Christianity & the Crusades - Islam & Terrorism

Suggesting a correlation between the acts of Christians during the Crusades, and the terrorist acts of jihadis such as ISIS today is totally nonsense.

Let’s put it this way: When someone commits an act in your name that you neither suggested nor implied, you would certainly not be responsible for his actions. You might come under suspicion. You could even be interrogated and dragged to court to prove your innocence, but eventually, absent any evidence against you, you would be exonerated.

But when someone commits an act you instigated, and he is caught with your handwritten instructions, you would certainly be charged as partner in crime.

In the teachings of Christianity, there is nothing that could justify the committing of any crime by a Christian, especially a crime committed in defense of Christianity and Jesus Christ. When the soldiers came to arrest Christ and Peter jumped to His defense by drawing his sword (and cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant) Jesus said to him “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword,” (Matthew 26:52).

Christ did not establish an army to defend and protect Himself from his enemies, nor has he instructed his disciples to do jihad for His sake. When He stood before Pilate awaiting a verdict, He said, “My kingdom is not from this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now, my kingdom is from another place.”

Sometimes good parents, those who have worked hard to rear their children in virtue, see those children turn to vice. Are the parents to be blamed? Yet to blame Christianity for acts committed by “Christians” is to make the same error. 

With Islam, it is not so. Islam is like the evil father who raised evil children. He taught them violence, revenge, and hatred. He encouraged them to kill those who disagree with them. Moreover, Islam condones any sins committed by Muslims as long as they keep following Allah and Muhammad and keep fighting for them. 

Muhammad claims that, “Gabriel (the angel) said to me, ‘Whoever amongst the people of your nation die without having worshipped others besides Allah will enter paradise and not the hell.’” 

Muhammad asked, “Even if he has committed adultery or theft?” and Gabriel replied, “Even so!” (Hadith, Bukhari)

Horrifying crimes are being committed by ISIS, [The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria], Al-Nusrah Front, Al-Qaida, Boko Haram and other like Islamic groups. They are beheading, burning, crucifying people, kidnapping innocents and selling them as slaves or asking for ransom to trade them … all these crimes are being committed in the name of Islam and by the direct orders of Islam as well. The Quran, the books of Hadith [the sayings of Muhammad] and the Sira (the life of Muhammad) are full of testimonies of similar evil acts. Everything these groups are doing has been done by Muhammad and his companions. In fact, the peaceful and good Muslims who do not commit such acts are the ones who do not represent Islam. These are the ones who have nothing of Islam except the name.

Muhammad came to teach his followers that killing people was an order from God: “Fighting is prescribed upon you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not.” Quran 2:216”

Muhammad came to terrorize people, telling them that they must follow him or lose all they own and be killed.

“I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah” (Bukhari).

“The spoils of wars were made lawful to me and Allah made me victorious by terror so that the enemy will be frightened even if he was a month distant of me” (Masnad Ahmad).

He ordered his followers to cut off the heads of the unbelievers or trade some for money.

“Therefore, when you meet the Unbelievers, smite at their necks; at length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are you commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost” (Quran 47:4).

He came to slaughter people.

“By him who holds my life in His hand, I was sent to you with slaughter” (Faith al-Bari/Sahih al-Bukhari) 

“You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind … as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam” (Bukhari).

He came to order his followers to kill the non-Muslims wherever they find them.

“But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 9:5).

He ordered the burning of people in their homes.

“Muhammad was informed that some hypocrites were meeting in the home of Suwaylim the Jew - his dwelling being at Jasum - and that they were dissuading people from accompanying the Messenger of God on his expedition to Tabuk. The latter then dispatched Talha bin Ubayd-Allah and some men with orders to burn down Suwaylim's house about them. Talha did this. Al-Dahhak bin Khalifa jumped down from the roof of the house, breaking his leg. His companions leaped down too, but escaped” (Ibn Kathir).

In a single bloody event, Muhammad cut off the heads of more than 500 Jewish prisoners from the tribe of Qariza and sold their women and children to buy arms for his fighters. He raided tribes, looted them, killed them, enslaved their wives and children, and assassinated his critics including nursing mothers and very old people.

Given such a record, how could anyone say that ISIS, al-Nusrah, al-Qaida, Boko Haram or other like groups are not Islamic or claim that these groups don’t represent Islam?

When Christ sent his disciples to the world, he told them to baptize people with water (not to shed their blood) and to teach everything he has commanded: to give of themselves, to love and serve people. He did not send them with the sword but to preach the gospel with good words and good example.

“I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals… Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you. But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.”

He sent them not as wolves to prey upon lambs, nor as an army to attack nations, to terrorize, behead, loot, rape and burn their homes. In fact he warned them that if they would inherit the eternal life, they must not kill, commit adultery or steal. He did not give them carte blanche to sin as they wished and yet be welcome in heaven. He did not promise them Houris (72 virgins in Paradise) and river of wine and honey if they died for him. 

The contrast is clear. No objective observer can fail to see the enormous difference between Islamists acting in the authority (and by the example) of Muhammad and Christians serving by the authority (and example) of Christ.

Kudos to Rev. Franklin Graham who captured all of this in one short sentence: “True followers of Christ emulate Christ—true followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed.”

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