Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

1
Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

• Terrorist Attack Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, India

2
Introduction

• It is common for moderate Muslims to speak of
  their religion as one that promotes peace and
  harmony among men, regardless of race, class, or
  beliefs.
• Yet, our minds are filled with images of
  hate-filled, murderous Muslim radicals on suicide
  missions against America and the infidels.

3
Introduction

• Moderate Muslims tell us that these are radicals
  who do not represent most Muslims. Most Muslims
  probably dont condone the present terrorism.
• Some, who look at religion from a historical
  perspective, simply conclude that all
  religionsincluding Christianityhave had violent
  radicals and members who violated the true
  precepts of their faiths.
• Inquisition
• Crusades
• Abortion

4
Christianity and Islam Each Is Established on a
Separate Foundation

• The Christian faith is focused on the life and
  teachings (doctrine) of Jesus.
• No secular or worldly kingdom is preached. (John
  1836)
• Teaches its members how to treat their enemies.
  (Matthew 544)
• Means of expanding the kingdomfaith. (Romans
  1017 Mark 1615,16)

5
Christianity and Islam Each Is Established on a
Separate Foundation

• The Islam faith is rooted in the teachings of
  Mohammed and the doctrine found in the Quran.
• To spread his kingdom, Mohammed engaged in bloody
  warfare.
• The Quran supports at least limited violence to
  achieve its ends. Well see this when we discuss
  the concept of
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  jihad.
• One of Islams objectives is for it to become the
  worlds universal religion and to create Muslim
  nations, requiring, under threat of punishment,
  conversion to its tenets.

6
What the Quran Says

• To Muslims, the Quran is the inspired word of
  Allah (God).
• Jihad, is often translated holy war. The Jihad
  doctrine speaks of struggle.
• Some contend it is simply each individuals
  internal struggle with evil.
• And, they say, jihad includes struggles one has
  in defending his homeland and religion.
• Others say Mohammed (Gods spokesman) commanded
  his followers to fight against and subdue all who
  resist Islam.

7
Words of the Quran

• Listen to the Qurans words

• As for those who are slain in the cause of God,
  He will not allow their works to perishHe will
  admit them to Paradise he has made known to
  them. (Surah 474-6)

8
Words of the Quran
Listen to the Qurans words

• The believers who stay at homeapart from those
  that suffer a grave impedimentare not equals of
  those who fight for the cause of God with their
  goods and their persons. God has given those who
  fight with their goods and their persons a higher
  rank than those who stay at home... (Surah
  495,96)

9
Words of the Quran

• Slay the idolaters wherever you find them...lie
  in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and
  take to prayer and render the alms levy, allow
  them to go on their way (Surah 95)

Listen to the Qurans words
10
Words of the Quran

• Those that make war against God and His apostle
  and spread disorder in the land shall be put to
  death or crucified or have their hands and feet
  cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from
  the land. (Surah 534)

Listen to the Qurans words
11
Words of the Quran

• Note the contrast with Ephesians 610-17
• Our warfare is spiritualnot carnal.
• 2 Corinthians 103-5

• For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
  but against principalities, against powers,
  against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
  against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
  heavenly places. (Ephesians 612)

12
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History tells us that when Mohammed first
  preached his supposed revelations, he didnt try
  to force people to accept,
• Later, he would tell his followers that God was
  telling him
• Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the
  hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell
  shall be their home.

13
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• Those people conquered by Mohammed and his armies
  had a choice.
• Convert to Islam.
• Pay tribute to Islam as an unbeliever or DIE.
• The oldest available biography of Mohammed tells
  of him capturing a Jewish settlement and
  torturing some of its occupants to find out where
  their treasures were hidden.

14
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History of Islamic expansion
• Encarta Encyclopedia says The remarkable speed
  of (Islams) religious expansion can be
  attributed to the fact that it was accomplished
  primarily through military conquest. Mohammed
  drew Arabsto Islam by his forceful personality,
  the promise of salvation for those who died
  fighting for Islam, and the lure of fortune for
  those who succeeded in conquest. The caravan
  raids of the early years of Islam soon became
  full-scale wars, and empires and nations bowed to
  the power of this new religious, military,
  political, economic and social phenomenon.

15
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• History of Islamic expansion
• An Islamic website says Islam was spread by
  proof and evidence, in the case of those who
  listened to the message and responded to it. And
  it was spread through strength and the sword in
  the case of those who stubbornly resisted, until
  they had no choice and had to submit to new
  reality. (www.islam-qa.com, Question 5441)

16
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• Treatment of apostates
• Under Islamic law, whoever falls away has
  committed unpardonable sin.
• Given time to repent, then threatened with death.
• Much of the Muslim-on-Muslim violence is the
  result of either dealing with alleged apostates
  or attempting to bring certain nations under
  Muslim control.
• Similar to Catholic Inquisition but not found in
  the teaching of Jesus.

17
The Example of Mohammed and His Followers

• Treatment of women
• The Bible teaches husbands to love their wives as
  their own bodies (Ephesians 528,29).
• Quran says As for those (wives) from whom you
  fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to
  beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you,
  take no further actions against them. (Surah
  434)

18
Rejection of Jesus Is Rejection of Peace With God

• Muslims give lip service to belief in the O.T.
  and N.T. (though claiming both have been
  corrupted)
• But consider Genesis 315, Genesis 121-3, the
  sacrifice patterns under Moses Law, and the
  coming of Jesus. These Scriptures all point to
  the coming of a king of peace and an age of peace.

19
Rejection of Jesus Is Rejection of Peace With God

• Rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of
  Godrejection of His death as a sacrifice for
  sinrejection of the gospel of graceall
  militates against a faith centered on having
  peace with God.
• Colossians 119-22
• Ephesians 214-16

20
Some Concluding Thoughts

• At first examination, Islam is appealing.
• A call to believe in one Godthe God of Abraham,
  Moses, and Jesus.
• A call to repent and submit to the will of God.
• A call to holy living, involving prayer, fasting,
  and charity.

21
Some Concluding Thoughts

• But its claim to be a religion of peace is
  belied by
• The teachings of the Quran, their foremost
  authority
• The teaching and practices of Mohammed, whom they
  believe to be Gods final spokesman and most
  important example
• The history of how the religion spread from Saudi
  Arabia to control a large portion of the world
  stretching from Spain to China and from Russia to
  Africa

22
Some Concluding Thoughts

• But its claim to be a religion of peace is
  belied by
• The practice of militant jihadand the relative
  silence of moderate Muslims about the murders of
  innocents by suicide killers

23
Some Concluding Thoughts

• It contrasts sharply with the Christian faith.
• Certainly there have been great sins perpetrated
  in the name of Christianity, but none were
  supported by Jesus or the N.T.
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace, not merely a
  teacher of peace with men but the mediator of
  true peace with God. Muslims wholly reject this
  peace.
• We must conclude that while there are many
  peace-loving Muslims in the world, their
  peace-loving attitude is in spite of Islamnot
  because of it!