Posted on 06/04/2005 4:54:48 AM PDT by tacomonkey2002
A Comparison of Islam and Christianity Regarding the Use of War and Terrorism
By Dr. Mark A. Gabriel Presented to the Oxford Society of Scholars
November 20, 2003
Washington D.C.
For many years, Westerners thought of terrorism as a secular problem with political or economic motives.[1] After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the West was forced to focus on terrorism in the name of religion, especially Islam.[2] Now the world wants to know: Does Islam teach terrorism?
Some leaders say, “Yes,” and they make reference to the Quran and to the bloodshed in Muslim history and in modern times.
On the other hand, some Muslims declare that Jesus was the one who called for violence and quote Matthew 10:34: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (NIV). They talk about the Crusades and bloody conflicts involving Christians today (Ireland, Bosnia).
The fact is that both Christians and Muslims have been involved in war and terrorism. The question is: Were their actions based on the teachings of their scriptures?
This essay focuses on 1) what the Bible and the Quran say about terrorism and war and 2) what Jesus and Muhammad taught and practiced about terrorism and war.
The Purpose of This Essay
1. To expose ordinary Muslims to more information about the teachings of Islam. When confronted with this information, many ordinary Muslims are motivated to look more closely at the teachings of Islam. The events of 9/11/01 started some of this self-examination. As a result, it is estimated that more Muslims have turned to Christianity in the last two years than in the last one hundred years.[3]
2. To expose Christians to more information about the nature of Islam. This exposure often motivates Christians to make the extra effort that it takes to bring the good news to Muslims. There is an attitude in Christian circles that Muslims may be worshipping the same God as Christans so it would be better just to leave them alone. This paper argues that the god of the Quran is not the God of the Bible. The teachings of Islam hurt the lives of its followers. Islam is like a stale, moldy crust of bread. Following Jesus is like a fresh, warm loaf right out of the oven. Christians must see that what they offer Muslims is wonderful and life-giving for them.
3. To awaken the Christian scholarly community to the radical differences between Islam and Christianity. Too many scholars try every possible means to demonstrate common ground between Islam and Christianity. Committed Christian scholars need to honestly present the truth about differences between the fundamental teachings of both faiths.
Types of Muslims. As you read this essay, it is necessary to recognize that there are different levels of commitments among Muslims, just as there are among Christians. The following distinctions will be used in this essay.
1. The Ordinary Muslims. Most Muslims believe in the tolerant parts of Islam, and they reject the call to jihad. They take on the cultural trappings of the message, but they are not living it out completely. These Muslims may be dedicated to their system of thought, even though it does not represent true Islam. The majority of Muslims around the world—both in the East and in the West—fall into this category.
2. The Committed Muslims. There are two types of traditional Muslims.
A. People who study Islam and know it and practice it, but they stumble over the concept of jihad.
B. People who know jihad means fighting non-Muslims, but they do not take action because 1) they do not have the ability to do it by themselves, 2) they are concerned about what would happen to their lives, family, children if they join a fundamentalist group, 3) they want to have a nice life on earth instead of dying.
3. The Radical (or Fundamentalist) Muslims. These perpetrate terrorism. Their goal is to practice Islam as Muhammad did. They are practicing true Islam, just as fundamentalist Christians believe they are practicing true Christianity. This is a small minority of total Muslims worldwide.
The Difference Between War and Terrorism. This essay will often contain references to war; however, war and terrorism are not the same thing. Terrorism uses violence to intimidate people to fear so that they will take a desired action. War also uses violence, but the goal is not necessarily to create fear. In war, the goal is to defeat the enemy, but war can be fought without using terrorism. This essay will discuss war (or jihad) but it will also deal with terrorism.
What the Quran Says About War and Terrorism
The Arabic word jihad literally means “struggle,” and it is used in the Quran[4] to refer to war fought for the cause of Islam. The focus of jihad is to convert unbelievers to Islam or to subdue them. The ultimate goal of Islam is to establish Islamic authority over the whole world. In Muhammad’s day, jihad was practiced against Christians and Jews on a regular basis, as well as people who were idol worshipers—anyone who did not convert to Islam. (See Surah 2:217; 4:71–104; 8:24–36, 39–65.)
