The Rise of Islam - Term Paper Example

? THE RISE OF ISLAM Table of Contents Page No. Introduction …………………………………………………… 3 Thesis ment ………………………………………………… 3 Background ……………………………………………………. 4 Islamic Beliefs and Doctrine …………………………………….. 6 Defence of Christians …………………………………………….. 7 Conclusion …………………………………………………….. 12 References …………………………………………………….. 14 Introduction Islam and Christianity are two of the largest and independent religions in the world. They both use technology and modern means of communication in order to preach and propagate. Members of these religious groups are surrounded with all the temptations of material things: technology, gadgets, the internet, fast-paced communication, transportation faster than the speed of sound, and above all money. These things are not evil per se but they should be able to detect temptation because they can be tools of the devil to entice man to sin. Where were these things some centuries ago? Islam was born and grew out of the polytheism practices at the time the prophet Muhammad was beginning to ponder upon his existence. It was also during those times when the prophet was bored of the technology and materialism of the time. Will there emerge another religion in the midst of all these? There are signs of evil hold over the things we take for granted. Is it true that Islam is a sham of Christianity? Let us take a brief history of Islam before we hear the apologist’s responses. This essay is about Islam and Christianity. First of all, Christianity came ahead of Islam and in fact many of the beliefs and principles preached by the prophet Muhammad were taken from the Bible and Christian teachings. We will first focus on how the prophet Muhammad started and founded this fast-growing religion. The second part will provide the apologetics or the answers of the Christian church to the many doubts and questions imposed by Islam. Thesis Statement This research will attempt to examine Islam growth during the Medieval Ages and examine the early Christian church response to Islam by exploring explanations of the Christian apologist’s responses. The explanations that the apologists offered were that Islam was a Christian heretical doctrine, God Judge Islam because of the inadequacy of the church, and Islam was not real but was a wicked sham of Christianity. Background The beginning and growth of Islam is one of the most remarkable religious phenomena in the history of man’s quest to believe in a Supreme Being and to know the meaning of life and religion. It is still considered a young religion with about 1.2 billion followers. Islam is the religion of countries that stretch from North Africa to Southeast Asia and to smaller Muslim communities across the globe.1 At the time before the birth of Islam, Arabia was cut off from neighbouring civilizations. The peninsula was characterized by diverse landscapes and mountain ranges which created different ecosystems. During the birth of Muhammad, much of Arabia was subjected to foreign influences such as political, economic and cultural. Christianity was one of these influences.2 Muhammad whose official name in the Muslim world is Prophet Muhammad ibn Abd Allah was born in 570AD in Mecca or what is called Saudi Arabia today. He was orphaned at an early age but at a young age he was already searching for the truth of his own existence. He married a rich widow at the age of 25 and it was also at this age that he started to search for God and the meaning of life. He got some answers through dreams. He found solitude as an escape from the demands of city life. He did not like the practice of polytheism at that time, so he would often find refuge in caves. It was believed that the angel Gabriel appeared to him in a dream while he was seeking refuge at Mt. Hira. The angel Gabriel asked him to proclaim a message from God. Muhammad at first did not believe his dream but the angel introduced himself and proclaimed Muhammad a messenger of God.3 (Jennings 2002, 2) Muhammad was encouraged by his family and so he came to believe of his new fate, accepted it and beginning to preach in the streets of Mecca. He first preached to the Arab traders advising them to turn away from sin and believe in the one true God, Allah. Muhammad soon gained followers but persecution forced him and his followers to flee to Medina. Muhammad’s religion Islam grew and his political power became a force to reckon with. The religion Islam was founded and those who did not want to be converted were persecuted. The believers of Islam were called Muslims and they started to persecute the Jews. In 630 AD, Muhammad and his followers came to conquer and rule Mecca with the tenets of Islam. Muhammad united the Arab tribes and formed a new religious and political force which he claimed came from above. Muslims conquered most eastern countries of Europe including those in Northern Africa up to some parts of India. Islam became the centre of influence in politics, religion, art, science, and all the other sciences.4 Muhammad was succeeded upon his death by the leaders of Islam called caliphs. The caliphs had political power and the Islamic empire grew dominating much of the eastern part of Europe. Islam grew so rapidly that it is one of the dominant religions of the world today. This powerful religion has been troubled by internal struggles because when Muhammad died, he failed to name his successor. Internal conflicts sometimes resulted into violence and death to its members. There are Islamic sects which are divided by their own beliefs and different interpretations of the Islamic faith. The Sunnite sect is the dominant group with about 90% of all Muslims worldwide. The next largest