an interesting read om topic
This is not a booklet to debate about the theologies of Islam and Christianity, it is an invite to meet Jesus and Muhammad, to know their attitudes, learn their ways, to see their views, and to hear their voice.
I have provided the references in which I found all my information. This is so that you do not have to take what I say as fact but can research it for yourself. All the books I have used are authorised and validated by Islamic scholars as the correct history books of Islam. I understand that not all the hadiths are credited as valid so I have used the two most respected hadiths that is that of the Correct books of Muslim and the Correct books of Bukhari. These I have used amongst the Qu'ran and Islam history sources; they have been my foundations for this booklet. As a Christian, studying is very important to me. The Bible says “study to show you approved before God”, it also says that “my people perish due to their lack of Knowledge.” “However it is my desire that none shall perish” take the knowledge that I have presented and I pray that none who read this should perish.
Muhammad’s early life
Born in Mecca on August 2nd 570. A.D, (this is almost 600 years after the death of Christ) his father died before his birth and his mother died when he was 6years old, he was then looked after by his grandfather, who then died soon after and finally, was raised by his uncle Abu Talid. (Life of Muhammad 3rd volume, 1998 page 295) Muhammad’s mother claimed that on that night of his birth the stars came down from heaven. (Sahih Muslim, hadith; the correct books of Muslim, book1, number 311)
There are no stories of infant Muhammad in the Qu’ran (Koran) however it is recorded in the hadiths that supposedly while Muhammad was still young the angel Gabriel came to him as he was playing, laid him flat on the ground, tore open his chest and took out his heart. He took from it a blood clot and said to Muhammad “this is a part of Satan in you” he washed his heart in a gold basin and put it back into Muhammad’s chest. Muhammad was unharmed and in one piece.
Muhammad was born into the tribe of Quraysh (hence why the Holy book is called Qu’ran) his Family were pagan idol worshippers and had the privilege of being the care takers of the temple of the gods they served; so Muhammad was familiar with the rituals. The temple was known as the AL-KA’BA (which literally means the cube)
(this is the AL-KA’BA where Millions of Muslims gather throughout the year, it is known as the house of God)
People from all over came to worship at this temple (and still do today), where they marched around the black cube and praised their idols. Muhammad saw the people bowing down to these idols and it affected him much. he swore that he would not bow down to theses gods just as those around him did. (Dr A. Salaby; Encyclopaedia of Islamic History)
Yearly retreats are still held today to Mecca to march around the AL-KA’BA as instructed by Muhammad as a good deed to Allah.
When Muhammad was 12 he went with his uncle on a trip to Syria, and on their way they were asked by a priest to eat with them. This priest was part of a heretical (those who hold false beliefs) sect. Although claiming to be Christians, they held that Christ was not the Son of God but still held him in height reverence, and had even been excommunicated from the church because of such false views. Muhammad understood their concept of One God and so adopted it as his own; he also took on board their teaching on Christ, but not as the Son of God. (Hence why Muhammad rejected Christ as divine) Abu Talid was not pleased with Muhammad decision to worship only One God, however allowed him to do so. The priest prophesised over Muhammad and claimed that he had books (not the Bible, his own books and we have no evidence of these books) which foretold the coming of the last prophet. He told his uncle to protect him against the Jews for they would surly kill him (Ibn Kathir, The beginning and the End, volume 1 part 2, page 297) here began the resentment towards Jews.
At the age of 25 Muhammad was proposed to by his first wife Khadija, who was the daughter of the ‘Christian priest’ and also twice Muhammad’s age. She was well over 40 years old and 4 times divorced. Muhammad’s uncle and Khadija's father were both apposed to their marriage, but after speaking to her cousin, who was a Pastor in one of Arabia’s largest churches (Islamic history, Abu Musa al-Hariri, Priest and Prophet: Research on the Rise of Islam, 13th Edition) he married them himself. It’s possible that Muhammad had a type of Christian marriage and his wife also practicing the faith. the two had 6 children, two sons who died at infancy and four daughters.
Revelations
The pastor who married Muhammad was called Waraqa. He became Muhammad’s mentor, teaching him about the religions of the land, such as Judaism and Christianity this is why the Qu’ran has such a strong emphasis on Abraham, Moses, Noah, and of course Jesus. Waraqa often wrote out the gospels in Arabic for Muhammad (correct books of Bukhari hadith, vol6, book 60, number 478) so it’s understandable why the Qu’ran has parts of the Bible in there. Waraqa also taught Muhammad from the psalms of David. During his tutoring of scriptures from the Bible and the Torah, Muhammad was also attending the AL-KA’BA, the place of idol worship.
