CMAA Books Available

By Joe Butta

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

For those of you who know a friend or loved one who enjoys learning more about the issues that divide Rabbinic Judaism from Biblical Christianity and the solution to this division kindly consider: THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND JESUS: IT IS TIME FOR RECONCILIATION

It can be purchased at:

https://trilogy.tv/index.php/the-jewish-people-and-jesus-it-is-time-for-reconciliation

For those who are interested in understanding the origin of the conflict between Islam verses the Jews and the Christian Community kindly consider:

THE DAWN OF ISLAMIC LITERALISM:RISE OF THE CRESCENT MOON

It can be purchased at:

https://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/364336-The-Dawn-of-Islamic-Literalism

3 Misconceptions That Many Muslims Have about Christianity

Provided by Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

Be Prepared

Muslims love to talk about religion, and I write this to encourage you to talk with your Muslim neighbors about meaningful spiritual matters that concern salvation and eternity. Unlike Westerners who often avoid conversations about religion and politics with people they just met, Muslims have no problem discussing religious matters. They cherish such conversations. In fact, when you meet a Muslim, if you do not begin talking about religion, most likely they would. They would also likely invite you to Islam soon after they develop a friendship with you. Do not be intimidated, but be bold and kind and thoughtful as you bring Jesus to the conversation. However, most Muslims come to conversations with misconceptions about Christianity, Christians, and Christ.

Here I share with you three misconceptions, and I hope to help you refute them as you reflect the image of Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Misconception 1: The West Is Christian

This is a cultural misconception that often leads to very bad images in the Muslim mind about Christians and Christianity. Since Muslims view Islam as both a religion and state, they tend to view the West as Christian. In particular, they perceive Europe and North America as Christian. This is problematic on at least two levels: culturally and politically. Some Muslims view Hollywood as Christian and the actors and actresses reflecting a Christian lifestyle. So, women wearing crosses and dancing and men cohabitating in a lax lifestyle are erroneously interpreted in the Muslim mind as Christian living. This is, of course, wrong and incorrect, but it creates a barrier that we should cross. Tell your Muslim neighbor in the first opportunity that you are a follower of Christ and that you do not mess around but honor Christ and adhere to the Bible’s commands. Politically, Muslims often think that the Christian West is against Islam. Your best way forward is to direct their thinking on Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Affirm that the West is not Christ and that his disciples never carried out military campaigns to promote his message. While you can always bring the facts about the Muslim conquests and ask whether they were divinely prescribed, I encourage you to stick to focusing on Jesus and his teaching and character. Affirm that, in Christ, we are called to be peacemakers, not battle initiators (Matt. 5:9, Rom. 6:23).

Misconception 2: Christians Worship Three Gods

This is a major theological misconception. It stems from centuries of confusion among Muslims about the nature of the Triune God. Some Muslims think that Christians believe that Mary was God’s consort. The result of their relations was Jesus as their child (The Quran 4:171; 5:72–75; 5:116–117). As Christians we consider this blasphemous. Sometimes once you declare this fact, Muslims are convinced. However, in most of the conversations, Christians should show from the Bible that we worship one—and only one— God. I often show Muslims Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and Mark 12:29. Many times these verses suffice to convince Muslims that Christians do not worship many gods. In other situations, we will still need to explain the Trinity. We should convey to Muslims that we believe in one God—one being in three persons. To explain the three persons, we should pose questions to Muslims to help them understand the plurality within the unity of God. Muslims will totally agree that God’s Word and God’s Spirit are eternal, because God has never been world-less and his Spirit has eternally existed. This means that it is acceptable for Muslims to claim that God, his Word, and his Spirit are eternal and uncreated. We should tell Muslims that this roughly explains how Christians talk about God. His Spirit is holy and his Word is his Son. These three are the persons of the one being we call our God.

Misconception 3: The Bible Is Corrupt

This is another theological misconception. Most Muslims are convinced that the true Bible is lost and the one we have today is falsified, altered, or corrupted. Whenever Christians attempt to use the Bible, Muslims may object to using it and claim it is useless. This understanding has run deep in Muslim accusations against Christianity for over fourteen centuries. However, most Muslims repeat the claim as they hear it in the local mosque without really any strong foundation.

In this case, I often tell Muslims that if they say the Bible is corrupt, then they admit the Quran is false and spreading lies. This statement is a preparation to show Muslims from their own scripture that their claims of biblical falsification run totally against what the Quran claims. Here, I only use the Quran since it is the only book a Muslim believes—it is the ultimate authority for all Muslims. Once a Muslim is convinced the Bible is not corrupt, there is no need to refer to the Quran at all. I take my Muslim friend on a journey in Islam’s scripture, showing that the Quran clearly states that Allah inspired the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel (e.g., The Quran 5:43–45; 4:163, 17:55, 21:105; 57:27). In addition to the three scriptures, the Quran uses a unique term, Zikr, which means “The Reminder,” to refer to the Bible as a scripture revealed before Islam, aiming to remind humankind of the truth about the deity. For these four scriptures, there is no one single verse in the Quran that claims they are corrupt of falsified.

Some Muslims may claim that the Zikr is the Quran, but this cannot be true since the Quran itself states, “For We have written in the Psalms, after the Reminder (Zikr), ‘The earth shall be the inheritance of My righteous servants’” (The Quran 21:105). Here the Zikr was revealed before the Psalms.

Additionally, Allah affirms, “We have, without doubt, sent down the Reminder (Zikr), and we assuredly preserve it” (The Quran 15:9). Allah instructs Muhammad, “if you are in doubt about what We have sent down to you, ask those who read the Book before you” (The Quran 10:94). If the books revealed before Muhammad are corrupt, then Allah is misleading. The Quran associates Moses with the Zikr: “We did give to Moses and Aaron the salvation and a radiance and a Reminder (Zikr) to those who fear” (The Quran 21:48). Allah instructs Muhammad, “if you are in doubt about what We have sent down to you, ask those who read the Book before you” (The Quran 10:94).

This clearly makes the pre-Islamic scripture unfalsified. Some verses assure the hearers of the Quran that the Bible in its totality is uncorrupted (The Quran 29:46). The Quran asserts that the Torah in particular is perfectly preserved and that the Jews must follow it, as it contains the true laws of God and his light and guidance (The Quran 5:43–44). Similarly, the Quran affirms the Gospels, states that Christians must follow it, and declares that it confirms the Torah and has true guidance (The Quran 5:46). Thus, the Quran—presumably during Muhammad’s time—affirms the truthfulness of the Torah and the Gospels, and explicitly declares that they contain guidance and light. How, then, can they be corrupt? If the Quran states, “No man can change the words of Allah” (The Quran 6:34), how can Allah preserve the Quran and leave the Bible to the hands of people to corrupt it?

Conclusion by Steve Daskal

It is important to remember that while many Muslims have these or other misconceptions about Christianity, that misconceptions are not the only barrier standing between a Muslim and accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.  There are concrete issues that also constrain a Muslim from following Christ, including:

• Leaving Islam for Christian faith is viewed as apostasy, which is treated by many if not most Muslims as equivalent to treason.  A Muslim who converts to Christ will usually be rejected by family, friends, and commercial contacts and be harassed [or worse] by government authorities — even in countries that assert religious freedom in their constitutions;
• Leaving Islam for Christian faith may lead to one being stripped of most property, especially real estate, and forced to flee on pain of death at the hands of their own family or neighbors, resulting in long-term poverty and a sense of homelessness; and,
• A Muslim may be painfully aware of the shortcomings of their “birth religion,” but may not be able to fully understand or accept Christianity — trusting Christ is simple but not easy, accepting that one’s own good deeds cannot earn salvation is humbling, and dying to oneself and living selflessly for Christ is unnatural.

** Overcoming these concerns often requires intense commitment by the Christian[s] who are seeking to lead the person to salvation in Christ.  This is obviously true for most Muslims living in Islamey, but is also shockingly true for Muslims living in the West, who will face divorce, disinheritance, expulsion, loss of custody of or even access to children [and grandchildren], and rejection by Muslim friends.  The church needs to be aware of these challenges, honest about them, and be ready to support the new convert as they seek to build a new life around Christ in a more total and literal sense than is the case for those from secular or nominally Christian backgrounds. 

** It is worth noting that many of the misconceptions about Christian belief and many of the challenges facing a prospective convert from Islam also pertain to seekers coming from a Jewish background.  Seekers from Hindu and Buddhist backgrounds may encounter some of the same challenges, and share some of the same misconceptions as well.

The originator of this work is…

A. S. Ibrahim crossway.org

BECOME MORE DISCERNING ABOUT MUHAMMAD’S ISLAM

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

In 1962, a Syrian-born Hollywood filmmaker named Moustapha Akkad embarked on an ambitious quest to create a truly Arab screen epic. He was determined to create a film about the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the birth of Islam in the 7th century

Actor Anthony Quinn played Hamza, the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle, in The Message. The character of the prophet is never seen, only suggested.

With money raised from Middle Eastern sources, he began filming in late 1974. There was a major challenge, though: Images of the Prophet Muhammad are forbidden in Islam. So the main character is never shown. The vision Akkad presents in the film is of Islam as a great world religion in harmony with other spiritual traditions. “God has spoken to us before through Abraham, Noah, Moses, “And through Jesus Christ!”

In a key scene, Muhammad’s followers are interrogated by the Christian king of Abyssinia and must justify their beliefs under pain of death. “Muhammad teaches us to worship one God, “To speak truth. To love our neighbors as ourselves.” What he was trying to achieve in that film is that we’re really not far apart in these beliefs.

The script was vetted page by page by Islamic scholars in Cairo. The prophet’s name was eventually removed from the original title — Mohammad, Messenger of God — and the film was renamed simply as The Message.

The Cairo scholars who had initially approved the shooting script withdrew their support and called the completed film, which was released in 1976, “an insult to Islam.” More backlash followed.  It was and several countries banned in Saudi Arabia, in Kuwait. Banned in Egypt.”

In the U.S., In 1977, members of the Hanafi movement, a militant black nationalist Muslim group, stormed several buildings in Washington, D.C., taking hostages and killing two during a three-day siege. The Hanafi demands included banning The Message, which they deemed sacrilegious.

In 2005, Akkad was injured and later died and his daughter Rima was killed in a suicide attack at a Jordanian hotel where they were attending a wedding. It was part of a wave of al-Qaida bombings in Amman, the capital.

The reason I’m sharing this is because PBS originally aired a two hour documentary in 2020 about the life of Muhammad and the influx of Muslims who have come to the United States.  The Muslims interviewed like the religious freedom that they have in the West and model their coming to the West a Hegira [Migration] similar to Muhammad who was forced to leave Mecca for Yathrib, which became known as Medina.  This documentary was vetted by Islamic religious authorities so that the presentation of the Islamic Prophet was acceptable to them and portrayed Muhammad in a way that is palatable to Westerners who know little if anything about him and also acceptable to the multitudes who revere him as “the seal of the prophets.”

The 20^th century film and the recent documentary both portray Muhammad’s humble origins. At age 25 he marries a very successful widow named Khadijah.  It is during their marriage that Muhammad has an encounter with the Angel Gabriel in a cave called Hira.  Not sure what to make of this experience, his wife’s cousin, who supposedly knows the Bible, is convinced that Muhammad is a Prophet.  Muhammad then begins to tell the Meccans about his experience and is ridiculed and persecuted by them. He has very few followers and some flee to Christian Abyssinia for protection. Eventually his Uncle Abu-Talib dies as does his wife Khadijah.  The Meccans plan to murder him but he gets word and slips away to Yathrib where he and his fellow Muslims are welcomed.

The two films continue to show Muhammad as brave, resourceful, and fair. In Yathrib he works with established local Jewish and pagan tribes and eventually creates the Constitution of Medina.  During this time he also marries the daughter of his closest friend Abu-Bakr.  Her name is Aisha.  He then embarks on a series of self-justified raids against Meccan caravans.  During this time he receives a new revelation where Allah through Gabriel told the Muslims they can fight.  So when the Meccans resist the Muslim raids the Muslims win a miraculous victory at Badr.  This angers the Meccans and they come against the Muslims with a much bigger force at Uhud and score a victory that almost finishes Muhammad and his movement. Later the Meccans come again to finish off the Muslims at the Battle of the Trench at Medina but can’t break through the trench barrier.  After this Muhammad makes a treaty with the Meccans promising no hostility and in return Muhammad is permitted to visit Mecca. The Treaty, called Hudna, is supposed to last 10 years, but the Muslims accuse the Meccans of breaking the treaty and the Muslims come against Mecca with a great force and Mecca surrenders to Islam.  Muhammad consolidates his hold on much of Arabia as Arabs flock to Islam due to his righteous governance. Although taking many wives and granting Muslims up to four wives,  Muhammad gets very ill in 632 and dies in the arms of Aisha, perhaps his favorite wife. After this, there are accolades from Islamic scholars describing all the benefits that Islam has brought to the world.

This is the version of events that were portrayed in the 1976 film and the documentary aired in 2020. For Westerners who view either or both of them it seems like a reasonable take on events. After all who knows Islam better than Islamic scholars who must approve features like this. The question to ask is this:  Was the viewing public exposed to all the details in the retelling of this saga?  In other words the film and documentary presented Muhammad’s life to a mostly non-Muslim public but did they tell the whole story?  Were any details purposely omitted?

It is interesting to note that television and on-line documentaries made about Judaism and Christianity are not vetted through Christian leaders for their approval before being aired/posted. This is an interesting double standard.  No one seems worried about whether they are portraying Christianity or Judaism in an acceptable manner or offending Jews or Christians by their skeptical or even mocking secular or atheist perspectives, but very much concerned not to offend or appear skeptical about the claims of Islam about itself.

DETAILS OMITTED BY THE FEATURE FILM AND THE DOCUMENTARY

This section will provide citations from the Quran [Allah’s revelation to Muhammad] and Sunna [Traditions of Muhammad]. It will only include what the film and documentary failed to disclose in its presentations. The Qur’an contains the words of Allah conveyed through the Angel Gabriel to Muhammad. The Medinan Codex was compiled by Uthman [third Caliph after Muhammad] 19 years after Muhammad’s death and became the Qur’an. Ishaq wrote the biography of Muhammad about 100 years after Muhammad’s death. His work is known as the Sira. Bukhari and Muslim compiled the hadith [what Muhammad said to address certain topics]. They used Isnad [an unbroken chain of transmissions of Muhammad’s words dating back to Muhammad] to determine validity. They completed their work 200 years after Muhammad’s death. Tabari wrote the History of Islam from Creation to the Rashidun Caliphate [The first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali].  His 38 volumes were completed 300 years after Muhammad’s death. What follows is significant because Sura 33:21 in the Qur’an declares, “Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar [model] for him who hopes in Allah and the Latter day and remembers Allah much.” So according to the Qur’an, Muslims are to model their behavior from Muhammad’s conduct.

Ishaq 105-106- Muhammad considered suicide after receiving the initial revelations.

Tabari VI:101- While being ridiculed by the Quraysh Muhammad threatened to slaughter them.

Ishaq 165-168- In addition to Allah Muhammad agrees to worship the goddesses Al-Lat, Uzza, and Manat to appease the Meccans.

Tabari VI:110- Muhammad scolded by Gabriel recants worshiping the goddesses and blames Satan.

