By Rev. Mark H. Creech
September 11, 2002

(AgapePress) - Not long after the tragic events of September 11, the president said in his address to Congress that the terrorists that attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon represented "a fringe movement that had perverted" the essentially peaceful teachings of Islam.

The President wasn't alone in his assessment. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, "Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion." Dozens of major newspapers in editorials said the same: Islam is a religion of peace, and in waging war against terrorism we were not at war with Islam.

Only a few persons, like well-known evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the famous Rev. Billy Graham, have been willing to buck the popular view. Graham recently said, "How come the Muslim clerics have not gone to ground zero and had a prayer vigil and apologized to the nation in the name of Islam? When people say this is a 'peaceful religion,' don't tell me that. When a suicide bomber straps on a bomb, that's not peaceful. The Baptists are not doing that. Neither are the Pentecostals."

Dr. Robert Simonds, president of the National Association of Christian Educators shared a similar view recently when he said: "We are at war with the Muslims. We are at war with right and wrong. We are at war with evil. And we are at war with the Islamic religion because that's the religion that specifically names the Jews and the Christians to be destroyed." Is it true that Islam is a peaceful religion? Or are the warnings of Graham and Simonds just the railings of two bigoted "right-wing Christians?"

The first criterion for evaluating those questions is to determine whether Islam's founder was an individual of peace. History reveals that Muhammad was barbaric in his military exploits. He made no distinction between combatants and noncombatant women and children. He was a ruthless general and raided caravans merely for financial gain to expand his movement. He showed no sympathy for his critics and would often have them executed.

Muhammad seldom gained conversions except through coercion. His goal was to use whatever means necessary to gain complete control over the Arabian Peninsula. To that end, he enforced the conversion of all people groups to Islam. If the stubbornness of large populations of Jews and Christians made that impractical, he would force the people to show submission to Islam by paying tribute for their protection.

It was Muhammad who taught: "Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem of war" (surah 9:5). "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day" (surah 9:29). Need one wonder where many Muslims get their inspiration and provocation for violence!

Of course, some will claim that those who fought in the name of Christ committed crimes against humanity during the Crusades and other military expeditions. Granted, followers of Christianity have also committed grave offenses. But that doesn't address the matter. At issue is the character and teachings of Muhammad. Jesus didn't command his followers to commit mayhem and murder. Muhammad did. Islamic apologists do not present a powerful argument when they equate Muhammad's penchant for bloodshed to the Christian armies. In fact, the actions of the crusaders were contrary to everything Christ taught and lived.

Jesus never took another life. He was the picture of genuine love and compassion. Muhammad came to shed blood and slaughter those who disagreed with him. Christ came to shed his own blood to seek and save those who rejected Him. Muhammad forced Islam upon thousands. Christ never coerced anyone. He simply beckoned all to believe.

Although Muslims consider Muhammad a mere man, they ascribe to him a most noble character, which Muslims are called upon to emulate. Too often they do. They feel no ethical restraint against killing for Allah and his prophet.

Should we accept the sweeping claim that Islam is a religion of peace? We need to look no further than the religion's founder for the answer. Any way you cut it, Muhammad was not only a religious leader, but also an individual of violence and war. Following his example, Muslims carved out an enormous empire. And what ended Muslim expansion was not a change of heart or religious doctrine, but European military might.

I certainly don't mean to imply by these remarks that we should jump to the conclusion that all our Muslim neighbors are bomb-toting fanatics: even Muslims who believe in militant jihad don't necessarily like violence.

Nevertheless, I am saying that America's enemies are not simply a group of fanatical terrorists. It is Islam! And in a world searching for peace, following the life of Islam's greatest prophet will only result in more events like 9-11.

Rev. Mark H. Creech is executive director of the Raleigh-based Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc. He can be contacted at Calact@aol.com.

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