In 610 A.D Muhammad reported that “truth had descended upon” him. He claimed that the angel Gabriel had commanded him to recite (the angel Gabriel is how Allah speaks to the people, the angel can only be at one place at one time, and therefore Allah can only speak to one person at one time.) Muhammad answered back to the Angel “I can not read”
Surah:
[96.1] Read in the name of your Lord Who created.
[96.2] He created man from a clot.
[96.3] Read and your Lord is most Honorable,
Nowhere does it say that Muhammad actually read anything. Islamic history writes that Muhammad was so filled with fear that he ran to his wife Khadija and asked for her to “cover him”. Many Muslims claim that Muhammad could not read nor write and I have not come across any proof that this changed during the revelation of the Qu’ran. Many times the Qu'ran states that Muhammad merely ‘reported’ his revelations; it does not say that he wrote them down himself.
For three years Muhammad spread his message quietly, now at the age of 43, he reported that Gabriel had demanded that he preach his message publicly. This offended the people of Mecca, as it was seen as an insult to their gods. Muhammad was even bullied as he worshiped at the AL-KA’BA (the place of false gods, Ibid page 119) for 3 years, Muhammad and his followers were boycotted by the people of Mecca. These were known as the years of hunger. Muhammad became desperate for support in his ‘mission’ and his followers were becoming week. He found support in two military tribes who came yearly to worship at the AL-KA’BA. The people of Mecca did not like these two tribes because of their violence and so declared that they could no longer worship at the AL-KA’BA. With Muhammad having the privilege of his family being the care takers of the AL-KA’BA he made an agreement with the two tribes that he would permit them to worship at the AL-KA’BA if they protected him from the people of Mecca. This was a clear military agreement. Muhammad had just traded with two warfare tribes that if they fight for him he will allow them to worship their gods. So here we see a generation, established in war and skilled in violence, pledging their allegiance to Muhammad and the Muslims.
Muhammad asked for twelve leaders who would be second in charge to him, each leader was allocated his own army to be in charge of. For 13 years Muhammad was tolerant of the people of Mecca and their insults towards him, now with his new found power in his military, he reported that Allah had given him permission to fight
“The apostle prepared for war in pursuance of Gods command to fight his enemies”
(The Beginning and the End, volume 2, part 3, page 215)
Muhammad lead raids personally and on rare occasions allowed loyal followers and family to lead them also. Although Muhammad stated that Mecca was a city close to his heart, he wanted revenge for what its people had done to him. He personally arranged an attack on Mecca’s economy; he did this by attempting to ambush a caravan which brought in goods for the people to sell. Muhammad failed but the people of Mecca still wanted Muhammad to be punished. In battle between the Muslims and the people of Mecca, with only 300 men, Muhammad won a surprising victory. This is known as the Battle of Badr (624 A.D)
Muhammad reported that the angel Gabriel had given him revelation on how the winnings of war should be shared amongst them. In an army of 10,000, Muhammad claimed 20% and 80% was given to the rest. Now this may sound like a fair deal but it divided up so that every soldier received only 0.08%, and obviously this caused some problems.
Muhammad reported that Muslims should fight hard any person whom rejected Islam
Surah 8:39 And fight them on until there is no more tumult (disbelief) or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah (alone) altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
Surah 8:65 O Apostle! Rouse (gather) the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding
The only way for to be safe from Muhammad’s army was to accept Islam
Surah 8:38 Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).
The revelations of Muhammad told the Muslims to prepare for war, to threaten the enemy of Allah and their own enemies.
Surah 8:60 Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
Muhammad reported that his mission was to spread Islam through Holy war. (Jihad)
After fleeing from Mecca, Muhammad found refuge in Medina. This was a place mostly populated by Jews, and since they too believed in One God, Muhammad believed that they would join him, but instead they asked for a sign
Surah 29:50 Ye they say: "Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "The signs are indeed with Allah: and I am indeed a clear Warner."
