Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims
A History of Jihad
It helps to know something about someone you are trying to reach with the Gospel. In people of our own culture, we don’t have to think too hard—they are often like us! They like something new, want to be loved and accepted, are often frustrated with life, don’t really expect to die tomorrow but find the whole subject of death and what comes after a little unsettling. They know they aren’t perfect, but still they are pretty good.
Any time we try to reach someone who isn’t like us, we are going “cross culture,” crossing from our culture, our way of viewing things, into another culture and a different way of viewing the world.
The world of Islam is a different culture. We will only offend and insult them if we don’t take some time to understand where they’ve been.
I. Mohammed
A. Biography
Islam got its start in the early 600s in the Arabian Peninsula. The Byzantine Empire (the Eastern remnants of the old Roman Empire) and the Sassanian Empire were constantly at war with each other. Arabia was pretty much a forgotten, inhospitable desert wasteland except for the warring Arab tribes that lived around the various oases. They worshipped the moon and many other gods and goddesses--360 in all! The two major cities were Mecca and Medina, rivals in controlling the spice trade routes. A smattering of Jews and heretical Christians also lived among the Arabs.
When he became an adult, the orphan Mohammed became engaged in the trade caravans. At the age of 25 he took charge of a caravan for a wealthy woman merchant named Khadija. Impressed by his honesty, the older woman asked him to marry her. He did. One day, while meditating near Mecca, his home town, Mohammed heard a voice. He believed it was the archangel Gabriel. The voice continued to give him revelations and he shared the message in private with his friends. His wife became his first convert. Facing persecution for their faith in Mecca, in 622 AD Mohammed left for Medina. There he established peace between the two warring tribes and became their spiritual and political leader. It was in Medina that the first mosque was built for worship and Islam became a religion. War continued between Medina and Mecca until Mohammed's forces gained the upper hand. The formerly hostile leaders of Mecca welcomed Mohammed back and converted to his faith in 630 AD.
B. Attitude Toward War
Mohammed's view towards using force changed quite a bit. Follow and explain his statements and (from what you know now about his biography, explain the situations he was facing).
|
A. Mutual Acceptance B. Defensive Fighting C. Attack if you have been Attacked First D. Fighting to Advance the Faith Permitted
|
_____ "O disbelievers! Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion." (Sura 2:190) (early preaching in Mecca)
_____ "Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed able to give them victory." (Sura 22:39) (early preaching in Medina)
_____ "Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors." (Sura 2:190) (later preaching in Medina)
_____ "Fight against those who have been given the Scripture but believe not in Allah nor the Last Day." (Sura 9.29)
What does Jesus say about the use of force in spreading the Gospel?
Before you answer do steps 1 and 2.
Step 1: Read and explain Matthew 26.52
C. The First Jihad
1. The Rightly Guided Caliphs
Mohammed died suddenly in 632 AD. He had named no successor. His closest friend, Abu Bakr, the father of one of Mohammed's 12 wives, became Mohammed's successor (caliph) instead of Mohammed's son-in-law, Ali. During the short two years of Abu Bakr's caliphate, Arabia was united under Islam and it started to move north into Syria.
Umar was appointed caliph by Abu Bakr on his deathbed. During his ten years of rule, Muslim armies captured Jerusalem and Damascus. Also he ruled that in Arabia, no unbelievers were permitted--Christians and Jews were driven out or liquidated. The fourth and last of the caliphs who had been eyewitnesses of Mohammed's life was Ali, Mohammed's cousin and son-in-law (by his marriage to Fatima).
2. Ummayads
Power struggles between the family of the third caliph's family (Umayyads) and Mohammed's family led to Ali's assassination and the start of the Umayyad dynasty. Under their rule Islam spread across North Africa and into Spain. The Sassanian empire fell as Allah's armies conquered all the way east to India. Byzantine holdings in Palestine and eastern Asia Minor fell into Moslem hands. A practice of "toleration" for those in the "house of Islam" (the Moslem Empire) and continuous warfare for those outside the "house of Islam"--"the house of War" was established. The Ummayad dynasty lasted for about 100 years and moved the seat of government from Medina to Damascus.
3. Abbasids
Corruption and
abandonment of Mohammed's teachings led to the Ummayads' downfall. The
Abbasids moved government to Baghdad and ruled for 500 years. Under them the
Moslem Empire, though sometimes fragmented, achieved the height of its
cultural advance.
During this time Western Europe, under the leadership of the Pope, launched Crusades to recapture the Holy Land. From 1100 to 1300 Christians captured territory in the "house of Islam" and held it as feudal kingdoms. Battles were bloody, Christian leaders treacherous and less than virtuous. The hero on the Moslem side was Saladin, a man noted as "more Christian than the baptized" for his honesty and fairness. He retook Jerusalem and ended Crusader control even while Spanish Christians were starting to drive the Moslems out of Spain.