Tabari VI:133-134, 136,138- Muhammad makes the Pledge of Aqabah with pagans from Yathrib. In it they agree to wage war against all mankind.

Quran 2:216-Allah ordains warfare for Muslims

Bukhari V5B58N34; V9B87N139-40- An angel appears to Muhammad in a dream and tells him to uncover and have sex with his 9 year old child bride Aisha.

Tabari VII:24; Ishaq 239-240- Muhammad changes the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in Mecca which at that time was still a pagan shrine. He determined this because he concluded the Jews stirred up trouble for Islam.

Ishaq 287-288- In raiding caravans and taking booty, which constituted theft, kidnapping for purposes of enslavement or ransom,  or murder, Muhammad received 20%.

Tabari VII: 65, 80-81- Muslims kill and capture 44 Meccans who are Muhammad’s cousins, clansman and nephews. He takes ransom payments from his relatives to return them.

Ishaq 308- Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, assassinated Nadr because Nadr said he told better stories than Muhammad. Muhammad executed Uqbah after the Badr battle. Previously Uqbah, a Meccan, criticized Muhammad.

Tabari VII 87- Muhammad forced the Banu Qaynuqa Jews of Yathrib to relinquish their possessions and expelled them from Yathrib [Medina]. Politically the Banu Qaynuqa accepted the Constitution of Medina however they did not approve of Muhammad and the Muslims raids on Meccan caravans. Ultimately they rejected Muhammad as an inspired prophet. These Jews resided in Yathrib since the conclusion of the Roman wars 66 A.D – 135 A.D. Muhammad was there but a short time.  He expelled them and confiscated their property.

Ishaq 364- Muhammad tells Muslims not to take Jews and Christians as friends.

Tabari VII:94- Muhammad orders the assassination of Kab bin Ashraf and tells the assassins they are free to tell lies to deceive the victim. Previously Ashraf, a Jew, criticized Muhammad for assassinating “These fine men”. Ashraf developed a poem to warn others concerning Muhammad’s intentions. Muhammad wanted him silenced to quell any possibility of revolt.

Tabari VII: 97- Ashraf’s severed head was thrown at Muhammad’s feet. He praised Allah.

Ishaq 369- Muhammad declared “Kill every Jew”

Tabari VII 99-100- Muhammad ordered the murder of Abu Rafi [Another Jew who questioned Muhammad’s behavior]. The assassins killed him.

Ishaq 482-483- Muhammad ordered the murder of Sallam Huqayq [Verbally opposed Muhammad].  The assassins killed him.

Bukhari V9B84N57- Muhammad declared, “Whoever changed his Islamic Religion, then kill him.” The Torah prescribed stoning for apostasy and blasphemy yet hundreds of years later the Prophet Hosea declared that God desires mercy not sacrifice. Judaism does not execute Jews who commit apostasy or blasphemy.  Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant societies, prior to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, tortured and executed those deemed guilty of apostasy, blasphemy and heresy. Professing Christians no longer do this.  Jesus never told his followers to behave this way.  Those who did these things in the Apostolic Church could be ostracized or excommunicated but not physically harmed. Muhammad spoke to his followers 600  years after Jesus and told his followers to kill the apostate. This still occurs in Islam.

Bukhari V4B52N54- Muhammad advocates martyrdom and rewards for martyrs. Christianity has always embraced the nobility of being willing to die for Christ and the heavenly rewards awaiting those who stand firm in their faith in the face of torture and death. The difference is that Christian martyrs were totally non-violent and harmed no one, while Muslims are told they become martyrs when they are killed during Jihad while in the act of slaying the infidel.

Muslim B1C35N142- Muhammad declares most of the dwellers in hell are women.

Tabari VII: 158-Muhammad compels the Banu Nadir Jewish tribe to be expelled from Medina.  Muhammad confiscates their property.  Muhammad stated that Allah told him these Jews wanted to kill him.  He used this as a pretense to drive the Banu Nadir out and confiscate their property.

Muslim B17C5N4206- Muhammad has a woman stoned to death two years after she fornicated and had the child. [His soldiers could have sex with captured women]

Tabari VIII 1-4- Muhammad convinced his adopted son to divorce his wife, then Muhammad received a revelation to marry his daughter-in-law.

Ishaq: 461-464- After the Battle of the Trench against the Meccans at Medina Muhammad turned the Muslims against the Banu Qurayza Jewish tribe. The Jewish tribe submitted to Muhammad expecting banishment. Muhammad then affirmed the decapitation of up to 900 Jewish men and one Jewish woman.

Ishaq 466- Muhammad married Rayhana after she witnessed the decapitation of her male family members.

Bukhari V5B59N459- After the genocide inflicted upon the male members of the Banu Qurayza, Muslim victors then raped the Jewish females who survived.

Bukhari V9B93N506- Muhammad permits the rape of female prisoners after the Muslims defeated the Banu Mustaliq.

Ishaq 675-676- Muhammad ordered a series of assassinations against his ideological enemies. Muhammad killed Al-Harith bin Suwayd bin Samit. The 120 year old Abu Afak objected and he was killed. Then Asma bint Marwan objected to his murder.  Muhammad sent assassins to impale her while she slept with her children.

Ishaq: 752- Muhammad comes upon another 400  Jews. He orders all of them beheaded.

Bukhari V8B8N794, 97- Eight Muslims murdered a camel shepherd.  Muhammad had their eyes gouged out, their hands and feet chopped off on opposite sides and their remaining limbs nailed to the desert floor. Water was then withheld until they were dead.

Ishaq 510-517- After the Muslims destroyed the Jewish community at Khaybar Muhammad tortured the Jew Kinana to determine the location of the treasure.  A fire was lit on his chest.  His eyes were gouged out and he was finally decapitated.

Tabari VIII: 179-181- Muhammad has numerous people executed after the conquest of Mecca.  Abdallah bin Khatal was killed because he used to be a Muslim. He also killed a disobedient slave and abused zakat money. Two singing girls who used satire to describe Muhammad were also slain.  One was killed quickly the other was trampled by Umar while on his horse. Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl and Sarah were killed for taunting Muhammad. Huwayrith insulted Muhammad and was killed by Ali and Miqyas was slain by Numaylah for rejecting Islam years earlier.

Bukhari V2B23N414- Immediately before his death Muhammad cursed Christians and Jews.

So after reviewing this material is it possible that the Muslim scholars who approved the 1977 feature film and the 2020 documentary purposely omitted this material? Is it possible that the Progressives who control the Hollywood studios and Public Television accepted the versions that appeared because of their own bias and failure to perform due diligence in examining if the complete truth was presented in the movie and on TV?

The purpose of this post is not to attack individual Muslims but to display the complete truth and help show them there is a better way. Muslims already revere Jesus as a Prophet, but He is more than a prophet.  He is the Messiah [God’s Anointed], as prophesied throughout the Tanakh [Jewish Bible] and revealed in the Brit Hadashah [New Testament]. He is sinless, dealt with human sin by dying, rose from the dead to prove that He is God and that He and He alone is worthy of our love  and worship, and spiritually redeemed all that has faith in Him and restored their relationships with God the Father.  Muhammad could never save from sin because he sinned.  There is only one name under heaven whereby all people can be saved; whether currently Jews, Professing Christians, Muslims, Polytheists or Secularists and that is by the Savior Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Arab Origins & Islam

By Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

The Ishmael saga [Genesis 16-17] does lead to the rise of the Arab people.  Also, the Angel of the LORD [an epiphany of God, can be interpreted as the Holy Spirit or the pre-incarnate Son; the Angel of the LORD is not just a “regular” messenger angel] describes them most prophetically:

Gen 16:9   The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”  10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”  11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her:

               “Behold, you are with child,

               And you shall bear a son.

               You shall call his name Ishmael,

               Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 

12          He shall be a wild man;

               His hand shall be against every man,

               And every man’s hand against him.

               And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

Mohammed knew about Judaism [his wife was half-Jewish, and he brought his “revelation” first to the local rabbis in Medina, who rejected it as both in opposition to the Old Testament revelations and inconceivable that God would raise up an Ishmaelite as a prophet].  His revelations came from Satan, not Gabriel or Michael or any other godly angel.  Not surprising that a “pretender” to the Covenants and God’s anointed would come from the Ishmaelites.

Islamic Enlightenment?

               Many Westerners wonder why hasn’t Islam ever undergone what they would call an enlightenment — a movement away from a religion-centered society towards a secular, nationalistic society.  The answer is that there was an attempt to do so in Ottoman Turkey in the late 19th-early 20th century, but it failed — what we think of as modernity is too deeply alien to the Islamic ideal of society. Enlightenment conceptions depended upon a pre-existing separation between state and religious hierarchies, a relatively free economy based upon profit and banking, concepts of individual rights under the law, etc.  Islam never developed those things.  Islam never had concepts like “divine right of kings” or a papacy.  Islamic states that weren’t poor copies of Western ones were always theocratic — the kaliph, emir, or sultan was always either both religious and political autocrat, or was subject to the religious elite for adherence to sharia both for ruler and ruled.  

A second try at an Enlightenment came with the rise of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a wave of Marxist-influenced secular dictators spawned by the Ba’ath movement and paralleled by secularizing modernizers like Nasser & Boumedienne, and the Shah of Iran. They all failed for a variety of reasons but underlying them all was the reality that Islam was the sole foundation for law, social discipline, unifying disparate clans, tribes, and city-states. Without it there would ensue the law of the jungle — chaos and war. 

The Enlightenment of the Arab “Golden Age” was a more complex phenomenon than many realized, and part of the confusion is over “who/what is an Arab?”  I would also argue that this “Islamic Enlightenment” isn’t what most modern Westerners would expect from that label, because it was explicitly an Islamic movement, admittedly a somewhat heterodox one, and not a secularizing movement like the Continental Enlightenment.

The original Arab Islamic invasion out of the peninsula was not at all enlightened; it was barely if at all civilized.  It was made up largely of tribal Arabs from the oases [including Mecca and Medina] and Bedouin who connected them [and raided them if they got too weak].  It CONQUERED many comparatively civilized non-Arab regions, including: 

Persia Indo-European, predominantly Zoroastrian and Farsi-speaking, which in antiquity included lower Mesopotamia;

Kurdistan/Assyria Indo-European with a significant Semitic Aramean presence, predominantly Christian — including heretical Nestorian and Arian as well as orthodox, the lingua franca being what today would be called Kurdish;

  Levant [Samaria, Judea, Lebanon, Syria] a mix of Semitic Arameans, Indo-European Greeks, Jews, etc, predominantly Christian the lingua franca being Greek; 

 Egypt by this time populated by a mixed race of Nilitic ancient Egyptians with a heavy influence of Greek & Latin Indo-Europeans, Jews, and Arameans, predominantly Christian, the lingua franca being Greek;

Maghreb [North African Coast] mostly Berber (who had assimilated the remnants of the Greco-Phoenician Carthaginians) with a heavy influence of Indo-European Latins & Germanic Vandals, predominantly Christian, the lingua franca being Latin;

 Iberia mostly Celtic with a heavy influence of Latins and Germans –Visi-Goths and Vandals, predominantly Christian, the lingua franca being being Latin.

Notice that none of these more civilized, urbanized conquered regions were Arab, none were pagan, and only a couple were significantly Semitic.  The great Golden Age of the very late 7th through 11th centuries was brought about by the Arab Empire serving as a thin governing/policing bridge connecting all of these far more sophisticated, urbanized civilizations.  Of necessity, the Arabs couldn’t be very intolerant because they were a small ruling minority sitting atop large populations — they had to remain in control by working with local elites, not by oppressing them.  

Because they imposed substantial legal constraints [no legal standing, couldn’t sell property except to Muslims, couldn’t own weapons, had to pay the extra jizya tax], the Arabs were able to bribe/coerce many in these regions to adopt Islam and Arabic language [the two were inextricably linked, much as Biblical/classical Judaism was tied to classical Hebrew or Zoroastrianism to Farsi].  

This “Enlightenment” occurred DESPITE Islam as much as BECAUSE OF Islam, and it was NOT an Arab enlightenment but an Islamic one and especially a Persian one.  The real brilliance came from the [second] blending of Persian, Egyptian and Greek civilizations [the first having occurred a millennium earlier under the Macedonian Alexander and his successor warlords], and then also aggregating in Latin civilization.  

The second flowering of the Islamic enlightenment came with the 13th-16th century Ottoman Turks [heavily influenced by the Persians] and the Mughals [the north India-based hybrid Persian/Turk/Mongol civilization], who built upon the first Islamic enlightenment.  

But, like all periods of enlightenment, the catch is that MANY forces undermine it.  First of all, while enlightenment excites and benefits the academic/artistic elites, it is usually accompanied by a period of strong politico-economic centralism that increases taxes, builds up large militaries, and imposes heavy demands and restrictions on both the nobility, the mercantile middle class, and the common-folk [whether urban or rural].  Under very good monarchs and successful military expansion bringing in new wealth and resources from outside, this works and generates all that great architecture, infrastructure, and patronage for art/science.  When the monarchs and/or generals are less than sparkling, or the empire has reached the limits of control/communication/logistics, it will continue to build, but it will also build up ever more debt AND more taxes, etc.  Within a very few generations, the patronage dries up, the great architecture/infrastructure is barely able to be maintained, the ruling dynasty is splitting or being chewed away at by resurgent neighbors, and it falls apart.

When the decline picks up momentum, the once prosperous/once powerful will turn back to what had remained the solace and structure for the masses — religion, regional languages, regional popular/folk culture,  more subsistence or local-market based economics.  

Thus, we are seeing a far along period — almost a dark age — for Islamey, and we are headed towards a dark age for the West.  Why?  Because enlightenments are not sustainable — only their artifacts are.  What really matters is that there are groups willing and able to protect the artifacts during the decentralization and return to regionalization, folk identity, and faith.  In medieval Europe it was mostly the Church, along with a few great patrons like the Carolingians and later the Habsburgs.  In between the first and second Islamic enlightenments it was the Persians and to some degree the Egyptians.  After the second Islamic enlightenment, it was Western [and some Soviet] academics, archivists, museums, and collectors.  

[We can see a similar process looking at 4 millennia of Chinese civilization, too. In the case of China, while China is wealthier and stronger than it has been since the high Ming [c. 1500], there is a notable lack of genuinely new science, architecture, art, literature, etc.  Almost everything is pop-culture-driven and very derivative from the West and Japan.  I suspect this may be because the CCP is more totalitarian than most Chinese [or other pre-modern] societies, is anti-high culture, and its elite is heavily military and mercantile.  As for the West, we are winding down from our Enlightenment, and neither need nor could afford/sustain another one for at least another century.  Sometimes, nothing preserves the artifacts and art — when the Maya and Inca declined back to neolithic life, everything was left to ruin. ]

BtW, clerics of organized religions usually are more inclined to preserve, even if not for public display, than to destroy.  The Catholic, Orthodox, Sunni [at least the Turks and Egyptians], Shi’a, and most Protestant religious hierarchies were rarely destructive [though they might cover over the more overtly religious pre-invasion art, as the Turks did with the Hagia Sophia and the Arabs did in Spain].  Only the most radical religious, who tended to be from the least civilized segments of their particular faith, were overtly destructive [Sunni Islamist extremists, hard-line Khomeini’ists, Cromwell’s ultraCalvinist Puritans, etc.].