Muhammad taught that Allah held all the signs and he was but a Warner. He could bring no signs but the Qu’ran. But yet he was doing much more then warning people, he was killing them. Muhammad feared that the Jews would join his enemies in war and defeat him, and because of this fear Muhammad organised the assassination of well known Jewish man whom had been criticising him. He asked his followers “who will kill this man for me?” His followers stabbed the man to death. (The beginning and the end page 659-660) The more the Jewish people rejected Islam the more assassinations took place. Soon Muhammad and his followers had killed hundreds of Jews and systematically routed Jews from Arabia. These are some of the Jewish tribes which Muhammad attacked, Nadir in 4 A.H (after jihad) Beni Quranyzah (in this small village alone he killed all the men, around 600 and took the wives and children as slaves) 5 A.H (Ibid 368) Muhammad demanded that all wealth seized from the attacks be given to him as they were rightly for Allah’s Holy prophet. (Himself)
Spreading the Message
During Muhammad’s time in Mecca he had sworn by Allah that he would come back as a slaughterer to revenge how the people had treated him. Now after 8 years that time had come and with his new found power in his army (the Beginning and the End volume 2, part 3 page 53) on that faithful day the Arabian Desert was Black with horses. as Muhammad and his followers rode in with a Black flag and with a single word on it, ‘Punishment’ (the Beginning and the End vol2, part 3 page 288) at the sign of Muhammad’s hand across his neck and these words “go slaughter them” the city of Mecca was brought to its knees. Muhammad stated that “all who take refuge in the mosque will be speared”.
After this bloody war, Muhammad went to the AL-KA’BA and prayed, he ordered that all the little statues be burnt
Surah 9:17 It is not for such as join gods with Allah, to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity. The works of such bear no fruit: In Fire shall they dwell.
Surah
9:19 The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.
And now this temple of idols became property of the Muslims who would maintain it.
Because of the example Muhammad had made of the Jewish nation, even those whom he had not yet threatened, gave in to him. Muhammad sent out letters to every one of the Arabic nations commanding that they submit to him as the messenger of Allah or else they would face death, this is what one of the letters read;
“To Herocles, the Great one of Rome,
Convert to Islam and you will be saved
And if you reject my challenge you
Are responsible for what will happen
To you and your people”
(The Correct books of Muslim Hadith, 19, number 4380)
The twelve leaders of Muhammad’s army were now carrying out raids on the nations that would not submit to Islam. By the year of 9 A.H 48 tribes had submitted to Islam out of fear. Muhammad soon was receiving new revelations which supported his actions even more,
Surah 9:5 Kill them wherever you find them, and capture them, and Besiege (surround with hostile force) them, lie and wait for them in every ambush
Muhammad even commanded for the Muslims to fight against the Christians and Jews.
Surah
9:29 Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book (Christians and Jews), until they pay the Jizya (compulsory tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued (over come).
His final Message to his people
Before Muhammad’s death he preached his final sermon from the top of mount Arafat surrounded by more then 100,000 Muslims (hadith of Ibn Hisham part 6, volume 3 page 8) in this speech Muhammad states clearly that Allah had sent him down with a sward in his hand to defeat his enemies in battle and take their possessions as his own. Again this is contradictory to his first claim that he was nothing but a simple Warner. His role had dramatically changed.
Muhammad’s death is recorded in the hadiths as poisoning from a Jewish servant girl; when asked why she had done such a thing she replied that if Muhammad was a true prophet he would of known that she had those intensions, because of her answer, her life was speared. Muhammad died at the age of 63 with his head laid on the lap of Aisha, who at this time was 18. His body was buried in Medina and pilgrims still visit his grave today.
Who Muhammad said he was
Muhammad said that he was the last prohet of Allah. He said that he was also a Warner for the people.
Surah 71:2 "O my People! I am to you a Warner,
And then he claims:
“After today there will no longer be two religions in Arabia. I descended by Allah with a sward in my hand and my wealth will come from the shadow of my sward. And the one who will disagree will be humiliated and persecuted”
Ibn Hisham hadith, volume 3, part 6, page 8
Who Jesus said he was
He said that he was the son of God;
Mathew 16:15-17 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
John 10:36-38 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
He also said that he was the fulfillment of the law, so in other words the final part of prophecies, the last prophet. Jesus did not leave it there, although claiming that he was the last, he also warned us of false prophets to come.
Luke 22:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
He had one purpose which remains constant through out his whole life time, it never changed.
Mark 10; 45, “(Jesus) not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man”
John 3:16-17"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
(There are many more quotes like these in the Bible.)
How to please Allah
The requirements changed over the 23years that Muhammad spread the message of Islam; i.e. Muslims were not required to pray 5 times a day until 10 years after the beginning of Islam. Muhammad reported that Allah had infect requested 500 prayers a day but he negotiated with him down to 5,
This is a contradictory init self as Muhammad says clear in the Qu'ran that none can change the mind of Allah, but yet he managed to negotiate with him.
Most importantly, each Muslim has to maintain the 5 pillars otherwise Allah would bring punishment upon them.
