Is The Lord's Church Meeting The Challenge of Islam?

THE CHURCH AND THE CHALLENGE OF ISLAM

by

Tom M. Roberts

The United States of America has been a beacon of freedom and hope for citizens of many nations as immigrants seek a better life than in their own country. Immigrants enter under the watchful gaze of Lady Liberty hoping to find a new life. Of prime importance, in addition to other benefits, is the freedom of religion extended to every citizen of America.

This is contained in the Bill of Rights attached to the constitution as Article 1. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

These freedoms have drawn millions of immigrants to our shores and have worked wonderfully when Article 1 is understood and applied equally to all.

However, when immigrants enter America with a view to denying freedom of religion because they want to impose a theocratic religion different from and antithetical to anything in our country, conflicts must of necessity arise.

Currently, the nation of Islam seeks to impose its autocratic regime on America as it has in other nations around the world. It defies the Constitution of the United States of America, shreds Article 1, and intends to establish a Caliphate autocracy over the entire nation.  This will be proven from statements made by the adherents of Islam.  Sharia Law of the Muslims cannot co-exist with our Constitution since it is foreign to our nation and seeks to subvert our entire legal, religious and civil systems.

As citizens of America, members of the church of Christ have a vested interest in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  We respect the religious tenets of other national religions, even while calling everyone “Back to the Bible.”  As Christians, we are alarmed to hear of atrocities around the world to those who claim to be Christians. Where Muslim majorities exist, Christians are seen as infidels, enemies of Islam, and are often beheaded, burned alive, crucified or painfully executed. Proof of this is undeniable and “moderate” Muslims dare not interfere with radical Islamic terrorists, in fear of their own lives. Major tragedies have been committed by Islamists around the world, including America.

We feel, as Christians, that we have freedom to speak, proselyte, practice our faith and defend the right of others to do the same. Muslims who would immigrate and assimilate in our neighborhoods are welcome everywhere. But there is an element of Islamic religion that refers to the Koran (Quran) as authority to convert or destroy everyone who disagrees with them.  Hiding behind Islam as a “peaceful” religion, dominance or destruction is their goal. Hiding below the radar as peaceful Muslims, they are integrating political, religious, and civil organizations until they become a majority force. Then, as is proven in many countries such as Europe, Indonesia, and India, religious, political and civil rights are dismissed as Caliphates and Sharia Law are imposed. Literally millions of people around the world have died to establish this practice.

Members of the church of Christ feel threatened as we recognize the dangers of being forced to live in an Islamic Caliphate, having to live under Sharia Law. Many liberal and soft-hearted Americans do not realize this danger and have an “open door policy” to immigrates, not facing the realities of Islam domination.

It is our goal to use the words of Muhammad, the Koran and other orthodox teachings of this religion to enlighten fellow Christians, civil and political groups to the inherent dangers of this violent, militant and autocratic religion. We will show by their own words and actions what their true intentions are. We will use no force of arms in our quest, but refer constantly and consistently to the holy and inspired Word of God. “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Only in this way can we “meet the challenge of Islam.

Quran 2:191

Ali Qarai (translation):

And kill them wherever you confront them, and expel them from where they expelled you, for persecution is graver than killing. But do not fight them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight you therein; but if they fight you, kill them; such is the requital of the faithless.

Arberry (translation):

And slay them wherever you come upon them, and expel them from where they expelled you; persecution is more grievous than slaying. But fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, slay them -- such is the recompense of unbelievers -

Muhammad Shakir (translation):

And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.

Pickthall (translation):

And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.

Quran 3:28

Ali Qarai:

The faithful should not take the faithless for allies instead of the faithful, and Allah will have nothing to do with those who do that, except when you are wary of them, out of caution. Allah warns you to beware of [disobeying] Him, and toward Allah is the return.

Arberry:

Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends, rather than the believers -- for whoso does that belongs not to God in anything -- unless you have a fear of them. God warns you that You beware of Him, and unto God is the homecoming.

Muhammad Shakir:

Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.

Pickthall:

Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.

Quran 3:85

Ali Qarai;

Should anyone follow a religion other than Islam, it shall never be accepted from him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.

Arberry:

Whoso desires another religion than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him; in the next world he shall be among the losers.

Muhammad Shakir:

And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

Pickthall:

And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.