I do not see ANY encouraging signs of a new Islamic enlightenment in the near future, least of all from the root of the two previous ones — Persia.  The best hope for an Islamic enlightenment in the 21st century would either be comparatively tolerant and multi-cultural but predominantly Muslim Indonesia, or, less likely for various reasons, the UAE.  

Islam IS having a Reformation — most of the violence today in Islamey is between Muslims fighting over different interpretations of Islam while trying to cleanse false doctrines, corrupt leadership, and alien concepts and worship forms that crept in from other religions & secularism.  Very much like the Reformation.  The Islamic Reformation is being waged between the Sunni establishment and the Shi’ite rebels who are playing the role of the Reformers [not theologically, but in socio-political terms], and WITHIN the Sunni establishment is the divide between the radical Islamists who want immediate defensive jihad against all non-believers [meaning total war, no quarter given], the “moderate” Islamists who want to restore enforcement of sharia in Islamey and marginalize, expel, or eliminate heretical, apostate, or non-Muslim influences, and the secularized or “pragmatic” Muslims who want a Muslim Enlightenment that will marginalize Islam the way the Continental Enlightenment marginalized Orthodox Judaism and Christianity.  

Conclusion:

I’ve studied Islamic history at several distinct points over the past 40+ years.  My perspectives varied from history student’s curiosity through religious seeker [after I had given up on rabbinical Judaism and before I recognized Yeshua as Messiah] and doing graduate research on S.E. Asia to defender of Judao-Christian faith and civilization.  So I have read quite a bit on this over the years. I confess to being limited by not being literate in Arabic [or Farsi] and not having done any PhD-level work on the subject. 

Taqqiyah Kitman and Murunah

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

Recently a friend of mine received an endorsement for Islam from a Muslim woman on the street.  The lady was very nice and wanted to present her belief as absolutely compatible with western society.  My friend passed the information on to me and asked me if the information contained therein was true. Although I will not include the entire text I will include the most salient points and then present the facts.

“A man who grew up without his parents but refused to be called an orphan.”

Qur’an 89:17-26: “Nay, but you honor not the orphan [Muhammad], nor do you urge one another to feed the poor, and you devour heritage…

Qur’an 93:3-8: “Thy Lord [Ar-Rahman] has not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased. And surely the latter state is better for thee than the former. And soon will thy Lord give thee [much] so that thou wil[l] be well pleased. Did not He find thee [as] an orphan and give thee shelter?

Qur’an 107:1-7: “Hast thou seen him who belies [slanders] religion? That [he] is the one who is rough to [repels] the orphan [Muhammad], and urges not the feeding of the needy.

Ishaq:71: “When Halima [a Bedouin woman] reached Mecca, she set out to look for foster children […] And when we [Halima and those with her] decided to depart, I said, ‘I do not like the idea of returning with my friends without a suckling. I will take that orphan [Muhammad].’ I took him for the sole reason that I could not find anyone else.”

ANALYSIS: In fact Muhammad never knew his father and his mother died when he was six. In Arab society, an orphan is worse off than a slave. So of course no one would want to be called an orphan.  His god Allah described him as an orphan as did Halima. He remained an orphan until his grandfather adopted him. Muhammad referred to himself as a slave of Allah.  A slave is not considered an orphan – a slave has an owner who is responsible for him.

“He married a woman whom he loved…and was loyal to until his last breath”

Muslim B4N2127; Bukhari V7B77N5825 – Aisha said, “He (Muhammad) struck me on the chest which caused me pain and then said; Did you think that Allah and his Apostle would deal unjustly with you? Aisha then said, “I have not seen any woman suffering as  much as the believing women.”

Tabari IX:118 He ordered the assassinations of thirty-six men and women Muhammad had fifty-nine slaves and thirty-eight male and female servants.

Tabari IX:126 The Prophet of Allah married fifteen women .

According to Shi’a Islam, Muhammad married twenty-two times including two captured women.

ANALYSIS:  The description above must relate to his first wife Khadijah.  In reality he was loyal to her until HER last breath.  After she died he married numerous times, including a nine year old and had numerous concubines and slave girls.

“Because of his profound message he faced severe trials from others”

Bukhari V9B88N174 – I heard the Prophet say ‘Islam Cannot Change’.

Surah 4:56 – Those who disbelieve in our messages, we shall make them enter fire. As often as their skins are burned, we shall change them for other skins that they may taste the chastisement. Surely Allah is ever mighty, wise.

Surah 2:61 – “…Abasement and humiliation were stamped upon them (Jews) and they incurred Allah’s wrath. That was because they disbelieved in the messages of Allah and would kill the prophets unjustly. That was so they disobeyed and exceeded limits.”

ANALYSIS:  a large part of Muhammad’s message was to belittle the gods of his forefathers; belittle the Jews from whom he borrowed so much and establish a rigid ideology that dealt harshly with dissent. These are reasons why he was opposed by others.

“He always showed mercy”

Bukhari V4B52N260, V4B56N3017, V9B88N6922 – Muhammad said, “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.

Bukhari V4B61N3635 – Muhammad ordered the couple to be stoned to death (Rajm). Another Muslim remembered, “I saw the man leaning over the woman to shelter her from the stones.”

Bukhari V5B59N369 – “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?’ Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like me to kill him?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes,’ Maslama said, ‘Then allow me to say false things in order to deceive him.’ The Prophet said, ‘You may say such things.”

Tabari VII 133; Ishaq # 387 – “Muhammad said to Hamza, if Allah gives me victory over the Quraysh I shall mutilate 30 of their men. When the other Muslims saw the prophet’s anger, they said we shall mutilate them in a way which no Arab has ever mutilated anybody

ANALYSIS: Merciful is not a word that accurately described Muhammad. He had no compassion for anyone whom he saw as a threat, or who had ever questioned or disagreed with him.  He would order them to be killed – but usually didn’t do the deed himself.

“He was intelligent, wise and hardworking”

Tabari VII: 55 – “Allah’s Messenger went out to his men and incited them to fight. He promised, ‘Every man may keep all the booty he takes.’ Then Muhammad said, ‘By Allah, if any man fights today and is killed fighting aggressively, going forward and not retreating, Allah will cause him to enter Paradise.’ Umayr said, ‘Fine, fine. This is excellent! Nothing stands between me and my entering Paradise except to be killed by these people!’ He seized his sword, and fought until he was slain.”

Ishaq # 519 – “Hajjaj said to the Apostle, ‘I have money scattered among the Meccan merchants, so give me permission to go and get it.’ Having got Muhammad’s permission, he said, ‘I must tell lies.’ The Apostle said, ‘Tell them.’”

Surah 7:3 – “Little do you remember My warning. How many towns have We destroyed as a raid by night? Our punishment took them suddenly while they slept for their afternoon rest. Our TERROR came to them; Our punishment overtook them.”

Muslim B19N4321 –The Prophet of Allah, when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: They are from them.

Tabari VII 19; Ishaq 287-288 – Muslims raid caravans and kill other Arabs during Ramadan when fighting and killing were forbidden.

Bukhari V5B59N702 – “Allah’s Prophet went out on a search of the Quraysh caravan so that he could rob it, but Allah arranged for the Muslims and their enemies to meet by surprise. The Badr battle is most popular among the people. I was never stronger or wealthier than I was when I followed The Prophet on a raid.

ANALYSIS: He did convince his followers that their martyrdom would result in their salvation. One could argue that is intelligent. Wise perhaps in devising a system where his followers would sustain themselves with the wealth of others. Hardworking?  If one means planning and participating in raids to acquire the wealth of others and to seize slaves then he worked hard at this. According to Bukhari V5B59N369, Tabari VII 94 & Ishaq # 519 Muhammad encouraged lying to assassinate political opponents and for personal gain, not just to protect Muslim lives or property.

“He built a long lasting nation out of virtually nothing”

Ishaq # 510-515; Tab VIII 116-123 – Muhammad laid siege to Khaybar. After breaking through the Muslims killed 93 Jews. Some were permitted exile some women were given to the Muslims and the children were sold into slavery.

Muslim B8N3329 – After the Muslim conquest of Khaybar, the Jewish treasurer Kinana al-Rabi refused to tell Muhammad the location of the town’s treasure. Muhammad told Zubayr Al-Awwam “Torture him till you extract what he has” Near death by having fire set on his chest Kinana still wouldn’t talk so he was decapitated by Maslama. Muhammad then married Kinana’s wife Safiyah. He consummated their “marriage” that evening.

Ishaq# 461 – “Muhammad besieged them for twenty-five nights. When the siege became too severe for them, Allah TERRORIZED them. Then they were told to submit.”

Ishaq# 461 – “Muhammad besieged them for twenty-five nights. When the siege became too severe for them, Allah TERRORIZED them. Then they were told to submit.”

ANALYSIS :The Arab empire established by Muhammad was an absolute monarchial theocracy that he ruled through a quasi-feudal network of personal fealty to himself. It never had a clear line of succession.  The Arab peoples were never a nation with a clear and unique national identity, political system, unified leadership, laws, etc.  It is true Muhammad had nothing until he started raiding others. It was this transfer of wealth that allowed him to create his own state. Ultimately he took from those who opposed him and then Islamized their population.

Within a century, the Islamic empire soon included more non-Arabs than Arabs.  Factionalism, tribal strife, clan rivalries, assassinations, coups and counter-coups plagued the “Arab nation” and the Islamic Empire.  The “Arab nation” never existed – the Arabs are a people whom to this day remain bitterly divided along tribal, regional, sectarian, and political lines.  The high points of the Islamic Kaliphate came when it was ruled by Persian and later Turkish caliphs and sultans.

“His nation built on the fundamental principle of social justice’’

Ishaq # 288-289 – Muhammad takes 1/5 of all captured booty and disperses the other 4/5’s to the Muslim victors after opposition submits to Islamic law when territory is secured and all bow to the name of Allah.

Ishaq # 383 – “One of the young men’s fathers confronted Muhammad and said, You have robbed my son of his life by your deception and brought great sorrow to me.”

Ishaq# 442 – “By Muhammad’s order we beguiled them.”

Tabari VII 94- “Maslama said, Prophet we shall have to tell lies. Muhammad stated “You are absolved free to say whatever you must.”

Tabari IX 42 – “There is no escape for us. You have seen what Muhammad has done. Arabs have submitted to him and we do not have the strength to fight.  No herd is safe from him. No one goes outside from fear of being TERRORIZED.”

ANALYSIS: He convinced those who received the wealth of others that this was Islam’s justice. For those who were exploited, deceived, beguiled, lied to and terrorized there is little doubt they did not experience social justice.

“Be kindly to one another, we are all children of Abraham”

Revealed 632 Surah 5:17 “They indeed disbelieve who say surely He is the Messiah Son of Mary

Revealed 631 Surah 9:29 – “Fight against (the Christians and Jews) those given the scripture, who believe not in Allah or the last day and forbid what Allah has not forbidden through his Prophet, who do not follow (Islam) until they pay the penalty and are subdued.”

Revealed 623 Surah 98:6 – “The People of the Book (Jews, Christians) and all idolaters who disbelieve our revelation will abide in hell fire. They are the worst of created beings.”

Ishaq #315 – “Any people that disobey Muhammad will pay for it. If you do not surrender to Islam you will live to regret it. You will be shamed in Hell forced to wear molten pitch forever

Ishaq# 369 – “The next morning, the Jews were in a state of fear on account of our attack upon the enemy of Allah. After the assassination, the Prophet declared, ‘Kill every Jew.’ Thereupon Mas’ud leapt upon Sunayna, one of the Jewish merchants with whom his family had social and commercial relations and killed him. The Muslim’s brother complained, saying, ‘Why did you kill him? You have much fat in your belly from his charity.’ Mas’ud answered, ‘By Allah, had Muhammad ordered me to murder you, my brother, I would have cut off your head.’ Wherein the brother said, ‘Any religion that can bring you to this is indeed wonderful!’ He accepted Islam.”

Ishaq# 461 – Before ordering the death of every Jewish male of the Banu Qurayza, Muhammad referred to them as “you brothers of monkeys”.

Bukhari V4B52N176-77; Bukhari V4B56N2925; Muslim B41N6985 – The Prophet said, “Muslims will fight Jews and some will hide behind stones. The stones will betray them saying slave of Allah the Jew is hiding behind me come and kill him.”

Bukhari V5B59N727 –   Muhammad said, “Allah’s curse on Jews & Christians.”

ANALYSIS: This sounds nice but obviously Muhammad could only be considering Ishmaelites or converts who agreed that he was “the last and greatest of the prophets.” Given the words above that apply to  those who reject Muhammad,  physical descendents of Abraham [Jews] and children of Abraham through faith [Christians] i.e., dhimmified people kindness did not extend to them.

“This man was a mercy upon all mankind”

Muslim B19N4395 – “The Prophet said: You see the ruffians and lowly followers of the Quraysh? He indicated by striking one hand over the other that they should be killed. So we went off on his orders and if anyone wanted a person killed he was killed. Abu Sufyan said: Prophet, the blood of the Quraysh has become very cheap. Muhammad said: Kill all who stand in your way.

Tabari VI: 138 – “Those present at the oath of Aqabah swore allegiance to Muhammad. It was a pledge of war against mankind. Allah permitted fighting.”

Tabari VIII 6-40; Ishaq 47-48, 450-480, Muslim B19N4370– Battle of the Ditch, The Meccans came to Medina to defeat the Muslims but were unable to breach a trench built by the Muslims so they withdrew. Allah, through the Angel Gabriel,  then commanded Muhammad to march against the Qurayza Jews. After a 25 day siege Muhammad commanded the Jews to submit to Sa’d Mu’adhs judgment. They agreed in order to end the siege. After death was decreed, Muhammad ordered all males over puberty beheaded. According to Sahih Muslim 800, but according to Abu-Dawud 900 Jewish male captives were decapitated in the presence of Muhammad and the Jewish victim’s mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, and children. The Prophet then took Rayhana, who just witnessed the death of her Father & Brothers, for Himself. She became his concubine.

Ishaq# 304/Tabari VII: 62 – “I cut off Abu Jahl’s head and brought it to the Messenger. ‘O Allah’s Prophet, this is the head of the enemy of Allah.’ Muhammad said, ‘Praise be to Allah.”

Tabari VIII 178 – Muhammad ordered that certain men be assassinated among them Abdullah bin Sa’d. He was to be slain because he became a Muslim and used to write the Qur’anic revelation. He then apostatized.”

ANALYSIS:  Mercy does not describe the words found in the Sunnah of Muhammad concerning those who were to be killed, attacked, slaughtered, executed and assassinated.  Muhammad was no more merciful than any other tribal empire builder of his time – comparable to the Mongols, Tatars, Turks, etc. Siege warfare in antiquity was a costly, brutal total war.  If a walled city immediately submitted when surrounded, it was expected to be allowed to surrender, but it would still be subject to some degree of controlled looting by the victors [that was how armies were paid], and the men of fighting age would be killed or enslaved, and the most desirable of the women and children enslaved.  If the walled city did NOT immediately submit, and the besieger had to survive weeks, months, or years encamped around it, it became an endurance test.  If the besieger ultimately took the city, it would usually be completely looted, all the men killed, and all the women and children killed or enslaved.  The city would be either colonized by the conqueror or demolished.

