Sermon: Jihad and Jesus

Attack on America
Jihad and Jesus:
A Comparison between the Methods of Muhammad and those of Jesus in Spreading Faith
By Dave Redick

Muhammad was a warrior in the carnal sense. Was Jesus? Not even close!

Introduction

In this morning's sermon I presented to you a summary of the identity, origin and general teachings of the religion of Islam. There I explained how an Arab of the seventh century named Muhammad claimed to have received revelations from Allah (the Arabic name for God) through the angel Gabriel. The initial appearance of Gabriel in a cave on Mt. Nur on the Arabian Peninsula was said to be in the form of a vision. Subsequent "communications" are said to have been in the form of mental impressions.

At first the Arab Muhammad shared these visions only with family and friends in Mecca, his hometown. Later he said he was instructed to share what Allah was telling him with others. Muhammad began to preach a message that called on his fellow Meccans to leave off worshipping many gods and turn their hearts to the one and only god, Allah. At first Muhammad was influenced by both Judaism and Christianity. Ultimately however, he was preaching and teaching things contrary both of these.

I am not going to repeat my morning sermon here, so if you were not present, I invite you to get a tape or a manuscript copy.

Muhammad's teaching spread from Mecca to Medina, then to various cities and ultimately to the whole Arabian Peninsula. During the hundred years after his death it spread rapidly across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Muhammad's followers gathered the oral tradition of his teaching together after his death into written form in what came to be known as the Qur'an or Koran. Also collected were the oral stories of Muhammad's life, preserved in the hadith. My closing point in the sermon this morning was that history indicates that a great reason for the successful spread of Islam was the principle of jihad or "holy war" taught by the Qur'an. The idea was that the Islamic faith was to be spread by force of arms. The Arab Muslims went out and attacked cities and countries. Once subdued, or sometimes in advance of attack through intimidation, people were forced to become Muslim or die. Though efforts are made to deny this history, it is there for all to see.

Though I mentioned jihad in my sermon this morning I didn't have time to say very much about it. The points I made then were: 1.) That jihad is the concept of "holy war" or "holy struggle." 2.) That contrary to what some say and believe today, the concept of jihad being carnal warfare and not just inner struggle was present in the teaching and practice of Muhammad. 3.) Not all Muslims today (particularly the ones in America) hold to the idea that advancing the cause of their religion through carnal warfare is what their religion teaches or what Muhammad originally taught.

This later position (that jihad is not literal war) is held and taught by a number of Islamic sects. To give you an example, I will quote from Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahman who is "the spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. He is "the fourth successor of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) who proclaimed that he was the Messiah and reformer, promised by all the great religions of the world to the people of the latter age. His community is a dynamic, world-wide, missionary force in Islam." So says his website. (1) While he may not be universally recognized by Muslims over the world, his words seem to capture the view of some:

"It is the most tragic irony therefore that of all the books, the Holy Qur'an is singled out today as proponent of the employment of coercion for the sake of the spread of its message. Even greater tragedy lies in the fact that it is the Muslim clergy itself which loudly propounds this view, blatantly attributing it to the Holy Qur'an."

"…According to the Qur'an, the Holy War, called Jihad, is in reality a holy campaign which uses the help of the Qur'an to bring about a spiritual revolution in the world…It must be fought by means of the Qur'an and the Qur'anic message alone…Of course, defensive war is permitted only on the condition that the enemies initiate hostilities and raise sword against a weak, defenseless people for having committed the only crime of declaring that God is their Lord. All offensive wars according to Islam are unholy."

According to this Muslim cleric the violent passages of the Qur'an are figurative and not literal. He would interpret Muhammad's writing in the Qur'an as metaphorical, that is, symbols that are not to be taken literally. Obviously, I'm not a Muslim Cleric and I have not spent my lifetime studying the Islamic writings, but let me read to you a few passages from the Qur'an which contain references to various forms of violent treatment of others by Muslims. The version I'm quoting is The Noble Qur'an which can be found on the World Wide Web. (2)

1. Jihad in the Qur'an.

Some of these Qur'anic passages have to do with jihad. Others simply harsh and sometimes fatal treatment of those who refuse to accept or later fall away from Islam. This first quote doesn't have to do directly with jihad, but it does instruct violent force to be applied - in this case, violence to be turned against anyone who would depart from the faith of Islam:

Sura 4:89 (Noble Qur'an) They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyā' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allāh (to Muhammad SAW). But if they turn back (from Islām), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyā' (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.

