The peace of Jesus and Muhammad

As we all know Muslims pray every time mentioned the name of Muhammad; “May Allah pray over him and grant him peace.” Their prayer indicates that the peace of Allah has not yet come to Muhammad, even though his followers are praying for the eternal rest of his soul since last 1400 years! Muhammad is the prophet who constantly needs the intercession of his followers, instead of the other way around. The Quran testifies that Allah Himself, all angels and all Muslims, should pray fervently for Muhammad, in order to save him on the Day of Judgment. Why? Because, Muhammad died as a sinner.

Quran says; “Truly Allah and his angels pray for the Prophet. O you who believe pray for him and greet him with the greeting of peace.” (The Confederates 33;56).

In Sura Mariam, Christ testifies; “Peace be upon me, the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised from the dead.” (Quran 19;33). The Son of Mary is the Prince of Peace who lived His earthly life at peace with God from beginning to end. Nothing separated Him from His eternal blessing. The birth of Christ from Virgin Mary happened according to the will and the power of God. He was born without sin. The real peace of God rested upon Him from the beginning of His life. In evidence of this fact, the heavens opened and the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rest.” (Luke 2;14).

Christ died a real death. He did not die for His own sin but as a substitute for our sins. Even in His death, Christ experienced peace with God. People die because of their loathsome sins, “for the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6;23). But God was highly pleased when Christ died, because His substitutionary death has reconciled Him with mankind. Therefore the peace of God presided over the death of Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the greatest proof of His holiness. If Christ had committed only a single sin during His whole life time, death would have found legitimate power over Him and would have kept Him in its grip, as has happened with Muhammad. But Christ never committed a single sin, big or small! For this reason, He has overcome death and has arisen as a victor from the dark power. Christ is alive-Muhammad is dead! All the Muslims confess this reality when they mention the name of Christ, saying; “Peace is upon Him.” They know well and testify that He lives in full peace with God.

Muhammad experienced bitter persecution in Mecca but when he became politically and socially powerful, he launched severe attacks and bloody wars against his enemies. He sometimes became intolerant and unforgiving. In the Quran, he commands more than sixteen times that his enemies, all unbelievers and those who have slipped away from Islam should be killed; “Kill them wherever you come upon them. Expel them from where they expelled you; sedition is more grievous than slaying. Fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, kill them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.” (The Cow 2;191).

“Take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of Allah; then if they turn away seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take no friend nor helper from among them.” (Women 4;89).

“Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is Allah’s entirely”. (Spoils 8:39).

“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.” (Repentance 9;5).

Muhammad did not bring peace to the world but many wars. He sent his followers into raids and holy wars more than fifty times. He himself participated in such attacks and expeditions twenty-nine times. He commanded his people to shed the blood of his enemies. He was the example of the believers and the political leader of the Arabian Peninsula.

As for the gentle and humble Christ, the Jews persecuted Him Violently but He did not defend Himself with the sword. He forbade His followers to shed the blood of His enemies, commanding Peter, “Put your sword into its place.” (Matthew 26;52). Any Christians who fights for the spread of Christianity with deadly weapons, shedding the blood of other people, is violating the will of God; he will be judged as disobedient of the commands of the Prince of Peace. Muslims, however, are promised that whoever shall die in a holy war will ascend immediately to paradise. Christ is the only one who has established real peace without fighting and killing. Muhammad made it the duty of every Muslim to fight against his enemies. (Sura Women 4; 95, 96; Salvation 25;52). Christ preferred to shed His own precious blood in order to save His enemies that they may not perish. He even prayed for them, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23;34). Jesus is the only true Prince of Peace, if we consider the definition of the word “Prince of Peace” to be derivation of the Arabic word Salam, meaning “peace”. A true Peace Maker who shed His most precious blood in the mountain of the Calvary, paid the penalty in our place, on the third day He rose from death and freed us from the bondage of Satan.