Billions of people are held captive in the terror of Islam. They fear that if they even question the validity of Islam they will be killed by government or family. It is my prayer that the love of Christ will overcome the cruel intolerance of Islam. It is the purpose of this article to show that Islamic terrorists are accurately following the teachings and example of Mohammad. In order to understand the evil we see perpetrated by Islamic extremists we must understand the life, teachings, and history of Mohammad and the religion he created.
In 313 A.D. the Roman emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which removed penalties for professing Christianity, and allowed anyone to worship whichever deity he chose. Palestine and many of the lands surrounding Arabia, where Mohammad lived, were held by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire at that time. Many of the inhabitants of Arabia were Christians and Jews. Mohammad was born in 570 A.D.; in the city of Mecca in what is today Saudi Arabia. He was born into an influential family but was orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandfather and uncle who were involved in the camel caravan trade. In his travels with his uncle’s camel caravan he had contact with Christians and Jews who related stories about their religions to him. Mohamed was illiterate (Surah7:157) and was unable to read and study accurate histories or doctrines of either religion. The majority of the inhabitants of his home city of Mecca were polytheists. They worshiped over 600 gods.
Mohammad came to believe that there was just one god, Allah (the all powerful moon god) and saw himself as a prophet of that one god. He began to gain converts to his belief in Mecca. After the death of his influential uncle, Mohammad lost status in Mecca. He and his followers were persecuted in Mecca and moved to the city of Medina. Medina had a significant population of Christians and Jews and Mohammad tried to convince them that he was a prophet of god. Neither group would accept him as a prophet. Eventually, after he had gained political power in Medina, Mohammad expelled both Christians and Jews from Medina and confiscated their property. He instructed his followers from Medina to raid camel caravans from Mecca. Years of battles followed between the people of Mecca and the followers of Mohammad. In 628 A.D. Mohammad made a ten year treaty, with the inhabitants of Mecca. Two years later in 630 A.D. he violated the treaty, marched triumphantly into Mecca, and became its ruler. He went to the Kaaba, a pagan shrine, and cleansed it of 365 pagan icons, but left the sacred Black Stone, and the icons of Mary and Jesus.
After Mohammad conquered all of Arabia he sent letters to the Christian, (Byzantine Empire), and the Zoroaster, (Persian Empire), urging them to convert to Islam. When they refused he urged his followers to wage jihad (holy war) to conquer these infidel lands and establish Allah’s reign. In 631 A.D. Mohammad personally led the first Muslim conquest of a Christian land. Mohammad allowed his warriors to take conquered women and children as slaves or to use the conquered women for sexual pleasure. Even in the seventh century this was considered barbarous behavior. There is an instance of a Muslim questioning Mohammad to his face about whether Mohammad was being just. Mohammad’s response was “If justice is not to be found with me then where will you find it?” The belief of Muslims today is that justice is exemplified by the life of Mohammad.
Mohammad claimed to have prophetic revelations. He received these revelations from 610 A.D. to about 630 A.D. Some were written down and some were kept in the memory of Mohammad and his followers. Around 650 A.D. these were collected and written in the Koran (or Quran). The Koran was not written in liner fashion. It is simply a collection of the statements of Mohammad. Therefore it cannot be taken out of context as there is no context in the Koran. The Koran teaches the doctrine of abrogation, (Naskh). While man may not change anything, Allah can change or supersede any revelation with something better if he chooses. (Koran, Sharia [or Surah] 2:106). Therefore the teachings of earlier prophets such as Moses and Jesus, and even early teachings of Mohammad are superseded by the later teachings of Mohammad. Muslims believe that Mohammad was god’s final prophet, that there will be no other, and that his revelations are superior to all others. As a result, Muslims believe that they are superior to all other people and that they must dominate and destroy all non-Muslims. Muslims are the best of people (Surah 3:110). Non–Muslims are the worst of creatures, (Surah 98:6). Muslim conquerors practiced slavery because they believe Non-Muslims are inferior to Muslims and should be the slaves of Muslims.