Today, if Christian people decide to leave our congregation and leave the faith, we will be very sad. We will probably do what we can to talk them out of it. But I assure you that we will not follow any teaching that says we should "kill them wherever you find them." Such is foreign to Christ's teaching.

For those who would desire to make peace with an invading Muslim force:

Sura 4:91 Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: Every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto: if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them: In their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them.

Again, nothing in the teaching of Christ ever admonishes Christians to "seize" and "slay" those who refuse to be at peace with us. In fact, Jesus instructed his followers in the parable of the tares (which depicts the coexistence of the righteous with the wicked) to "allow both to grow together until the harvest…." (3)

These next verses from the Qur'an have to do with jihad either directly or indirectly:

Sura 2:216 Jihād (holy fighting in Allāh's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allāh knows but you do not know.

4:74. Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allāh, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allāh, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.

5:33 (Noble Quran): The recompense of those who wage war against Allāh and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.

8:59. And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip (escape from the punishment). Verily, they will never be able to save themselves (from Allāh's Punishment).

60 And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allāh and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allāh does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allāh shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.

61 But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allāh. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

9:29 Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allāh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allāh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islām) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah[] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

9:73 (Noble Quran): O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell, - and worst indeed is that destination.

9:122. And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihād) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islāmic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil).

47:4 So, when you meet (in fight Jihād in Allāh's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islām), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allāh to continue in carrying out
Jihād against the disbelievers till they embrace Islām (i.e. are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire) or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allāh's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allāh, He will never let their deeds be lost…

I invite you to study this issue yourself and not accept what I have alleged here solely on the basis of my word. The way it looks to me is that we have this very violent religion, started by a man accustomed to bloodshed, which launched a bloody one hundred-year conquest and spread Islam across the world. Then, as in most religion, you have the development of differing views that tend to stratify into liberal and conservative (use whatever words you like here.) Thus today you have peaceful Muslims who live among us and do not raise their hand against their neighbors and you have Muslims who radically promote war and conquest, jihad, "holy war" in the name of Allah. Which was first? Which is the real Islam? If Islam was "hijacked" as some claim, who is the real hijacker? It has always been my assumption that the hijacker is the one who boards the plane after the original passengers.

Now let's look at a few passages from the New Testament in order to do a comparison between this violent picture of "peaceful" Islam and the life and ministry of the Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace.

2. Jihad and Jesus.

Muhammad was a warrior in the carnal sense. Was Jesus? Not even close!

Luke 9:51-56 describes a case where a certain Samaritan city did not receive Him:

51 And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him. 53 And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. " And they went on to another village.

This sounds a bit different than the words of the Qur'an in Surah 9:29:

"Fight against them… who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islām) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah[] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."

In Matthew 26:47-55 we find the case where Peter took up the sword to protect Jesus and their plans for setting up His kingdom:

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him." 49 And immediately he went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 "How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?" 55 At that time Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber?

It certainly sounds different than the Qur'an in Surah 47:4:

Are Christians not in a battle then? Nothing could be further from the truth. We are in a battle! But the Apostle Paul makes it clear that our battle is not one of a carnal nature. We read in Ephesians 6:11-18:

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

You'll find more Christian "battle language" in 2 Corinthians 10:2-5:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...

Our battle is not a physical battle, but a spiritual one. Christ's kingdom is spiritual in nature and not physical, as we learn in Luke 17:20-21:

20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say,' Look, here it is!' or,' There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. "

Jesus servants were not fighting to deliver Jesus because His kingdom was not physical as we learn from John 18:33-36:

33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" 35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have You done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

Conclusion

What a contrast we see between the teaching of Muhammad in the Qur'an and that of Jesus and His Apostles in the New Testament! Muhammad was a man of bloodshed, claimed to be a prophet of God. Jesus was a man of peace, shown to be the Son of God.

Islam fails as a valid religion due to its rejection of Jesus as the Son of God and as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. This is the eternal consequence of Islam.

There are also temporal consequences of this false religion - results that we may have to see in real life in the things begun on September 11, as generations past have seen - "up close and [much too] personal."

Footnotes: (Please use your "back" button to return to your place.

1. http://www.alislam.org/books/study-of-islam/jihad.html
2. http://www.unn.ac.uk/societies/islamic/quran/naeindex.htm
3. Matthew 13:30

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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