in the privacy of his room, and does
not listen to the hypocrites who love to pray visibly to be seen and
praised by men (Matthew 6: 5-6). On the contrary, Muhammad wanted Muslims
to pray always visibly together, and taught that praying alone was inferior.
Jesus prayed at any time: early in the morning (Mark 1: 35; 6: 46),
during the day (Luke 5: 16), and during the night (Luke 6: 12). He used
to pray alone, but sometimes he took his disciples with him (Luke 9:
28; 22: 39). Jesus never commanded his disciples to pray at specific
times during the day, or in a specific structured rigid scripted way:
“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17; Luke
18: 1). He never threatened God’s punishment for not
praying enough. The Islamic prayers are required to conform to a rigid
form of scripted words and movements. Christ prohibited that saying:
“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the
heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words”
(Matthew 6: 7).
The Christian believer is an adopted child of God who loves him and
cares for him. Therefore, Christ has taught to address God in prayers
as “… Our Father …” (Matthew 6: 9-13;
Luke 11: 11-13). This is very different from the relationship
between the Islamic god and his Muslim subjects, which is a master-slave
relationship. Christian prayer is an important way of communicating
with God, worshiping him, glorifying him, giving him thanks, and asking
for his forgiveness, help and intervention. Prayers may be offered for
one’s own needs, or for others expressing the bond of love between
the members of the Church (Luke 22: 32; 2 Thessalonians 3: 1; Romans
15: 30; James 5: 16).
B. Alms
Almsgiving was a pre-Islamic practice. It is called Zakat, and is one
of the five pillars of Islam (al-Tawbah 9: 60, 20, 34, 35, 41, 103;
al-Hujurat 49: 15; as-Saff 61: 10, 11). It is obligatory for every Muslim
who owns a minimum of wealth that requires it. It is given only to needy
Muslims, never to non-Muslims (al-Fath 48: 29). In addition to helping
the needy Muslims, it also finances Islamic jihad.
Christ did not discriminate in meeting the spiritual and material needs
of people around him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the
dead, and forgave sins of men and women, and believers and unbelievers
alike. Christians are taught to be charitable to all in need, not just
to other Christians (Matthew 5: 42; Deuteronomy 10: 17-18).
Christ taught that charitable giving should be done in secret: “Therefore,
when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may
have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly”
(Matthew 6: 2-4). Christ also taught that a small gift given
from a poor person is worth a lot more in the eyes of God than a large
donation given by a rich person: “And He (Christ) looked
up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw
also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly
I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all
these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she
out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had” (Luke
21: 1-4).
C. Feasts
A major difference exists between Christian and Muslim holidays. Christian
holidays commemorate and celebrate divine intervention to save humanity.
Islamic feasts commemorate human accomplishments. Christmas celebrates
the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. Easter celebrates the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ triumphant over death, which completes his
salvific work on the cross. Christianity and Judaism recognize the Passover
as the work of God to spare the firstborn children of the Israelites.
In Islam, Eid-al-Adha celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice
his son. Eid-al-Fitr celebrates the end of the fast of the month of
Ramadan, which marks the end of the Muslim personal sacrifice in the
fast.
XVI. IMMORAL TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
A. Incestuous marriage
Muhammad adopted Zaid, one of the slaves of his first wife Khadija.
Muhammad lusted after Zaynab bnt. Jahsh, the wife of his adopted son
Zaid. He married his daughter-in-law, after his son Zaid divorced her.
In fact, Muhammad said Qur’an for his personal benefit to justify
his grave sin of incest: “. . . Then when Zaid was through with
her, we gave her to you in marriage: in order that there may be no difficulty
to the believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their
adopted sons, when the latter are through with them. . .” (al-Ahzab
33: 37). This verse permits what Christianity and Judaism forbid. Both
Judaism and Christianity prohibit a man from marrying his daughter-in-law.
It makes no difference whether she is the wife of his natural or adopted
son: “None of you shall approach anyone who is near of
kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the LORD. You shall not uncover
the nakedness of your daughter-in-law--she is your son's wife--you shall
not uncover her nakedness.” (Leviticus 18: 6, 15). Generally
speaking, Muslims are not allowed to adopt children, as Muhammad subsequently
prohibited adoption in order to legitimize his incestuous marriage (al-Ahzab
33: 4) after the Arabs of his day objected. This causes great harm to
many orphans not finding adoptive parents. But that does not change
the historical fact that Muhammad committed this grave sin, the sin
of incest in violation of biblical commands. What makes it even worse,
he never repented.
