Violence: The Koran vs. the Bible

Last week I wrote about the difference between Muhammad and Jesus Christ. My inspiration for the blog was the violence and protests at U.S. Embassies and other sites around the world. I asserted that Muslims are only following in the footpaths of their prophet. It can be historically verified that Muhammad spread Islam with a literal sword.

But once you say that violence is inherent in Islam there are those who want to equate the violence in Islam with the violence recorded in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. The question is then, are the commands of Yahweh to the Israelites in the Old Testament the same as jihad prescribed in the Koran? In order to answer that question let’s first define jihad.

The word “jihad” means “striving” or “struggle and there are several areas of jihad. There is the jihad of the pen which involves persuasion or instruction in promoting Islam. There is the jihad of the heart where you wrestle with yourself to overcome sin. But then there is the jihad that promotes physical violence and warfare to advance the religion.  Here are two examples from the Koran.

Sura 9:5 - But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an 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.

Sura 9:29 - Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book [Christians and Jews], until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Along with the Koran, Muslims also follow the Hadith, the record of Muhammad’s words and actions. Whatever Muhammad said or did Muslims should do (kind of like a WWJD – what would Jesus do?). And Muhammad’s actions and words declare to fight the non-Muslim if he does not submit to Allah (Sahih Muslim, Book 19, number 4294). Islamic scholars and teachers throughout the years have taught that Christians, Jews, pagans and polytheists must either convert to Islam or be plundered, enslaved, sexually abused or killed (Koran, Sura 4: 24, 92; 8:69; 24:33; 33:50).

Muslim scholar Ibn Khaldun, respected in the West for his “progressive” insights declared, “In the Muslim community, the holy war [jihad] is a religious duty because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or force. (The Muqudimmah, vol. 1, p. 473).” Thus violence in the advancement of Islam is necessary until the whole world obeys (Sahih Muslim C9B1N31 and Sahih Bukhari B2N24).

But what about the violence commanded by God in the Old Testament? Is this different than what is written in the Koran? The violence most often pointed out is God’s command for the Israelites to utterly destroy the Canaanites. “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you,  lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).”

To understand God’s commandment we must understand that the Canaanites were extremely evil people. They were brutal, cruel, practicing incest, bestiality, and cultic prostitution. They even sacrificed their children to their deity by fire. God had given the people over 400 years to repent (Genesis 15:13-16). When they did not God used the Israelites as an instrument to inflict capital punishment. The Canaanites were aware of God’s awesome power (Joshua 2:10, 11; 9:9). This awareness should have inspired them to repent. The example of Rahab and her family is evidence that not all the Canaanites had to perish (Judges 6:25). Most of the other wars in the Old Testament were defensive ones.

God does not desire the death of the wicked. He would rather that they turn from the sin than perish (Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:16). The violence commanded by God in the Old Testament was intended only for a particular time and a particular people. He gave no command to continue war forever against unbelievers. At no time in the Bible does God ever command His people to kill those who reject the faith.

In conclusion, the final and complete revelation of God is in Jesus Christ. Christ was consistently non-violent in his mission. If a Christian promotes the cause of Christ by violence he is disobeying his Master who said, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). There is a difference between Muhammad and Jesus Christ.