Why Jesus is the Prince of Peace - and Mohammed is not

 

One title prophesied for the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 is "Prince of peace"; Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

 

Just How Peaceful was Mohammed?

 

"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." Isaiah 48:22

 

The English translator of Sahih Muslim counted the military battles, raids by Muslims, and other encounters in Mohammed's lifetime and arrived at 82 operations. This means that during the 13 or so years he was at Medina, and later Mecca, that works out to an average of 6.3 encounters per year, or a little more than one military raid or battle every two months. Some Muslims have claimed that Mohammed only fought in self-defense. The hadiths say otherwise:

 

"Ibn 'Aun reported : I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam) before engaging them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water." Sahih Muslim vol.3 no.4292.

 

The early Muslim historian al-Tabari records that Mohammed also ordered a surprise attack on the unsuspecting village of Dumah, killing its chieftain's brother among others. (al-Tabari vol.9 p.58-59)

 

Whatever people thought of the Ayatollah Khomeini, you cannot accuse him of being a hypocritical Shi'ite Muslim when it came to war. He said, "Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for Holy Warriors! There are hundreds of other [Koranic] psalms and Hadiths urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all that mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim." quoted from Ibn Warraq Why I am Not A Muslim Prometheus Books 1995 p.11-12. Amir Taheri. Holy Terror. London, 1987. p.226-227.

 

Some people claim Islam means "peace" and they look to Islam as a religion of peace. Muslim terrorists would laugh at you, and Khomeini says he would "spit upon" your foolish soul.

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In contrast to this, when Jesus came to earth, just how warlike was He? Jesus said in Luke 6:27-36 

"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9). So God's people are to be peacemakers; however, Jesus also said that we would still receive persecution.

 

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

 

"For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, 'that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

 

One reason there is not peace among people, on the outside, is there is not peace on the inside. Let's look first at Mohammed then at Jesus.

 

Mohammed Cursed Others

 

When Muslims become Christians, one key concept they have to grasp is that we Christians are not to hate anyone. We are to love our enemies and even pray for those who mistreat us. In contrast, here are some teachings Muslims should unlearn.

 

Mohammed cursed other Muslims:

 

Mohammed cursed people because of his quick temper Sahih Muslim vol.4 book 30 no.6297 p.1373

 

Allegedly a boy passed between Mohammed and a tree, so Mohammed cursed him saying he could not walk again, and he became crippled. Abu Dawud vol.1 book 2 no.707 p.182

 

A Muslim who was collecting Sadaqa stole a skin, so Mohammed cursed him. Sunan Nasa'i vol.1 no.865 p.521-522

 

Mohammed cursed Jews and Christians:

 

At the end of Mohammed's life he said, "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets." Bukhari vol.1 book 8 no.427 p.255.

 

Mohammed asked Allah to curse the Jews and Christians because they took the graves of their prophets and apostles as places of worship." He warned his followers of imitating them. Bukhari vol.7 book 72 no.706 p.475; Nasa'i vol.1 no.706 p.445

 

Mohammed cursed the Jews for making mosques at the graves of their prophets. Abu Dawud vol.2 no.3221 p.917

 

Muslim Leaders Cursed Other Muslims:

 

Abu Bakr cursed non-Muslims with very dirty language. al-Tabari vol.8 p.76

 

'Umar cursed the trainer of a jade (horse). al-Tabari vol.12 p.193

 

'Ali cursed Mu'awiyah and vice versa. al-Tabari vol.17 p.110

 

Mu'awiyah killed people if they would not denounce 'Ali. al-Tabari vol.18 p.149-151.  Mu'awiyah excelled at insults according to al-Tabari vol.15 p.115-116

 

Ziyad bin abi Sufyan had someone (Sayfi) beaten until he would curse 'Ali. al-Tabari vol.18 p.138-139

 

Ziyad bin Abihi derogatorily called Mu'awiyah the son of the eater of [human] livers, because his mother, Hind, had eaten the liver of a dead Muslim soldier before she became a Muslim. al-Tabari vol.18 p.17-18

 

al-Hakim the Fatimid Shi'ite in 1005 A.D. pronounced curses against the first caliphs and companions of the prophet, and forced these to be inscribed on mosques. However, in 1007 A.D., al-Hakim repealed having these inscribed on mosques.

 

Mullah Muhammad Bakir Majlisi (1627-1698 A.D.) was a 12'er who made a hadith collection. He said he hoped his works "may give life to the hearts and spirits of the dead-hearted people." In a sense he became the virtual ruler of Iran, and he persecuted Sunnis, Sufis, and Zoroastrians. He said that the Sunni caliphs 'Umar, Abu Bakr, and 'Uthman were hypocrites and unbelievers who deserved God's curse. See the Encyclopedia of Islam vol.5 p.1086-1088 for more info.

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In contrast, Jesus said the following: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.  And from him who takes away your good do not ask them back." Luke 6:27-29

 

Peace of the followers

 

Whether you look at wars among nations, terrorist attacks, or just the fighting and genocide among various Muslim tribal groups in Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan under the Taliban, or others, there is fighting and killing in many countries that have Muslims. But while people are calling for peace on the outside, it cannot be achieved when the people do not have peace on the inside.

 

Battle of Jamal (the Camel) 656 A.D. 35 A.H. 'Aisha and two generals, Talha and al-Zubair, who were two of the ten companions of the prophet who were promised paradise. They and about 30,000 warriors rebelled against 'Ali and his army of about 20,000, but 'Ali won. About 10,000 Muslims were killed. Talha and Zubair were killed by Muslims in the other Muslim army, yet they were promised Paradise by Mohammed. See al-Tabari vol.17 p.164. and vol.39 p.315. There were a number of wounded. Both sides were heavily armored, so both sides focused on hacking off limbs. al-Tabari vol.17 p.135

 

Battle of Siffin in July 657 A.D. the Muslims armies of Mu'awiyah and 'Ali fought each other. Sahih Muslim vol.2 footnote 1430 (p.509)

 

"Death is beneath the spears and Paradise between the flashing swords." 'Ammar bin Yasir quoted this at the Battle of Siffin right before he died fighting against other Muslims. al-Tabari vol.17 p.65.

 

Medina was plundered by fellow Muslims at the massacre at Harra (63 A.H.)  Sahih Muslim vol.2 footnote 1175 p.421 and al-Tabari vol.10 p.208,217.

 

Both Sunnis and Shi'ites separately fought with the Muslim Khwaraj (Kharijites) as well as each other in modern day Iraq.

 

The Promise of Peace in Christ

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

 

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the LORD forever, for YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

 

We all were born with a sinful nature; and a sinful nature is at war with God and often at war with itself. Jesus came to set us from the bondage of sin.

 

Ephesians 2:12-19 says, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace., and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

 

 

We pray that you might find the tremendous blessing of the peace of Christ, have peace with God, and become a peacemaker on this earth.

 

For more info contact www.MuslimHope.com.

Bible quotes are from the NKJV.

 

 

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