B. Sexual abuse of child girls
Islam sanctions sexual abuse of child girls under the pretext of child
marriage (at-Talaq 65: 4). Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s friend, wed his
child daughter, Aisha, to Muhammad, the role model of Islam, when she
was six years of age. Muhammad practiced thighing with her, and consummated
the marriage with her when she was nine years old, still a pre-pubescent
child (Muslim 8.3309-3311; 31.5981; Bukhari 5.58.234, 236; 7.62.64,
65, 88; 7.65.88). He was 54 years old, 45 years older than her, old
enough to be her grandfather. Muhammad committed the immorality of sexually
abusing a child girl. Child marriage is immoral despite the fact that
it was culturally acceptable in seventh century Arabia. This immoral
behavior is lawful and codified in Islamic Sharia. A Muslim man has
the right to force his daughter into marriage without her consent. The
sexual abuse of a child is a heinous crime punishable by law in the
West.
There is no minimum age for entering Islamic marriage. A child girl
cannot possibly give her consent to marriage. When she grows up, she
will simply discover that she is already married. Early marriage prevents
the girls from completing their education and increases the chances
of divorce later on. The probability of death for 10-14 year-old girls
at childbirth is about five times that of 20-45 year-old women. This
is in addition to the emotional and psychological damage the child-girls
suffer because they are not mature enough for marriage.
The Holy Bible establishes that the minimum age for marriage is the
onset of puberty (Ezekiel 16: 4 -14).
C. Sexual abuse of female slaves, servants and war captives
Muslim men are permitted to have sexual relations with their slave
women and war captives, even if the war captives were married (an-Nisa’
4: 3, 24, 29; al-Mu’minun 23: 5-6; al-Ahzab 33: 49-50; at-Tahrim
66: 1; al-Ma’arij 70: 29-30). Muhammad himself practiced that
immorality (Bukhari 9.89.321). This includes forced sex. Raping those
women is codified in the Qur’an, Hadith and sharia (Bukhari 5.59.637;
Muslim 8.3371, 3373-7, 3432). Islam is the only religion in the world
that condones and encourages the crime of raping female captives of
war as a reward for victorious Muslim soldiers for conquering the infidels.
In contrast with that, the Holy Bible requires that war captive women
be treated with respect, not taken advantage of sexually, and if given
in marriage, have the full rights of wives (Deuteronomy 21: 10-14).
A Muslim man is permitted to compel his slave woman into prostitution
to profit from her. His god will forgive him (an-Nur 24: 33).
D. Temporary marriages
Muhammad permitted his followers to engage in temporary pleasure marriage,
which is a sexual relationship between a man and a woman that may last
anywhere from an hour to a few days (Bukhari 7.62.13; Muslim 8.3243).
The man pays for this in money or equivalent. This type of marriage
is more prevalent in Shia Islam. It is a religiously sanctioned prostitution
in disguise. This is an insult to the institution of marriage. Sex for
payment is prostitution, not marriage.
The Holy Bible condemns prostitution in all its forms (Leviticus 19:
29; Deuteronomy 23: 18).
E. Breastfeeding adults
Sahih Muslim 8.3428, 3425 states the incident which forms the basis
for breastfeeding adult men in Islam. This authentic hadith informs
that Muhammad commanded a married woman, Sahla bnt. Saheel, to breastfeed
her husband’s adopted son, despite the fact that he was a grown
man. Based on that teaching, Aisha, Muhammad’s youngest wife,
had her sister, Umm Kulthum, and nieces breastfeed men before meeting
with her. Muhammad’s other wives refused to do that. Other Islamic
opinions provide that kinship is limited to the suckling of a child
for the first two years of his life only. However, the fact remains
that Muhammad commanded a Muslim woman to breastfeed an adult male.
This is an immoral, shameful and disgusting behavior in any society
under any circumstances.
F. Looting
Muhammad urged the Meccan Muslim immigrants to Medina to raid and loot
Meccan caravans without provocation. He personally led three such raids
in his first year in Medina. Muhammad gave Qur’an that supports
this banditry (al-Hajj 22: 39-40). All the Muslim raids that took place
within the first eighteen months after the hijra failed to produce any
booty. Muhammad looted the three Jewish tribes of Medina. Two tribes
were expelled from Medina, the third tribe was massacred.
