Is it a religion of violence?
Introduction
• Over the past week, Muslims have been
angered by a reading of a 13th century
manuscript in which Emperor Manuel II said
"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was
new, and there you will find things only evil and
inhuman, such as his command to spread by
the sword the faith he preached"
• The Muslim reaction … violence
– Protests, firebombing, and at least one murder
– Why?
Introduction
• The Washington Post, September 16, 2006
“The criticism of the pope's remarks was often
twofold: at the reference of the prophet
Muhammad's legacy as "evil and inhuman" and
at the idea that Islam was spread by the sword.
Much of the conversion that followed the
prophet's life in the 7th century was a gradual,
centuries-long process that left a remarkable
degree of diversity -- albeit faded -- in parts of
the Muslim world. “
• Is Islam a peaceful religion being twisted by
radicals?
The Islamic arguments
• Terrorists are extremists who misapply the
Qur’an to accomplish their own aims
• Islam is about peace
• Militants confuse literal and symbolic
passages
Figurative, Symbolic or Literal
• Even in Bible study, some are confused
• The determination is made on the immediate
context and the overall aim of the work
• Some argue that Christianity is violent
– 1 Tim 6:12
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, to which you were also called and have
confessed the good confession in the presence
of many witnesses. “
– Was Paul advocating violence?
1 Tim 6:12 in context
• The immediate context
– Flee materialism – 1 Tim 6:9-10
– Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
perseverance and gentleness – 1 Tim 6:11
– Make a good confession – 1 Tim 6:12-13
• Paul’s fight was spiritual – 2 Tim 4:7
– 2 Cor 10:3-5
– Eph 6:10-17
• Jesus’ fight was spiritual – Luke 9:51-56
• Is Islam also being misunderstood?
A brief history of Islam
• Early in the 600’s AD, Mohammed proclaimed
he was the last prophet and the Qur’an
(Koran) was the final revelation from God
– He and his followers were forced out of Mecca
– In Medina, he was given supreme authority
– He began a long, bloody war with Mecca
– Eventually he won, slaughtered his strongest
opponents and exiled the rest
• By 630 AD, he was the most powerful military
leader among the Arabs
A brief history of Islam
• Mohammed died in 632 AD after conquering
most of Arabia with war
• His first successor finished conquering Arabia
by 634 AD and died
• His second successor waged war and
conquered Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, and
Egypt by 644 AD
– This was NOT a spreading by teaching, but of
military conquest
A brief history of Islam
A brief history of Islam
• The only things that prevented Islam from
conquering Europe were …
– The heavily fortified city of Byzantium
(Constantinople or Istanbul) which held out for
700+ years against repeated assaults
– The efforts of Charles Martel (father of
Charlemagne) who rallied France to fight them
in the Pyrenees Mountains
• His son’s Holy Roman Empire continued to hold
them at bay
– I firmly believe the hand of God in both
situations kept Christianity safe
Is Islam peaceful?
• Remember the Washington Post article?
• The Washington Post, September 16, 2006
“The criticism of the pope's remarks was often
twofold: at the reference of the prophet
Muhammad's legacy as "evil and inhuman" and
at the idea that Islam was spread by the sword.
Much of the conversion that followed the
prophet's life in the 7th century was a gradual,
centuries-long process that left a remarkable
degree of diversity -- albeit faded -- in parts of
the Muslim world. “
• History doesn’t match what Islam claims to be
its history
Misguided or Faithful?
• Some claim the militants, terrorists and
extremists are misguided and have
misunderstood the Qur’an
• The extremists claim they are faithful to the
Qur’an
• Who is right?
– We can see the extremists are following the
methods of Mohammed
– They are following the history of Islam
– But what does the Qur’an say?
Islam is the only accepted religion
• Surely the true religion with Allah is Islam
Qur’an 3:18
• And whoever seeks a religion other than
Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in
the Hereafter he will be one of the losers
Qur’an 3:84
Violence is allowed when Islam is
resisted
• And fight them until there is no persecution
and religion is only for Allah. But if they desist,
then there should be no hostility except
against the oppressors - Qur’an 2:192
Fighting is to be done in self-
defense or defense of Islam
• And fight in the way of Allah against those who
fight against you but be not aggressive. Surely
Allah loves not the aggressors. - Qur’an 2:190
• What about context? Is this physical or
spiritual?