In spite of the teachings of Muslim superiority many Muslims, although proud of their heritage, are ashamed of what is done in the name of their religion. In order to love your neighbor as yourself, you must first love yourself. To have an understanding of your worth, you must understand what you are worth to God. Muslims are unaware that God loves them so much that he personally died for them. This is why life is so meaningless to them. Mohammed was a man of power, not a man of love. When Christians show the love of Christ rather than the power of Mohammad, Muslims view Christians as weak. Muslim doctrine teaches that in order to gain advantage over infidels it is acceptable for Muslims to lie to them. Muslims believe that the Koran is uncreated, eternal, divine, and immutable. However, the Koran is full of historical, scientific, and mathematical errors as well as internal inconsistencies.
There are two distinct periods of prophetic revelations; the Mecca period, and the Medina period. His early revelations were much more tolerant because Mohammad was trying to win converts by persuasion. He originally taught that since Jews and Christians were, Dhimmi, (i.e. people of the Book), they could live in Muslim lands if they were held in subjection, paid the jizya, a special tax, and did not try to gain converts to their religion. Under Muslim rule Christians are forbidden from making open displays of their faith such as placing crosses on churches. Mohammad later told his followers to fight and slay infidels wherever they find them (Surah 9:5). He instructed his followers to ask those who had been conquered two questions, “do you confess that Allah is god and Mohammad his prophet?” If they answered no to either of these questions, Mohammad instructed his followers to immediately behead them (Ibn Hisham, the Biography of Muhammad, part 4: page 11).
Muslims believe that once a land has been occupied by Muslims, that it is Muslim land forever, and that it is the obligation of every able bodied Muslim man to engage in defensive jihad to control such land. Mohammad’s followers conquered many Christian lands. At the peak of Muslim power, Muslims controlled two thirds of what were once Christian lands. Muslim armies conquered Jerusalem in 638 A.D. At one time Islam held Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Spain, Portugal, southern Italy, and northern France. Muslims conquered Spain in 715 A.D. and held it until 1492 A.D. The Franks lead by Charles (the hammer) Martel stopped the Muslim advance into Europe at the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. In 846 A.D. Muslim armies reached Rome. In 1096 A.D., after turning the other cheek for 400 years to Muslim abuse, the first crusade was launched to regain Christian lands that had been captured by Muslim armies. Byzantium fell to a Muslim army in 1453 A.D. Between 1237 A.D and 1240 A.D. the Tatars of the Golden Horde (decedents of Genghis Kahn) conquered Russia and held much of it in subjection for over 150 years. In 1252 A.D. the Tatars converted to Islam. Twice the Ottoman Turks reached the gates of Vienna. Christians who lived in the lands ruled by the Ottoman Turks were required to provide a “blood levy” of one out of every five Christian boys to fight for the Turks in Sultan’s army.
Mohammad taught his followers that they should take over the entire world and behead all who would not convert to Islam. All Muslims agree that they must engage in offensive jihad, or holy war, to bring salvation to all people of the world. The disagreement among Muslims today is that some reformers hold that offensive jihad, or struggle can be through peaceful persuasion. History shows that this reformed interpretation is not what Mohammad or his early followers believed or practiced. Mohammad was a shrewd military commander and a fierce warrior. Devout Muslims believe that the highest form of devotion is to emulate Mohammad. The other difference between reforming Muslims and the Islamist is with regard to the application of sharia law. The reformers hold that sharia law is a matter for individual application. The Islamists hold that sharia law must rule the entire earth and be imposed on everyone. The Islamist view is clearly the view and practice of Mohammad and his early followers. A civilization should be judged by how the weak are treated. Under Islam women are considered inferior and subservient to men, and are treated with great disrespect and brutality. One of the great weaknesses of Islam is that it wastes the talents, abilities and contributions of women. Sharia law mandates that anyone who converts from Islam to another religion should be killed and it is the duty of a relative to kill them. Honor killing is practiced in Muslim culture to remove any family member who would convert to another religion, or bring dishonor on the family by failing to follow Muslim customs. (Google honor killing. Be prepared for graphic and disturbing images.)