G. Torture
Muhammad used torture to reach his goals. His greed
for money drove him to barbaric behavior. He ordered the torture of
Kinana al-Rabi, the treasurer of the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir, to
get information on the location of the tribe’s treasure. Kinana
was brutally tortured with fire until he was nearly dead. Then he was
beheaded (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, Trans. A. Guillaume, p. 515).
To add insult to injury, Muhammad then took Kinana’s wife, the
severteen-year-old Safiyya bint Huyai, a wife for himself.
Muhammad had eight Muslim men from the clan of Uraynah arrested for
brutally murdering the shepherd of his camels, and stealing the camels.
He then ordered their hands and feet cut off, and their eyes seared
with hot irons and then gouged out. They were then thrown upon the hot
rocks of the desert where they died slowly from thirst in the searing
heat of the desert (Bukhari 4.52.261). This is brutal torture, and unusual
and cruel punishment for their crime. We need to remember that Muhammad
himself attacked and robbed Meccan caravans without direct provocation,
which included killing people.
After defeating the pagan tribe of Banu Fazara in 628, the Muslim leader
Zayd bin Harithah ordered the killing of Umm Qirfa, an old woman chief
of her clan, in a very brutal way. Her legs were tied with ropes to
two camels that were driven in opposite directions and split her in
two. Muhammad then ordered the display of her decapitated head throughout
the streets of Medina.
Both Moses and Jesus never taught that torture is legitimate. Jesus
did not come to maim and torture people. He came to give them a new
life.
H. Taqiyya
Under Islamic law (Sharia), lying is not only permissible, but obligatory
for Muslims in certain situations (at-Tahrim 66: 1). This is despite
the fact that the Qur’an disapproves of Muslims deceiving other
Muslims (al-Mu’min 40: 28). Lying is encouraged in giving directions
to someone who intends to do wrong, in settling disagreements, in war,
in domestic disputes, and in gaining advantage over non-Muslims (Muslim
32.6303).
Taqiyya is lying, particularly to non-Muslims, in order to advance
Islam (Al-Imran 3: 28; an-Nahl 16: 106; Bukhari 5.59.369). It is also
a precautionary dissimulation encouraged as means of hiding true faith
at times of persecutions (al-Baqarah 2: 173, 185, 195; an-Nisa’
4: 29; al-Hajj 22: 78; al-Mu’min 40: 28). An Islamist may show
friendship to non-Muslims outwardly, but never inwardly. He may smile
in their faces though his heart curses them. Taqiyya leads to deceptive
dual messaging, one for the Muslim audience different from the one for
the non-Muslim audience. Two ethical standards exist in Islam: one for
Muslims and another for non-Muslims. In fact, the Qur’an describes
the Islamic god as the best deceiver (Al-Imran 3: 54; an-Nisa’
4: 142; al-Anfal 8: 30, 43-44; Yunis 10: 21). Therefore, the doctrine
of taqiyya is consistent with his character. That makes lying and deception
integral parts of the Islamic culture and life.
Islam permits a Muslim to lie when threatened, and to gain advantage
over non-Muslims. That includes denying or insulting Islam or Muhammad
and participating in the rituals of another religion. A Muslim is allowed
to renege on his oath (al-Baqarah 2: 225; al-Ma’idah 5: 89). He
can lie under oath with clear conscience as long as he thinks he is
doing it to advance Islam. He can deny his faith and his god if threatened
(al-Tawbah 9: 73-74), but cannot lie about the Islamic god and Muhammad
(Muslim 32.6303).
Islamists utilize the doctrine of taqiyya in defending Islam. They
mistranslate the Qur’an to make it look good to deceive westerners.
They quote Meccan verses from the Qur’an, which call for peace
and tolerance towards non-Muslims. This is a gross misrepresentation
of Islam, because they are fully aware that these verses were abrogated
(cancelled and replaced) by the intolerant verses of Medina that call
for violence against non-Muslims. They try of keep people ignorant of
the true facts of Islam and Sharia.
