is islam a religion of peace? terrorist attack taj mahal palace mumbai, india

Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

Terrorist Terrorist Attack Attack

Taj Mahal Taj Mahal Palace Palace

Mumbai, Mumbai, IndiaIndia

Introduction

• It is common for moderate Muslims to speak of their religion as one that promotes peace and harmony among men, regardless of race, class, or beliefs.

• Yet, our minds are filled with images of hate-filled, murderous Muslim radicals on suicide missions against America and the infidels.

• Moderate Muslims tell us that these are radicals who do not represent most Muslims. Most Muslims probably don’t condone the present terrorism.

• Some, who look at religion from a historical perspective, simply conclude that all religions—including Christianity—have had violent radicals and members who violated the true precepts of their faiths.– Inquisition– Crusades– Abortion

Introduction

Christianity and Islam: Each Is Established on a Separate

Foundation

• The Christian faith is focused on the life and teachings (doctrine) of Jesus.– No secular or worldly kingdom is

preached. (John 18:36)– Teaches its members how to treat their

enemies. (Matthew 5:44)–Means of expanding the kingdom—faith.

(Romans 10:17; Mark 16:15,16)

• The Islam faith is rooted in the teachings of Mohammed and the doctrine found in the Qur’an.– To spread his kingdom, Mohammed engaged in bloody warfare.– The Qur’an supports at least limited violence to achieve its ends.

We’ll see this when we discuss the concept of jihad.

– One of Islam’s objectives is for it to become the world’s universal religion and to create Muslim nations, requiring, under threat of punishment, conversion to its tenets.

Christianity and Islam: Each Is Established on a Separate

Foundation

What the Qur’an Says…

• To Muslims, the Qur’an is the inspired word of Allah (God).

• Jihad, is often translated “holy war.” The Jihad doctrine speaks of struggle.– Some contend it is simply each individual’s

internal struggle with evil.– And, they say, jihad includes struggles one

has in defending his homeland and religion.– Others say Mohammed (God’s spokesman)

commanded his followers to fight against and subdue all who resist Islam.

Words of the Qur’an

Listen to the Qur’an’s words…

“As for those who are slain in the cause of God, He will not allow their works to perish…He will admit them to Paradise he has made known to them.” (Surah 47:4-6)

“The believers who stay at home—apart from those that suffer a grave impediment—are not equals of those who fight for the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God has given those who fight with their goods and their persons a higher rank than those who stay at home...” (Surah 4:95,96)

Words of the Qur’an

Listen to the Qur’an’s words…

“Slay the idolaters wherever you find them...lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and render the alms levy, allow them to go on their way…” (Surah 9:5)

Words of the Qur’an

Listen to the Qur’an’s words…

“Those that make war against God and His apostle and spread disorder in the land shall be put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from the land.” (Surah 5:34)

Words of the Qur’an

Listen to the Qur’an’s words…

• Note the contrast with Ephesians 6:10-17…

• Our warfare is spiritual—not carnal.– 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Words of the Qur’an

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History tells us that when Mohammed first preached his supposed revelations, he didn’t try to force people to accept,

• Later, he would tell his followers that God was telling him…– “Prophet, make war on the unbelievers

and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home.”

• Those people conquered by Mohammed and his armies had a choice.– Convert to Islam.– Pay tribute to Islam as an unbeliever or DIE.

• The oldest available biography of Mohammed tells of him capturing a Jewish settlement and torturing some of its occupants to find out where their treasures were hidden.

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History of Islamic expansion– Encarta Encyclopedia says: “The remarkable speed of

(Islam’s) religious expansion can be attributed to the fact that it was accomplished primarily through military conquest. Mohammed drew Arabs…to Islam by his forceful personality, the promise of salvation for those who died fighting for Islam, and the lure of fortune for those who succeeded in conquest. The caravan raids of the early years of Islam soon became full-scale wars, and empires and nations bowed to the power of this new religious, military, political, economic and social phenomenon.”

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History of Islamic expansion– An Islamic website says: “Islam was

spread by proof and evidence, in the case of those who listened to the message and responded to it. And it was spread through strength and the sword in the case of those who stubbornly resisted, until they had no choice and had to submit to new reality.” (www.islam-qa.com, Question #5441)

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• Treatment of apostates– Under Islamic law, whoever falls away has

committed unpardonable sin.– Given time to repent, then threatened with death.– Much of the Muslim-on-Muslim violence is the result

of either dealing with alleged apostates or attempting to bring certain nations under Muslim control.

– Similar to Catholic Inquisition; but not found in the teaching of Jesus.

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• Treatment of women– The Bible teaches husbands to love their

wives as their own bodies (Ephesians 5:28,29).

– Qur’an says: “As for those (wives) from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further actions against them.” (Surah 4:34)

The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

Rejection of Jesus Is Rejection of Peace With God

• Muslims give lip service to belief in the O.T. and N.T. (though claiming both have been corrupted)

• But consider Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12:1-3, the sacrifice patterns under Moses’ Law, and the coming of Jesus. These Scriptures all point to the coming of a king of peace and an age of peace.

• Rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God…rejection of His death as a sacrifice for sin…rejection of the gospel of grace—all militates against a faith centered on having peace with God.– Colossians 1:19-22– Ephesians 2:14-16

Rejection of Jesus Is Rejection of Peace With God

Some Concluding Thoughts…

• At first examination, Islam is appealing.– A call to believe in one God—the God of

Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

– A call to repent and submit to the will of God.

– A call to holy living, involving prayer, fasting, and charity.

• But its claim to be a religion of peace is belied by:– The teachings of the Qur’an, their foremost authority– The teaching and practices of Mohammed, whom

they believe to be God’s final spokesman and most important example

– The history of how the religion spread from Saudi Arabia to control a large portion of the world stretching from Spain to China and from Russia to Africa

Some Concluding Thoughts…

• But its claim to be a religion of peace is belied by:– The practice of militant jihad—and the

relative silence of moderate Muslims about the murders of innocents by suicide killers

Some Concluding Thoughts…

• It contrasts sharply with the Christian faith.– Certainly there have been great sins perpetrated in

the name of Christianity, but none were supported by Jesus or the N.T.

– Jesus is the Prince of Peace, not merely a teacher of peace with men but the mediator of true peace with God. Muslims wholly reject this peace.

– We must conclude that while there are many peace-loving Muslims in the world, their peace-loving attitude is in spite of Islam…not because of it!

Some Concluding Thoughts…