The Nature of Islam Legacy of Hate; Born of deception, weaned on violence. Islam = "Submission"? Originally: that strength which characterized a desert warrior who, even when faced with impossible odds, would fight to the death for his tribe. (3) Allah = AI-Ilah. Arabic for "the god." pre-Islamic name, corresponding to the Babylonian Bel. The Moon-god; crescent moon. (4)

Islamic divisions of the universe:

1. Dar Al Islam: the domain of the faithful (to Islam)

2. Dar Al Harb: those with whom they are at war until Judgment Day.

(Not just the Jews: all non-Muslims!)

Islam is the fastest growing religion today: There are more Muslims than evangelical Christians in Britain; 900 churches have been converted to mosques in the UK. There are 1100 mosques in the US; there are more Muslims than Jews in North America.

Pre-Islamic Arabia

Ur of the Chaldees is first mentioned in the account of Abraham's journey in Genesis 12:1. The
spiritual ruler of Ur was the moon-god. This god would ultimately become the supreme deity of the entire Babylonian empire. The root names of many individuals in Babylon preserves links to the gods of the Babylonian pantheon:

Sennacherib, or "Sin Ech-erib" = "Sin multiplies his brothers."

The god "Sin" was elevated to the top of the Babylonian pantheon by Nabu-na'id (Nabonidus) in an effort to make Babylonian religion more acceptable to subjects like the Arabians and Arameans. The Arabians esteemed the moon god, but had more difficulty identifying with Marduk, the supreme Babylonian deity associated primarily with the city of Babylon.

The god Sin, "The Controller of the Night," had the crescent moon as his emblem, and the lunar-based calendar, which became the primary religious symbols of Islam, was worshiped in Arabia as AI-Ilah. Mecca became the center of all pagan religions of Arabia before Mohammed. AI-Ilah, the Moon God, was the "Lord of the Ka'aba" ("cube") which was formerly the center of pagan worship, ruling over 360 idols. Lucrative trade routes resulted. The Ka'aba black cube in Mecca is of course the center of Islamic worship today.

Islam incorporates beliefs in jinns ( which are genies, fairies); in spells, magic stones, fetishes; and animistic beliefs (spirits living in inanimate objects). See: Suras 55; 72; 113, 114.

Such beliefs are contrary to Biblical injunctions found for example in Deut. 4:19; 17:3; Job 31:26-28. Penalties: Deut. 17:6; 2 Ki 23:5.

The Sabeans' Religion (pre-Muhammad)

Astral religion, which involves worshiping heavenly bodies ("the host of heaven") is strongly warned against in the Bible. In such idolatrous systems the Moon is often viewed as a male deity; and the Sun, a female deity; with the Stars their offspring. A Lunar cyclical calendar results. For example the practice of fasting from crescent moon to crescent moon. Derived from these forms of worship of the host of heaven are the practices of bowing and prayer toward Mecca; the requirement for a Holy Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, in order to circle the Ka'aba, the site of the protective black stone. Al-Ilah was Lord of the Ka'aba; is to be circled 7 times and kissed. Pilgrims then run to the Wadi Mina to throw stones at the Devil. These rites are practiced in Islam today.

Pagans who lived in Saudi Arabia before Muhammad was born worshiped toward Mecca because Mecca is where their idols were located. Because this pagan worship centered on Mecca was so widespread, a rapid acceptance of Muhammad's new religion was possible. Thus, Islam is a previously heathen religion modified into a monotheistic form by discarding all the other pagan gods except for Al-Ilah.

Particular attention should be paid to the pioneering work on Islam of Julius Welhausen, Theordor
Noldeke, Joseph Halevvy, Edward Glaser, William F. Albright, Frank P. Albright, Richard
Bell, J. Arberry, Wendell Phillips, W. Montgomery Watt, Alfred Guilllaume, and Arthur Jeffery. (1)

Archaeological and linguistic work done since the latter part of the 19th century has discovered overwhelming evidence that Muhammad constructed his religion and the Quran from pre- existing material in Arabian culture.

The Life of Muhammad

The Quraysh tribe (Muhammad's tribe ) was previously devoted to Allah, the moon god. Muhammad's father was Abd-Allah. His Uncle, Obied-Allah. His mother, Aminah, was known to have been involved in the occult. (2)

Muhammad's Wives: (Sura 4:3 forbids more than 4 wives; Muhammad, however had 16 official wives, and 6 others as well.)

1. Khadija
2. Sawda
3. Aesah (8 or 9 years old)
4. Omm Salama
5. Hafsa
6. Zaynab (originally Jahsh's, Muhammad's adopted son's wife.)
7. Jowayriya
8. Omm Habiba
9. Safiya
10. Maymuna (of Hareth)
11. Fatima
12. Hend
13. Asma (of Saba)
14. Zaynab (of Khozayma)
15. Habla
16. Asma (of Noman)

Other wives:

17. Mary (the Coptic Christian; chose to remain a slave rather than convert.)
18. Rayhana
19. Omm Shank
20. Maymuna
21. Zaynab (a 3rd one)
22. Khawla