From time to time I plan to give some information on Islam. It is good for all of us to understand more about Islam and Muslims to be able to pray more effectively.
It is also good for all of us to balance this with truth. How does the Bible compare to what Islamic scholars teach their followers about Islam?
Assim al Hakim is an Islamic scholar who teaches Muslims to be faithful and true to the Qur’an and the Hadith, and the example of Mohammad. The following is a summary of his answer to a question posed by one of his students: What is the true Jihad?
Jihad is to struggle, to fight for the cause of Allah.
There are 5 categories of Jihad.
- – to struggle against Satan
- – to struggle with your own soul
- – to struggle against the disbelievers
- – to struggle against the Muslim hypocrites
- – to struggle against the Muslim sinners
Jihad is not just killing. It can be carried out with words and writings.
There are 2 basic forms of jihad.
- – to fight back and defend yourself when attacked
- – to pursue the disbelievers to call them to Islam (This can only happen when the islamic faith is strong and dominates.) If they accept Islam then leave them alone. If they refuse to accept Islam then they must pay a tax to be under the protection of the Islamic society… but they must submit to live under Sharia Law. If they refuse to accept Islam and refuse to pay the tax and submit to Sharia Law, then Muslims must fight against them and prevail. Those who survive will be slaves in the Islamic society.
He said that within 40 to 50 years Islam should be in a strong position to pursue the disbelievers.
This is the thinking in the mind of most Muslims who are serious about their faith, whether they be in the Middle East, or Europe, or the USA.
Back to contrasting this teaching of Islam with what Jesus taught in the Bible.
There are many passages in the Bible that we could look at, so picking just one or two is hard. But I was drawn to Matthew 16:49-54, which says:
- 49 Immediately Judas 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 alegions of angels?
- 54 “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 26:49–54, emphasis mine.
This is at the climactic moment of history, where the most unspeakable injustice is about to take place. Jesus, instead of telling his followers to “fight for God,” actually reminds them that the Lord is strong enough defend Himself without their help. And he tells his followers to put away their swords. Jesus, rather than demanding the respect due him, gave his life to save us.
Psalm 46 is another contrast to what Islamic scholars say. The whole passage is beautiful, but I will skip to the end:
- 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
- 10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
- 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 46, emphasis mine.
Please pray that teachers and students of Islam would cease striving/struggling/fighting and come to a saving faith in the one true LORD.