sect is known as the Shia’ites who believe in the practical interpretation of the Quran and follow a line of leaders called Ayatollahs.5 Islam controls many aspects of a Muslim’s life, a mix of religion and politics. Those who want to depart from the faith are persecuted or imprisoned, and sometimes put to death.6 (Jennings 2002, 3) Islamic Beliefs and Doctrine Islamic belief fosters six articles of faith, namely, beliefs in God, angels, Scripture, prophets, the last days, and predestination. Belief of one God is similar to the Christian belief but the Muslim’s Allah is different from the Christian trinity. While the God of the Christians is a loving God, the Muslim’s Allah is unapproachable by sinners. (Jennings 2002, 3) Muslims also believe in angels, creatures who record the good and bad deeds of men and women. They don’t have free will while the jinn is an angel who has free will and is powerful like Satan. Muslim scriptures are a combination of the Old and New Testaments in Christianity, such as the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, the Gospel of Jesus, and the Qur’an (Koran) which contain Muhammad’s visions. (Jennings 2002, 4) The Qur’an depicts Abraham as the founder of Muslim sanctuary at Mecca known as the Ka’ba. It also said that Abraham destroyed the idols, and was also the father of Ishmael, an ancestor of the Arabs.7 The Qur’an is as long as the New Testament and is subdivided into 114 chapters. According to the Muslim belief, the books of the bible has been corrupted by the Jews and Christians, thus there is a need for another book, the Qur’an. Muslims also believe in the prophets through whom Allah reveal his messages. These prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad whom they believe to be the last and greatest of the prophets. The last days will be resurrection and judgment by Allah based on everyone’s deeds. Those who followed the commandments and will of Allah and Muhammad will attain heavenly glory characterized by sensual pleasure and those who sinned will be tormented forever in hell fire. Muslims also believe in predestination. Everything that is happening to the world is predestined by Allah. They believe that Allah is the author of evil and that those who go to heaven or hell are already predestined regardless of their deeds or faith in Islam. The Muslim faith is strengthened by the Creed. When a child is introduced into the Muslim faith he hears the words: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.” A Muslim who becomes a member of the Islamic faith must announce this in public. This Creed is similar to the “Apostles’ Creed” of Christians wherein Christian believers recite their belief in God and the other major tenets and beliefs of Christianity. Muslims also recite their prayers at least five times a day. When they pray, they do positions of standing, kneeling, or lay prostrate, facing the east or where Mecca is. They also give alms to the poor, from a portion of their income which is about one-fortieth. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking and other forms of vices during daytime, but eating and drinking can be done during night time. Pilgrimage to Mecca should be done at least once in a lifetime for those who can afford it.8 There is one other religious duty that a Muslim should fulfil and this is to be a part of a Jihad or Holy War. Muslim men have a duty to go to war to propagate the faith. Anyone who dies a martyr will attain eternal life in heaven. Is Islam is a Christian heretical doctrine? The works of John of Damascus are believed to be one of the earliest apologist views on Islam as a Christian heretical doctrine. John was born in Damascus from an aristocratic family. During this time Muslim Arabs had made their initial conquests of Byzantine provinces. John entered a monastic life to withdraw a life of wealth and as a monk he wrote several literary works ranging from homilies, liturgical poetry to systematic theology. His work on systematic theology The Font of Knowledge had a chapter On Heresies dedicated to his ideas on Islam.9 John wrote that Muhammad was a false prophet who preached heresy after reading the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible. Muhammad was able to present himself as a man of piety and told those who listened to him that a book was given to him from heaven. He then presented this book, of which he personally wrote some of its contents, and told his followers to make it an object of veneration. John wrote that Muhammad taught that there is only one God, the creator of all, who was never born or begotten. Christ is a prophet, the word of God, but a mere creature and servant, the son of Mary who was the sister of Moses and Aaron. John described how Jesus was begotten of Mary: the word of God entered into Mary and so she bore a son named Jesus who became a prophet. The Jews planned to kill him by crucifixion but they only took hold of his shadow and crucified it. Christ was saved from crucifixion when God took him and brought him to heaven. (Nikolaou, 2012) According to Muhammad’s account, as explained by John of Damascus, the book was handed over to him while he was asleep. But Muhammad could not present any living witness or testimony as to how this book had gotten into him. John said that the Muslims accuse Christians for being idolaters and venerators of the cross but Muhammad’s followers rub themselves against a stone, or the black stone in Kaaba, and they kiss and embrace the stone. Muslims also say that Abraham had relations with Hagar in that stone, or it was the stone where Abraham tied a camel when he was about to sacrifice Isaac to God. Whatever they said, according