There are 13 billion Muslims on the earth today. Of this number many experts estimate that only 1% (13 million) are active terrorists. (The population of the United States is 312 million.) Most Muslims would choose to live in peace with those of other religions, and simply want to raise their families in peace and harmony with their non-Muslim neighbors. The difficulty peaceful Muslims have is that they know that the only Muslims that are truly following the teachings and practices of Mohammad are those who are striving to establish Muslim rule over the entire world. Therefore they do not speak out against terrorist activity. In fact, many peaceful Muslims give contributions to Muslim organizations that funnel money to terrorist organizations. The problem for American infidels (non-Muslims) is that they do not know which Muslims they can trust. Surely American infidels should be able to trust American Muslims who are well educated and have taken an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Remember the Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Hasan? Who on November 5, 2009, went on a shooting spree and murdered thirteen on his military base? He was a medical doctor with certification as a psychiatrist. As an officer in the United States Military he had taken an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. Yet he was true to the teachings of Mohammad and killed infidels. The reaction of Muslims in Muslim countries to the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center was euphoric. This shows their joy in bringing death and destruction upon the infidels.
Islam teaches that any sin can be forgiven and eternity in paradise earned, if you die by killing infidels. However, from the Christian prospective, the real evil of Islam is not that it teaches that all non-Muslims must be converted or killed, but rather that it perverts the true nature of God. Christianity teaches that God wants mankind to have faith in Him and serve Him in faith and love. When converts are made at the point of a sword, faith is not the reason for the conversion. It is fear of death. Christianity teaches that God wants all of mankind to love and serve Him because we understand that He loved us so much that He took on human form and died as a sacrifice for our sins. The Bible teaches that Jesus comes to give life and to give it more abundantly, and that Satan comes to kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) Islam has as its primary goal the spread of Islam worldwide by converting or killing and destroying all followers of all other religions. Christian doctrine teaches that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, including the Muslims that presently deny his divinity. Mohammad developed a religious philosophy that is history’s most effective war machine, and his followers are denied eternal life because they deny that Jesus Christ is God in human flesh. Muslims are therefore antichrists.
We have the history of Mohammad himself, 1,400 years of history of his followers oppressing and killing people of other religions, and recent terrorist events. All of this substantiates that devoted followers of Mohammad will use any means possible to spread Islam worldwide. Islam does not want the opportunity to compete in the marketplace of ideas with other religions; it seeks to wipe out all other religions and their followers. The traditional Muslim belief is that there is no separation of religion and government. It is sometimes difficult for Christians to understand the Muslim attitude toward government due to the differences between the origins of Christianity and Islam.
Jesus was born of a virgin mother, the step-son of a humble carpenter, he never enjoyed a wife or family, led a sinless life, performed life changing miracles to heal the sick, never harmed any person, was falsely accused of criminal actions, and was tortured to death for the wrongs of others. He taught His followers that He was humble and meek and that it was each person’s choice as to whether they become His follower. He taught His followers that their love for God should be shown by showing love to others, love to those who hate them, and to pray for those who despitefully use them. His early followers were hunted and killed by governments, and tortured to death for their refusal to deny their belief in Him. Christians believe that they should strive to be Christ-like, and that to be Christ-like is to show the strength, power, and love of God.
The Koran teaches that although Jesus was not divine (Surah 5:17), He was a powerful miracle worker (Surah 5:110). He was born of a virgin, and spoke from the cradle in defense of His mother’s virginity (Surah19:29). He led a righteous life, (Koran, Sharia 3:42-59). Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified (Surah 4:157) because Allah would not allow one of his prophets to die in shame and humiliation. Muslims believe that God made Judas look like Jesus and the Jews crucified Judas by mistake.