“Peace be upon his family and faithful companions”

Bukhari V1N387 – They defeated them and took them captive (battle of Hunayn) Some of the companions (of Muhammad) were reluctant to have relations with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. Therefore Allah sent down the Qur’anic verse “married women are forbidden except those who are captives.”

Bukhari V1B3N111 – I asked Ali, What is written in this sheet of paper? Ali replied, It deals with blood money paid by the killer…and the law that no Muslim should be killed for killing a disbeliever.

Ishaq # 496 – “Ask the slave girl; she will tell you the truth.’ So the Apostle called Burayra to ask her. Ali got up and gave her a violent beating first, saying, ‘Tell the Apostle the truth.”

Malik 362:1221 – “Ibn Fahd asked Al-Hajjaj I have some slave girls who are better than my wives, but I do not desire that they all become pregnant. Shall I practice withdrawal? Al-Hajjaj said, “They are your fields of cultivation.”  If you wish to irrigate them do so, if not keep them dry.”

Tabari VIII 62 – “Ali [Muhammad’s adopted son, son-in-law, and future Caliph] said, ‘Prophet, women are plentiful. You can get a replacement, easily changing one for another.”

ANALYSIS:  Ever wonder why Muslims are told to bestow peace to these companions who engaged in sexual slavery, duplicity in the application of Islamic law to non-Muslims, acceptability to beat women, rape and disregard for the preferences of captured women? Muslims are required to bless Muhammad et al because they are the leaders given to them by Allah, the same way Christians are required by the New Testament to bless and pray for the government – even if that government is repressive, brutal, and dishonest.

“Qur’an 31:13-15 “ When Luqman said to his son, as he advised him, “O my son, do not associate anything with God, for idolatry is a terrible wrong. We have entrusted the human being with the care of his parents…But if they strive to have you associate with Me something of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them…” 

Bukhari V2B23N441: “Every child is born [into the] true faith of Islam (i.e., to worship none but Allah alone) but [it is] his parents who convert him to Judaism or Christianity […]”

Qur’an 17:22-26, 31-39: “Associate not any other god with Allah, lest thou sit down despised, forsaken. And they Lord has decreed that you serve none but Him, and do good to parents.

ANALYSIS: This surah and supporting verses condemn non-Muslim parents.  Their children are encouraged to disobey them for denying Islam.

CONCLUSION: In this instance the young Muslim woman’s claims were false, but we cannot be sure of her intent.  She may have been:

— Well intentioned and honestly stating her beliefs, but misinformed by Muslim authorities who have often repeated these phrases;

— Uninformed concerning what the Sunnah of Islam really describes concerning Muhammad’s behavior;

— Knowingly dissimulating [Taqqiyah] in order to deceive for the purpose of advancing Islam;

— Stating what she believes to be facts but knowingly not disclosing the entire truth for the purpose of misleading the uniformed [Kitman];

— Engaging in seemingly honest and innocent discussion with a non-believer to create the illusion of an intimate friendship then asking Allah for forgiveness for behaving in an un-Islamic manner [Murunah].

Jesus had a close personal and intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father.  He asserted that He was doing all that the Father showed Him.  He declared to those He encountered that those who beheld Him also saw the Father. In doing His Father’s will He loved, healed and forgave those He came to save—even at His last breath. He endured a severe beating, rejection by His own people, and a torturous death on a Roman cross for our sake — for our salvation.  Through His resurrection from the dead, He guaranteed eternal life for those who acknowledge Him as their Lord and Savior. Unlike other religious figures, He never faltered from the compassion and mercy He displayed to all those who were in need of a Shepherd. His inner circle — His Apostles — healed and spread the Good News [Gospel].  With one exception by Peter, for which Jesus rebuked him, never during Jesus’ life, death, and in the years immediately following His resurrection and ascension to Heaven did the apostles and disciples whom He personally chose or called ever commit any violence to anyone while spreading the Gospel. Jesus taught from the Torah [the Law, the Five Books of Moses] and the Psalms and the wisdom books of the Prophets, telling all to honor their parents and governing authorities, and to not murder, steal, commit adultery, or even covet that which belonged to others.

When Muslim adherents seek to adulate Muhammad they do so believing he is the ultimate human being. Our prayer for every Muslim is that they would come to know there is another who lived, who is more than a man, more than a prophet, who conquered through love not by the sword, who loves them and sacrificed His earthly life for them, who desires a relationship with them in love and Lordship over their lives that they might prosper spiritually. His Name is above all names — Jesus the Christ [Messiah], the Son of God. In His Name be all the glory.  Amen!

BIBLICAL CHRISTIANS AND ALL MUSLIMS: The Great Divide

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

There is a difference in worldview between Biblical Christianity and Islam. The major difference at its core is deeply spiritual. This variance is as deep and drastic as the teachings and lives of Jesus and the Apostles as compared to Muhammad and his immediate successors.

All Muslim groups, including the Jihadis, see themselves as good Muslims. This is a most important point. Even the most violent Muslim groups see themselves as good Muslims. They believe they are being obedient to the words in the Qur’an and the traditions of Muhammad. Therefore if any Muslim group, Sunni or Shi’a, deviate or attack another Muslim group then that Muslim group must be bad. If you are a pious and practicing Muslim and other Muslims disagree with your group or attack your group then they must be bad or takfir. This perspective incentivizes the “good Muslims” to attack the bad Muslims. This helps explain how a Sunni Jordanian pilot was burned to death, a few years ago, by ISIS. Since ISIS adherents see themselves as good the Jordanian pilot who bombed them could not possibly be a good Muslim. He was then treated as a heretic. Since Muslims who disagree with another Muslim sect are viewed as bad/misguided then this assures unending conflict between Muslims and with non-Muslims. This also helps explain why many Muslims feel they must defend Islam despite the facts. The quote below is often repeated.

“This barbaric act of ruthlessness and injustice is in no way associated with the religion of Islam.”

This means that there are no examples of barbarity, ruthlessness or injustice to be found in Islam. Now read what Al-Tabari and Bukari reveal.

Tabari VIII:96: “A raiding party led by Zayd set out against Umm in the month of Ramadan. During it, Umm suffered a cruel death. […] She was a very old woman. […] Umm’s story is as follows. Allah’s Messenger sent Zayd to Wadi Qura where he encountered the Banu Fazarah. Some of his Companions were killed, and Zayd was carried away wounded. […] When Zayd returned, he vowed that no washing should touch his head until he has raided the Banu Fazarah. After he recovered, Muhammad sent him with an army against the Fazarah settlement. He met them in Qura and inflicted casualties on them and took Umm Qirfah prisoner. He also took one of Umm’s daughters and Abdallah bin Mas’adah prisoner. Zayd bin Harithah ordered Qays to kill Umm, and he killed her cruelly. He tied each of her legs with a rope and tied the ropes to two camels, and they split her in two. Then they brought Umm’s daughter and Abdallah to the Messenger. Umm’s daughter belonged to Salama who had captured her. Muhammad asked Salama for her, and Salama gave her to him.”

Bukhari:V8B82N794, V8B82N797: “Eight Muslims from the clan of Uraynah were brought to Muhammad for murdering a camel Shepherd. Their eyes were gouged out with hot irons; their feet and hands were chopped off on opposite sides. Their remaining limbs were nailed to the desert floor, water was withheld until death. Some people of the Uraynah tribe came to Medina. When Muhammad learned that they did not like the climate. So Muhammad ordered them to drink the milk and urine of camels […]. They killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away the camels. When the news reached Muhammad he sent men to capture them. After they were captured and returned to Muhammad he ordered that their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides. After this was done their eyes were branded with hot irons. They were crucified at Al-Harrah [Qur’an 5:33] and water was withheld from them until they died.”

Does the quartering of a very old woman, the sexual slavery of her daughter, the blinding of eight men, mutilation of their limbs, crucifixion of their remaining limbs, and withholding any sense of relief constitute barbarity, ruthlessness and injustice?

Then the obligatory seemingly peaceful verse is quoted to further deflect violence from Islam.

“The Holy Qur’an clearly states that ‘whosoever killed a person it shall be as if he had killed all mankind.’”

This citation seems to indicate that the Qur’an does not advocate or justify the killing of anyone. Is this the complete quote or has a significant portion of the quote been omitted?

Surah 5:32 On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.

The quote as portrayed above is not accurate. In the verse cited, Allah is speaking to the Jews telling them how to behave but claiming they disobeyed the prophets and committed mischief and excesses.

Surah 5:33 The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;

Then the next verse which was completely omitted is directed to the Muslims and instructs them to execute, crucify, mutilate and expel the enemies of Allah and Muhammad. This is usually followed by those who need to assure us that Islam is a religion of peace.

“Islam is a religion which promotes peace…From cover to cover, the Holy Qur’an teaches love, affection, peace, reconciliation and the spirit of sacrifice. Anyone who portrays Islam as an extreme and violent religion filled with teaching of bloodshed has no link with real Islam.”

Surah 9:29 – “Fight against (the Christians and Jews) those given the scripture, who believe not in Allah or the last day and forbid what Allah has not forbidden through his Prophet, who do not follow (Islam) until they pay the penalty and are subdued.”

Surah 2:191 – “Slay Them Where You Find Them And Drive Them Out Of The Places Where They Drove You Out, For Persecution Is Worse Than Slaughter.  Don’t Fight With Them At The Place Of Worship Until They Attack First, And then Slay Them.”

Surah 2:216 – “Warfare is ordained for you though it is hateful for you, but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows. You do not know.”

Surah 8:67 – “It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he has made slaughter in the land.”

Surah 9:5 – “When the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent, say the prayers, pay Zakat leave their way free.”

Surah 9:14 – “Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace, and assist you against them and heal the hearts of a believing people.”

Surah 17:16 – “When we would destroy a town we send a command to those who live at ease, afterward they commit abomination so that the word of doom has effect. We then annihilate it with complete annihilation.”

These verses tell Muslim literalists that non-Muslims are to be fought, subdued, slain and annihilated if they refuse to submit. Of course not all Muslims follow this literally but they can’t tell other Muslims that these verses are something less than authoritative holy revelation through their Prophet. The reason why all Muslim groups see themselves as good and refuse a comprehensive critical analysis of Islam’s authoritative texts is because Muslims generally have little or no concept of the seriousness of sin and since they come from their honor/shame based societies they refuse to ever point a finger at themselves. The problem will always reside with the “other”.

Whereas Islam is an ideology with a set of laws, abrogating verses and religious rituals/practices, biblical Christianity is all about a relationship with Jesus, God-incarnate. Our God made Himself known to us. Through His appearing and teaching from the Jewish Bible [Tanakh] he taught us that we are ALL sinners. Therefore Biblical Christians do not see themselves as good. We see ourselves as sinners who are in need of a Savior. Jesus bloody death provided atonement for all the sins everyone would ever commit. His resurrection assures us that if we acknowledge our sinfulness and acknowledge Jesus as our Redeemer [Savior] and anointed King [Messiah], we will be resurrected into eternal life. Biblical Christianity is not a religion of law it is a relationship where we gain God’s grace. Our God is a holy God, and also a God of love and mercy. If we love God and love our neighbor (yes, this includes Muslims) and work to bring others in relationship with Him, and confess and repent of [ask forgiveness for] our sins, He is gracious and will do so. We also recognize that there are two other groups of people: those who observe a religion; meaning observance of rights and rituals where one tries to gain God’s favor and therefore save oneself; and those who are secular, agnostic, or atheist and either do not believe in God, or have given up on Him and live according to what is encouraged by society or by their own changeable mores believing there is nothing on the other side of death.

For Muslims who are reading this I invite you to read about Jesus in the New Covenant scriptures.

Surah 10:94 states,

So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.

Surah 21:7 goes on to state,

And We sent not before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message if you do not know.

The Qur’an emphatically tells Muslims to ask Christians about the revelations that came before the Qur’an. I invite you to read it. What you will find is the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and New Covenants were all ratified in blood. The seriousness of sin cost the Israelites untold misery. The Great I AM YHVH conveyed in Leviticus 17:11 that there is NO remission of sin without the shedding of blood. In the New Covenant, which all Muslims are told to read in the Qur’an, you will learn about Jesus miraculous birth. Surah 19:20-21 states,

She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?” He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.’ “

Concerning Jesus miracles Surah 3:46-49 states,

He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” [The angel] said, “Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is. And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel. And [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah. And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.

Muhammad neither had a miraculous birth nor did any miracles of healing, feeding or raising anyone from the dead. The Qur’an also states that Muhammad sinned. Surah’s 40:55; 47:19; 48:1-2 state,

So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.

So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.

Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path

If you can be honest with yourself Jesus, who is mention 93 times in the Qur’an vice Muhammad mentioned by name 4 times, is clearly portrayed as greater than Muhammad. It cannot be said that Muhammad is greater or equal since Muhammad could not do what Jesus did. Furthermore Jesus was sinless in the New Covenant and the Qur’an calls him righteous i.e without sin. In the New Covenant you will learn that He is a loving God who became man to ransom his life for you because he loves you. You are not expected to die for him but love others into His Spiritual Kingdom. No matter how many times a Muslim proclaims the Shahada, says their rote prayers, gives alms, observes the Ramadan daylight fast, makes the Hajj or participates in Jihad none of these deeds can remove your sin or make you a more loving person towards all people. I invite you to ask your god Allah about the truth. When Allah does not answer then ask Jesus about the truth. He who is truly God will answer you. God bless you.

IS ISLAM AN IDEOLOGY OF PEACE?

By Joe Butta

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

Dear Everyone,

It is easy today to hear many things from various sources.  One of the modern day mantras is that Islam is a Religion of Peace.  Upon closer inspection neither Muhammad nor any of his early followers used this argument as they defeated the Polytheists, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sub-Sahara African polytheists and animists on the battlefield. 20^th Century Pakistani Muslim scholar Abdul Maududi stated the following:

“But the truth is that Islam is not the name of a ‘Religion,’ nor is ‘Muslim’ the title of a ‘Nation.’  In reality, Islam is a revolutionary ideology and program which seeks to alter the social order of the whole world and rebuild it in conformity with its own tenets and ideals. Islam wishes to destroy all states and governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and program of Islam regardless of the country or the nation which rules it.  The purpose of Islam is to set up a State on the basis of its own ideology and program.” [CMAA emphasis]

This is why I identified Islam in this piece as an ideology, not a religion.  Islam certainly includes aspects of religion especially when Muslims are performing rites and rituals with the desire to please their deity and when the practice of these rites and rituals have no adverse impact on non-Muslims. The remainder of the material found in the authoritative tests of Islam are political, socio-economic, and military in nature. The application of these Islamic principles have an adverse impact on non-Muslims and are therefore not religious.  Imposing one’s will to impose fear or force conformity on those who do not identify with Islam does not constitute religion rather an ideology that tolerates no rivals – it is expected that in time all will submit to Allah. The term “Islam” literally means “Submission;” the term “Muslim” literally means “one who submits.”  This is not the labeling one would expect from a “religion of peace” or a belief system based upon love, grace, and mercy.  View the citations listed below and determine what constitutes religious faith or the zealous imposition of a political ideology.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 2:96- “And you will most certainly find them [the Jews] the greediest of men for life, greedier than even those who are polytheists…”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                      

Zechariah 2:8– For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 2:191 – “Slay Them Where You Find Them And Drive Them Out Of The Places Where They Drove You Out, For Persecution Is Worse Than Slaughter.  Don’t Fight With Them At The Place Of Worship Until They Attack First, And then Slay Them.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 5:44– 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,

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 2:216 – “Warfare is ordained for you though it is hateful for you, but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows. You do not know.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 5:9– Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 3:28 – “Believers Take Not Disbelievers For Friends in Preference To Believers. Those Who Do This Have No Connection With Allah, Unless You Are Guarding Yourselves, Taking Security.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                      

John 15:13– Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 3:85 – “He Who Seeks a Religion Other Than Islam Will Not Be Accepted By Allah And He Will Be a Loser In The Next Life.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

John 17:3– And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                            

Surah 3:151 – “We Shall Cast TERROR Into The Hearts Of Those Who Disbelieve Because They Ascribe Partners To Allah (Christians) For Which Nothing Has Been Revealed. Their Abode Is Hellfire, The Place For Wrongdoers.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 28:19– 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,

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 Surah 4:15– “And as for those of your women [wives] who are guilty of an indecency [of lewdness], call to witness against them four witnesses [take the evidence of four witnesses] from among you; so if they bear witness [testify], confine them to houses until death [by starvation] takes them away [claims them] or Allah opens a way for them [If they change their behavior they regain their liberty].”