Christians cannot deny their faith in Christ under persecution even
if this leads to martyrdom. Christ said: “But whoever
denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in
heaven” (Matthew 10: 33; Mark 8: 38; Luke 9: 26; 12: 9). “If
we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will
deny us” (2 Timothy 2: 12). In addition, the biblical
God condemns lying, “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely,
nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by My name falsely,
nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus
19: 11-12; John 8: 44). The Holy Bible prohibits false witness,
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”
(Exodus 20: 16).
I. Miscellaneous
1. Stoning
An-Nur 24: 2 and Bukhari 8.82.818 prescribe a hundred stripes for unmarried
sexual affairs. A hundred stripes could cause death. The Islamic sharia
punishes adulterers and adulteresses by stoning to death (Bukhari 2.23.413;
Muslim 17.4191, 4206). The Islamic god does not make room for repentance,
mercy, and forgiveness.
Christ forgave an adulteress and told her to go and sin no more (Jn.
8: 1-11). He wanted her to have a new life and a new beginning free
from sin.
Traditional historic Islam requires that practicing homosexuals be
killed by either burning them alive, or by having a wall thrown down
on them, or by throwing them off a cliff, or by stoning them. They may
also be flogged. It treats homosexuality as a crime, instead of a sin.
On the contrary, Christianity deals with homosexuality as it deals
with any other sin through repentance, forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
2. Amputation of limbs
Islam requires the amputation of the right hand and the left foot for
highway theft, or crucifixion, or banishment. It decrees the amputation
of the thief’s hand, even if the thief returns the stolen items
(al-Ma’idah 5: 33, 38). The thief cannot work after cutting his
hand. Muhammad incorporated a seventh century barbaric pagan Arab custom
into his Qur’an. He did not try to improve on it. The thief’s
repentance is acceptable only after suffering the punishment of mutilation
(Bukhari 8.81.788, 792; Muslim 17.4178, 4188).
The true biblical God never commanded inflicting bodily damage as a
punishment for property damage. He had commanded in the Mosaic law bodily
damage for bodily damage (Exodus 21: 24), and property damage for property
damage. Only ancient idol worshippers called for inflicting bodily damage
for property damage (Persian, Assyrian, Hammurabi laws, etc).
The word of the true God in the Torah does not command cutting off
the hands of a thief. Rather, it commands that he should make restitution.
If he cannot, he should work off his debt (sold as a slave, and released
after six years (Exodus 22: 3; 21: 2; Leviticus 6: 4)). The freed man
should be supplied with basic resources to help him start a new life
(Deuteronomy 15: 12-14). This was a significant improvement over the
code of Hammurabi, the emperor of Babylon (had ruled 1792-1750 B.C.),
which required killing the thief who could not repay ten times (thirty
times if stealing from the court) the value of the stolen goods.
The New Testament provides a path to reform the thief. His hands should
be employed in productive work, not cutoff (Eph. 4: 28).
3. Flogging alcoholics and gamblers
Wine is forbidden in al-Baqarah 2: 219 and al-Ma’idah 5: 90,
but permitted in al-Nahl 16: 67; Muhammad 47: 15 and al-Mutaffifin 83:
25, 26. It is the drink of the Islamic paradise (Muhammad 47: 15; ad-Dahr
76: 5, 21; al-Mutaffifin 83: 25).
The Islamic Sharia does not provide help and rehabilitation for alcoholics
and gamblers. Instead, it requires the severe punishment of flogging
for drinkers (forty to eighty stripes (Muslim 17.4226)). This punishment
applies even to the light social drinker who does not get drunk. Many
Christians would agree to the fact that alcoholism and gambling are
sins. But no one in his right mind would agree with their Islamic punishments.
Wine is not intrinsically evil, but its misuse is. In fact, wine in
moderation has health benefits. The Old Testament allows wine in moderation
(Eccl. 9: 7), and commands it in ceremonial drink offerings to the Lord
(Exodus 29: 40; Leviticus 23: 13; Numbers 15: 5-10; 28: 7). The Old
Testament condemns drunkenness, but does not command the punishment
of the drunkard (1 Samuel 1: 13-14; 25: 36; 2 Samuel 11: 13; Isaiah
19: 14; 24: 20; 28: 1-3; Joel 1: 5; etc). Similarly, the New Testament
denounces drunkenness (1 Cor 6: 9-11; Rom 13: 13; Eph 5: 18), but allows
moderate drinking (1 Tim 5: 23).