Mohammad was born into an influential family, but was orphaned at an early age and raised by relatives. He never worked a single miracle (Surah 6:109). He had many wives. At least one of his wives was a child nine years old when the marriage was consummated. He raided camel caravans, killed the camel drivers and took their goods as booty. He was a crafty, cruel, and ruthless military commander, who killed anyone who stood in the way of his ambition. He became the political and religious leader of a nation. He taught his followers that all who refused to convert to Islam should be beheaded. His early followers emulated his actions and spread terror by military conquest. Muslim scholars teach that the highest form of devotion is to emulate Mohammad. There are over 100 verses in the Koran that exhort Muslims to wage jihad (holy war) against unbelievers. They are told to strike off their heads (Surah 47:4). In schools in Jordan and Palestine children are taught that Islam will destroy all other religions through jihad fighters.
Shortly after Mohammad’s death in 632 A.D. a disagreement arose over who should be Mohammad’s successor to power. This split resulted in the Sunni-Shiite split which continues to this day. There are two views of jihad among Islamists. One view is the Sunni, Wahhabi, top-down view. They are backed by the Saudi government and financed by Saudi oil money. They plant seeds of fundamentalism, irrigate them with money, let the teachings grow, and mollify any reaction from the opposition. They then take control of nation after nation. Osama bin Laden followed Wahhabi theology. It dominates Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and has increasing influence over the mid east. Wahhabi theology is now being taught in many parts of the west including the United States. In the Wahhabi view, the United States is considered the major obstacle to world domination by the Islamist. They believe they have a divine obligation to attack America (The Great Satan) in every way possible.
The second view of jihad is the Muslim Brotherhood, bottom-up view. Spread fundamentalism at the grass roots. When weak, lie low and expand slowly. When strong accelerate activity and pursue goals mercilessly. The Brotherhood is the backbone of most Islamist organizations throughout the world including in the United States. Ayatollah Khomeini was supported by the Muslim Brotherhood. When Ayatollah Khomeini led the overthrow of the Shah of Iran he charged that the Shah was not governing under sharia law. Khomeini charged that the Shah was allowing complete freedom of religion for Christians and Jews, including the right of Muslims to convert; he also allowed non-Muslims equal political and legal rights. Such things cannot be allowed under sharia law.
Some claim that jihad is the Muslim equivalent to the Christian Crusades. This is inaccurate in several respects. The crusades were a defensive response to hundreds of years of Muslim aggression against Christian lands and people. Offensive Jihad has been a central part of Muslim practice from the time of Mohammad.
Senator Rick Santorum relates an event that occurred after he made a speech on religious freedom and Islamic intolerance at Harvard University. After the speech, he was approached by two female students and one male student who told him that he misunderstood Islam; that it was a religion of peace and tolerance. Senator Santorum than ask them if apostates (Muslims who convert to other religions) should be executed. One of the women said no, that she knew people that had left Islam without a problem in the United States. Senator Santorum then said that he was not talking about Muslim apostates in the United States but in majority Islamic countries. After a long silence the young man said, “that is different, because in Muslim countries Islam and the government are one, and converting from Islam is the equivalent of treason against the government, and punishable by death.” The two female students agreed.
Islam teaches that there should be no religious tolerance in Muslim nations but that Muslims should be free to work to convert all non-Muslim nations into Islamic nations where no religious freedom is allowed. In the United States treason is listed in Article 3, section 3: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.” The Constitution of the United States gives religious freedom. Any person that gives aid and comfort to any group that has as its goal the overthrow of the United States Constitution by violent or subversive means is giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States and is therefore guilty of treason. Islam advocates the overthrow all governments that allow religions freedom. Any nation that tolerates Islam can only end up with total religious intolerance and Islam as the only religion tolerated.