Jihad is a major theme of the Quran; about 60 percent of the Quran speaks of things related to jihad.[5]
The Quran teaches Muslims to kill those who reject Islam.
If they turn back (from Islam), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them… (Surah 4:89).
So, when you meet (in fight—Jihad in Allah’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). (Surah 47:4)
O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you; and know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious) (Surah 9:123).
The Quran also speaks of the use of terror as a strategy of war. Muslims were told prepare themselves with the greatest possible military might so that they could cause terror among their enemies.
Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom you may not know, but whom Allah knows (Surah 8:59–60, italics added[6]).
Through the Quran, Allah commanded Muhammad to kill large numbers of those he had defeated before taking prisoners, which would intimidate the people of the area.
It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land (Surah 8:67).
The Quran also used the threat of terrorism (in the form of mutilation) in an effort to persuade Christians and Jews to convert to Islam. The following quote is from The Noble Quran in English, which uses comments in parentheses to explain the Arabic meanings of the text.
O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them like the back of necks; without nose, mouth, eyes) and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the commandment of Allah is always executed (Surah 4:47).
When fighting Christians, the Quran says to punish them severely so they will leave their homes and be dispersed, as to be terrorized into submission
So if you gain mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson (Surah 8:57)
What the Quran Says About Peace and Tolerance
World leaders often declare that Islam is a religion of peace. Let’s look at a major teaching on which people base this comment. There is a story from hadith[7] which claims that Muhammad defined jihad as an inner, spiritual struggle.
Muhammad was returning from a battle when he told one of his friends, “We are returning from the little jihad to the great jihad.”
His friend asked him, “O prophet of Allah, what do you mean by the small battle and the great battle?”
Muhammad replied, “The small battle is the battle we just came from where we were fighting the enemies of Islam. The great battle is the spiritual struggle of the Muslim life.”[8]
Ordinary Muslims often accept this hadith as authentic and interpret it to mean that jihad is the personal, spiritual struggle that it takes to follow the five pillars and other guidelines of Islam. Ordinary (or secular) Muslims prefer an Islam that calls for spiritual jihad instead of literal jihad; they don’t want to fight and die.
There is also a splinter group that emphasizes this hadith—the Sufites. Sufites, which make up less than 2 percent of all Muslims worldwide, practice a mystical form of Islam.
Committed Muslims and Muslims scholars reject this hadith because:
1. Most importantly, it is inconsistent with the other teachings of Muhammad and the Quran. The Quran gives Muslims many guidelines for living, but the Quran never describes the struggle to follow these guidelines as “jihad.”
2. The documentation that links this story to the actual life of Muhammad is weak. Orthodox Muslim scholars believe that Muhammad never said this. Sheikh al-Elbeni, the most-respected scholar of hadith in the world, lists this as a weak hadith, even though it comes from otherwise reliable historians. Al-Elbeni speculated that Jewish scribes who were making handwritten copies of the hadith created this story to cause confusion among Muslims. It is very unlikely that a Jewish person had anything to do with it. Most probably an Arab Muslim early in Islamic history added these words to the hadith out of frustration over the bloody, ruthless wars that were fought between Muslim sects during the first century of Islam.
An argument often made is the Quran has verses about tolerance that balance out the verses about war and fighting. The key is to know how the Quran was revealed. Muhammad claimed that the angel Gabriel would come to him from time to time and reveal verses, a process that occurred over a period of about twenty-two years.
Muhammad’s life can be divided into two parts—the tolerant years in Mecca and the aggressive years in Medina. The so-called revelations Muhammad received in Medina sometimes clashed with the ones from Mecca. Let’s look first at Muhammad’s “tolerant years.”
The Tolerant Years. Muhammad was living in Mecca when he first began to receive what he described as revelations in 610. At this time he was a preacher, trying to win people to Islam by being nice. Even after he and his followers moved to nearby Medina in 622, Muhammad continued to preach a positive message for about a year, hoping to attract people to Islam that way. Here is one of the often-quoted verses from this time.
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things[9] (Surah 2:256).
This verse says, “You can’t force anybody to change their religion. The right way should be obvious.” Other verses in the Quran say that Christians and Jews will be accepted by God if they practice their own religion.
If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side[10] (Surah 5:66).