Quran 5:33

Ali Qarai:

Indeed the requital of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle, and try to cause corruption on the earth, is that they shall be slain or crucified, or shall have their hands and feet cut off from opposite sides, or be banished from the land. That is a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter, there is a great punishment for them,

Arberry:

This is the recompense of those who fight against God and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth, to do corruption there: they shall be slaughtered, or crucified, or their hands and feet shall alternately be struck off; or they shall be banished from the land. That is a degradation for them in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement,

Muhammad Shakir:

The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement,

Pickthall:

The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land 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. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;

Quran 8:12

Ali Qarai:

Then your Lord signaled to the angels: ‘I am indeed with you; so steady the faithful. I will cast terror into the hearts of the faithless. So strike their necks, and strike their every limb joint!’

Arberry:

When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, 'I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers' hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them!'

Muhammad Shakir:

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Pickthall:

When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.

Quran 8:60

Ali Qarai:

Prepare against them whatever you can of [military] power and war-horses, awing thereby the enemy of Allah, and your enemy, and others besides them, whom you do not know, but Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of Allah will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged.

Arberry:

Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of God and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; God knows them. And whatsoever you expend in the way of God shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged.

Muhammad Shakir:

And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.

Pickthall:

Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.

Quran 8:65

Ali Qarai:

O Prophet! Urge on the faithful to fight: If there be twenty patient men among you, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of the faithless, for they are a lot who do not understand.

Arberry:

O Prophet, urge on the believers to fight. If there be twenty of you, patient men, they will overcome two hundred; if there be a hundred of you, they will overcome a thousand unbelievers, for they are a people who understand not.

Muhammad Shakir: 

O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand.

Pickthall :

O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence.

Quran 9:5

Ali Qarai:

Then, when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and maintain the prayer and give the zakat, then let them alone. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

Arberry:

Then, when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms, then let them go their way; God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.

Muhammad Shakir:

So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Pickthall:

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Quran 9:123

Ali Qarai:

O you who have faith! Fight the faithless who are in your vicinity, and let them find severity in you, and know that Allah is with the Godwary.

Arberry:

O believers, fight the unbelievers who are near to you; and let them find in you a harshness; and know that God is with the godfearing.

Muhammad Shakir:

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Pickthall:

O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).

Quran 9:30

Ali Qarai:

The Jews say, ‘Ezra is the son of Allah,’ and the Christians say, ‘Christ is the son of Allah.’ That is an opinion that they mouth, imitating the opinions of the faithless of former times. May Allah assail them, where do they stray?!

Arberry:

The Jews say, 'Ezra is the Son of God'; the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the Son of God.' That is the utterance of their mouths, conforming with the unbelievers before them. God assail them! How they are perverted!

Muhammad Shakir:

And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!

Pickthall:

And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!

Quran 22:19

Ali Qarai:

These two contending groups contend concerning their Lord. As for those who are faithless, cloaks of fire will be cut out for them, and boiling water will be poured over their heads,

Arberry:

These are two disputants who have disputed concerning their Lord. As for the unbelievers, for them garments of fire shall, be cut, and there shall be poured over their heads boiling water

Muhammad Shakir:

These are two adversaries who dispute about their Lord; then (as to) those who disbelieve, for them are cut out garments of fire, boiling water shall be poured over their heads.

Pickthall:

These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads,

Quran 47:4

Ali Qarai:

When you meet the faithless in battle, strike their necks. When you have thoroughly decimated them, bind the captives firmly. Thereafter either oblige them [by setting them free] or take ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. That [is Allah’s ordinance]. Had Allah wished He could have taken vengeance on them, but that He may test some of you by means of others. As for those who were slain in the way of Allah, He will not let their works go fruitless.

Arberry:

When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if God had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of God, He will not send their works astray.

Muhammad Shakir:

So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. That (shall be so); and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have exacted what is due from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others; and (as for) those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will by no means allow their deeds to perish.

Pickthall:

Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain.

A formal oral discussion was conducted in Birmingham, Alabama in October of 1974. The debate was between Hiram Hutto, a Christian and Salah El Dareer, a Muslim. This was a four-night debate, with two hours of discussion each night. 

The propositions debated were as follows:

Jesus the Messiah is the only begotten Son of God, was crucified for the sins of the world, and the New Testament is God's final revelation. (Hutto Affirmed)

The advent of the prophet Mohammed is clearly foretold in both Old and New Testaments, and the Koran is God's final revelation. (El Dareer Affirmed)