Pillars:
1. Worship Allah, accept Muhammad as his prophet and believe in the Qu’ran
2. Pray to Allah in the set Islamic way five times a day
3. Pay the Zakat tax, this tax is not optional, and Muhammad was in charge of all the money
4. fast during the month of Ramadan between 1st and 4th prayers
5. Each Muslim must visit the AL-KA’BA at least once in their life time
Jesus on how to please God
Jesus’ message stayed the same all through his life. He had no religious rules for his followers to abide by, all he asked was that they love God with all their heart, soul and might, and their actions would follow to please God, for they loved him. Muhammad was more concerned on how our actions could please God, the Bible says that “man can not enter the Kingdom of heaven on his merits alone but by his love of God” the Bible makes it clear that it is proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ that you can receive favor from God, and not by our works, for our works can never be good enough. It goes on to say that the righteousness of a man is as good as filthy rags to God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Jesus Christ is the free sacrifice from God himself, because he loves us, therefore we no longer need to bring sacrifices to God for Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice.
So what happens if we don’t follow the requirements set by Muhammad and Jesus?
Muhammad said:
Surah 9:80 Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not, (their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times for their forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Apostle: and Allah guideth not those who are perversely rebellious.
Jesus did not dismiss those who reject his message. He prayed for them and forgave them their sins against God. He said that is our brother sins against us we should forgive them 70 times 7. Muhammad said he did not have the authority to do such things and said that even if he pleaded to Allah for the sins of others Allah would still not listen. Jesus forgave sins himself.
Mathew 9:2-7 "Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." …Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home.
For the followers of Muhammad, forgiveness was and is still not promised. One can only know that they are permitted into heaven on judgment day. There is only one way to guarantee paradise and that is to fight for Allah with your lives. Through this you do not need to wait for judgment day, you will be permitted straight into paradise and all your sins will be forgiven. Surah 61:10-13. For the rest of those whom did and do not fight for Allah with their lives, it’s an uncomfortable wait to judgment.
Surah 4:95 Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-
According to the correct books of Bukhar hadith volume 4 book 55 number 549, Muhammad taught that where a person’s destiny lies is pre destined by Allah himself. He made it clear that whilst a person is still in their mothers whom Allah sends his angels down to write four facts about that person’s life, his deeds, his time of death, means of livelihood, and whether or not they will enter hell fire or paradise. Lets take a step back and think about it, so lets say that mother Teresa was a Muslim, doing all that she did, but in the name of Allah, helping the needy the poor and the sick all as worship, good deeds and merits for Allah, if mother Teresa was already destined for hell fire from the moment she was in her mothers whom, no amount of deeds, merit, prayers or worship can change Allah’s plan for her final destination, she will enter hell fire regardless. This takes away all certainty, comfort and reassurance of a merciful, graceful and forgiving God. There is no assurance of Salvation. Even if I lived, doing evil deeds, if Allah destined that I be in paradise, then I will be! This is an issue for many Muslims, and I have not yet found one who can explain this for me further.
Jesus taught that whilst we were still sinners God loved us, (unlike Allah who turns from those who do not bow to him Surah 9:80) he gave Christ as the ultimate sacrifice (the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, John 1:29) he made a way for us to still have eternal life and did so while we were still rejecting him. Romans 5:7-8 “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 3:16-"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
I understand that the concept of Christ dying for our sins is hard to grasp, but I will try to break it down. Sacrifices were, and in some Islamic states, still believed to be required by Allah as a trade for the people’s sins. In older Islamic tradition, sacrifice of the first born son was not unusual. The celebration of Eid, is in remembrance of when Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac (Muslims believe that it was Ishmael, however there is no evidence of this in the Qu’ran, over the years Muslims have just gravitated towards Ishmael). God gave Christ as the ultimate sacrifice so that we would no longer have to bring him blemished lambs as a sacrifice. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac it was to show the people the things that were to come, to show the nations that he would sacrifice his own son! He did not need us to sacrifice any thing any more for Jesus was the spotless lamb, spotless from all blemish and sin. It is agreed in both the Qu’ran and the Bible that Jesus was sinless. He was the final sacrifice; and as he died on the cross he proclaimed “it is finished” John 19:30
Let us quickly take a look at the Jewish Passover festival. (This story is known and agreed on by Muslims, Christians and Jews) God told his people that the angel of death would come down and take the first born of every house hold; he gave them a plan of redemption and salvation. The plan was that each family was to take a lamb and sacrifice it, to then spread the blood of the lamb over the door post of their homes, and to then eat the meat of the lamb. When the angel of death came, each household that had the blood of the lamb on the doors would be unharmed. This covenant of God, through the blood of the lamb made it so that who ever beloved in God and accepted the blood of the lamb, the angel of death would PASSOVER them, and death would have no dominion in their lives. Only those who had the blood of the lamb over them were speared. (Think about it) Jesus said to his people that unless they eat of his flesh and accept his blood which is shed for them they would lose their lives.
