Islam is the second largest religion in the world, now comprising more than 25% of the planet’s population. In the United States alone, Islam is quickly approaching Judaism as the second largest religion behind Christianity.
Islam, like Christianity, is an offshoot of Judaism, both being referred to as “daughter religions” by Jewish writers. Whereas Christianity sprang naturally out of Judaism with the teachings of its Jewish founder and then deteriorated; Islam, on the other hand, truly was apostate from its inception by choice of its founder, an Arabian named Mohammed.
Born in the prosperous city of Mecca in (Saudi) Arabia about 570 AD, Mohammed was an illiterate camel-driver, though called a genius in organization and leadership. While on a trading journey in charge of the merchandise of a wealthy woman, she was so impressed with his ability she offered herself in marriage. This provided the resources needed for his later exploits, and perhaps his first contact with Bible stories, since his wife’s cousin was a Christian. The people of Mecca at the time worshipped many gods, but few believed man was dependent on supernatural powers. Mohammed, claiming to have received a vision from the angel Gabriel declaring him to be “the Messenger of God,” interpreted his revelation as if he were the last of the prophets and thus tried to interest his fellow Arabs of Mecca in Allah and in his own position as a “prophet.” Being absolutely convinced that he was the last, and the greatest of the prophets, succeeding not only the Old Testament renowned, but even Jesus himself, he believed his mission had been divinely appointed by Allah and later confided in Omar his successor, “If Moses were alive and knew my prophecy, he would follow me.” He set out to preach the goodness and power of Allah as seen in nature and evident in the Meccan’s prosperity. He wanted them to abandon their 360 gods and submit to the one “true” god. His new religion later came to be known as Islam, meaning, in Arabic, “submission to the will of God” and his followers were called Muslims or Moslems, meaning “those who have submitted.” The word “Allah” simply means “god,” and is used by Christian Arabs as well as Muslims. Mohammed’s critique of wealthy polytheistic merchants, who controlled the economy of Mecca, was not well received. They did not “submit,” and he was forced to flee for his life. His flight is called in Latin the “Hegira,” and begins the Arabic New Year, July 16, 622 A.D. of the Western calendar.
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Author: Richard Pursell
Keywords: Arabs, Spread of Islam, Threat of Islam, Muslim extremism, Muslim extremist, Arab hatred towards Israel, Islam, Muslim, Muslem, Moslem, Mohamad, Mohamed, Mohammad, Mohammed, Muhamad, Muhamed, Muhamet, Muhammed, Muhammet, Mahammud, Arab religion, Arab fanaticism, Arab fanatics, Arabians, Islam religion, Muslim religion, Allah, Alla, Jihad, Israel's enemies, Koran, Quran, militant Islam, Anti Semitic, Anti Semitism, Jew hatred, Jewish hatred, Antisemetic, Antisemitic, Anti Semetic, Semetism, Semitism, Anti Jewish, Anti Judaic, Anti Judaism, Jew hater, Anti semetism, Antisemetism
Bible reference(s): Jeremiah 25:24, Psalm 137:7, Psalm 83:4-17, Joel 3:2, Joel 3:11-12, Zechariah 12:3, Zechariah 12:6, Zechariah 14:1
Source: “Islam: The ‘Glue’ of Israel’s Enemies,” Shofar (Poncha Springs, Co.: Shofar Publications), Issue 4, pp. 119-126.
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