Jesus said “by their fruits you shall know them (Mat 7:16)”. Mohammad like every human ever born, except Jesus Christ, had the same sin nature that you and I have (Surah 47:19). He used his crafty wisdom to develop a religion that seeks to kill all who stand in opposition to his goal of world domination. In his prophetic visions, and followers, Mohammad has left behind a legacy of military conquest, brutality, oppression, slavery, terror, death, and evil, only rivaled in history by Communism. In the early 1980s I went to the Muslim student center at Indiana State University in Terre Haute several times, and visited with the Islamic students. Much to my surprise all of the Islamic students that I talked with said that they were dedicated Marxist. I expressed surprise and argued that Marxism is atheistic, and that since they believe in a god, that their religion was incompatible with Marxism. They were all in agreement that Islam is compatible with Marxism. If you look at most majority Islamic nations, they are socialist dictatorships. Today most Muslims accept Marxism as compatible with Islam. The result is that today we have history’s two greatest evils and most effective killing machines, Islam and Marxism united as one great evil, intent on subjugating the entire world under its brutality and oppression.
Many years ago I saw a television special. I believe it was on CNN. They interviewed a young Pakistani, Muslim woman. She said that her life goal was to have as many children as she could possibly have, and that all of them would die as suicide bombers before they reached thirteen years of age. What evil could deceive a person to have such a desire? Only the evil of Satan and his disciple, Mohammad, could lead this woman and so many others to death and eternity in hell. We should pray that God send the Holy Spirit into the Muslim world so that Muslims may come to a saving knowledge that Jesus Christ is their savior. That their sins are forgiven by his completed work on the cross, and it is not necessary for them to kill others to gain their salvation. I know that there are Muslims that believe I should be killed for writing what I have written here. However, I believe it would be evil for me not to share what I have learned of the terrible evil of Islam. If you have Muslim acquaintances the loving thing to do is not to be silent about the information presented here and allow them to spend eternity in hell. The loving thing to do is to share this information with them so that they can spend eternity in heaven. There are those in the United States that do not believe that freedom of speech should extend to those who say negative things about Islam. Even President Barack Obama recently said, in a speech at the U.N., that the future does not belong to those who speak negatively of the Prophet Mohammad. It is my desire that Christians who read this will be awakened to the reality that Islam seeks to convert or kill them. It is my prayer that Muslims that read this will reconsider what type of cruel god they serve, and that the Holy Spirit will give them understanding of the true love, mercy and forgiveness of the one true God, available to them through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Any religion that calls for the human sacrifice of anyone who honestly doubts that validity of any religion should not be tolerated in any civilized nation.
Suggested Reading
Berman, Ilan. Winning the Long War: Retaking the Offensive against Radical Islam.
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009.
Davis, Gregory M. Religion of Peace?: Islam’s War Against the World. World Ahead Publishing, 2006.
Doyle, Tom (2012-09-04). Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Emerson, Stevens. American Jihad: The Terrorist Living Among Us. Free Press, 2003.
Gubatz, P. David and Paul Sperry. Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that’s
Conspiring to Islamize America. WND Books, 2009.
Guillaume, Alfred. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah. Oxford University Press, 1979.
Hamis, Tawfik. The Roots of Jihad. Top Executive Media, 2006.
Hecht, Bill. Two Wars We Must Not Lose. Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 2012.
Kinzer, Stephen. All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror. Wiley, 2008.
Lewis, Bernard and Buntzie Ellis Churchill. Islam: The Religion and the People. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.
Lewis, Bernard. Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004.
Lings, Martin. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. Inner Traditions, 2006.
Qur’an (Kindle Definitive English Edition) Complete and Unabridged. Islamic Studies Press.
Santorum, Rick. “The Elephant in the Room: A war of ideas within Islam. “ 22 February 2012. Philly.com.