BIBLE

Colossians 3:19– Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                              

Surah 4:34- “So the good women are obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded [a husband’s right]. And as to those on whose part fear desertion admonish, them, and leave them alone in the beds [make them sleep in separate beds] and chastise them [beat them]. So if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely Allah is ever Exalted, Great.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Ephesians 5:25– Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                

Surah 4:74- “So let those fight in the way of Allah [Jihad] who [would] sell this world’s life for the Hereafter. And whoever fights in the way of Allah [Jihad], be he slain or be he victorious, We shall grant him a mighty reward.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                             

Matthew 26:52– But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                

Surah 4:89- “Those who reject Islam must be killed.  If they turn back (from Islam), take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                            

Matthew 10:28– And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                         

Surah 4:91- “You will find others who desire to be secure from you [Muslims] and secure from their own people. Whenever they are made to return to hostility, they are plunged into it. So if they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace and restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And against these we have given you a clear authority.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 24:9– “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 4:101 – “It Is Not Held Against You If You Curtail Worship For Fear That The Disbelievers May Attack. In Truth The Disbelievers Are An Open Enemy To You.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Luke 12:4– “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 5:33- “The only punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger […] is that they [will be] should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut [chopped] off on opposite [alternate] sides, or they should be expelled from the land. This will be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they will have an awful doom.”

BIBLE

Matthew 5:11– “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 5:38- “And as for the man and the woman addicted to theft [they are thieves], cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Matthew 6:14– “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                        

 Surah 5:41 – “Whomever Allah wants to deceive you cannot help. Allah does not want them to know the truth because he intends to disgrace them and then torture them.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

John 3:17– For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 5:51- “O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; for they are friends but of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 15:18– “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 7:166 – So when they (Jews) took pride in that which was forbidden we said to them: “Be as apes despised and loathed.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                   

Deuteronomy 7:6– “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 8:7 – And when Allah promised that one of the two parties would be yours, and you loved that the unarmed one would be yours and Allah desired to establish the truth by his words, Cut off the root of the unbelievers (Kill the infidels to the last man).

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                     John 16:2– They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                              

Surah 8:12- “[…] I will cast terror [emphasis added] into the hearts of those who disbelieve. So smite above the necks and smite every finger-tip of them [cut off their heads and cut off every fingertip].”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                      

Revelation 20:4– And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 8:57 – “If you gain mastery over them in battle, inflict such a defeat as would TERRORIZE them, so that they would learn a lesson and be warned.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Proverbs 3:25– Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 8:39 – “Fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is only for Allah; but if they desist then surely Allah sees what they do.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                            

Matthew 5:10– Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                 

Surah 8:69- “So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and good, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

Luke 18:20– You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Surah 9:5– “So when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters, wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate [Zakat tax], leave their way free.”

BIBLE

Matthew 5:7– Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Surah 9:29– “Fight [against] those who believe not in Allah [Jews and Christians], nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which Allah, and His Messenger have forbidden have forbidden nor follow the Religion of Truth [Islam], out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the [Jizya] tax [penalty] in acknowledgement of [the] superiority [of Islam] and [in acknowledgement that] they are [subdued] in a state of subjection.”

BIBLE

Titus 1:7– For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Surah 9:111 – Surely Allah has bought from the believers their persons and their property—against the gift of paradise; They fight in Allah’s way so they slay and are slain.

BIBLE

Revelation 17:6– I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 9:123 – “You Believers Fight The Unbelievers Who Are Near To You And Let Them Find Harshness In You; And Know That Allah Is With Those Who Keep Their Duty.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Luke 6:35– But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Surah 13:27 – “Allah leads whosoever He wills astray.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                       

1 Timothy 2:3-4– For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                                

Surah 17:16 – “When we would destroy a town we send a command to those who live at ease, afterward they commit abomination so that the word of doom has effect. We then annihilate it with complete annihilation.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 8:44– You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 24:2 – “The adulterer and adulteress will receive 100 lashes. Let not pity for them withhold you from obedience to Allah…Let believers witness their punishment.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Luke 7:46-47- You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 33:50- “O Prophet, We have made lawful to thee [for you] thy wives whom thou hast given their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesses [slave girls] out of those whom Allah has given thee as prisoners of war […]”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                      

1 Corinthians 7:23– You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 33:61- “Truly, if the Hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the City, desist not, We shall certainly stir thee up against them: Then will they not be able to stay in it as thy neighbors for any length of time: They shall have a curse on them: whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy).”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Mark 12:30-31^–And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater than these.”

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 47:4 – “When You Meet The Infidels In Battle Strike Them On The Neck Until They Are Routed, Killing And Wounding Many. When They Are Subdued, Bind Them And Make Them Captives Until Through Generosity Or Ransom The Burdens Of War End. Those Who Are Slain During Jihad Their Action Will Not Be In Vain.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Luke 4:18– “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 48:28-29 – “He has sent his messenger with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam) that he may make it prevail over all religions…Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and those with him are fierce to the unbelievers but compassionate to one another.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                      

Matthew 20:34– So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                            

Surah 66:9 – “Prophet, Strive against the unbelievers and hypocrites and be harsh with them. Hell will be their home.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 14:14– And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

QUR’AN                                                                                                                                                                          

Surah 98:6- “Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] and the [all] idolaters [those who disbelieve Allah’s revelation] will be in Fire of hell, abiding therein [forever]. They are the worst of creatures [created beings].”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Ephesians 2:8-10– For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V1N387 – They defeated them and took them captive (battle of Hunayn) Some of the companions (of Muhammad) were reluctant to have relations with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. Therefore Allah sent down the Qur’anic verse “married women are forbidden EXCEPT those who are captives.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                            

Matthew 19:4-6-And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V1B7N1331- “The Prophet said, ‘I have been given five things which were not given to anyone else [the Prophets who came before me]. Allah made me victorious with terror [against my enemies]. The earth was made for me… Booty was made lawful for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else. I was given the right of intercession on the Day of Doom. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only, but I have been sent to all of mankind.’”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 Timothy 2:5– For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V2B23N413 – The Jew brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from amongst them who have committed (adultery) illegal sexual intercourse. He ordered both of them to be stoned (to death), near the place of offering the funeral prayers beside the mosque.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                      

Matthew 6:14–15– “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V4B52N220 –   Muhammad said, “I have been made victorious with TERROR.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 24:24-26-For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believeit

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari V4B52N269- “The Prophet said, ‘War is deceit.’”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                             

Isaiah 9:6– For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V4B53N386 – “Our Prophet Ordered Us To Fight Till You Worship Allah Or Pay The Penalty Tax. He Who Is Killed Among Us Becomes a Martyr, And Whoever Survives Shall Become Your Master.”

BIBLE

John 13:34– A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V4B53N392- While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, “Let us go to the Jews” We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, “If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                           

Daniel 7:13-14-“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominionis an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari V4B56N2977 – “I have been made victorious with TERROR and while I was sleeping the keys of the treasures of the world were brought and put into my hand”.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

Luke 21:11^– there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari V5B59N369- “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?’ Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like me to kill him?’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes.’ Maslama said, ‘Then allow me to say false things in order to deceive him.’ The Prophet said, ‘You may say such things.’”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 15:19– For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                         

Bukhari V5B59N572 – “Muslims Do Not Take My Enemies As Your Friends By Offering Them Kindness When They Reject Allah, His Prophet And Qur’an. If You Have Done That You Have Gone Astray.  You Come Out And Fight In Jihad To Gain My Acceptance So Do Not Be Friendly With Them.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                      

Matthew 5:44– 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,

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V7B67N427- “The Prophet said, If I take an oath and later find something else better than that, then I do what is better and expiate my oath.” 

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

1 Timothy 4:1-2- Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V8B81N780 – The Prophet said, “The hand should be cut off for stealing something that is worth a quarter of a Dinar or more.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Matthew 5:7– Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari V8B81N792- Narrated ‘Aisha: The Prophet cut off the hand of a lady, and that lady used to come to me, and I used to convey her message to the Prophet and she repented, and her repentance was sincere.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

Jude 1:21– keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari:V8B82N794, V8B82N797- They killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away the camels. When the news reached Muhammad he sent men to capture them. After they were captured and returned to Muhammad he ordered that their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides. After this was done their eyes were branded with hot irons. They were crucified at Al-Harrah [Qur’an 5:33] and water was withheld from them until they died.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 Peter 1:3– Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V9B84N58- We were lusting after women (who had been captured)… We wanted to practice Coitus Interruptus with them so we asked the Prophet. He said, “You are not under any obligation to stop yourselves from doing it like that. Later on the women (After being raped) and children were given for ransom.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 John 2:16– For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                        

Bukhari V9B84N59 – “The Prophet Said, I Have Been Ordered To Fight People Until They Say None Has The Right To Be Worshipped But Allah. Whoever Says This Will Save Their Property And Life From Me.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

John 14:27– PeaceI 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.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Bukhari V9B87N127 – “The Prophet said I have been given the keys of eloquent speech and given victory by TERROR.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                         

Romans 16:18– For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

 Bukhari V9B88N174 – I Heard the Prophet Say ‘Islam Cannot Change’

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                      

1 Corinthians 9:20,22- and totheJews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;  ²² to the weak I became asweak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to allmen that I might by all means save some.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                              

Abu Dawud B38N4373- Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet had a man’s hand cut off who had stolen from the place reserved for women a shield whose price was three dirhams.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                           

Matthew 7:1–2– “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim B1C9N33- “Muhammad said, ‘I have been commanded to fight against people, until they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me that I am the Prophet, and in all that I have brought. When they do it their blood and riches are guaranteed protection on my behalf except where it is justified by Shari’a, and their affairs rest with Allah.’”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                       

Galatians 2:16– knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim B1N142; Bukhari V1B6N304 – “O womenfolk, you should ask for forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.’ A wise lady said: Why is it, Allah’s Apostle, that women comprise the bulk of the inhabitants of Hell? The Prophet observed: ‘You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. You lack common sense, fail in religion and rob the wisdom of the wise.’ Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense? The Prophet replied, ‘Your lack of common sense can be determined from the fact that the evidence of two women is equal to one man. That is a proof.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

Titus 2:3– the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim B008N3383- Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I have a slave-girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive. He said: Practice ‘azl, [don’t ejaculate in her] if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her. The person stayed back (for some time) and then came and said: The girl has become pregnant, whereupon he said: I told you what was decreed for her would come to her.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Hebrews 13:4– Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim B17N4194 – Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah’s book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established or if there is pregnancy, or a confession.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                      

1 Corinthians 6:9– Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

HADITH                                                                                                                                                    

Muslim:B17C5N4206- “[…] There came to him [Muhammad] a woman of Ghamid and said: Allah’s Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me. He turned her away. On the following day she said: Allah’s Messenger, why do you turn me away? Perhaps, you turn me away as you turned away Ma’iz [another who committed adultery] By Allah, I have become pregnant. He [Muhammad] said: Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth to the child. When she was delivered she came with the child wrapped in a rag and said: He is the child whom I have given birth to. He said: Go away and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him she came to him with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. He entrusted the child to one of the Muslims [took the child from her] and then pronounced [her] punishment. And she was put [cast] into a ditch [pit] and he commanded people [to kill her] and they stoned her [to death]. […]”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

John 8:4-11– they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned…“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first… And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst…He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.”And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim B17N4226 – Anas b. Malik reported that a person who drank wine was brought to Allah’s Apostle. He gave him forty stripes with two lashes. Abu Bakr also did that, but when Umar (assumed the responsibilities) of the Caliphate, he consulted people and Abd al-Rahman said: The mildest punishment (for drinking) is eighty (stripes) and ‘Umar prescribed this punishment.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 2: 1-12-On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” ⁷ Jesus said to them,“Fill the water pots with water.”  ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from. ¹⁰ And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

HADITH                                                                                                                                                                      

Muslim C40B20N4676 – “Jihad Is Compulsory.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                               

John 13:35– By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ishaq #240 – “The Jews Are a Nation Of Liars, Treacherous And Evil.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                        

1 Peter 2:1– Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                

Ishaq 243- “I have heard the Apostle say: ‘Whoever wants to see Satan should look at Nabtal!’ He was a sturdy black man with long flowing hair belly. I pleaded, ‘O Muhammad, don’t tell the people about this for they will know you are lying and will mock you.’ He said, ‘By Allah, I will tell them.’ I [then] told a negress [black female slave] , inflamed eyes, and dark ruddy cheeks. […] Nabtal said, ‘Muhammad is all ears. If anyone tells him anything he believes it.’ […] Gabriel came to Muhammad and said, ‘If a black man comes to you, his heart is more gross than a donkey’s [heart].’ […] [One of Muhammad’s Companions said,] ‘Muhammad promised that we would enjoy the treasures of Chusroes [the Persians] and Caesar [the Romans] […].’”

 BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                        

Ephesians 4:31– Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                          

Ishaq:344 – “The Impious Met Death. They Became Fuel For Hell. All Who Are Not Muslims Must Go There.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 3:16– 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.