People who say Islam is a religion of peace point to these verses. However, these verses were a part of the early revelations Muhammad received regarding those who rejected Islam. Muhammad was presenting a peaceful religion at this time because Muhammad had only a few followers, and they were all vulnerable, but Islam didn’t stay weak.
The Aggressive Years. Muhammad and his followers were persecuted in Mecca, so they went to Medina. Muhammad again attempted to persuade people with words. This lasted for about a year. Then Muhammad launched a new strategy based on power. He declared jihad (holy war) with the goal of converting nonbelievers to Islam by the sword. One of his new revelations stated:
Kill the Mushrikun [pagans] wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush (Surah 9:5).
This “verse of the sword,” as it is now known, contradicted earlier revelations such as Surah 2:256 above.
Another later revelation declared a similar judgment against Christians and Jews.
And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e., worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do (Surah 8:39).
Muhammad preached this new philosophy until his death. In one of his last sermons he declared:
After today there will no longer be two religions existing in Arabia any more. I descended by Allah with the sword in my hand and my wealth will come from the shadow of my sword. And the one who will disagree with me will be humiliated and persecuted.[11]
Abrogration. How does Islam deal with contradictions between earlier revelations and later revelations?
Whatever a Verse (revelation) do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it. Know you not that Allah is able to do all things?[12] (Surah 2:106)
This verse says that Allah causes some parts of the Quran to be abrogated, i.e., “to abolish by authoritative action,” “to treat as nonexistent” or “to nullify.” Therefore, when there is a contradiction between two verses in the Quran, the newer revelation overrides the previous revelation. The new cancels the old. You can still read, “There is no compulsion in religion,” in the Quran, but these words no longer have authority. This verse has been mansookh (canceled) by later revelations.
What the Bible Says About War and Terrorism
Muslims claim that Jesus called for holy war: “Do not suppose I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34, NIV).
Jesus said these words while He gave His disciples detailed instructions about traveling from town to town among the Jewish people, preaching this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus told them to “take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff.” He never told them to carry a sword. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus was warning His disciples about the way people, especially their families, would receive their message. In other words, “You can expect people to take up the sword against you.” The sword would come in opposition to the words of the disciples. The disciples were not out to start holy war by drawing the sword themselves. Jesus never taught His disciples to fight, but later in the same chapter He did tell His disciples that some of them would be killed: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:39).
A Christian who claims to be shedding blood in the name of Christianity is not following the teachings of the Jesus. The Crusades and the Holocaust are a sad statement on how far some Christians strayed from the teachings of the New Testament.
However, in the Old Testament God commanded the children of Israel to fight many times. For example, see Deuteronomy 20:10–15.
In the time of the Old Testament, God gave mankind the Law. The Law said that if you sinned, you must be punished. It was eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Exod. 21:24). When the nations surrounding Israel were full of wickedness and threatened Israel, God commanded Israel to attack them. Conversely, when Israel sinned, God used the nations to punish Him people.
Jesus expressed the principle of the Law this way: He who lives by the sword will die by the sword. (Matt. 26:52.) If you attack other people, they will attack you. This was justice under Old Testament Law.
The Crusades were an example of this principle. The Crusaders punished the Muslims with the same sword the Muslims had used against others. This does not justify what the Roman Catholic Church did, but we can see what purpose it served.
The Catholic Church also felt the sharp side of the two-edged sword. God took away its power through the Reformation and Martin Luther.
Through Jesus, God gave people a new way of justice. Jesus taught:
You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matt. 5:38–42).
A Christian should not use the Old Testament to justify a holy war (such as the Crusades) because Jesus replaced the law of eye for eye, tooth for tooth with humility, laying down rights and power. Jesus practiced this in His own life.
He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place (Phil. 2:8–9).
What Muhammad Taught and Practiced About Terrorism
The Quran speaks of jihad as holy war that sheds blood, not a personal struggle within oneself. Muhammad himself practiced jihad and terrorism.
Ambush for Revenge. After he migrated to Medina, Muhammad spent his first year in Medina building up his military strength. The goal of his first battle (gazawat) was to take revenge on Quraysh, the tribe from Mecca that persecuted him. Muhammad’s planned to ambush one of the caravans returning to Mecca. However, the caravan leader heard about the trap and went home by a different road.
The tribal leaders were happy the caravan got home, but they were furious with Muhammad and sent their army to fight Muhammad at Badr. To their shock, Muhammad won a great victory and killed most of the enemy army.