Schafi, Abd El. Behind the Veil: Unmasking Islam. Pioneer Book Company, 2002.
Spencer, Robert. Stealth Jihad. Regency Publishing, 2008.
Spencer, Robert. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). Regency Publishing, 2008.
Spencer, Robert. The Truth about Muhammad. Regency Publishing, 2008.
Spencer, Robert. Muslim Brotherhood in America. David Horowitz Freedom Center, 2012.
Wikipedia, Muhammad
Below are interesting statements from the Koran. Some agree with the Bible, some disagree, and some disagree with other passages in the Koran.
Surah 2:87, 5:44, 6:154, 32:23, 529:46 Allah confirmed the Old Testament.
Surah 2:87, 5:46, 5:68, 29:46, 43:63 Allah confirmed the gospel.
Surah 2:132 Abraham was a Muslim.
Surah 2:190 Allah does not love sinners.
Surah 2:191, 9:5, 9:123 Fight and slay unbelievers wherever ye find them.
Surah 3:45 & 46 Jesus is held in honor in this world and the hereafter, and is of those nearest to Allah. Jesus spoke from the cradle defending his mother’s virginity.
Surah 3:45, 4:158, 21:89 Jesus is a prophet.
Surah 3:47 Jesus was of virgin birth.
Surah 3:49-51 Jesus was a messenger for Israel only, not the Light of the World
Surah 3:52 Jesus disciples were Muslims.
Surah 3:55 Jesus was raised by Allah, he did not die on a cross, those who follow Jesus are superior to those who reject faith.
Surah 3:144, 4:157,8, 19:33 Did Jesus die?
Surah 4:3 Marry two to four women; or a captive that you possess.
Surah 4:11-12, 4:176 Allah or Mohammad made mathematical errors.
Surah 4:15-16, 24:2 Inconsistent punishment for adultery.
Surah 4:157 Jesus was not crucified.
Surah 4:158, 19:33 Jesus was raised from dead.
Surah 4:171 Jesus was an apostle of Allah, only human, no divine nature, a created being, not the Word of God.
Surah 5:38 Cut off a thief’s hands.
Surah 5:75. Jesus was no more than an apostle.
Surah 5:17, 116 It is blasphemy to say Jesus is equal with God.
Surah 5:51 Do not take Jews and Christians for friends.
Surah 5:110 Jesus healed those born blind, and lepers, and raised the dead.
Surah 6:14, 6:163, 39:12 Muhammad first to follow Allah.
Surah 6:34, 6:115, 10:64, 50:28-29 No change can be made in the words of Allah.
Surah 6:39, 30:26, 32:13, 43:36-7 Allah is cruel.
Surah 6:101, 25:2 Allah cannot have a son. Surah 39:4 Allah can have a son.
Surah 6:109, 17:59 Mohammad never provided any signs or miracles just terror.
Surah 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, 25:59 Creation took 6 days. Surah 41:9-12 Creation took 8 days.
Surah 7:157 Mohammad was Illiterate.
Surah 17:90-93 Mohammad says he cannot work miracles, he is just a man.
Surah 18:86-90 The earth is flat.
Surah 19:29, 30 Jesus speaks form the cradle to tell that his mother is a virgin.
Surah 19:35 Jesus was begat by Allah.
Surah 22:52: Satan has tampered with the words of every prophet We sent, but Allah abrogates what Satan tampered with. (Who is the we if Allah is one?)
Surah 28:52 The Old Testament prophets were Muslims.
Surah 29:46 Islam has the same god as Jews and Christians.
Surah 42:13 Jesus was a Muslim.
Surah 47:4 Strike of the heads of unbelievers.
Surah 47:19 Mohammad has faults, he is a sinner.
Surah 48:2 Allah forgives Mohammad’s sins when he wins wars.
Surah 48:29 Muslims are Merciful to one another but ruthless to non-believers.