to John, Muslims insist that the stone is Abraham’s. Be that as it may, said John, whether Abraham had relations with a woman on that stone or he tied a camel on it, but why do they continuously blame Christians for venerating the cross of Christ, a cross that defeated the devil? John also said that Muhammad wrote ridiculous books, one of which is the book On Women in which he reasoned out that having four wives and many concubines, if possible a thousand, is permissible if one can afford it. He can also put away his wife if he does not anymore like her. Muhammad even took the wife of his friend who willingly gave her to him.10 Islam has borrowed some beliefs from Christianity and we can see many of the similarities in these two religions. But there are always differences. Muhammad modified some of the Christian beliefs but Christian scholars countered that these modifications could be the result of Muhammad’s misunderstanding of the Christian faith.11 The Christian response to the Muslims should first be focused on the Muslim claim that Christians and Jews are wrong in their interpretation of the Bible. Muhammad and his followers hold with high esteem the Old and New Testaments as God’s revelations to man (e.g. Surah 3:84; 6:34, 10:37, 64, 94; 46:12)12. God judge Islam because of the inadequacy of the church The Catholic Church has learned to recognise and accept the Muslims as co-worshippers of God who is the God of Abraham and also like Allah of the Muslims. During the medieval times, there was this inadequacy of the church that continued up to the many centuries onward. In Spain particularly, which was being Islamicized in 149213, Christians were living alongside with Muslims and many avoided conflict by adopting the Muslim way of life. But conflict continued. Monks and bishops accepted martyrdom by saying what Muslims did not want to hear about their religion. They provided theological writings against Muslims and they did not know anything about Muslims because they did not want to know. During the mid-ninth century, Muslim and Christian tension continued to grow. There was the rise of the Cordovan martyrs’ movement. Christian zealots embraced martyrdom. Priests attacked Islam thought and many were executed. One priest openly said that Jesus was the Son of God but Muhammad was a false prophet of demonic origin. This priest was summoned by a local judge and was ordered to retract his statement and convert to Islam.14 These remarks created more tension and conflict in communities under Muslim domination. Priests and monks intentionally insulted the prophet Muhammad and were hung. A bishop of Toledo called the Prophet the Antichrist and referred him to be the Apocalypse of Daniel.15 Spain which was a propagator of Christianity became a land of contradictions. At first, Castilian authorities agreed that Muslims, Jews and Christians could live harmoniously but they reneged on their statements. Relations were characterized by starvation and mass murder, raids in homes and seizures of lands. In the 15th century, hopelessness was a part of life because Muslims and Christians who were supposed to live side by side could not live in peace. Until the twenty-first century, bitterness in other parts of the world particularly in the Middle East continued. 16 The apologist’s explanation that Islam is not real but a wicked sham of Christianity The apologist response that Islam is not real but a wicked sham of Christianity sprang from Muslim beliefs. The Muslim concept of God or Allah is different from the Christian God. God is a loving God personified in Jesus Christ. The trinity should not be interpreted as we interpret the biological father and son. The functions of the father and the son are what are emphasized in the trinity and not the biological father-and-son interpretation. The Muslim Allah is different from the Biblical God. He is not a God that has everlasting love and holiness. Jesus wants us to consider him a brother or a friend. Muhammad’s concept of Allah is that he is the author of both good and evil and has unconditional love; he loves those whom he chooses. Christ commanded us to love and sacrifice for that love. Jesus called his disciples and told them that he is a friend, a brother, a confidant. When he called Simon, Andrew, James, and John, he asked them to be workers for God. Simon and the others trust Jesus at that very instance Jesus met them. This is just like when Jesus calls us and enters our hearts. He erases the fears, the negative forces inside, and he reigns in our hearts allowing us to follow him and be one in his ministry of helping people catch up with the rest of the world, of knowing that in life we are restless only when we do not allow Jesus to intervene in our lives. Jesus reaches out to the very core of the people’s faith – praying together, sharing, and having fellowship. During Saturdays, the Jews gather together – they pray and read the Scriptures and chant the Psalms. Jesus’ passion and crucifixion are a manifestation of God’s everlasting love for humanity – unconditional love. Jesus treated with love those who caused him grief. When he was about to be betrayed by Judas, Jesus still had the time and the pain to teach his disciples the virtues of fidelity and loyalty in relationships. Jesus knew beforehand that Judas would betray him and turn him over to the Pharisees. But Jesus loved his disciples to the end and proved his faithfulness to them event to death on the cross. Through his death and resurrection Jesus opened a new way of relationship and friendship with God. Jesus tells his disciples that if they accept him they also accept the Father who sent him. This principle