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                          

Ishaq#300 – “I am fighting in Allah’s service. This is piety and a good deed.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                         

Galatians 5:22– But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                            

Ishaq #322 –“I Will Cast TERROR Into The Hearts Of Those Who Reject Me. So Strike Off Their Heads And Cut Off Their Fingers. All Who Oppose Me And My Prophet Shall Be Punished Severely.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                             

Romans 14:19– Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                

Ishaq #327 – Allah Made Booty Lawful And Good. He Used It To Incite The Muslims To Unity Of Purpose. So Enjoy What You Have Captured. Allah Said “A Prophet Must Slaughter Before Collecting Captives. A Slaughtered Enemy Is Driven From The Land.  Muhammad You Craved The Desires Of This World It’s Goods And The Ransom Captives Would Bring.  Allah Desires Killing To Manifest The Religion.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 John 4:7– Beloved, let us love one another, for loveis of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                  

Ishaq # 503 – “Allah saw what was in their hearts and rewarded them with victory and much booty. Allah promised that they would soon capture even more booty.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 10:10– The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                

Ishaq #587 – “We will fight as long as we live. We will fight until you turn to Islam. We have driven them before us at the command of Allah and Islam. We will fight until our religion is established. We will plunder them for they must suffer disgrace.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                              

John 16:33– These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

SIRA                                                                                                                                                                                

Ishaq 593- “From the captives of Hunayn, Allah’s Messenger gave Ali [his son-in-law] a slave girl called Baytab and he gave Uthman [a future Caliph] a slave girl called Zaynab and Umar [a future Caliph] another [slave girl]. […] [Abdallah, son of Umar, said,] ‘I will take [have sex with] her [his father’s slave girl] when I return. [But Muhammad said,] ‘Let her go, for her mouth is cold, her breasts are flat. You did not take her as a virgin in her prime nor even full-figured in her middle age!’”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                            

Colossians 3:12– Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                            

Tabari I 280 – “Allah said, ‘It is My obligation to make Eve bleed once every month as she made this tree bleed. I must also make Eve stupid, although I created her intelligent.’ Because Allah afflicted Eve, all of the women of this world menstruate and are stupid.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                     

1 John 4:8– He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                          

Tabari VII 94- “Maslama said, Prophet we shall have to tell lies. Muhammad stated “You are absolved free to say whatever you must.”

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                    

Revelation 2:2– “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                        

Tabari VIII:38- “The Messenger of Allah commanded that all the Jewish men and boys who had reached puberty should be beheaded. Then the Prophet divided the wealth, wives, and children of the Qurayza Jews among the Muslims. […] On that day Muhammad made known the shares of the horseman and the shares of the foot soldiers, and he deducted from these shares his fifth. […] According to this example, the procedure of the Messenger of Allah in the divisions of booty became a precedent which was followed in subsequent raids. […] The Prophet selected for himself from among the Jewish women of the Qurayza, Rayhana bint Amr. She became his concubine. When he [died in 632 AD], she was still in his possession.

BIBLE                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 Peter 3:8–  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 Tabari VIII 178 – Muhammad Ordered That Certain Men Be ASSASSINATED Among Them Abdullah Bin Sa’d. He Was To Be Slain Because He Became A Muslim And Used To Write The Qur’anic Revelation. He Then Apostatized.”

BIBLE 

James 2:11– For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 Tabari VIII:179– “Abdullah bin Sa’d fled to Uthman, his brother, who after hiding him, finally surrendered him to the Prophet. Uthman asked for clemency. Muhammad did not respond, remaining silent for a long time. Muhammad explained, ‘By Allah, I kept silent so that one of you might go up to him and cut off his head!’ One of the Ansar said, ‘Why didn’t you give me a sign?’ Allah’s Apostle replied, ‘A prophet does not kill by pointing.’ […] Among those who Muhammad ordered killed was Abdallah bin Khatal. The Prophet ordered him to be slain because while he was a Muslim, Muhammad sent him to collect the Zakat tax with an Ansar and a slave of his [Abdallah bin Khatal, the Muslim tax collector, killed the slave for being disobedient. Abdallah did not report his wrongdoing. He then rejected Islam and used the tax money he collected on a few girls.]. […] The girls used to sing a satire about Muhammad so the Prophet ordered that they should be killed along with Abdallah. Abdallah was killed by Sa’d and Abu Barzah. The two shared in his blood. One of the singing girls was killed quickly, but the other fled. So Umar caused his horse to trample the one who fled at Atbah, killing her.”

BIBLE 

Revelation 21:8– But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Tabari IX: 69 – “Arabs Are The Noblest People And The Best In Deeds. We Were The First To Respond To The Prophets call. We Fight People Until They Believe In Allah. He Who Believes Saves His Life And Possessions. As For The Disbeliever We Fight Him Forever In Jihad.  Killing Him Is a Small Matter For Us.”

BIBLE

Revelation 22:15– But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

TARIKH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Tabari IX 113 – “Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain, they have the right to food and clothing. Treat women well for they are like domestic animals and they possess nothing themselves. Allah has made the enjoyment of their bodies lawful in his Qur’an.”

BIBLE 

1 Peter 3:5-For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

For non-Muslims reading this, kindly do not focus on violent verses, but rather on the grace imparted by our Lord.  Use this to get closer to Jesus.  If you are not attending a church or attending a church where you are not growing then you are not getting closer to Jesus.  Jesus our Lord loves Muslims because he wants all people to find salvation in him.  Muslims follow what they have been taught.  Certainly we must protect ourselves from those who want to practice Political Islam [Sunni and Shi’a literalists} but for those who want only to practice the religious aspects of Islam there is opportunity to share our hope with them [Sufis, Almadiyya and secularized Sunni’s and Shi’a who are not dissimulating]. Muslims who come to accept the Lordship of Jesus become the best of Christians because they know where they were and are grateful to God above that he has made provision for their sins. Professing Christians can only share what they have. If you really possess Christ in your heart you will have him to share.  The Biblical verses cited above should give professing Christians reason to deepen their faith and should give Muslims reason to question what they have been taught is true.  With the advent of social media it has been made easier for them to reach out to those who possess the gospel and help lead them to forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Does Islam sanction burning people to death?

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

In 2015 many witnessed on the internet the murder of a Jordanian pilot by Islamic State [Kaliphate] in Iraq and Syria/Levant (ISIS/L) operatives.  By quoting from the Qur’an and other Islamic texts Islamic Literalists like those who belong to ISIS/L believed they were following their revealed religion to the letter of the law as they interpret it. ISIS/L’s reading of the Qur’an led them to assert that they were waging a defensive jihad — a total war to defend Islam against both non-believers and apostates. The Jordanian pilot was in the latter category as a professing Muslim who took up arms against the jihad. Thus, his execution was legitimate under Qur’an and Shari’a, but shocking and horrific to Westerners and to those, like the Hashemites of Jordan and many of those in that country’s elite, who are secularized Muslims.  Obviously many in the Islamic world do not agree with this literalist interpretation. Whether or not most or many agree with this interpretation, we have witnessed Muslims in the Near and Middle East attacking ISIS/L not over their interpretation of Islamic texts but rather because these “moderate” or “traditional” [tribal monarchy] Sunni regimes feared they would be targets of the Islamic State. These Sunni Muslim regimes were not motivated by the slaughter of Americans, Christians, Shi’ites, and Yazidis but were moved by the horrible burning death of a Jordanian military officer from an influential tribe in Jordan that fully supports Hashemite rule in the Kingdom of Jordan.  There are MANY so-called “moderate” Sunni Muslims who accept killing of unbelievers, apostates, and open heretics [e.g., Shi’a], but draw the line at judicial killing or terrorist killing of other Sunnis, even if their faith is only nominal. Below we will examine these verses to determine if ISIS/L operatives burned the pilot to death in accordance with the Islamic texts or in clear violation of these texts.

619

Muhammad is in Mecca. He is being opposed even by some of his closest relatives — specifically his aunt and uncle. As a result of this verbal assault and the throwing of thorns before Muhammad’s feet, Muhammad went into a trance and revealed Surah 111.    

Qur’an 111:1-5: “Abu Lahab’s hands will perish and he will perish. His wealth and that which he earns will not avail [help] him. He will burn in fire giving rise to flames — and his wife — the bearer of slander. Upon her neck a halter of twisted rope!”

One interpretation will insist that Muhammad is speaking about the life to come but in these verses the word hell is not used. As for his wife why would she need to hang from the end of a rope in the next life if she was already dead? The Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation’s notes state that the fiery uncle who condemned the Prophet would be burned. His wife would have to bring the wood for the fire, with the hangman’s noose already around her neck. This text may seem more terrifying if one was threatened with burning or hanging while they were still alive. We now leap five years into the future.

624

Muhammad has just defeated the Meccan Quraysh in battle, the same people to whom Abu Lahab and his aunt Umm belong. Following this battle at Badr, Muhammad sent a number of raiders with orders to capture some of the Meccans and burn them alive. This can be found in Muhammad’s biography Ishaq:316.

Notice Muhammad has already won a great victory but is now urging his followers to hunt down those who escaped [understand — these are his own extended family], capture them, and burn them alive. “But on the following day he sent word to us, ‘I told you to burn these men if you got hold of them. But I decided that none has the right to punish by fire save [except] Allah. So if you capture them, kill them.’”  So Muhammad the model of human conduct (Qur’an 33:21) changed his mind.  His relatives should not be burned to death but they must still be killed. His change of mind did not come from the Qur’an but changed according to his whim.

In the same year the following hadith occurred. We know this event happened after Muhammad declared that people should not be burnt.

Bukhari:V9B84N57: “Some zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn Abbas who said, ‘If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah’s Apostle forbade it, saying, “Do not punish anybody with Allah’s punishment [fire].” I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah’s Apostle, “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.”’” This can also be found in the following hadith:

Bukhari:V4B52N260: “Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn ‘Abbas, who said, ‘Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, “Don’t punish (anybody) with Allah’s Punishment.” No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’”.

What we learn here is the atheists used to be Muslims — thus, they were guilty of apostasy, one of the most grievous crimes according to the Qur’an. This is obvious according to Ibn Abbas statement at the end of this hadith. Ali either did not get the memo or he believed that Qur’an 111 did not apply to hell but to this life in regard to anyone who had insulted the Prophet by resisting or leaving Islam. Although Muhammad stated people should not be burnt, Ali did not suffer any punishment for burning the atheists to death. Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, would eventually become the fourth Caliph of Sunni Islam and the first Imam of Shi’a Islam. The important thing was that they were killed for their apostasy — that they were killed “incorrectly” was of little consequence.

625

The next incident we learn from Maldudi. He was a Pakistani Islamist who followed in the theological steps of Hassan al Banna and Said Qutb. Maldudi passed away in his native Pakistan in 1979.  In his book (vol. 1, p. 765, Prescribed Punishments; cf. Maududi vol. 2, p. 52, note 68) he stated;

Abu Bakr had a homosexual burned. Ibn Abbas and Abu Huraira reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “Accursed is he who does what Lot’s people did.” In a version . . . on the authority of Ibn Abbas it says that Ali [Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law] had two people burned and that Abu Bakr [Muhammad’s chief companion] had a wall thrown down on them.

This is telling. It was acknowledged that Ali previously had two people burnt. After that despite what Muhammad previously said Abu Bakr, acting upon the Prophet’s words, burned a homosexual to death. Since Muhammad brought up Lot and the events of Sodom and since God destroyed the city and people with fire, who were Sodomites, Abu Bakr believed he could kill a homosexual the same way. Abu Bakr was Muhammad’s closest friend and would become the first Caliph of Sunni Islam. Abu Bakr was not sanctioned for his action. Also notice just as Abu Bakr had a wall thrown down on the dead homosexual so ISIS operatives buried the Jordanian pilot by having construction material dumped on him.

626

The next year Surah 4 was revealed. The majority of Muslims believe this verse applies to Jews in the next life. There is however some wiggle room for literalists. Notice the verse does not mention hell. Since it does not mention hell a minority interpretation can insist that people can be burnt and after they are burnt it is permissible to find others and burn them as well.

Qur’an 4:56: “Those who disbelieve in Our messages, We shall make them enter Fire. As often as their skins are burned, We shall change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement. Surely Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.”

627

In this year the Sira records the events leading to the destruction and genocide of the Qurayza Jews.

Ishaq:481: “The Apostle slew them [Jews of Qurayza] in their own town. With our troops he surrounded their homes. We shouted out cries in the heat of battle. The Jews were given the Scripture and wasted it. Being blind, they strayed from the Torah. You Jews disbelieved the Qur’an and yet you have tasted the confirmation of what it said. May Allah make our raid on them immortal [never-ending]. May fire burn in their quarter. They will no longer ruin our lands. You [Jews] have no place here, so be off!”

This is not from the Qur’an but states or encourages Allah to permit fire to burn where these Jews live. Fire was a standard weapon in siege warfare of late antiquity and the middle ages. The intent was to not only kill the Jews but destroy their habitation by fire, which was both punishing and purifying according to the Qur’an and hadiths. Since these Muslims desired to burn the entire Jewish quarter of the town, one can conclude if some or all of the Jewish residents burnt to death it would have been acceptable in Muhammad’s eyes.

628

Ishaq: 515 and Tabari VIII: 122: The Prophet gave orders concerning Kinanah to Zubayr, saying, ‘Torture him until you root out and extract what he has. So Zubayr kindled a fire on Kinanah’s chest, twirling it with his firestick until Kinanah was near death. Then the Messenger gave him to Maslamah, who beheaded him.

In this instance, after the destruction of the Khaybar Jews, who were from the Banu Nadir, Muhammad gave the order to torture the Jewish treasurer of the community with fire until he told Muhammad where he hid the treasure. We learn here that Muhammad, despite his previous word and Qur’anic revelation, was not averse to burning people. 

629

The next year Muhammad was extremely angry that the Muslims’ first encounter with a Christian army resulted in a rout at Tabuk/Muta. He blamed this defeat like a previous defeat at Uhud in 625 on “Muslim hypocrites”—that is, Muslims who chose not to fight in jihad.

Sahih Bukhari V1B11N626 records these words from Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “No prayer is harder for the hypocrites than the Fajr and the ‘Isha’ prayers and if they knew the reward for these prayers at their respective times, they would certainly present themselves (in the mosques) even if they had to crawl.” The Prophet added, “Certainly I decided to order the Mu’adh-dhin (call-maker) to pronounce Iqama and order a man to lead the prayer and then take a fire flame to burn all those who had not left their houses so far for the prayer along with their houses.“

In this hadith we learn that Muhammad is not adverse to using fire as a means of terror. This applies to Muslims who are not behaving as Muhammad felt they should. Muhammad is clearly calling for the burning of these “phony” Muslims. Failure of Muslim men to join the jihad against the enemies of Islam is viewed as cowardice and hypocrisy, which in these early days was considered as equivalent to apostasy. No one was allowed to hold back from war. It was equivalent to desertion in wartime. To fight against the jihadis in alliance with unbelievers, Americans and British, is overt apostasy. With this hadith coming near the end of Muhammad’s life it is not hard to see ISIS/L operatives burning a Jordanian pilot to death who from their point of view has denied the faith. If the Jordanian pilot was a true Muslim, why was he bombing other Muslims instead of bombing the unbelievers?

631

Qur’an 98:6: “Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] and the [all] idolaters [those who disbelieve Allah’s revelation] will be in Fire of hell, abiding therein [forever]. They are the worst of creatures [created beings].” 

This revelation is explicitly applicable to all Christians and Jews, whom according to the Qur’an and Muhammad are destined for hellfire. This mandate ensures that Islamic Literalists will continue to view Jews and Christians [and by implication all other non-Muslims] with contempt, since we are all damned.  It also points out, one year before Muhammad’s death, that the Qur’an NEVER prohibits the burning alive of anyone not deemed to be a true believer.  If it did then Muhammad and his closest lieutenants and successors would fall under the same condemnation. Since all of the Qur’an was uttered by Muhammad’s mouth there was little chance that any verse would condemn Muhammad’s actions.  We must conclude that Muhammad in 624 had reasons to change his mind concerning the burning of the Quraysh fighters but he never punished those who did burn others and ordered the burning of Jews later in his life.

After Muhammad died in 632 the Tarikh of Al-Tabari records a continuation of the same theme.