Qur’an 2:190-194
• And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight
against you but be not aggressive. Surely Allah loves
not the aggressors. And kill them wherever you find
them, and drive them out from where they drove you
out, and persecution is worse than slaughter. And
fight not with them at the Sacred Mosque until they
fight with you in it; so if they fight you in it, slay them.
Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. But if
they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
And fight them until there is no persecution, and
religion is only for Allah. But if they desist, then there
should be no hostility except against the oppressors.
The sacred month for the sacred month, and
retaliation is allowed in sacred things. Whoever then
acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him
according to the injury he has inflicted on you and
keep your duty to Allah and know that Allah is with
those who keep their duty.
Qur’am 2:217-218
• They ask thee concerning fighting in the
Prohibited Month. Say "Fighting therein is a
grave offense; But graver is it in the sight of
Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to
deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred
Mosque, and drive out its members. Tumult
and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor
will they cease fighting you until they turn you
back from your faith if they can. And if any of
you turn back from their faith and die in
unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this
life and in the Hereafter; they will be
companions of the fire and will abide therein.
• Evangelism is aggression justifying killing
Only Islamic governments are
recognized
• O you who have been given the Book, believe
in what We have revealed, verifying that which
you have, before We destroy the leaders and
turn them on their backs, or curse them as We
cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the
command of Allah is every executed. Surely
Allah forgives not that a partner should be set
up with Him, and forgives all besides that to
whom He pleases. And whoever sets up a
partner with Allah, he devises indeed a great
sin. - Qur’an 2:47-48
Belief in the Godhead is considered blasphemy
• O People of the Book, exceed not the limits in your religion nor
speak anything about Allah, but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son
of Mary, is only a messenger of Allah and His word which He
communicated to Mary and a mercy from Him. So believe in Allah
and His messengers. And say not, Three. Desist, it is better for
you. Allah is only one God. Far be it from His glory to have a son.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the
earth. And sufficient is Allah as having charge of affairs. - Qur’an
4:171
• Certainly they disbelieve who say: Allah, He is the Messiah, son of
Mary. And the Messiah said: O Children of Israel, serve Allah, my
Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates others with Allah,
Allah has forbidden to him the Garden and his abode is the Fire.
And for the wrongdoers there will be no helpers. Certainly they
disbelieve who say: Allah is the third of the three. And there is no
God but One God. And if they desist not from what they say, a
painful chastisement will surely befall such of them as disbelieve
... The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers
before him had indeed passed away. - Qur’an 5:72-75
• In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Say: He, Allah, is
One. Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He
begotten; and none is like Him. - Qur’an 112: 1-4
Terrorism is promoted for false
religions, such as Christianity when
they insist on the trinity.
• We will cast terror into the hearts of those who
disbelieve because they set up with Allah that
for which He has sent down no authority, and
their abode is the Fire. And evil is the abode of
the wrongdoers. - Qur’an 3:150
Militancy in Islam
• O you who believe, take your precautions, then go forth in
detachments or go forth in a body. ... So let those fight in the way
of Allah who sell this world’s life for the Hereafter. And whoever
fights in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, We shall
grant him a mighty reward. And what reason have you not to fight
in the way of Allah, and of the weak among the men and the
women and the children, who say: Our Lord, take us out of this
town, whose people are oppressors, and grant us from Thee a
friend, and grant us from Thee a helper! Those who believe fight in
the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the
devil. So fight against the friends of the devil; surely the struggle
of the devil is ever weak. Hast thou not seen those to whom it was
said: Withhold your hands and keep up prayer and pay the poor-
rate. But when fighting is prescribed for them, lo! A party of them
fear men as they ought to fear Allah, or with a greater fear, and
say: Our Lord, why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? Wouldst
Thou not grant us respite to a near term? Say: The enjoyment of
this world is short, and the Hereafter is better for him who keeps
his duty. And you shall not be wronged a whit. Wherever you are,
death will overtake you, though you are in towers, raised high.