Matthew 26:26-28-“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”
John 1:29-“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The Qu’ran and the Bible both state that even demons believe in Jesus, so it does not matter that Muhammad exulted Jesus, for even the demons did so! “Demons came out of many people shouting “you are the Son of God!” Luke 40:41.
Let us consider that the Bible was written over 600 years before the existence of the Qu’ran, and it had already prophesized and warned against the coming of false Prophets confusing people on who Jesus truly was.
Galatians 1:6-9-“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.”
There are many prophecies of the coming of false prophets, and Jesus did not just warn us but he also told us how we can tell who they were.
Matthew 7:15-17-“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit”
So let’s take a look at the fruits of Muhammad, he killed thousands upon thousands of people, lead raids and wars, unfairly divided spoils of war and sold the wives and children of those he had conquered into slavery.
Jesus said that the thief comes to steal kill and destroy, (John 10:10) Muhammad ambushed people, stole their wealth, killed their families and destroyed their homes. Jesus also warned his followers to be prepared for leaders to come who would bombard their people with rules and laws which were nothing but heavy loads, like ritualistic prayers
Luke 11:46-“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.”
These religious leaders, focused on the outward actions on man, and the love of God turned to fear. The Bible says that “man can not enter the Kingdom of heaven on his merits alone but by his LOVE of God”
Muhammad was consumed by how to clean the outside of man e.g. ritual washing, but did not teach on how to love God.
Luke 11:39-“Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!”
Surah 6:39 and 126, Surah 43:36-37, Su 11:34, Su 4:88 and Su.14:4 states that Allah works with Satan and demons to lead people astray. Allah purposely leads some on the wrong path for his pleasure. Jesus said that God loves the world and it his desire that none should perish nor be lead astray. Muhammad describes a God of punishment and not of love. The Qu’ran, which is a little shorter then the New Testament, mentions the word ‘punishment’ 379 times regarding those who do not accept Islam, ‘punishment’ only appears 15 times in the New Testament in regards to hell. Only 82 times the word love appears in the Qu’ran and mostly talking about what Allah does NOT love; 260 verses in the New Testament talk of Gods love for mankind regardless of race colour, religion or any other divisions and for his love for Jesus.
How they dealt with Demons/healing and miracles
There is a famous story in Islamic history that Muhammad was troubled by jinn’s (demons) and he begged and begged Allah to take the evil spirits away. Jesus was never possessed by evil spirits, infect he cast them out
Mark 1:21-34 –
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”
I bet you if Muhammad went to Jesus he would have cast out the demon in him.
It says in the Qu’ran that Allah is the one who brings sickness (Surah 10:107) and once he dose so, there is nothing no man can do for we are but slaves to him. Muhammad refers to himself and the Muslims as slaves time after time. He made it clear that our position as human beings was not of importance but almost like bacteria, mere creation just for Allah’s amusement. Jesus taught that none who knew God were slaves but children of God, and that God loves us more then we could ever know.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
John 15:15- “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
In concerning miracles, Muhammad said that he could not perform miracles; he did not come to convince people but to bring to them the Qu’ran, which was the only miracle they needed. (Surah 29:50-51) This causes another contradiction between the Qu’ran and the hadiths, as the hadiths reported many miracles performed by Muhammad. This brings the validity of the hadiths into questioning. Islamic scholars debate their authenticity as they were written around 200 years after the death of Muhammad. The hadiths were collected and reported in a form of ‘Chinese whispers’ it was all based on what someone told someone, who heard someone, who knew someone, who worked for Muhammad; you get where I’m going with this.
These are some of the miracles claimed by the hadiths and denied by the Qu’ran.
• Muhammad multiplying water on three different occasions
• Producing rain after a drought in Medina
• Light leading his followers in darkness
• A tree crying after Muhammad walked away
• The ground spitting out a Christian who lied
• A wolf inviting someone to join Islam
• Muhammad night journey to Jerusalem where he met with Allah
These are all recorded in the correct books of Bukhari hadith volume 6, book 60 number 390.
Jesus however, performed miracles daily, he said that the Father had given the Son ALL authority; these miracles and healing are recorded in the Bible
• Peter’s mothers fever. John 4:48-52
• Men with leprosy. Matthew 8:1-4
• Invalid at the pool. John 5:1-15
• Man with a shriveled hand. Matthew 12:9-13
• Raised a widow’s son from the dead. Luke 7:11-17
• Raised a ruler’s daughter from the dead. Matthew 9:18-26
• Healed men of blindness. Matthew 9:32-34
• A death and mute man. Mark 7:31-37
• A crippled woman. Luke 13:10-17
• Raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:1-44
• Restored the ear of a roman soldier. Luke 22:49-51
There are many more examples in the Bible which you could also look up.
