August 1, 2002, Vol.2, No.15.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "An
Overview of the History of Islam" (see below)
and "Was Muhammad a Prophet
and Apostle of God?"
To Our Muslim Friends:
An Overview of the History of Islam
Guest article by Oscar Miles
Introduction
Monotheism (belief in one God) distinguishes Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam from most other religions. Islam is the youngest and
most rapidly growing of the three. This article sketches only
a very brief history of Islam. Later articles will attempt to
objectively examine the truthfulness of Islamic claims. This
article aims only at an objective and factual summary of the
history of Islam.
Christians who read summaries of "Christianity"
know that such summaries often distort the truth. Since different
groups identified with Islam teach different doctrines and have
different views about Islamic history, it is difficult to be
both concise and accurate. Christians prefer that those who attempt
to summarize Christianity use the Bible as their primary source.
Thus, the primary source for this article is the Qur'an. A pro-Islamic
short history of Islam was used as a secondary source.1
What Is Islam?
The word "Islam" means "submission." Only
those who "submit" to the will of Allah as expressed
in the Qur'an are "Muslims."
The Qur'an is the authoritative teaching of Islam. Muhammad
told others that the angel Gabriel had revealed these truths
to him. These men eventually wrote down what Muhammad said and
later collected these in the Qur'an.
Muslims believe in one God (Al-lah, "the God"),
who rules over all. Islam leaves no room for the Biblical concept
of a three person deity. Thus, the Qur'an denies the deity of
Jesus (2:116; 4:171).2 Like Christians, Muslims believe in angels,
the Jewish prophets and a day of divine judgment. Unlike Christians,
Muslims believe Muhammad was the last and most important prophet,
and the Qur'an denies the crucifixion of Christ (4:157). Yet
the Qur'an urges Muslims not to argue unless Christians are belligerent
(29:46).
The core of Islam is often summarized in Five Pillars of Islam:
the creed, prayer, alms, fasting, the pilgrimage. The Islamic
statement of faith (creed) is "There is no God but Allah,
and Muhammad is his Prophet." Muslims pray five times a
day, give alms to the poor, fast during the month of Ramadan
and make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Qur'an includes a basic moral system of religion along
with legal and cultural regulations. Some of these are highly
offensive to Western and Christian sensibilities (e.g., 4:34).
Many Muslims adhere to these teachings today, but others have
attempted to modernize its precepts. While the New Testament
instructs individuals and non-political local groups of believers,
the Qur'an instructs Muslims as a political group as well as
a religious group.
Who Was Muhammad?
Muhammad of Arabia, founder of Islam, was born about A.D.
5703 and died in 632. After organizing a community of disciples
in Medina, he later chose Mecca as his holy city. By the time
of his death, virtually all of Arabia was Islamic. Under the
caliphs, militant faith in Allah, and in Muhammad as his prophet,
spread quickly into Asia, Africa and even Europe.
The Qur'an honors Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Jesus,
but traces Islam through Ishmael (2:127, 136; 19:54-55). Muhammad
claims to be a messenger of Allah who has clearly revealed all
things (7:158). Orphaned as a baby (93:6), Muhammad was deeply
influenced by the loving care of his poor uncle Abu Talib who
raised him most of his childhood. Muhammad became a caravan driver
and financial manager, and at age twenty-five married his forty-year-old
employer, a wealthy widow. This marriage allowed Muhammad a little
more luxury and leisure time to devote to contemplation.
Muhammad encountered Jews and Christians on his frequent journeys,
and referred to both as "the people of the book" (e.g.,
2:145-146). Muhammad encouraged others to read and heed "the
Book" which God gave Jews and Christians (2:87, 89, 121,
et. al.). Yet Muhammad was clearly troubled by the exclusivism
of Jews and Christians (2:111-112, 120), and desired a religion
for the Arabs (2:151).
Muhammad began his work as a messenger of Allah at the age
of forty while meditating in a cave on Mt. Hira near Mecca. Islam
teaches that he received his call there in about 610, and then
began receiving messages from the angel Gabriel. The Qur'an is
very defensive regarding this call (53:1-12).
Muhammad made converts slowly. The most influential of his
early converts was Abu Bakr, who, as a wealthy merchant, became
an active proclaimer of Islam. Muhammad preached social justice
which gradually gained both support and increased opposition.
From Mecca, Muhammad moved to Medina where the leaders of the
city welcomed him. In Medina, he established the first Muslim
community with its own government. He did not force conversion
to Islam, and had no initial hostilities toward Jews or Christians.
Early hostilities arose when the Meccan leadership clashed
with the new religion and culture created by Muhammad at Medina.
At first, Jewish communities in Medina who sided with the enemy
were expelled. But because they swelled the support of Mecca,
Muhammad had all the Jewish men of Qurayzah massacred and sold
the women and children as slaves. For a while, the survival of
Islam was very tenuous, but Muhammad eventually gained enough
strength to force Mecca to agree to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
But when the Meccans violated the treaty, Muhammad led forth
a massive army. Mecca surrendered peacefully and Muhammad took
the city without forcing conversion to Islam.