4. Slavery
Islam supports slavery (an-Nisa’ 4: 24; al-Mu’minun 23:
6; al-Ahzab 33: 50; al-Ma’arij 70: 29-31; etc.). Therefore, Islamists
have been taking non-Muslims, and black Muslims as slaves. Historians
estimate that between 14 and 18 million Africans were enslaved by Islamists
from the seventh to the twelfth centuries. Muhammad himself owned and
traded in slaves (Bukhari 5.59.541; 7.65.344; Muslim 10.3901). In Islam,
slaves are treated unjustly. If a slave is murdered, instead of executing
the murderer, an innocent slave may be killed for the murdered slave
(al-Baqarah 2: 178). A Muslim could not be executed for murdering a
slave. The testimony of a slave is not admissible in Sharia court.
Jesus and his apostles never owned or traded in slaves. Christianity
teaches that God does not show partiality (Acts 10: 34; James 3: 17).
The slaves and the free are equal before God, “There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians
3: 28; Colossians 3: 11; 1 Corinthians 12: 13).
5. Breaking oath
Islam teaches breaking one’s oath when it is expedient to do
so. If a Muslim discovers a better option after taking an oath, he is
allowed to break his oath and take the better option and make compensation
(Muslim 15.4054). In addition, Islam provides that certain charitable
acts could substitute for the performance of the oath. Muhammad broke
his oaths (at-Tahrim 66: 2) and treaties (al-Anfal 8: 58) with Banu
Qaynuqa, Quraysh (the treaty of Hudaybiyya), etc. (Bukhari 8.78.619;
9.89.260). However barbarous and treacherous his means were, the end
justified it in his eyes. This means that an oath cannot be made legally
binding in Islam.
The Holy Bible strictly forbids breaking one’s oath (Numbers
30: 1-2).
XVII. STRANGE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM
1. Christianity teaches that temptation comes from Satan,
and that God helps the tempted to overcome it if they ask for his help:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted
by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself
tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own
desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James
1: 13-15). Jesus defeated the temptations of Satan in the wilderness
(Matthew 4: 1-11).
Islam teaches that temptation may come either from Satan or from the
Islamic god who uses demons to lead people astray that he may populate
the hell he created (as-Sajdah 32: 13; Hud 11: 118-119)?
2. Islam teaches that the deceased person is punished because of the
weeping of his relatives (Bukhari 2.23.375, 391).
3. The torment of the grave is explained in this section.
4. According to Bukhari 2.23.460, all the good works of a Muslim cannot
keep him out of hell if his corpse is soiled with his urine in his grave.
5. Islam teaches that if a person bad-mouths another, hell is affirmed
for the one who is being despised (Bukhari 2.23.448).
6. Muhammad claimed that fevers are caused by the heat of hellfire,
and it could be put out with water (Bukhari 4.54.485; 7.71.619). He
also taught that the severity of the heat of a summer day is from hellfire
(Bukhari 1.10.514).
7. Islam teaches that the camel’s urine has medicinal curative
value (Bukhari 7.71.590; 1.4.234). This shows that Muhammad adhered
to the superstitious folklore of pre-Islamic Arabia.
8. “Allah's Apostle said, "If anyone of you goes to an open
space for answering the call of nature he should neither face nor turn
his back towards the Qibla; he should either face the east or the west”
(Bukhari 1.4.146). “Allah’s Apostle said, "If anyone
of you performs ablution he should put water in his nose and then blow
it out and whoever cleans his private parts with stones should do so
with odd numbers. And whoever wakes up from his sleep should wash his
hands before putting them in the water for ablution, because nobody
knows where his hands were during sleep."” (Bukhari 1.4.163).
9. Muhammad taught that if a person eats seven dates in the morning,
he will not be affected by poison or magic that day (Bukhari 7.71.671).
He also taught that a crowing rooster is seeing angels and a braying
donkey may bring Satan (Muslim 35.6581).
10. Muhammad believed that a housefly can cure the disease it transmits.
One wing of the fly has the disease, the other has the antidote (Bukhari
4.54.537).
11. Muhammad taught that a child’s physical appearance is determined
by whether his father or mother reaches orgasm first (Bukhari 5.58.275;
4.55.546).
12. The Qur’an warns against “the evil of the envier when
he envies” (al-Falaq 113: 5). Muhammad taught that the effect
of an evil eye is a fact (Bukhari 7.71.636). He said: “The influence
of an evil eye is a fact. If anything would precede the destiny, it
would be the influence of an evil eye” (Muslim 26.5427). This
teaches Muslims that envy hurts the envied person.