Holy War (Jihad)
There is some confusion concerning the treatment of Christians and Jews in the Qu’ran. During the early years of Muhammad’s revelations, he taught tolerance towards the people of scripture (Christians and Jews)
Surah 29:46 And dispute ye not with the People of the Book (scripture) except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (through Islam)."
Although the Qu’ran teaches that the Jewish, Christians and the Muslims all worship the same God the Bible teaches strongly against this
Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. I John 2:22-23
After Muhammad’s military agreement his revelations changed, concerning the treatment of Jews and Christians, now Muhammad had power so tolerance was no longer an option.
Surah 8:39 And fight them (people of Scripture) until there is no more tumult or oppression (disbelief), and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
Surah 8:65 O Apostle! Rouse (gather) the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding
For Muhammad these are not contradictions but new revelations which cancelled the old. Muhammad was challenged because of this, and this is how he justified the changes in his revelations;
Surah 16:101 When We substitute one revelation for another, - and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages), - they say, "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not.
The new revelations to fight were to be carried out until judgment day;
Surah 9:29 Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, (scripture) until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
Muhammad also provided a bases for justified war or ‘just war’
Surah 17:33 Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause.
Surah 22:39 To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid;-
Surah 2:190 Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
Surah 2:191 And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
Surah 2:193 And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.
As Christians, you follow Christ, and as Muslims you follow Muhammad. When a Muslim uses force and violence towards a non believer he is following his leader,
When I Christian uses violence towards a non believer he is NOT following his leader, he is not doing as Christ Taught or did. Christ did not condone war, or even a just war.
The Bible says;
Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Jesus even had to rebuke one of his own closest followers for cutting off the ear of a roman soldier whilst arresting Jesus. Jesus told him that those who live by the sword will die by the sward. After this he restored the ear of the Roman soldier who had come to arrest him. The soldier was the ‘enemy’ and yet Jesus still wanted no harm to come to him.
Matthew 26:52, "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword”
Jesus knew that those who chose to follow him would face troubles;
John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Muhammad taught that those who fought with force against those were not believers of Allah, were not only fighting against their own enemies but the enemies of Allah, and would be rewarded for their actions. They would gain wealth;
Surah 8:60 Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
They would gain love;
Surah 61:4 Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
Surah 4:95 Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-
Their sins would be forgiven;
Surah
61:11 That ye believe in Allah and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!
61:12 He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement
They would avoid the anger of Allah;
Surah 8:16 If any do turn his back to them on such a day (of Jihad) - unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own)- he draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and his abode is Hell,- an evil refuge (indeed)!
They would go to paradise. (The Correct books of Muslim, book 20, number 4681) and each man would receive virgins to use at their own pleasure
Surah 55:56 In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn (demons) before them has touched
Jesus did not reward any form of violence! Instead he said;
Matthew 5:9-11, “Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Who and what are we to God/Allah?
Muhammad called himself and all those who called themselves Muslims ‘slaves’. There is no strong emphasis in the Qu’ran, for one to love Allah, merely to worship him and to be his slave, if a slave does not do as Allah demands he/she is punished
Surah 8:13 This because they contended against Allah and His Apostle: If any contend against Allah and His Apostle, Allah is strict in punishment
Muhammad, himself punished those he felt were disobedient to the Islamic laws. Here are two examples I found in the hadiths;
“a man who drank wine was taken to the prophet, (Muhammad) the prophet said “beat him!” so some of us beat him with our hands, some with our shoes, and some with our garments like a lash” (the Correct books of Bukhari, volume 8, books 81, number 768)
One night Muhammad was about to lead evening prayer and he noticed that many people were missing, so he asked those who were there where they were and they answered him that they were still in their homes. This was Muhammad’s response;
“by him, whose hands hold my soul, I was about to order for fire wood (fuel) and order for someone to take lead of prayer and I would go from behind and burn the houses of those men who did not show for compulsory prayer” (the Correct books of Bukhari, volume 1, book 11, number 617)
Jesus taught that we are children of God and no longer slaves
John 15:15- “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John: 10-13, “He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”
Jesus called us his flock, he said that if he had 99 and 1 went missing he would leave that 99 to find the 1 that had gone astray. Muhammad beat his one sheep that went astray. We are more then slaves to God; and Jesus proved this;
John 10:14-15, “I know my sheep, and they know me, just as my father knows me and I know my father….I lay down my life for my sheep”
Muhammad said that Allah does not love unbelievers and does not have time for them; he finds others who will be better Muslims. (Surah 39:7). Jesus devoted most of his time to those who did not know him or accept God into their lives.