extends to all who belong to Christ and speak in his name. This is not present in the Islamic faith. Instead, the unbelievers of Islam are called infidels and are persecuted. Although this matter of persecution can be applied to and being experienced by both Muslims and Christians, it is not found in the principles and beliefs of Christianity. In his final words before he ascended to heaven, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another and only through this love will the world distinguish between Christians and non-Christians. Christians should love everyone even those who hate them. Christ made himself an example when he was nailed to the cross. His crucifixion is to redeem the sins of all. When a Pharisee asked Jesus which was the most important commandment in the Law, he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and most important of the commandments. But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments.” 17 The Muslim concept of Jihad is the opposite of Christian martyrdom. During the early years of the Christian religion, the disciples of Jesus became martyrs of the faith. They died defending their faith. But they didn’t preach and killed for the faith. To propagate the faith, Muslims become jihadists who are warriors who go to war. The reward for jihadists or the martyrs is sensual pleasure in heaven. Again, this concept is not within the bounds of religious beliefs wherein the physical body dies and what remains is the soul. The soul does not experience physical pleasure but heavenly glory. In contrast to the Muslim view, the Bible assures salvation and God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Man is separated from God because of sin (Rom 3:10-12,23) and the punishment is death (Rom 1:32; 6:23). But Jesus Christ has paid this through his sacrifice on the cross. God wants us to follow Him and wants us to be perfect but it is only through Jesus Christ when we are able to follow God’s ways to perfection. The problem of sin cannot be solved with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his ultimate resurrection. Christ had to shed blood and his forgiveness of sin is available to all who repent (Rom 3:28, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). In Romans, chapter 3, verse 21, Paul spoke of the justice of God but this justice is a merciful intervention that makes us holy. He made mention of God’s anger, but after this anger is the coming of the Saviour. God made Christ the victim we needed for the atonement of our sins, but we must not think that God, in anger, demands the suffering of an innocent victim. God provided the victim in the person of Jesus Christ who is an expression of the immensity of God’s love. The divine way of restoring justice is not by condemning but by saving. God conquered sin through love and those who never knew love will also be saved.18 Conclusion It is not true that Islam is a Christian heretical doctrine. The Second Vatican Council in 1964 and 1965 has recognized and accepted Muslims as fellow worshippers of God. It is time that Muslims, Christians and Jews live together peacefully, worshipping the same God and helping one another as God or Allah wants us to. During these present times, Muslims all over the world differ in some respect over certain beliefs but these are errors that can be straightened out. Islam as a religion has theologians and learned men who can provide answers to things that may have led people to believe that it is a Christian heretical doctrine. There are Muslim organizations that have the noble intention to unite and help Muslims around the world to be enlightened about their faith. One of those organizations is “The Islam Project”.19 For all the mistakes or errors of the people “in” the church, God is always there and He has maintained his promise that He will always be with us till the end of time. This does not mean that God is not with the Muslims. I may not believe in predestination but I do believe that we are predestined to be members of this or that particular religion. Then when we realize the mistakes of the founders or elders of the church, that will be our time to correct those mistakes, at least personally, and bring these corrections with us when we finally face Him in the end times. References Community Christian Bible Commentaries. 1988. (Complete Text Translated from Hebrew and Greek). Philippines: Bernardo Hurault. Donner, Fred. 1999. Muhammad and the Caliphate. In The Oxford history of Islam, ed. John L. Esposito, 1-62. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. Esposito, John. 1999. The Oxford history of Islam. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. Jennings, Blake. 2002. A Christian apologetic to Islam. Venture Summer 2002, http://www.grace-bible.org/files/leader_resources/a_christian_apologetic_to_islam.pdf (accessed May 3, 2012). Lassner, Jacob, and Michael Bonner. 2010. Islam in the middle ages: the Origins and shaping of classical Islamic civilization. California: Greenwood Publishing Group. Leinvik, Oddbjorn. 2010. Images of Jesus Christ in Islam. London; New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. Nikolaou, Stefano, “A Survey of Byzantine Responses to Islam,” Answering Islam; A Christian-Muslim Dialog, http://www.answering-islam.org/history/byzantine_responses.html (accessed May 5, 2012). Quinn. Frederick. 2008. The sum of all heresies: the image of Islam in western thought. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. Sourdel, Dominique. 1983. Medieval Islam. London: Routledge. The Holy Bible, New Revised English Version, 2008. The Islam Project, http://www.islamproject.org/ (accessed May 3, 2012). Read More