Transcript Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

Is Islam a Religion
of Peace?
Terrorist
Attack
Taj Mahal
Palace
Mumbai,
India
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.
Introduction
• 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
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)
Christianity and Islam:
Each Is Established on a Separate
Foundation
• 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.
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)
Words of the Qur’an
Listen to the
Qur’an’s words…
“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
• 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)
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.”
The Example of Mohammed and His
Followers
• 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)
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 Is Rejection of
Peace With God
• 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
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.
Some Concluding Thoughts…
• 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 peaceloving Muslims in the world, their peace-loving
attitude is in spite of Islam…not because of it!