And if good befalls them, they say: This is from Allah; and if a
misfortune befalls them, they say: This is from thee. Say: All is
from Allah. But what is the matter with these people that they
make no effort to understand anything. - Qur’an 4:71, 74-78
Militancy in Islam
• Fight then in Allah’s way – thou art not
responsible except for thyself; and urge on the
believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the
fighting for those who disbelieve. And Allah is
stronger in prowess and stronger to give
exemplary punishment. - Qur’an 4:84
• O you who believe, fight those of the
disbelievers who are near to you and let them
find firmness in you. And know that Allah is
with those who keep their duty. - Qur’an 9:123
• Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way in
ranks, as if they were a solid wall. - Qur’an
61:4
Fighting is advocated against Jews
and Christians
• Fight those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last
Day, nor forbid that which Allah and His messenger
have forbidden, nor follow the Religion of Truth, out of
those who have been given the Book, until they pay
the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are
in a state of subjection.
And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the
Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. These
are the words of their mouths. They imitate the saying
of those who disbelieve before. Allah’s curse be on
them! How they are turned away! - Qur’an 9:29-30
Islam denies that Jesus was
crucified
• And for their disbelief and for their uttering
against Mary a grievous calumny: And for their
saying: We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son
of Mary, the messenger of Allah, and they
killed him not, nor did they cause his death on
the cross, but he was mad to appear to them
as such. And certainly those who differ therein
are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge
about it, but only follow a conjecture, and they
killed him not for certain - Qur’an 4:156-157
Death in battle is rewarded
• And if you are slain in Allah’s way or you die,
surely Allah’s protection and His mercy are
better than what they amass. and if you die or
you are slain, to Allah you are gathered. -
Qur’an 3:156-157
Death in battle is rewarded
• And think not of those who are killed in Allah’s
way as dead. Nay, they are alive being
provided sustenance from their Lord,
Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of
His grace, and they rejoice for the sake of
those who being left behind them, have not yet
joined them, that they have no fear, nor shall
they grieve. They rejoice for Allah’s favor and
His grace, and that Allah wastes not the
reward of the believers. - Qur’an 3:168-170
Death in battle is rewarded
• So their Lord accepted their prayer, saying: I
will not suffer the work of any worker among
you to be lost whether male or female, the one
of you bring from the other. So those who fled
and were driven forth from their homes and
persecuted in My way and who fought and
were slain, I shall truly remove their evil and
make them enter Gardens wherein flow rivers
– a reward from Allah. And with Allah is the
best reward. - Qur’an 3:194
Suicidal Battle Commended
• Do you think that you will enter the Garden while Allah has not yet
known those from among you who strive hard nor known the
steadfast? And certainly you desired death before you met it. So
indeed you have seen it now while you look at it. And Muhammad
is but a messenger – messengers have already passed away
before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your
heels? And he who turns back upon his heels will do no harm at all
to Allah. And Allah will reward the grateful. And no soul can die
but with Allah’s permission – the term is fixed. And whoever
desires the reward of this world, We give him of it, and whoever
desires the reward of the Hereafter, We give him of it. And We
shall reward the grateful. And how many a prophet has fought,
with whom were many worshipers of the Lord. So they did not lose
heart on account of that which befell them in Allah’s way, nor did
they weaken, nor did they abase themselves. And Allah loves the
steadfast. And their cry was only that they said: Our Lord, grant us
protection form our sins and our extravagance in our affair, and
make firm our feet and grant us victory over the disbelieving
people. So Allah gave them the reward of the world and a good
reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves the doers of good. -
Qur’an 3:141-147
Is Islam a peaceful religion?
• Its origin says NO
• Its founder says NO
• Its history says NO
• Its religious document says NO
• Its present practices say NO
• Extremists, militants, and terrorists are not
twisting Islam, they are true Muslims (one who
submits) following Islam (submission)
Conclusion:
Which is from God?
• Islam – a religion of violence and conquest, or
• Christianity
– Matthew 22:37-40
– Matthew 5:43-48
– Matthew 7:12
– Romans 12:14-21
The answer is clear