The Early Spread of Islam
Islam spread as Muslim armies conquered huge swaths of land.
In part, the desire for such conquests was fueled by the need
for food and other goods. First the tribes of Arabia were conquered
under Muhammad's first successor, Abu Bakr and all of Arabia
was united. Muslims went on to control Syria, Palestine, Egypt
and large portions of the Persian empire. Cyprus, portions of
North Africa, Iran, and Afghanistan also quickly came under Muslim
rule.
Everywhere the armies invaded, they brought the teachings
of Islam. Most early Muslim rulers apparently did not force their
subjects to convert to Islam. The Qur'an forbids religious coercion
(2:256), but not all Muslim rulers have honored that prohibition.
Through the years, disagreements arose concerning the legitimate
successor of Muhammad, what kind of governmental power Muslim
leaders should exercise, and the proper interpretation of the
Qur'an. Civil wars erupted, and the Shia and Sunni branches of
Islam developed. At first, caliphs ruled as successors to Muhammad
over the entirety of the Islamic empire. But by the 900s, the
caliphs were losing power, and leadership devolved to regional
authorities. Countries claiming to be Islamic sometimes fought
each other and sometimes fought together against armies claiming
to be Christian. Power changed hands frequently, but Islamic
influence was pervasive and powerful until the decline of the
Ottoman Empire in the late eighteenth century.
With the industrialization of the West came great troubles.
The meteoric rise of European and American powers overwhelmed
Islam. Most Islamic countries today lag far behind the West in
wealth and technology. This precipitous drop in world power was
disquieting. Many Muslims resent the relative powerless of Islamic
countries in world political affairs.
The British and United Nations backed creation of a homeland
for the Jews in Islamic Palestine increased Muslim resentment
of the West and has led to unceasing conflict, war, and terrorism
not only in Palestine, but around the world. Thus, industrialization
and the creation of a Palestinian homeland for Jews has led some
Muslims to choose the path of suicidal terrorism.
Throughout history, Muslims have given different interpretations
to Qur'anic references to jihad (striving) against unbelievers.
A few radical groups interpret certain passages in the Qur'an
to command aggressive violence against unbelievers, but the vast
majority of Muslims believe the Qur'an only endorses warfare
when Muslims are first attacked (2:191-194; 22:40-42; 25:51-52)
or when others have broken treaties (9:1-24). Yet, this differs
significantly from Jesus' instruction to turn the other cheek
(Matthew 5:38-45).
Current Spread of Islam
Islam continues to spread rapidly without the acquisition
of new territory. Why? Perhaps for several reasons. First, most
Muslims live in countries which continue to experience great
physical suffering from lack of food and water and oppressive
governments. Such suffering often causes people to seek meaning
for their lives. Many have never heard the gospel of Christ,
but have heard the teachings of Muhammad. And the Qur'an's focus
on social justice appeals to those who are suffering injustice.
But Islam continues to spread even in the West. The spiritual
vacuum that currently exists in the West, combined with unprecedented
religious freedom has opened the door for Islam. Materialism
has left little room for spirituality, but cannot satisfy spiritual
needs. Western academics have so long been hostile to Christianity,
people are turning elsewhere to fill the spiritual void in their
lives.
Perhaps the current popularity of Islam also has something
to do with the simplicity of Islam. Although there are several
schools of Islam, there are over a thousand "Christian"
denominations. Muslims can seem rather united and Islam straightforward
when compared to all the interpretations of Christianity. The
Qur'an strongly defends the free will of man, judgment based
on personal sins not the sins of forefathers, and righteous daily
living (2:134, 177). The Bible clearly teaches the same (e.g.,
2 Corinthians 5:10), but many who claim to be Christians have
neglected or perverted these teachings.
Finally, the Qur'an teaches a doctrine similar to the popular
current sentiment, "Everyone who is sincere in his religion
will go to Heaven" (2:62, 111-112). Obviously, this teaching
appeals to many people of every generation.
Conclusion
No doubt there is much more interest in Islam in the West
after September 11, 2001. As Christians would wish to be judged,
so let us judge. We wish the world to turn to the Bible and study
it carefully and critically. On the basis of the Bible alone,
we ask the world to judge Christ and Christianity. Similarly,
let us not judge Islam by the actions of just anyone claiming
allegiance to Muhammad or by any one of its sects. Let us look
at the teaching of the Qur'an, seek the most reasonable reading
of the text, and ask ourselves whether its claims are true or
false. If we decide the Qur'an is a revelation from God, honesty
demands we follow it. If we decide the Qur'an is the work of
mere men, we must reject it and take a principled stand against
it.
________________________
Notes:
1 Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary
(Elmhurst, New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc., 2001); Karen
Armstrong, Islam: A Short History (New York: The Modern Library,
2000).
2 All references to the Qur'an give the Sura (chapter) number
followed by a colon followed by the verse number(s).
3 Islam uses a different dating system. Year one (1 A.H.)
corresponds to Muhammad's move to Medina. Muslims also use a
lunar calendar, making conversions difficult. Thus, this article
uses the western calendar. All dates are A.D.
~ ~ ~
|