John 2:17, “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Romans 5:7-8, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Luke 6:35, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
God had grace for simmers and so Jesus expected his followers to do the same.
John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Muhammad’s approach was different. He thought that those within Islam should have respect for one another as they are all brothers in the faith; however he discouraged befriending those who rejected Islam
Surah 60:1 O ye who believe! Take not my enemies and yours as friends (or protectors),- offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord! If ye have come out to strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them: for I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path.
Surah 48:29 Muhammad is the apostle of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other.
Surah 49:10 The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.
Teaching and attitudes towards women
I never quite understood the role of women within Islam, and it challenged me to think that virgins were a reward to men in paradise. I began to adopt a mentality that as a woman I was but a prop for male entertainment and I didn’t want to accept this, I could not accept this. So I searched the Qu’ran for comfort and reassurance; I thought to myself, if this is the word of God, I will find my value here. I must be more then just a prize for a man. On my journey to find value and love from God, I found discouragement, disrespect and lack of value.
“Prayer is made void by dogs, donkeys and women” and Aisha (the second wife of Muhammad) answered “you have made us dogs!” (The Correct books of Bukhari, book 9, number 490) Muhammad even went as far as to say that Allah allowed him to look into hell, and he found that women populated hell more then men and even more then jinn’s (demons) (the Correct books of Bukhari, volume 8, book 76, number 456) women were seen to be corrupted and a major cause of men sinning.
Muhammad believed in bad luck which he called evil omen, he said that if bad luck were in a mans life is would be in the house, the horse and the women (Correct books of Bukhari, book 62, number 31)
Muhammad also taught that women were only half the value of men
Surah 2:282 O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her.
And Surah 4:11 also supports this. Muhammad enforced that women lacked in two areas, which resulted in them being of only half the value of a man, That is that, women are deficient in religion as they are unable to fast during their period, and deficient in intelligence hence why one mans witness equals to two women’s.
I also wanted to find out why it was so important that as a women I had to cover up. I found that for the first 15 years of the birth of Islam, (Islam was brought about over a 23year period) Muhammad never asked for women to cover up, however after the accusations of Aisha having an affair and his other 12 wives lingering around with men, a close friend of his called Ibn Umar, suggested that Muhammad have his wives cover up;
“I suggest you order the mothers of believers (your wives) to observe veils” (Correct book of Bukhari, volume 6, book60, number 313) and within a matter of hours Muhammad reported to receive a revelation that women within the faith must from now on wear veils.
Surah 33:59 O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Women were also made to be at the disposal of men during jihad
Surah 4:24 Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess
This is supported in the Correct books of Muslim, book 8, number 3432. I did however find a good point, and that was that the Muslim men were to make sure that Muslim women were looked after from the wealth the men gained from war (jihad).
Muhammad’s wives
In total Muhammad had 13 wives and 23 concubine, all named in Islamic history. These concubines (women he was not married to) Muhammad gained after the death of their husbands in jihad or by buying them. Islamic law allowed Muhammad, and still allows Muslim men today to use such women for sexual pleasures at their disposal, as well as domestically; and if the woman was to fall pregnant, Muhammad had no obligation to marry or to claim the child as his own. Muhammad or the Muslim man can then decide weather the mother can keep the child or sell him/her as a slave (The Beginning and the End)
The most jaw dropping of Muhammad’s wives is that of his child bride, Aisha. Aisha was 6 when Muhammad signed the marriage agreement, however he did not consummate the marriage (have sex) until she was 9. You may think that perhaps this was the norm in those times but this was seen as out of the ordinary even for that time in history; however Muhammad stood unquestioned because of his power. (Correct books of Bukhari, volume 7, book 62, number 88)
Who is Allah?
Remember in the beginning of this booklet, I wrote that although Muhammad refused to worship many gods, he still worshiped at the AL-KA’BA which was the place Mecca’s 360 gods (idol worship). Although learning about one God and the books of the Moses, Muhammad still harbored practices of false gods. Muhammad was a smart man, and was able to use this to his advantage. He had to come to a place of compromise, and agreement which would win for him the Jews, the Christians and the idol worshippers to all follow Islam. For the Jews, Muhammad acknowledged Moses and Abraham, for the Christians he accepted Christ Jesus and for the idol worshippers he took on the name of Allah. See, Allah was a god already in existence, Allah was the chief god amongst the other 360 gods of Mecca, and he was the moon god. it wasn’t hard for the people of Mecca to accept Allah for they already knew him as the greatest. Have you ever asked yourself why Muhammad recites that Allah is the most high and the most merciful? This was for he was compared to the other gods. Remember when Muhammad attacked Mecca his flag was black with the word punishment on it, now Muhammad had adopted the symbol of the moon. Ask yourself why the Islamic flag is of a crescent moon. Allah was not just like the rest of the little gods of Mecca, Allah was more powerful and the chief of the gods because Allah had the stars as his daughters, this showed the creation power of the moon (middle east scholar H.A.R Gibb, Mohammedanism: An Historical Survey, New York: Mentor Books, 1955, p.38).