Jesus says there is a reward for Christians who bear up under persecution even unto death and do not renounce their faith. They will be saved.--------Islam promise those who take up Jihad to further the "House of Islam" will attain entrance to heaven. How is the promised reward of Islam differ from what the Bible says?
Determine which side of the Jihad this was said on, Christian or Moslem side?
____________ "Those who are slain in the way of [God]--he will never let their deeds be lost. Soon he will guide them and improve their condition, and admit them to the Paradise which he has announced for them."
____________ "All who lose their lives, be it on the road or on the sea, or in the fight against the unbelievers, will be granted forgiveness for this sins. This I grant to all who will march, by virtue of the great fight which [God] has given me.
What is the largest Christian denomination in the world? Point to some things which show people think of this denomination as being the consistent standard of Christianity.
Consider these objections to Jihad.
1. Jihad is consistent with the teachings of the Koran.
Is Crusade consistent with the teachings of the Pope?
(What did the Spanish Inquisition do?)
2. Jihad is consistent with the example of Mohammed himself.
Is Crusade consistent with the deeds of armies sent forth by the Pope?
(What are Cortez and Pizarro famous for?)
3. Islam grew by its use of the sword (Jihad) against others.
Did Crusade cause the growth of the Roman Catholic Church?
(Why is Latin and South America so Catholic?)
Agree or Disagree? Luther was right in the second line of his original "A Mighty Fortress is our God," to ask God to "put a stop to the murder by the pope and Turk." Explain.
D. The Second Jihad
1. Gunpowder Empires
Abassid power, devoted more to culture and learning, ended with the sack of Baghdad by Genghis Khan and the Mongols. So devastating was the conquest that wherever the Mongols went, civilization went backwards by centuries. The Mongols became Moslem and their Empire divided up into three empires, one in India, one centered in Persia, the other in Turkey.
2. Ottoman Turks
The Ottomans were engaged in constant warfare with the weakened Byzantine Empire. In 1453 Constantinople fell and the Turks got a firm foothold in Europe. By 1529 the caliph Suleyman was besieging Vienna. Once more they would get that far before being forced back to their holdings in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania.
The Ottomans went into a long period of decline, hastened by their alliance with Germany in WWI. By 1924 the Ottoman Empire had been divided up by European powers, whose colonies or protectorates finally gained independence around 1950.
E. The Third Jihad
1. Oil Means Money
Since 1950 Arab countries have gained independence and money through oil.
2. Democracy Denied.
The Arab countries are the most undemocratic in the world. Only Iran has a relatively freely elected government, though its powers are greatly limited by the religious leaders. Corruption is rife.
3. Unbelievers in the "house of Islam"
In 1948 the nation of Israel was formed with the strong backing of the Christian countries of Europe and America. Since 1947 there have been six wars fought between Arabs and Jews. Many Moslems do not recognize Israel's right to exist. Almost all resent what they perceive as America's backing of Israel.
4. Rise of Wahhabi Extremism
Since the 1800's a brand of Islam known as Wabhabiism holds sway in Arabia. It holds that life must be strictly regulated by the words of the Koran.
What is the rule of law in Saudi Arabia? Mark each one T (true) or F (false).
___ Women cannot drive a car.
___ Women are permitted to divorce their husbands.
___ Women must appear in public with a veil over them.
___ Harems are permitted.
___ The use of alcohol is forbidden.
___ The public display of Christian symbols is forbidden.
___ A Moslem converting to Christianity is permitted.
___ Adulterers are beheaded.
___ Thieves' hands are cut off.
___ Coed schools are forbidden.
___ No unbelievers are permitted to live in Arabia.
Wahhabiism is the largest growing arm of Islam, sponsored by the Saudi government. It has influenced the Taliban of Afghanistan and the al-Qaeda. It has preached the overthrow of corrupt Moslem governments and the nation of Israel. Most of the mosques built and staffed in the United States over the past 10 years have been sponsored by Saudi Arabia. One of the fastest growing minorities in Europe are people from Muslim countries. One of the fastest growing religions in the United States is Islam.
How did all this influence the events of 9/11?
Play the devil's advocate. Argue that the events of 9/11 and terrorist attacks since then are part of the Third Jihad which pleases Allah.
What would be the goals of the Third Jihad?
If you were President of the United States, list two things you would do to thwart the Third Jihad.
1.
2.
As a Christian citizen of the United States, list two other things you would do to thwart the Third Jihad.
1.
2.