633

Below are quotes from Tabari’s History, Tabari X: 55-57

Abu Bakr’s letter to the apostates.

… So Allah guided with the truth whoever responded to Him, and the Apostle of Allah, with His permission, struck whoever turned his back to Him until he came to Islam, willingly or grudgingly.

… I have learned that some of you have turned back from your religion after you had acknowledged Islam and labored in it, out of negligence of Allah and ignorance of His command, and in compliance with the devil….

… I have sent you someone at the head of an army of the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who follow (them) in good works. I ordered him not to fight anyone or to kill anyone until he has called him to the cause of Allah; so that those who respond to him and acknowledge (Him) and renounce (unbelief) and do good works, (my envoy) shall accept him and help him to (do right), but I have ordered him to fight those who deny (Him) for that reason. So he will not spare any one of them he can gain mastery over, (but may) burn them with fire, slaughter them by any means, and take women and children captive; nor shall he accept from anyone anything except Islam.

This should resound as tacit proof that Islam does not prohibit the burning of people who are considered apostates of Islam or who oppose Islam. After Ali burnt two people, Abu Bakr burned a homosexual. Since neither action was condemned and Muhammad continued the practice in the years that followed, we can conclude that burning people is not prohibited by Islam.

Dear readers, the only response to this brutality is to boldly proclaim to Muslims that a much better example lived his life with love and humility. He is one who welcomes all who recognize that we are all sinners. He harmed no one while he lived and left an empty tomb as proof of his claims to have come from the Father as a Shepherd who attends to his lost sheep, a Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. He said that all his sheep hear his voice. We are not speaking of religion but rather a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah [Christ] — the only hope of genuine peace for this lost and sinful world. Islam cannot reform these acts. Only Jesus, whom Muslims believe is one of their Prophets, can do so. But Jesus said that he was more than a Prophet — that he was the Son of God — and proved it by his miraculous works and his resurrection from the dead witnessed by more than 500 people, including the apostles, many of whom were tortured to death for refusing to deny Messiah’s resurrection. The more that we boldly proclaim this truth, the more it will become an unavoidable issue for the world. Jesus or Muhammad? Read the Bible and the Qur’an, and decide for yourself!

Can the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community speak for Islam?

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

In early April 2015 a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association wrote an article titled Real Muslims don’t terrorize.  This article was an attempt to put Islam in the most favorable light and distance it from any association to terrorism. Since the article was written to non-Muslims, of which I am one, it is only prudent and thoughtful to fact check the material included in the article. If the words written in the article are true the authoritative texts of Islam will verify the claims made in the article.  Before we proceed further let’s first gain an understanding of Ahmadiyya Islam.

Ahmadiyya Background & Beliefs: The Ahmadiyya are the third largest branch of Islam after Sunni and Shi’a Islam, but are not recognized as Muslims by the majority of other Muslims — they are usually considered apostates, those who have fallen away from “true” Islam.  In Saudi Arabia they are persecuted and forbidden from entering Mecca. They are persecuted in the Palestinian territories; their rights are curtailed in Pakistan where they are not considered Muslims. Their religious rights in Indonesia are reduced through pressure from Sunni Muslim literalists. The Ahmadiyya have full rights in India but are opposed by India’s large Muslim minority and Ahmadiyya are considered infidels in Bangladesh.  Why all the opposition from other Muslims if they believe they are Muslims?

Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad, who lived from 13 February 1835 – 26 May 1908 was the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born in Qadian, Punjab, to an affluent Mughal family.  Mirza Ghulam Ahmad proclaimed himself to be the Promised Messiah or Mahdi. He claimed to be the fulfillment of various prophecies found in world religions regarding the second coming of their founders. He believed he was the fulfillment of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Native American eschatological beliefs. Ahmadiyya also regard Zoroaster, Krishna, the Buddha and Confucius as prophets,  though Muhammad is regarded as the greatest prophet.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed Jesus was crucified and survived the four hours on the cross. He was later revived from a swoon in the tomb. Ahmadiyya believe that Jesus died in Kashmir of old age looking for the Lost Tribes of Israel. Jesus’ remains are believed to be entombed in Kashmir under the name Yuz Asaf.  Thus, Ahmadiyya believe that Jesus of Nazareth was a holy man and prophet, but deny Jesus’ resurrection and his being both wholly human and wholly divine.

During the mid 19th century, Christianity was spreading through India at a fast rate due to aggressive missionary activity. Muslim leaders called for armed defensive jihad [unlimited holy war to annihilate the “unclean” (kafir) and retake formerly Muslim-ruled territory for Islam] and almost every Muslim group supported the call of jihad, except Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. He advocated a peaceful propagation of Islam and emphatically argued against the permissibility and necessity of Jihad in its military form in the present age. According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the promised Mahdi was a symbolic reference to a spiritual leader like Jesus Christ and not a military leader as is believed by many Muslims. Ghulam Ahmad  argued that the conditions for such Jihad are not present in this age, which requires defending Islam by the pen and tongue but not with the sword.

Ahmadiyya believe in a purgatory-like hell where people will escape after being cleansed. Their beliefs also include that no verse of the Qur’an abrogates or cancels another verse. This view is problematic for Sunni and Shi’a Muslims for it either makes the Qur’an self-contradicting or means that the “clear meaning” of the original Arabic text is not the “true meaning.” He also claimed that Islamic life was in decay and in dire need of a messiah. He argued that, just as Jesus had appeared in the 14th century after Moses, the promised Mahdi, must also appear in the 14th century after Muhammad.

Ghulam Ahmad is regarded by many mainstream Muslims as either a heretic or an apostate. Following his claim to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, one of his adversaries prepared a Fatwa (decree) of disbelief against him, declaring him a Kafir (disbeliever), a deceiver, and a liar. The decree permitted killing him and his followers. It was taken all around India and was signed by some two hundred religious scholars. Some years later, a prominent Muslim leader and scholar, Ahmed Raza Khan, travelled to the Hejaz to collect the opinions of the religious scholars of Mecca and Medina. Ghulam Ahmad was once again labeled an apostate. The unanimous consensus of about thirty-four religious scholars was that Ghulam Ahmad’s beliefs were blasphemous and tantamount to apostasy and that he must be punished by imprisonment and, if necessary, by execution.

On 26 May 1908, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, died as a result of weaknesses of the body and complications arising from dysentery. His body was subsequently taken to Qadian and buried there. A few years before his death, Ahmad claimed to have received several prophecies relating to his upcoming death.

I’ll now address some key points from the article. Real Muslims don’t terrorize:  Once one understands where Ahmadiyya are coming from their words can be understood in context. The Ahmadiyya are generally an insular sect that focuses on “inner jihad” — the inner struggle to submit to Allah and overcome temptation to sin — rather than “external jihad,” They have almost always been a persecuted minority within Islam. They reject salafi’ism (returning to 7^th Century puritanical Islam), taqfiri’ism (declaring other Muslims renegades from Islam), and the mainstream Sunni and Shi’a interpretation of Qur’an, khadiths, and shari’a that requires the ulema or veleyat-e-faqih to impose shari’a on all Muslims and dhimmi on non-believers [reducing them to resident aliens in their own country, with very few rights]. Ahmadiyya are better able to assimilate Western/modernist/secularist ideas and live peaceably in a secularized world. The Ahmadiyya, like some Shi’a sects and Sufis, are quite heterodox in theology and especially eclectic in ritual and practice.

Real Muslims to the Ahmadiyya author means Ahmadiyya Muslims who claim not to believe in terrorism.  Does this mean that Islam is silent about terrorism? This is what the texts say:

Surah 3:151 “We Shall Cast TERROR Into The Hearts Of Those Who Disbelieve.

Surah 7:3 Our TERROR came to them; Our punishment overtook them.”

Surah 8:12 “I will cast TERROR into the hearts of those who disbelieve.

Surah 8:57 “If you gain mastery over them in battle, inflict such a defeat as would TERRORIZE them.

Surah 8:59-60 TERRORIZE the enemy of Allah, your enemy, and others besides them whom you know not.

Surah 33:26-27 “Allah Took Down The People Of The Book (Jews, Christians). He Cast TERROR Into Their Hearts.

Surah 59:2 He TERRORIZED them and their homes were destroyed. Listen to my warning.

Ishaq #322 “I Will Cast TERROR Into The Hearts Of Those Who Reject Me.

Ishaq # 326 Make a severe example of them by TERRORIZING Allah’s enemies.”

Ishaq # 395 We will TERRORIZE those who disbelieve. In that way I will help you against them.”

Ishaq# 461 When the siege became too severe for them, Allah TERRORIZED them.

Bukhari V1B7N1331 Allah TERRORIZES my enemies;

Bukhari V4B52N220  Muhammad said, “I have been made victorious with TERROR.”

Bukhari V9B87N127 “The Prophet said I have been given the keys of eloquent speech and given victory by TERROR.”

Tabari VII: 97 Our Attack Against Allah’s Enemy Cast TERROR Among The Jews And There Was No Jew In Medina Who Did Not Fear For His Life.”

Tabari VIII 129 “Allah Cast TERROR Into The Hearts Of The Fadak Jews. Fadak Became The Property Of The Prophet.

Tabari IX 42 – “There is no escape for us. You have seen what Muhammad has done. Arabs have submitted to him and we do not have the strength to fight.  No herd is safe from him. No one goes outside from fear of being TERRORIZED.”

Perhaps the author was saying that Ahmadiyya do not believe in Terror, but to say Islamic Literalism does not condone Terror is a misnomer. The Ahmadiya are NOT Islamic Literalists.  They have a very different approach to the Qur’an and secondary sources viewed as authoritative by mainstream Muslims who ARE Literalists.

Islam teaches respect for all faiths. As Muslims, Islam commands us to show love and respect to people of all faiths – including Christians; If only they tried to study the life of Prophet Muhammad, they would know that he showed utmost respect for all religions:

Surah 1:5-7 – “Show us the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored; Not the (path) of those who earn Your anger (Jews) nor of those who go astray (Christians)”

Surah 2:61 – “Abasement and humiliation were stamped upon them (Jews) and they incurred Allah’s wrath.

Surah 2:89 – When there came to them (Jews) a Book (Qur’an) from Allah verifying what they have.but when there came to them that which they recognized (Islam Abrahams religion) they did not believe it. So Allah’s curse is on the infidel (Jews).

Surah 2:96 – You will certainly find them (Jews) the greediest of men even greedier than those who set up gods with Allah (Christians).  One of them (Christians) loves to be granted a life for 1000 years and being granted a long life will in no way remove him.from being punished. Allah sees what they do.

Surah 2:100-101 – Whenever they (Jews) make a covenant a group of them casts it aside. Most of them have no faith.

Surah 4:160-161 – For the wrong­doing of the Jews, we have prepared for these disbelievers a painful doom.

Surah 5:17 – “They indeed disbelieve who say surely Allah–He is the Messiah Son of Mary. Who could control Allah when he wished to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother and all those on the earth.

Surah 5:72 – Certainly those who disbelieve say that Allah he is the Messiah son of Mary. Surely whoever associates partners with Allah, Allah has forbidden to him the garden and his abode is the hellfire.

Surah 6:24 – See how they (Christians and Jews) lie against their own souls, and that which they forged (Bible verses) shall fail them.

Surah 7:166 – So when they (Jews) took pride in that which was forbidden we said to them: “Be as apes despised and loathed.

Surah 19:88-92 They said, “The most Gracious has begotten a son.” You have uttered a gross blasphemy.

Ishaq #240 – “The Jews Are a Nation Of Liars, Treacherous And Evil.”

Bukhari V2B23N414 – Aisha said, “The Prophet in his fatal illness said, ‘Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying.”‘ Aisha added, “Had it not been for that the grave of the Prophet would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying.

Tabari VII: 97 – The Prophet declared, “Allah Akbar! Kill every Jew you come across.”

Surah 2:65 – “And you know of those of you who broke the Sabbath (Jews) how we said to them, “You are Apes despised and hated.”

Surah 5:51 – “Believers Do Not Take Christians And Jews For Your Friends. He Who Takes Them As a Friend Is One Of Them. Allah Does Not Guide Wrongdoers.”

Surah 5:73 – “Disbelievers Say Allah Is a Third Of The Trinity.” There Is No God Save Allah. If They Do Not Stop Saying This A Painful Doom Will Fall On These Disbelievers.”

Surah 98:6 – “The People Of the Book (Jews, Christians) And All Idolaters Who Disbelieve Our Revelation Will Abide In Hell Fire. They Are The Worst Of Created Beings.”

Respect and Love? These are excerpts from Muhammad’s Qu’ran and his life as displayed in his traditions. Where in any of this can we find “utmost respect for all religions”? Ahmadiya may indeed respect and love those who follow other religions, and they may claim Muhammad did, but that has no bearing on what mainstream Muslims believe — which reflects the clear meaning of the Qur’an and mainstream exegesis of the Qur’anic texts, the khadiths, and shari’a.

Extremist groups, who claim to be working for Islam, fail to recognize the very meaning of being a Muslim. Not only is this an act of barbarity but a complete departure from the Islamic teachings.

Bukhari:V9B84N57: “Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn Abbas who said, ‘If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah’s Apostle forbade it, saying, “Do not punish anybody with Allah’s punishment [fire].” I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah’s Apostle, “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.”‘”

(Vol. 1, p. 765, Prescribed Punishments; cf. Maududi vol. 2, p. 52, note 68) he stated; Abu Bakr had a homosexual burned Ibn Abbas and Abu Huraira reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “Accursed is he who does what Lot’s people did.” In a version . . . on the authority of Ibn Abbas it says that Ali [Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law] had two people burned and that Abu Bakr [Muhammad’s chief companion] had a wall thrown down on them.

Qur’an 4:56: “Those who disbelieve in Our messages, We shall make them enter Fire. As often as their skins are burned, We shall change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement. Surely Allah is every Mighty, Wise.”

Ishaq:481: “The Apostle slew them [Jews of Qurayza] in their own town. With our troops he surrounded their homes. We shouted out cries in the heat of battle. The Jews were given the Scripture and wasted it. Being blind, they strayed from the Torah. You Jews disbelieved the Qur’an and yet you have tasted the confirmation of what it said. May Allah make our raid on them immortal [never-ending]. May fire burn in their quarter. They will no longer ruin our lands. You [Jews] have no place here, so be off!”

Ishaq: 515 and Tabari VIII: 122: The Prophet gave orders concerning Kinanah to Zubayr, saying, ‘Torture him until you root out and extract what he has. So Zubayr kindled a fire on Kinanah’s chest, twirling it with his firestick until Kinanah was near death. Then the Messenger gave him to Maslamah, who beheaded him.

Sahih Bukhari V1B11N626 records these words from Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, The Prophet added, “Certainly I decided to order the Mu’adh-dhin (call-maker) to pronounce Iqama and order a man to lead the prayer and then take a fire flame to burn all those who had not left their houses so far for the prayer along with their houses.

Tabari X: 55-57 Abu Bakr’s letter to the apostates.… I have sent you someone at the head of an army of the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who follow (them) in good works. I ordered him not to fight anyone or to kill anyone until he has called him to the cause of Allah; so that those who respond to him and acknowledge (Him) and renounce (unbelief) and do good works, (my envoy) shall accept him and help him to (do right), but I have ordered him to fight those who deny (Him) for that reason. So he will not spare any one of them he can gain mastery over, (but may) burn them with fire, slaughter them by any means, and take women and children captive; nor shall he accept from anyone anything except Islam.

