It is almost like Jesus was specifically refuting Islam in the Sermon on the Mount- Part 2
Another very subtle (or maybe not so subtle) way the Sermon on the Mount seems to critique Islam is in the area of prayer and fasting,
“ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
(Matthew 6:6)
Prayer is supposed to be something undertaken in secret and especially not for show. Experience however teaches us that adherents of the Islamic faith tend to make a show out of their prayers. How many times have we had a Muslim colleague stand up, announce they are going for prayers, spread their mats and then proceed to bang their heads on the floor? In urban areas, how many times are entire roads and streets blocked because Muslims are praying?
Secondly, there is the matter of “the zabiba”. A zabiba is a mark on the forehead of a Muslim which is a badge of honour essentially telling the world they are prayerful because they have banged their heads for Allah repeatedly for a period of time. In fact, the Quran endorses having a zabiba as a mark of piety.
“Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration…”
(Surah 48:29)
What is the point of a zabiba other than for show to other people? Why would Allah endorse this “show-off” as a mark of his true follower?
Third on this point, the Islamic prayers are done in Arabic, a language majority of Muslims do not speak. They recite certain Surahs (verses) without even understanding what they mean in some cases and in many cases, it is a mere ritual with no significance other than to tick a box to say “I have prayed x times today” and perhaps further enhance one’s zabiba. If the recitations do not qualify as a vain repetition then I do not know what does and vain repetitions are precisely the thing Jesus says our prayers should not contain.
Jesus further teaches his disciples to pray and in framing the context of prayers says,
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
(Matthew 6:8)
In this light Jesus, as a guide, states his disciples’ prayer should begin with “Our Father”. Jesus calls God the Father of as many put faith in Him.
Islam on the other hand mocks the concept of God being the Father of anybody,
“But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills.”
(Surah 5:18)
Ignoring the obvious flaw in logic that a father does not punish the sins of his children whom he loves, the Quran is indignant at the slightest thought that God is a father. The best relationship anyone can hope to attain with Allah is that of a slave,
“Assuredly ye utter a disastrous thing
Whereby almost the heavens are torn, and the earth is split asunder and the mountains fall in ruins,
That ye ascribe unto the Beneficent a son
When it is not meet for (the Majesty of) the Beneficent that He should choose a son.
There is none in the heavens and the earth but cometh unto the Beneficent as a slave.”
(Surah 19:89–93)
Jesus on the other hand, not only calls God Father, but says He is the believer’s Father as well,
“‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’
(John 20:17)
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Now, can we think of any other group on the planet that makes it such big news that they are in fasting season? And everybody has to be “sensitive” about how they eat around people observing this fast. Side note, for some odd reason during that season food prices surge rather than decline, it is almost like the demand for food is higher during that time. Doctors have had to give out health warnings about Ramadan because people still eat of course, the only thing that changes is the eating schedule. In fact, it tends to be more about “breaking the fast” than actually fasting. Like Napoleon Bonaparte said to La Place, “Where is God in all this?”.
A lot more can be said about how Islam falls short of the Sermon on the Mount but I will stop here for now.
Someone might ask, of what value is this exercise? Can we really judge one religion based on the tenets of another? Well my friend, the Quran, contrary to what our Muslim friends tell us, commands me to judge by the Torah and the Gospel,
“ Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evil-livers.”
(Surah 5:47)
The Quran tells me that it confirms the scriptures before it which includes the Christian gospels,
“And this Qur’an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it”
(Surah 10:37)
In fact, the Quran tells Muhammad to cross check his revelations with Christians and Jews who have read the books before him if he is in doubt about them.
“And if thou (Muhammad) art in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before thee.”
(Surah 10:94)
So I say all of this to say, if the Sermon on the Mount contradicts Islam then Islam is false. In comparing the gospel to the Quran, I am only following the standard set by the Quran by Allah for Muhammad’s revelations and by these standards Muhammad’s revelation and religion are found wanting.
Concluded