Looting the Conquered. Muhammad’s most important source of income was plundering after battle. Part of the profit came from slave trading. When invading an enemy country, Muslims killed the males and took the women and children as slaves. The Arabian Desert became famous for slave trading. Of his plundering, Muhammad said:
All income that comes by the hooves of horses and the point of the sword is a gift from Allah. Allah provides for those who fight. But if they go back to their old trades, they will just earn a living the normal way.[13]
Killing Those Who Expressed Opinions Against Him. The news media of Muhammad’s day were the poets and musicians. If they spoke out against Muhammad, he did not hesitate to stop them by assassination. Here are three examples:
When Muhammad moved to Medina in 622, he found many strong Jewish tribes there who resisted him. The leader of a tribe called Ebniah-El-Tadyiar excelled in poetry and used it to condemn Muhammad and his teachings. Muslims persuaded the poet’s own brother (who was a convert to Islam) to kill him.
Because the tribes were so competitive for Muhammad’s favor, a rival tribe that had also converted to Islam (El-Khazrahg) sought someone whom Muhammad disliked in order to kill him. Abbah Rafah Salam was the next victim killed to keep Muhammad’s favor. On another occasion, Muhammad ordered another man to kill a lady named Ossmah because she used her poetry to condemn Muhammad and his teachings.[14]
Killing Women and Children. Once Muhammad was asked if it were proper to kill women and children of those who were polytheistic or infidels. He replied, “I consider them as of their parents.” If the parents were infidels, then it was permissible to kill their children.[15]
The Arabian Holocaust. Saudi Arabia was the homeland of Muhammad and Islam. Not one Jewish clan remains in Saudi Arabia today because of what Muhammad did during his life.
Muhammad ordered military attacks against the Jews of Arabia four times. When he attacked the first two Jewish villages, Muhammad looted and drove the people away.[16] At the third village he gathered all the men together—between 800 and 900 people—and killed them in front of the women and children. Then the Muslims took the women and children as slaves.[17] The fourth village was overcome by the Muslim champion defeating the Jewish champion. After the victory, Muslims killed some of the men and took women and children as slaves. These events are well-documented in Islamic history.[18] This genocide constitutes an Arabian holocaust.
Personally Leading Battles. Muhammad personally led twenty-seven battles. In addition, he sent out his army forty-seven times without him (about seven times a year during his leadership).[19] Muhammad instructed his followers to use jihad to make converts:
I command by Allah to go and fight all the people of the world until they confess there is no God but Allah, and I am his messenger, and to pray five times a day and to give alms. And if they do that, their blood will be spared from me.[20]
The Muslims took jihad outside of Arabia, attacking many countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Muhammad’s leadership ended in 632 with his death. Despite his military activity, he did not have a battle-related death. History records that he actually died of a fever.
After Muhammad died, many people who had converted to Islam by force hoped for freedom. They assumed that the Islamic leadership would be distracted trying to establish a new authority, so they began to abandon Islam. However, Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad’s closest friends, was quickly recognized as successor. He spent the first three months of his authority killing those who tried to leave Islam—eighty thousand people.
What Jesus Taught About Terrorism and Tolerance
As the time of His death was nearing, Jesus set out for Jerusalem with His disciples. As they approached a village of the Samaritans, Jesus sent some messengers ahead of the group to make preparations for their arrival. But the Samaritans rejected the messengers because they were very bitter about the way they were treated by the Jews.
Peter said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” Peter had a terrorist mentality. He judged them worthy of punishment simply because they rejected his message.
If Jesus had said to Peter, “This is a powerful idea, My disciple. I will ask My father to send a fire to destroy this village,” then we will have the evidence to say that Jesus told His disciples to use terrorism against others. But Jesus rebuked His disciples for having such thoughts. He simply turned away from those who had rejected Him and went to another village.
When Jesus was arrested by a mob armed with swords and clubs,one of His disciples pulled out a sword to defend Him, but Jesus said, “Put your sword back in its place…for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matt. 26:52).
The mob arrested Jesus, and He was killed. After He was in the grave for three days, He rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples. His final instructions were:
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20).
