–– Paul Schlehlein
Audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Recently two evangelists in Uganda were left in a pool of blood by Muslims demanding they renounce Christ. Just in 2024 alone, we read in horror of Muslims ambushing Christians in Kenya, murdering evangelists in Uganda and burning homes of recent converts. Some estimate over a million Christians have been martyred in just the first decade of the 21st century.
As the blood of Christian martyrs paints Africa red, how then can Islam be called a religion of peace? In answering this question, let us consider four aspects of Islam: her followers, her faith, her founder, and her flags.
First is Islam’s Followers
Do the disciples of Islam live in harmony with other religions, especially Christianity? Somalian Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of ‘Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now’, writes a helpful article where she divides the Muslims of the world into three groups.
The first group is the most dangerous, as it promotes Sharia law and jihad and is essentially unchanged since the aggressive form of Islam found in the 7th Century. Ali calls them “Medina Muslims” because they conform to the Prophet Mohammad’s later actions while in Medina. The second group she calls “Modifying Muslims”. Though small and modern, they want to reform Islam by separating religion from politics.
The third class she calls “Mecca Muslims”, the devout but non-violent majority in the Muslim world. They follow Mohammad’s early, peaceful pattern while in Medina. Regarding this group, Ali writes: “The fundamental problem is that the majority of otherwise peaceful and law-abiding Muslims are unwilling to acknowledge, much less to repudiate, the theological warrant for intolerance and violence embedded in their own religious texts.”
In other words, while the majority of Muslims may seek peace, they find no basis for this peace in their religion. On the other hand, the supposed extreme, which fundamentalist Muslims do find a basis for in the Quran, we will now examine.
Second is Islam’s Faith
Does the Quran, the holy book of Islam, encourage hostility, death and war against non-Muslims? Consider Q2:191, which states, “Kill them wherever you find them.” Q4:76 says, “Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil.” Q8:60 encourages Muslims “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.”
There is no assurance of salvation in Islam because it is based on works. The only sure way to know one’s sins will be forgiven is to die fighting for Islam in jihad, which is a physical battle against non-Muslims. Q4:74 states, “Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,–whether he is slain or gets victory–Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value).” Should we question whether this doctrine promotes terrorism and encourages Muslims to die fighting against the enemy?
Indeed, there are verses calling for peace and tolerance in the Quran but these are abrogated by later “sword verses”. The Islamic doctrine of abrogation teaches that verses which were revealed later can cancel out earlier verses if they conflict. The Quran isn’t written in chronological order, so the latest chapter (Surah 9) contains the final authority on violence. It teaches Muslims to fight against unbelievers until they surrender. Q9:5 says, “Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them….” Q9:29 states, “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.”
Third is Islam’s Founder
In Mohammed’s early days in Mecca, he proselytized his neighbors, urging them to leave their religion and follow Islam. But after little success, Mohammed changed his tactics while in Medina. This is one reason why the latest chapter in the Quran (Surah 9) is also the most violent.
Mohammed encouraged war, leading his followers in a host of military campaigns. Gerhard Bowering, in his book Islamic Political Thought, writes: “Mohammed felt free to deal harshly with the [Jewish tribe], executing their men and selling their women and children into slavery.” As Jesus said, a servant is not better than his master (Jn. 13:16). Violent Muslims are merely following their leader.
Fourth is Islam’s Flags
Claims that Islam is a religion of peace would be taken more seriously if Muslim nations had a long history of living in harmony with their neighbors. Sadly, the opposite is true. The 2024 Open Doors Watch List measures the most persecuted countries in the world. Every nation but one in the Top 15 is Islamic. Five of the Top Ten are in Africa (Somalia, Libya, Eretria, Nigeria and Sudan) where Muslims slaughter Christians by the tens of thousands for their faith.
So is Islam a religion of peace? Certainly, there are many peaceful Muslims, especially those that follow Mohammed’s early model in Mecca. But no, Islam is not a religion of peace but a faith of violence and war.
Solution
Jesus has not left his followers without a solution. First, ideologically, Christians must reject every form of multiculturalism so prevalent in the West today, the teaching that all religions and cultural expressions are equally good. Nations, educational centres, and individuals must address the root of supposed “radical Islam”, which is their belief system found in the Quran and stop aiming at the fruit only, like defeating suicide bombers or Boko Haram. This will never work.
Second, practically, Christians must remember that Christ alone provides what this world lacks. He does this by changing hearts through the preaching of God’s word and wooing others to Himself through the godly living of His followers. Christians must live as salt and light among their Muslim neighbours and love their enemies, a command found nowhere in Islam but so crucial for gospel advance in this fallen world.
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