Dr. Arthur Jeffery, one of the foremost Western Islamic scholars in modern times and professor of Islamic and Middle East Studies at Columbia University, notes:
"The name Allah, as the Qu’ran itself is witness, was well known in pre-Islamic Arabia. Indeed, both it and its feminine form, Allat, are found not infrequently among the theophorous names in inscriptions from North Africa" (Islam: Muhammad, and His Religion, New York: The Liberal Arts Press, 1958, p. 85).
"The Arabs, before the time of Mohammed, accepted and worshipped, after a fashion, a supreme god called Allah" (Encyclopedia off Islam, I:302, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1913, Houtsma).
Have you ever wondered why Muslims were required to pray towards Mecca?
An Allah idol was set up at the AL-KA’BA along with all the other idols. The pagans prayed toward Mecca and the AL-KA’BA because that is where their gods were stationed.
It only made sense to them to face in the direction of their god and then pray. Since the idol of their moon god, Allah, was at Mecca, they prayed toward Mecca.
The worship of the moon god extended far beyond the Allah-worship in Arabia. The entire fertile crescent was involved in the worship of the moon.
This, in part, explains the early success of Islam among Arab groups that traditionally had worshiped the moon god.
The use of the crescent moon as the symbol for Islam which is placed on the flags of Islamic nations and on the top of mosques and minarets is a throwback to the days when Allah was worshiped as the moon god in Mecca.
While this may come as a surprise to many Christians and even to some Muslims who have wrongly assumed that Allah was simply another name for the God of the Bible, educated Muslims generally understand this point.
Once I found these facts I was blown away when I found that the Bible had repeatedly condemned a people for its worship of the moon god. Before I knew of Allah pre Islamic existence as the moon god, to read in the Bible that one must not worship the moon and its daughters was not something that I understood.
Deuteronomy 4:19, “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven”
Deuteronomy 17:3, “and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky,”
Jeremiah 8:2, “They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped. They will not be gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground.
Jeremiah 19:13 Yes, all the houses in Jerusalem, including the palace of Judah’s kings, will become like Topheth—all the houses where you burned incense on the rooftops to your star gods, and where liquid offerings were poured out to your idols.’”
Zephaniah 1:5, “For they go up to their roofs
and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.
They claim to follow the LORD,”
This is the most powerful scripture that I found that needs no commentary;
Isaiah 1:13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
14 I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims
Just to put the above in context, Ramadan takes place at the beginning of the new moon, it is a celebration which includes special days of fasting. There are also yearly festivals held to the AL-KA’BA; and Muslims are required to pray a compulsory prayer 5 times a day.
Why I wrote this booklet
5 years ago, I became a Christian, I gave my life to Jesus and yet I had a burning desire in me to learn about Islam. At first I thought it was a conviction that I had chosen the wrong path and that Islam was the truth. This was hard as at times as I found myself unable to call out the name of Jesus for I was afraid that I was worshipping a mere man. I read the Bible side by side with my Qu’ran and I prayed and I studied, asking for God to show himself to me, and God did just that. Both the Qu’ran and the Bible says, those who seek God shall find Him. For a long time I was afraid to call the name of Jesus, for the Devil knew that this was the only name that could save me. Jesus is not just a man, the name itself is not just a name but a statement, it means “God with us”, every time I call ‘Jesus’ I say “GOD IS WITH ME” and for a short while the devil tried to take that away from me. The Bible says that at that name every knee must bow, and he knew this.
God took me on a path, a journey that many would not like to experience, a rollercoaster of emotions, fears and hurt, filled with confusion and torment. He told me study to show myself approved before Him and that those who had a lack of knowledge would die. I didn’t want to die, and I was not doing this Christian thing, to blind follow, I wanted to see the truth for myself.
Some of you who have read this booklet may be offended, insulted and even disappointed, some may feel enlightened, to learn more about Islam or Jesus, whatever you do, I pray that the truth is reveled to you for your life depends on it.
Thank you.