Christianity teaches that envy is a serious sin. But it hurts only
the person who envies. Evil powers have no authority over the Christian
believers.
13. Muhammad would suck water up his nose and then blow it out three
times because he believed that Satan stays in the upper part of the
nose all night long (Bukhari 4.54.516).
14. Islam teaches about the existence of angels (beings of light) and
jinn (made of fire) (al-Baqarah 2: 177, 97-98; adh-Dhariyat 51: 56;
al-Ahqaf 46: 29ff; ar-Rahman 55: 15; al-Jinn 72: 1-2). It also teaches
that angels do not sin, and that Satan is a rebellious jinn (al-Kahf
18: 50; Sad 38: 71-77).
The Holy Bible teaches that angels do exist, but jinn do
not; and that Satan is a high-ranking fallen angel: “How
you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are
cut down to the ground. You who weakened the nations! For you have said
in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.
On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights
of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be
brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit” (Isaiah
14: 12-17; Ezekiel 28: 12-17). God had created all the angels
in a state of innocence. The devil (Satan) and demons became evil and
fell by their own acts, before the fall of man. Then, Satan seduced
Adam and Eve, and they fell.
15. Muhammad believed that his god created the stars as missiles to
throw at the devils (al-Hijr 15: 16-18; al-Mulk 67: 5; al-Jinn 72: 9;
as-Saffat 37: 6-10).
16. Mecca was the center of an annual pilgrimage in Arabia long before
Muhammad’s time. All the ceremonies of the Kaaba, the circumambulation,
the pilgrimage, the Umra, the animal sacrifices in Mina valley, and
the stampede from Mount Arafat had been observed in all their details
long before Muhammad was born.
Al-Kaaba of Mecca contains a black stone that Muslims kiss in the rituals
of Islamic pilgrimage. This black rock was in the Kaaba before the time
of Muhammad when Arabs had worshiped pagan idols made of rock and wood.
It was the most sacred stone in the pre-Islamic animistic religion in
Arabia. Omar ibn al-Khattab found this practice uncomfortable (Bukhari
2.26.675). An Islamic legend claims that it was given to Abraham by
the angel Gabriel. However, most likely, it is a fragment of one of
the idols. Byzantine writers assert that it was originally a black stone
image of Aphrodite which was worshipped in pre-Islamic times. The veneration
of sacred stones was common in ancient pagan Semitic religions. The
Nabatean high god Dushara was worshiped through an obelisk of black
stone. Black conical stones were venerated in the temple of Baalbek
in the later Roman period. In Emesa, Syria, a black meteorite associated
with the sun god was revered.
17. The phrase “the prayer of Allah be upon him (Muhammad) with
peace” is used in Islam whenever the name of Muhammad is mentioned
(al-Ahzab 33: 43, 56). The obvious question is: to whom is Allah, the
god of Islam, praying? No arguments can be made to suggest that the
Arabic word used has any meaning other than prayer. These verses indicate
that the Islamic god and his angles pray. This phrase is most likely
a hold-over from earlier Arabian pagan religion that found its way into
Islam.
In contrast with that, the God of the Holy Bible rejects any pagan
religious practices in Judaism and Christianity.
18. Many passages in the Qur’an speak of the Islamic god being
the only intercessor and mediator for Muslims (al-An’am 6: 51,
70; as-Sajdah 32: 4; az-Zumar 39: 44). Intercession and mediation require
three persons. A person intercedes on behalf of someone before a third
party. Whom does the Islamic god intercede or mediate to? It could not
be to himself because it means he does not know his will, and it also
means that he talks to himself? Could it indicate that he is not a unipersonal
deity as Islam claims?
19. Muhammad instructs his followers to save their heels from the fire
by wiping them with wet hands (Bukhari 1.3.57). This was not because
of cleanliness concern. He thought that one can save himself from the
fire of hell by passing wet hand over his feet or socks
20. Muhammad cursed his enemies in his prayers (Bukhari 3.30.113; 4.52.182-184;
4.53.409; 5.59.297; 9.92.445; Muslim 32.6297). No wonder that cursing
is a common accepted tradition in mosques and Muslim society. Because
Muhammad practiced it, it is considered good and holy to hate and curse
in Islam.