After the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they preached with boldness and performed healings and other miracles. At the same time, they were persecuted by Jews, Romans and idol worshipers; they were put in prison, threatened and beaten. All but one of the twelve disciples were killed because of their faith.
Following the example of their master, not one time did Jesus’ followers try to organize political or military protection for themselves. They would not kill in His name, rather they accepted persecution and death. Jesus taught:
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:42-43)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9).
One day Peter asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matt. 18:21-22).
Conclusion
Does Islam teach terrorism? The answer based on the evidence of the Quran and the life of Muhammad is unequivocally yes. Muslims can justify fighting and killing in the name of Allah by the Quran and by the example of Muhammad.
Does Christianity teach terrorism? The answer based on the Bible and the life of Jesus is no. Christians cannot justify fighting and killing in the name of God either by the Bible or by the example of Jesus. In the real world, why is this information important?
1. Muslims need to know more about Islam so they can judge their faith honestly.
2. Christians need to see that Allah and the God of the Bible cannot be the same. Christians need to recognize the need in the Islamic community to receive the message of Jesus.
3. Christian scholars need to compare the teachings of Islam and Christianity in a straightforward manner. Too many sources ignore major teachings of Islam in order to build a case for similarity between Islam and Christianity. Christian writers need to add to the body of literature that compares Islam and Christianity, presenting a complete picture regarding their topics of study.
Appendix 1
My Expertise
My personal background and my education make it possible for me to present a good discussion of the role of terrorism in Islam. I grew up as a Muslim in Egypt during a time when the modern wave of terrorism was forming there. I was able to quote the entire Quran by the age of twelve and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Islamic history and culture from Al-Azhar University. I traveled throughout the Islamic world as a professor, and I also served as the imam at a mosque.
At the age of the 35 I read the words of the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament for the first time, and I chose to follow Jesus. Because of my decision, I was forced to leave my homeland and eventually came to the United States where I earned a master’s degree in world religion and a Ph.D. in Christian education from Florida Christian University (Orlando).
I have been a Christian now for more than ten years. By comparing what Islam and Christianity teach, I hope to expose the great need for teaching the gospel among Muslims.
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[1] Groups that have practiced secular terrorism include the PLO in Israel, the Sandinistas of Nicaragua, the Baath party in Iraq, organized crime, and so on.
[2] Examples of religious terrorists include Osama bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda network, Hamas (an Islamic jihad group focused on destroying the state of Israel,) Hizbollah in Lebanon.
[3] This is my estimation based on information from Christian agencies that evangelize Muslims.
[4] The Quran is the most holy book of Islam. It is believed to be the very words of God delivered to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
[5] This is my estimate based on a content analysis of the entire Quran. My understanding of Quranic history helped in identifying which passages which referred to jihad.
[6] From the English translation of the Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Elmhurst, N.Y.: Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, 2001).
[7] The hadith is the collected records of Muhammad’s teachings and actions. These records were collected and compiled by many different people. They are referred to by the name of the historian who collected the material. The two most respected series of books were collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. The references in this essay identify hadith by naming the author of the book series.
[8] From the hadith of Al-Bukhari and the hadith of Muslim.
[9] Ali translation of the Quran
[10] Ali translation of the Quran
[11] From the hadith of Al-Bukhari, the pilgrimage section, farewell sermon. This sermon was preached from Mount Arafat during the pilgrimage to Mecca.
[12] In the Quran, the word We is used to refer to Allah. The term is not meant to express plurality. It is rather used to show the greatness of Allah.
[13] From the hadith of al-Korashi.
[14] These three murders were recorded in a narrative by the Islamic historian Ebby Muhammad Abd el-Malak who died in Egypt in 835. I read this book at the library in Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
[15] From the hadith of al-Bukhari, volume titled “Book of Jihad.”
[16] Ibn Husham, The Biography of the Prophet, vol. 2 (Cairo, Egypt: Al-Maktabah As-Salafiya), and the volumes by Ibn Kathir and Ibn Ishaq
[17] Ibn Husham, vol. 2
[18] Ibn Husham, vol. 2. For greater detail, see my book Islam and the Jews (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2003). See especially chapter 17, “The Arabian Holocaust.”
[19] Ibn Saad, Al-Tabkat [The Layers], vol. 3, p. 43.
[20] From the hadith of Al-Bukhari
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?....what is the Gospel (good news) of Islam?
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