VIEWPOINT: Jesus and Mohammed Compared

In a recent column in the “Opinion” section of the Royal Examiner, Dr. James Finck, a professor of history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO), took the time and effort to put forth some good information on the early days of Islam… a religion and ideology driving most of the events that are in the news today (Islam is not just a religion but is an all-encompassing ideology that constitutes religious, political and military components).

While trying to reconcile or spread some light on this ideology, Dr. Finck referred to some of the observations of Middle Eastern correspondent Lesley Hazleton from her “The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad.”

Ms. Hazleton and Dr. Finck’s observations and assessments speak for themselves in attempting to explain some of the disturbing contradictions in the Quran, the Hadith, and the Sirah (the traditional Muslim biographies of the Islamic prophet Muhammad). We derive most of our information from these three sources about his life and the early period of Islam.

As we look at some of the differences in the development of Christianity and Islam over the centuries (up to this very day), it is enlightening to compare some of the fundamental differences in the founders (Jesus and Mohammed). Bill Federer has a wealth of knowledge to contribute to this important subject, and a good source for more detailed information can be found in his book What Every American Needs to Know about the Qur’an: A History of Islam & the United States.

One other point needs to be emphasized since it seems to be a tenant of Islam that is not shared by most religions, and that is “Taqyya” – sacred lying or holy deceit. This belief says what you say now can supersede and abrogate (officially called “abrogation” in Islam) something you said previously… something akin to “yes, I said that before, but now I’m saying something different (and perhaps just the opposite) so forget about what I said previously. In my mind, this explains many of the warlike statements in this “peaceful” ideology.

Let’s take a look at some of the obvious differences in Jesus and Mohammed:

JESUS is God and was a Religious Leader.
MOHAMMED was a Religious, Political, and Military Leader.

JESUS never killed anyone.
MOHAMMED killed an estimated 3,000 people, including beheading 700 Jews in Medina.

JESUS never owned slaves.
MOHAMMED received a fifth of the slaves taken in battle, including African slaves, as he was Arab.

JESUS never married.
MOHAMMED had at least 11 wives, plus concubines and women taken in battle. Aisha
was married at age 6 and consummated at age 9.

JESUS never forced followers to believe.
MOHAMMED forced followers to continue believing: “Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” Bukhari v.9, b.84, n.S7

JESUS never allowed his disciples to lie.
MOHAMMED obligated followers to lie to advance Islam. It is called “Taqyya” – sacred lying, holy deceit, and “Hudna” – when weak, make treaties until you get strong enough to disregard and then violate them.

JESUS never avenged insults, saying, “Father, forgive them.”
MOHAMMED avenged insults, ordering Ibn Khatal and his slave girls killed for writing poems that insulted him.

JESUS never allowed disciples to rape anyone.
MOHAMMED permitted followers to rape infidel women taken in battle.

JESUS never tortured anyone.
MOHAMMED had the chief of Khaybar stretched out on the ground and kindled a fire upon his chest because he would not tell where the tribe’s treasure was hidden.

JESUS never led armies, nor did his apostles. Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire for three centuries by loving their enemies and surrendering their lives for their faith.
MOHAMMED fought in 66 battles and raids, leading 27 of them, and all of Islam’s “Rightly Guided” Caliphs and Sultans commanded armies, conquering from India to France.

JESUS did not retaliate when violence was committed against him but was crucified.
MOHAMMED retaliated when violence was committed against him and ordered enemies to be killed.

JEWISH/CHRISTIAN concept of a martyr would die for their faith while forgiving their enemies.
ISLAMIC concept of martyrdom would die for their faith while killing infidel enemies of Islam.

JESUS – In the first 300 years of Christianity, there were 10 major Roman persecutions, resulting in thousands of Christians killed in the Coliseum. and many fed to the lions. During this time, never once did Christians lead an armed resistance.
MOHAMMED – During the first 300 years of Islam, Muslim armies conquered Arabia, Persia, the Holy Land, North Africa, Spain, Southern France, and Central Africa. They invaded vast areas of Northern India, Asia, and Asia Minor.

JESUS taught equality, that all men and women were made in God’s image. Matt 22:20, ref. Gen. 1:26-27,9:6
MOHAMMED did not teach equality, that Allah has no image, and that unbelievers are not equal to believing Muslims, and women are not equal to men. Sura 42:11, Sura 112:4

JESUS taught consistently in all four Gospels to love, and he never advocated violence.
MOHAMMED taught in the early verses he received while living in Mecca that there was “no compulsion in religion.” Still, these verses were abrogated and abolished by later verses received in Medina, which advocated violence toward apostates, unbelievers, and those who offended the prophet.

JESUS taught, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you.” Matt. 5:44
MOHAMMED taught, “Infidels are your sworn enemies.” Sura 4:101

JESUS taught, “Treat others how you want to be treated.” Luke 6:27-36
MOHAMMED taught, “Kill the disbelievers wherever we find them.” Sura 2: 191

JESUS taught to help disbelievers, “If ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.” Luke 6:33; Parable of Good Samaritan; “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, whatever you do to the very least you have done unto me.” Mat 25:40
MOHAMMED taught, “Never help the disbelievers,” Sura 28:86, and “Take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends.” Sura 5:51,60:13

JESUS taught, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Mat. 6: 10-15
MOHAMMED taught to avenge trespasses and insults committed against you, your family, or your religion to restore your honor.

JESUS taught, “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to them the other.” Mat. 5:39
MOHAMMED taught: “Strike off the heads of infidels in battle.” Sura 47:4

JESUS taught, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Mat. 7: 1
MOHAMMED taught: “If someone stops believing in Allah, kill him.” Bukhari 9:84:57

JESUS taught, “Resist not evil.” Mat. 5:39
MOHAMMED taught, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day.” Sura 9:29

JESUS taught, “Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not kill, but I say whoever is angry with his brother is in danger of the judgment.” Mat. 5:21-22
MOHAMMED taught, “No Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel.” Bukhari 1 :3: 111

JESUS taught, “Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.” Mat. 6: 14
MOHAMMED taught, “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.” Sura 5:33

JESUS taught, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Mat 5:7,9
MOHAMMED taught, “Be ruthless to the infidels.” Sura 48:29

JESUS taught, “If someone takes your coat, give them your shirt.” Mat. 5:40
MOHAMMED taught, “Make war on the infidels who dwell around you.” Sura 9:123, 66:9

JESUS taught God was “Our Father” and that all are all “children of God.” Mat. 6:10
MOHAMMED taught it is blasphemy to call Allah your father, as Allah took no wife and has no children. Sura 5: 18

JESUS taught that true religion is from the inside out, voluntary, with a God of love wanting a relationship with each person.
MOHAMMED taught that religion could be forced from the outside in, with fear of an impersonal Allah who demanded strict obedience.

JESUS taught to offer peace, if they refuse, “let your peace return to you … depart out of that city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Mat. 10:14
MOHAMMED taught to offer peace to those who submit to Allah.

JESUS taught he was the Son of God, “Again the high priest asked him … Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am.” Mark 14:61-62, and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6
MOHAMMED taught that believing Jesus was the Son of God was an unforgivable sin called ‘shirk’, which condemns Muslims to hell.

These are just a few contrasts between Christianity and Islam, and the differences are stark.