Christianity teaches exactly the opposite. It teaches love
and forgiveness. Christ said: “love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5: 44-45).
Dying on the cross of shame, suffering and agonizing pain, Jesus prayed
for the forgiveness of those who crucified him saying: “…
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke
23: 34).
21. Al-Baqarah 2: 65 and al-A’raf 7: 166 teach that Jews were
transformed into apes, and Christians to swine (al-Ma’idah 5:
59-60)? This never happened in history? In addition, al-Anfal 8: 55
calls the non-Muslim infidels “the vilest of animals ...”
22. Islam forbids eating pork (al-Baqarah 2: 173; al-Ma’idah
5: 3; al-An’am 6: 145; an-Nahl 16: 115). This prohibition is despite
the fact that three of the main Sunni schools of Sharia permit eating
the lizard; the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of Sharia permit eating
the dirty hyena; and the Malikis and Shafi’ites permit the hedgehog.
Jesus taught saying: “… Are you thus without understanding
also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot
defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and
is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? … What comes out of a
man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark
7: 18-23).
23. The Qur’an claims that the sun sets in a spring of murky
waters: “Till he (Dhu al-Qarnain) reached the setting of the sun,
he found it set in a spring of murky water” (al-Kahf 18: 86a).
Muhammad believed in the literal meaning of that verse (al-Zamakhshari,
Kashshaf, vol. 2, p. 743, 3rd edition, 1987). This claim is a major
scientific error. Modern science tells us that the sun is much larger
and hotter than the earth. If the earth approaches the sun, it will
vaporize from the intense heat of the sun. This fallacy is similar to
legends of Muhammad’s time.
24. Some Islamists advocate killing Muslims who refuse to perform the
five obligatory ritualistic prayers.
25. Muhammad had bizarre superstitious beliefs regarding dogs. He ordered
the killing of all black dogs (Muslim 10.3813; Bukhari 4.54.540; etc.),
because he thought that the black dog is a devil (Muslim 4.1032). He
taught that if a Muslim keeps a dog for a pet, the Islamic god will
take away some heavenly rewards for his good works (Bukhari 3.39.515;
Muslim 10.3815). Angels will not enter his house (Bukhari 4.54.539;
4.54.448; 5.59.338). If a dog passes in front of people praying, their
prayers are annulled (Bukhari 1.9.490; Muslim 4.1032). The irrefutable
benefits of pet ownership are denied to the Muslims.
26. Muhammad believed that some jinn had accepted Islam and turned
into snakes. He instructed that if a Muslim finds a snake in his house,
he was to warn it for three days. If the snake did not leave the house,
he was to kill it because it was evil (Muslim 26.5557, 5558, 5559; etc.).
Of course, it is very dangerous to leave a snake in the house for three
days because it may be venomous. Instead of following the advice of
the superstitious Muhammad, the Muslim who finds the snake should call
the police or fire department for help. Muhammad thought jinn eat bones
and animal dung (Bukhari 5.58.200).
27. A left-handed person is a taboo because, according to Muhammad,
Satan eats and drinks with his left hand. Muslims are required to eat
and drink with their right hands (Muslim 23.5008). One wonders about
what happens to a person who does not have a right hand? The truth of
the matter is that Satan does not eat or drink at all because he is
a spirit. Spirits do not eat and drink.
28. Muhammad thought that Satan urinated in people’s ears (Bukhari
2.21.245), and that yawning comes from Satan (Bukhari 4.54.509; 8.73.242).
29. Muhammad taught that playing chess defiles the Muslim (Muslim 28.5612).
30. Islam teaches that the souls of the martyrs live in the bodies
of green birds (Muslim 20.4651).
31. Muhammad thought that good dreams are godly, whereas bad ones are
from Satan. If a Muslim sees a bad dream, he should spit thrice on his
left side and “seek refuge with Allah from Satan …”
(Bukhari 9.87.124, 115, 133). This will protect him from harm?
XVIII. CONCLUSION
It is obvious from this analysis that the teachings of Christianity
and Islam are very different and contradictory on major doctrinal and
ethical issues. Christianity advances humanity forward. Islam drags
humanity backwards.
