The main point of this lesson is to see what the founders of each religion taught, believed, and lived, and what their first followers taught, believed, and lived. We look will look at Jesus and Mohammad
Why look at Jesus and Muhammad? We look at Jesus because we believe as Christians that He is the Son of God. He is the perfect model to live up to, and the only way to Heaven. In Islam, Muhammad is considered al-insan al-kamil (the "ideal man"). Muhammad is not seen as perfect or divine; this is why no image of him can be made because he is not God. Muhammad is the ideal man though, and this is why most of Sharia Law (The Law of Muslims follow) follows what Muhammad said and did. For example, Muhammad married and consummated with a nine-year-old girl. This is why today there are many countries in the Middle East that allow men to marry girls as young as nine.
Jesus Christ
We will first look at what Jesus said and did. He was the model of mercy and forgiveness. He met every person where they were. He was also looking out for women, the poor, and the outcast. The only time He raised His voice and could be seen as “aggressive actions” was when He drove out the money collectors from the temple. While being arrested, Jesus told Peter to put away his sword for if you live by the sword you will die by the sword [1]. Jesus, while being killed, said, “Forgive them father for they know not what they do.” [2] After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He tells them to go make disciples of all nations by baptism of water. Jesus’ followers converted hundreds of thousands by words and deeds. Many of them would be killed for their belief in Jesus, and face heavy persecutions for hundreds of years.
Muhammad
“Islam’s founder was a warlord, who rose from obscurity and who, in his lifetime, conquered the Arabian Peninsula. The holy book he produced is filled with commands to use violence in the service of its religion and nation. This potential for violence is similar to that possessed by Judaism except it is immensely augmented by the fact that Islam views itself, like Christianity, as a pan-ethnic religion meant for all peoples in all countries. It therefore has been willing to employ violence on a massive scale, as illustrated by the first century of its existence, when the Islamic empire conquered much of the known world.” [3]
“Because Muhammad is himself the measuring stick of morality, his actions are not judged according to an independent moral standard but rather establish what the standard for Muslims properly is.” [4]
Below is what the Prophet Muhammad taught: [5]
Volume 7, Book 62, Number 88; Narrated Ursa:
The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
Volume 8, Book 82, Number 795; Narrated Anas:
The Prophet cut off the hands and feet of the men belonging to the tribe of Uraina and did not cauterize (their bleeding limbs) till they died.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 413; Narrated Abdullah bin Umar:
The Jews {of Medina} brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from amongst them who have committed (adultery) illegal sexual intercourse. He ordered both of them to be stoned (to death), near the place of offering the funeral prayers beside the mosque.
Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57; Narrated Ikrima:
Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to Ali {the fourth Caliph} and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, ‘If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, ‘Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).’ I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, then kill him."
Volume 1, Book 2, Number 25; Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle was asked, ‘What is the best deed?’ He replied, ‘To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad)’. The questioner then asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause.’”
Finally, the last words of Mohammad were, “Fight all men until they say ‘there is no god but Allah’”.
What happened to the followers of Jesus and Muhammad after their master’s death?Muhammad died in 632AD. After his death you have:
Abu Bakr (632-634) – Sunni leader
Umar (634-644)
Uthman (644-656)
Ali (656-661) – Shiite leader
Sunni Muslims (which consists of 90% of the total Muslim population) of Islam say Abu is the rightful successor. Shiite Muslims (which consists of 10% of the total Muslim population) of Islam say Ali was the rightful successor. Just within 24 short years there are two major divisions based on the question of who is the valid successor.
Without a solid leader to set a standard of orthodox true teaching everything is left to interpretation of the Koran and Sunna and there is no unified body to interpret. With not central authority to interpret, anything goes, even extreme Jihad, other doctrines, and abuses. Protestants, with “scripture alone” also have no authority or tradition from which to interpret Scripture and this has led the faithful to division and various contradicting teachings.
After the death of Christ it was clear, Saint Peter was the successor of Christ. The major divisions in Christianity have been over Papal Authority, but it took 1000 years for the Primacy of Peter, the central authority, to be challenged, not 24 short years, as is the case with Islam. To this day there is no central authority in Islam.
[1] Matthew 26:52
[2] Luke 23:34
[3] Catholic answers book pg. 37
[4] Steve Weidenkopf & Dr. Alan Schreck, Epic: A Journey through Church History, pg. 135
[5] Islam 101 by Gregory M. Davis