Muhammad (570-632 AD) became a powerful force in Arabia. He made himself abhorrent to everyone who did not follow him. He plundered, murdered, enslaved, owned slaves and traded in slaves, he did what he wanted. He justified everything he did by claiming he was a prophet and was following the commands of his god Allah. Allah was well known to everyone in Arabia as the moon god. Allah had been worshipped with the rest of the Arabian pantheon long before Muhammad was born. Muhammad made his own alterations to Allah and repackaged him as the God of the Bible. But Allah is not Jehovah and is nothing like Jehovah, which is an article for another time.
Muhammad was a raider of caravans, a warlord, the leader of his own private army, a conqueror of Arabian cities, a murderer, and a builder of political power. He was known as a problem for trading routes and people who wanted to live in peace. But during his lifetime he was almost entirely unknow outside Arabia except by people who traveled through Arabia.
Muhammad was like the captain of a pirate ship who managed to convince his crew he received messages from God and God told him piracy was acceptable and, oddly enough, the chosen way to serve God. That was convenient. It seems Allah never inconvenienced Muhammad through any message. The revelations of Allah concerning Muhammed always permitted Muhammad to do exactly what he wished. Allah also forbid anything Muhammad was against. If Muhammad wanted more wives or to kill innocent people Allah suddenly approve it by a new revelation. If Muhammad’s followers were less than impressed by his leadership skills (i.e. they lost a battle) Allah stepped in to intervene. Allah declared the defeat a hidden victory. Those who doubted Muhammad’s capabilities did not understand victory.
Muhammad commanded his followers to kill unbelievers. In the Koran’s surah 9:123 are the words of Muhammad: O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous. This is uncharacteristically clear for the Koran which can be quite vague most of the time. Muhammad taught that killing children was necessary if they were disbelievers so the parents would not be burdened with such a problem and they could have a believing child (surah 18:74-81).
Muhammad was assassinated. He was poisoned by a Jewish woman whose village was destroyed by Muhammad and his army. Her husband and relatives had been killed. Women and children were being placed into slavery including sex slaves for Muhammad and his men. The poison was lethal but not powerful enough to kill immediately. When it became obvious the food was poisoned and that the “prophet” had eaten it, they took the woman and asked her why she did it. She said it was out of retribution for the killing of her family and village. She also said that if Muhammad was a greatest prophet of God, then he could not be killed by her. Muhammad, as prophet, should know it was poisoned and not eat it, or the poison would have no effect. If, however, he could be poisoned by her, then he was not a prophet but just another king. That is certainly a test that both Allah and Muhammad failed. One of the men who died by the poisoning said he was sure the food had been poisoned but thought that if the “prophet” ate it, then it must be okay. So, he too ate and died a prolonged death.
Jesus killed no one. Jesus had no army and conquered no cities. Jesus neither enslaved, owned slaves nor traded in slaves. Jesus did not call his followers to kill anyone. He taught that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus takes it further. In Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus says: But I say to you, 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Jesus knew He was going to be killed, how He was to be killed and why He was being killed. There is the plan for the saving of mankind. Jesus was crucified by the Romans willingly following the plot of the Jewish leaders.
A Jewish woman poisoned Muhammad and Muhammad had her killed. Compare that to Jesus response to His own crucifixion. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots (Luke 23:34). There is little wonder why Islam brings violence and Christianity brings peace.