The true living almighty God does not provide a new religion to degrade
and corrupt human morality, and move it a gigantic step backward—from
the Christian “love and bless your enemy” to the Islamic
“hate, avenge, assassinate, kill, subjugate, rape, loot, etc.;”
from the Christian monogamy to the Islamic polygamy and temporary pleasure
marriages; from the Christian respect for women and children to the
Islamic humiliation of women and sexual abuse of prepubescent girls;
from the Christian forgiveness to the Islamic mutilation, flogging and
stoning; from the Christian freedom of conscience to the Islamic oppression
and forced religion; from the Christian spiritual paradise to the Islamic
carnal paradise of gluttony and polygamy; from the Christian internal
ethical principles instilled in the human heart to the Islamic external
superficial legalism of Sharia; from the Christian honesty to the deception
of Islamic taqiyya and reneging on oaths; etc.
Islam was spread by the sword of Muhammad and his followers after him,
and by lurid enticements to the basest desires and impulses of man for
conquest, promiscuous sexuality, plunder, and pride. Islam is
the only major religion in the world that sanctions the following immoral
practices:
1. Islam institutionalizes violence against non-Muslims (infidels)
calling it jihad (holy war) to islamize the conquered populations.
2. Islam imposes the death penalty for Muslims that leave it (the apostates).
3. Islam condones and encourages its soldiers to commit the crime of
rape of female war captives as their reward for conquering the infidels.
Islam denies the grace and mercy that Christ has brought, and takes
humanity back to the age of law, punishment, fear, and death.
Muhammad’s alleged revelation is not within the context of, and
not in full accord and harmony with, the covenants of the biblical God
with humanity. In fact, it abrogates and supplants former authentic
biblical revelation. It reverses God’s plan for redemption and
salvation of the human race. God had set this plan in motion ever since
the fall of Adam and Eve in the ancient garden of Eden. It was fulfilled
through his incarnate Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said on the cross “…It
is finished…” (John 19: 30). After completing the
redemption and atonement of fallen humanity on the cross, there is no
need for prophets providing new religions.
In his first advent, Christ came to heal and regenerate spiritually
those that would accept him, not to judge and condemn those that reject
him. He said: “And if anyone hears My words and does not
believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but
to save the world” (John 12: 47). He came to build, not
to destroy. In his second advent, he will come back in glory and power
to judge the living and the dead, including Muhammad, the self-proclaimed
prophet of Islam. The Holy Bible condemns teachings that conflict with
Christian teachings: “But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to
you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1: 8).
Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, stove after his selfish mundane interests
and ambitions accumulating power, wealth, and many women. He sacrificed
others to build his worldly empire. What did he do for you? In contrast
with that, Christ has sacrificed his life for you on the cross to save
you from eternal damnation and to set you free from the bondage of sin
and spiritual decay, because he has loved you. Would you receive him
in your heart and life as your savior and Lord today?
Only Christianity leads to fellowship with the true living almighty
God. Islam does not. Christ said: “…I am the way,
the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
(John 14: 6). Jesus loves you. He offered himself on a cross
of shame and pain in order to save your soul from eternal darkness.
He seeks you saying: “Behold, I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to
him and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3: 20).
Would you open the door of your heart form him today? If you accept
him and ask him to come into your heart and life as your Lord and savior,
he will transform your life from within forever. He will take you with
him in an exciting journey to eternal life and the uncreated light of
God. Christ has said: “…Because I live, you will
live also …Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not
as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid” (John 14: 19, 27). On the other
hand, if you reject him or treat him merely as another prophet, you
separate yourself from the true living God eternally, and dwell in the
eternal torment of the outer darkness. You can begin your new life with
Christ by praying this simple prayer that expresses your new dedication
and commitment to journey with him:
Dear Jesus, I accept you as the Son of God, who incarnated, was crucified,
died, and was raised from the dead by God. Please, forgive my sins.
I invite you to come into my heart and lead my life as my personal Lord
and savior.
In ancient times, after Moses gave the commandments of God to his people,
he said to them: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against
you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”
(Deuteronomy 30: 19). May the true living God guide you to choose life
over death, light over darkness, spiritual regeneration over decay,
liberty over oppression, love over hatred, and peace over conflict?
Christ is alive in heaven, and intervenes, as the situation requires
here and now on earth. Answer his call to you. Muhammad is helplessly
dead and buried in Medina. Follow the living, not the dead. It is up
to you.
This page provides the basics of the Christian faith. Welcome home!
This page will help you take the next step.
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