The author claims that barbarity is a complete departure from Islamic teaching. First define the word “barbarity” then conclude if what is described above fulfills its definition. The Ahmadiyya, however; consider mainstream Islam to be barbaric.  Perhaps if they could somehow convince the other 1.5 billion Muslims to accept their radical reinterpretation of Islam, the world would be a safer and more prosperous place, but that’s quite unlikely. Despite their claims, they are not accepted by the Muslim mainstream as Muslim, and their beliefs apply only to their small sect.

The Quran, refers to such people as “diseased” (chapter 2: verse 10).

According to the Ahmadiyya Qur’an by Maulana Muhammad Ali (Page 6) surah two deals with the Jews of Yathrib. Since these Jews NEVER participated in acts of Terror against Muhammad and his companions, the application of this verse to 21^st century Islamic terrorists is an intentional or ignorant misapplication of this text.

The teachings of the Quran and the actions of the Prophet Muhammad are in direct contradiction to the actions of al-Shabab or ISIS. The Quran refers to extremists in the following words: “And when it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption on the Earth,’ they say, ‘We are but reformers,'” (2:11).

Tabari VIII 6-40; Ishaq 47-48, 450-480, Muslim B19N4370– Battle of the Ditch, The Meccans came to Medina to defeat the Muslims but were unable to breach a trench built by the Muslims so they withdrew. Allah, through the Angel Gabriel, then commanded Muhammad to march against the Qurayza Jews. After a 25 day siege Muhammad commanded the Jews to submit to Sa’d Mu’adh‘s judgment. They agreed in order to end the siege. After death was decreed, Muhammad ordered all males over puberty beheaded. According to Sahih Muslim 800, but according to Abu-Dawud 900 Jewish male captives were decapitated in the presence of Muhammad and the Jewish victim’s mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, and children. The Prophet then took Rayhana, who just witnessed the death of her Father & Brothers, for Himself. She became his concubine.

At this point one may wonder if the author is familiar with this material or simply regurgitating the party line. My reply to this piece is for the American people so they are not deceived since most will not take time to fact check the claims made in this article. As for the Ahmadiyya author she must know the mainstream Muslim/literalist interpretation of the Qur’an.  She’s calling for it to be rejected as false and despicable and ruining Islam, just as the Druze do, and as Egyptian President el-Sissi is doing.  She is not ignorant, but naively idealistic in thinking Islam as a whole can be saved by “just” following the wisdom of Ghulam Ahmad.  She would have about as much luck convincing them to become Orthodox Jews or Eastern Orthodox Christians.

This is why I urge Muslim communities around the world to speak up against these atrocities and to show the world through cohesive action that coexistence is possible.

Surah 3:85 – “He Who Seeks a Religion Other Than Islam Will Not Be Accepted By Allah And He Will Be a Loser In The Next Life.”

Surah 4:56 – Those who disbelieve in our messages, we shall make them enter fire. As often as their skins are burned, we shall change them for other skins that they may taste the chastisement. Surely Allah is every mighty, wise.

Surah 33:64 – “Allah Has Cursed The Disbelievers, (Those Who Don’t Accept Muhammad) And Has Prepared For Them a Flaming Hell.”

Ishaq #344 – “The Impious Met Death. They Became Fuel For Hell. All Who Are Not Muslims Must Go There.”

Bukhari V8B74N290 “If a person dies (associating partners with Allah) and never repents of it, he will be a permanent resident in hell-fire.”

Bukhari V9B92N384 – “The Prophet Said Whoever Obeys Me Will Enter Paradise And Whoever Disobeys Me Will Not.”

Conclusion: Can there ever be co-existence with people who believe in the literal application of these texts? The Ahmadiyya have made it clear that they reject the call for violent Jihad.  This is admirable and welcomed by Westerners. Unfortunately, because they are considered a heretical sect of Islam or even as apostates from Islam [thus in the literalists’ eyes worthy of death], they can NEVER represent the majority of Muslims who reject the claims of their Mahdi. The distortion presented in this article can perhaps be found in the persecution that this community has experienced at the hands of other Muslims. It appears that she is rejecting as corrupted, literalist Islam which Ahmadiyya claim is a false version of Islam that should be rejected by the rest of the Islamic world.

Whatever they may claim, they do not speak for Islam since most of the world’s Muslims would consider them taqfir.  It is like saying that followers of “Christian Science” should be considered as believing the same things as evangelical Christians do, even though they only accept the Bible as viewed through the peculiar lens of Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, or that Mormons are Christians even though they’ve added a whole third testament to the Bible [the Book of Mormon] and say that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young received new revelations superseding even those of the New Testament.  We know that Christian Science adherents and members of the LDS church and the Reorganized LDS church are NOT Christians, whatever they may claim to be, because they hold heterodox beliefs not consistent with the clear reading of the Bible. Regardless of their claims, they are people who can live harmoniously in secular societies with other non-Muslim societies. Unfortunately, they and their heterodox beliefs are no more accepted in Muslim societies than Jews, Christians, or Zoroastrians.  The vast majority of Muslims globally adhere to the mainstream Sunni and Shi’a sects and appease if not adhere to those who are literalists and promote violent jihad.

Jesus, the one who claimed to be the Son of Man, Son of God and one with the Father, who died on a Roman cross, and rose from the dead as described by eye witnesses in the New Covenant spoke about Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the sect’s Mahdi or messiah. Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks the apostles, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s testimony concerning Jesus is in direct contradiction to the testimony in the Gospels of a severe scourging, carrying the patibulum through the streets of Jerusalem, suffering a nail-driven crucifixion, and finally being thrust through with a Roman spear. This was followed by a burial … and an empty tomb three days later. For Ghulam Ahmad’s claims to be true all the Apostles including Paul, and several hundred early Christians, who were eye-witnesses who faced ostracism, persecution and in many cases painful deaths for believing in the crucifixion and resurrection, would have had to have be delusional liars.  Only Jesus died for our sins.  His death and resurrection was foretold by David, Isaiah and Zechariah.  No Scripture known to man predicted that the messiah/mahdi would die of dysentery. There is one Messiah and he can be found in the writings of the Jewish prophets and in the words of his Apostles and Disciples. Only Jesus’ Apostles and Disciples where in the position to know that He is the Savior, the Son of God. One must believe that Ghulam Ahmad who lived and died 1,900 years after the events somehow knew the truth in contradiction to those who would surely know.  Whether Mohammad, Ghulam Ahmad, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, or the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Jesus predicted, in various Gospel accounts, that false prophets would come.  He warned us beforehand by telling us NOT to believe or follow them because anyone who came after HIM and said, ‘I am He’ — a prophet or a messiah, is a false prophet/messiah. The Scriptures make clear that when the GENUINE Messiah returns, He will return in amazing glory, in the clouds, visible to all the world.

Insulting the Prophet of Islam: Why some Muslims choose to Murder

By Joe Butta and Steve Daskal

Christian Messianic Analysis and Apologetics

World events over the past three decades in Europe and North America as well as across Islamey demand that we ask a serious question about the Islamist [Islamic literalist] understanding of the proper role of violence in dealing with what they perceive to be blasphemy not only against God, but against a mere man, Muhammad.  Do the authoritative texts in Islam support acts of violence against those who are perceived as insulting the Prophet of Islam? The following is a chronological look at what the Qur’an and the traditions of Muhammad as recorded in “authenticated” khadiths say about such violence to determine if these recent acts are required, condoned, or even accepted according to the core scriptures of Islam.

624

Before there was a single Qur’anic revelation concerning insults, Muhammad’s biography records in Ishaq 136 that one Al-Nadir said he was a better story teller than Muhammad. In Ishaq 308 he was decapitated by Ali. Ali was Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law who married Muhammad’s daughter Fatima. Although Ali became the 4^th Caliph of Sunni Islam, Shi’a Muslims consider him the 1st “true” or “legitimate” Imam of Islam.

The same year Uqba bin Abu Muayt insulted Muhammad. According to Bukhari, vol. 4, no. 2934; Muslim, vol. 3, nos. 4422, 4424 Muhammad called on Allah for revenge on this poet.

In Ishaq 308-316 Uqba was captured after the Battle of Badr. Muhammad ordered his execution for his poetic criticism. When Uqba asked who would look after his children Muhammad replied HELLFIRE. After Uqba was decapitated Muhammad called Uqba a wretched person.

In Bukhari vol. 5, no. 4037; Muslim vol. 3, no. 4436 and Ibn Ishaq 364—69 / 548—53; Ka’b bin al-Ashraf, a Jewish poet wrote verses about Muslims that Muhammad found insulting.   Muhammad asked his followers, ‘Who will rid me of this man?’ and several volunteered.  Al-Ashraf was stabbed to death.

Tabari VII 99-100 and Bukhari V4B52N264 recall Muhammad sending assassins to kill the Jewish Chieftain Abu Rafi for speaking against him. The assassins claimed they drove a sword in Abu-Rafi’s belly.

In Tabari VII 101 and Ishaq 483 Muhammad granted permission to murder the Jew Salaam Huqayq. He was in bed when assassins thrust a sword into his belly.

Before we proceed to the following year realize that Muhammad ordered the execution of those who insulted and ridiculed him.  He did this without the benefit of a Qur’anic revelation… but that would soon change.

625

In this year the Muslims lost a battle to the Meccan polytheists at a place called Uhud.  Muhammad was bloodied and the Muslims fled the battlefield. After the battle Sura 3 was revealed.  This means that words came out of Muhammad’s mouth which he attributed to the Angel Gabriel (Jibril).

In Sura 3:186 Allah told Muhammad the loss at Uhud was a test. He would hear insults from the Jews and polytheists but he was counseled to bear the insults.  So, Allah advised his Prophet to ignore the verbal insults.  Perhaps this was because after a military defeat  Muhammad and his forces were in no position to punish the offenders or otherwise take retribution.

 626

In Tabari VII 144-150 In an attempt to strike at his enemy, Muhammad sent Amr Umayya to assassinate the Quraysh leader Abu Sufyan. Amr instead murdered Uthman bin Malik. Upon returning from Mecca, Amr met a Shepherd who stated that he’d never become a Muslim. Later Amr told the Prophet “When the Bedouin was asleep I killed him in a more horrible way than any man has been killed.” Muhammad then blessed him. In fact the horrible way the Shepherd died was to have an arrow pushed through his good eye until it emerged out of the back of his neck.

627

Two years after the disaster at Uhud, Muhammad’s fortunes greatly changed. He withstood a Meccan siege at Medina and slaughtered the surrendering Banu Qurayza Jews.

It was in this context that Surah 33:21 was revealed. It stated that Muhammad was a beautiful model for Muslims to follow.

Surah 33:57-61 was then revealed and stated those who insult Allah and Muhammad are cursed and bound for hell. Those who insult Muslims are guilty of slander and sin. If the unbelievers do not stop (the insults) they will not remain as your neighbors. They should be seized and slaughtered.

Although Muhammad commanded assassinations of those who insulted him three years prior, he now had Qur’anic cover to kill them.

In Bukhari 3:106 – “The Prophet said, “Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me then he will surely enter the Hell-fire.” Here it is interesting to read that Muhammad, who claimed no divinity, can state that those who slander him will definitely go to hell. Muhammad consistently reacted with punishment by death — often deliberately tortuous death — for those who rejected or belittled him.

Then Abu Dawud (vol. 3, no. 4348) recorded that a blind man had a concubine who was mother of two of his children and who used to abuse the Prophet with her words. The man tried to stop her repeatedly, ‘but she did not give up the habit.’ One night she began to slander the Prophet… and abuse him. So the blind man took a dagger and killed her smearing her child with the woman’s blood.

The next morning after Muhammad was informed of the murder he assembled the people and demanded to know who did it. The blind man stood up and explained to Muhammad that the concubine, his property, was hurling insults. He said he even had two sons by her. He told the Prophet that he tried to stop her, but she refused to stop. He admitted that he killed her. Muhammad responded, ‘Oh, be my witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood’. Interestingly Muslims see Muhammad as merciful for sparing the life of the murderer. To many westerners they see Muhammad as one giving approval for his followers to murder anyone who speaks ill of him.

Abu Dawud continues in (vol. 3, no. 4349) stating that a Jewish woman insulted the prophet and disparaged him. A Muslim strangled her to death. The Apostle of Allah… declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.

Blasphemy and cursing of one’s parent was punishable by death under the Law of Moses. The prophet Elisha on two occasions called death upon those who mocked and disparaged him.  Eli and Samuel failed to punish their sons for their blasphemous misconduct as priests and God took their lives and cut off the lineage of Eli and of Samuel from the priesthood.  The real problem is that disparaging Muhammad is equated as disparaging Allah, and is therefore blasphemy that must be punished by death. It took Christ’s Gospel to eliminate capital punishment for blasphemy.  This can be found in Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:29 where Jesus stated words spoken against him will be forgiven. Nevertheless capital punishment was the norm in Christendom until the 19th century.

628

In Tabari VIII 90-96; Ishaq 507-509 an old woman, Umm Qirfa, mocked the Prophet. She was arrested and brutally executed by being quartered. Her daughter was given to Muhammad.

630

At this point in his career, Muhammad had just captured Mecca and had attacked the Christian Byzantine Empire. He is now largely unopposed across the Arabian peninsula. In this position of strength the next Surah was revealed.

Surah 9:61-66 states, when Muhammad’s credibility is attacked, torment awaits those who insult him. Whosoever opposes Allah and Muhammad will be bound for Hell-fire, the supreme disgrace. Those who make jokes about Allah, Muhammad or the Qur’an are infidels and implicitly worthy of death.

Then Tabari VIII 181-183; Ishaq 553 recall after witnessing a series of executions that included: Ibn Khatal, Fartana the slave girl, Al Huwayrith, Miqyas, Sara Mawlat, and Abu Jahl’s slave, the Meccans abandoned their previous religion [in most cases but not all, they were pagans] and submitted to Islam, becoming Muslims.

631

The killings continue in Ishaq 675-676. Muhammad ordered the assassinations of Al Harith ibn Suwayd ibn Samit, for speaking against him, Abu Afak (120 year old murdered in his sleep for objecting to Samit’s murder), and Assam bint Marwan, who was impaled in her tent while sleeping with her children and pregnant with another child for satirizing Muhammad in her poetry.

Muhammad Husayn Haykal N242 recorded that her tribe, Banu Khutmah, became Muslims because “they felt the power of Islam.”

632

Finally in Bukhari V2B23N1330; V5B64N4441 just before Muhammad’s death he stated, “May Allah curse Jews & Christians for they built their places of worship at the graves of the prophets. For no two religions are to exist in the Arab peninsula.”

* * * * *

The information presented here was in chronological order and in context. The traditions of Muhammad reveal how he reacted to and dealt with insults. There is no other version concerning how Muslims are to literally interpret these verses. Islamic literalists who react violently to perceived insults of Islam are within the confines of Qur’anic law to enact violence against perceived offenders. Therefore when politicians [Muslim or otherwise] continue to assert that Muslim violence against those they decide are blaspheming either Allah, the Qur’an, or the man Muhammad has nothing to do with “true” Islam, you now have ammunition to counter their ignorance or efforts to deliberately misinform the people of the West.