The Issachar Report<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
1 Chronicles 12:32
Dennis A. Wright, DMin
 

"Jihad Comes to London"

The world awoke Thursday morning to the appalling news of four nearly simultaneous blasts that tore through packed London underground trains and a bus, killing at least 37 people and disrupting a summit of world leaders.  Hundreds more were injured in the British capital's deadliest attack since World War II.  British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attacks bore all the hallmarks of the Islamic militant al Qaeda network responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and the Madrid train bombings in 2004.
Reuters reported that a previously unknown group, "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe," claimed responsibility.
So, should we be surprised by yet another attack at the hands of these radical Muslim fundamentalists?  Hardly!  Bleeding heart liberals will blame western culture --- or, more likely, America itself --- for these attacks in London.  But are Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda cronies really to blame?  Or does the cause lie deeper than that?  Is this just random terrorism --- or is it Jihad?  Exactly what is Jihad anyway?  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Jihad as "a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty."
Robert Morey discusses the Islamic Doctrine of Jihad in a chapter by that name in Between Christ and Mohammed: The Irreconcilable Differences of Christianity and Islam (co-authored with Gleason Archer and William Welty).  He makes the point that for one to "understand what a particular organized religion teaches, it is important to distinguish between the official teachings of a religion from the personal opinions of someone who claims to follow that religion."  Morey presents five conclusions drawn from the official teachings of Islam:
 
First, Jihad is clearly a major doctrine of the religion of Islam.  It is sometimes called the "sixth pillar of Islam."  Its founder, Mohammed, stated that Jihad was the second most important thing in Islam (Bukhari, vol. 1, no. 25).
Second, Jihad is commanded in the Qur'an and in the Hadith.  There are so many references to this fact that this is beyond all doubt.
Third, it is the moral duty of all Muslims to participate in Jihad.  Any Muslims who says otherwise is voicing his personal opinion and not the official teaching of the religion of Islam.
Fourth, in its non-violent form, Jihad means to strive with all your might against such temptations as alcohol, and for the conversion of non-Muslims to Islam.  In non-violent Jihad, people are encouraged to convert to Islam or to return to Islam by gifts of money, the promise of a job or university education, sexual favors, intimidation, evangelistic outreaches to non-Muslims by the distribution of tracts, books, tapes and videos promoting Islam, the promise of protection from rape in prison, etc.
Fifth, in its violent form, Jihad has been invoked to justify every act of terrorism imaginable.  Waging war on a nation such as Israel or the United States is Jihad.  Jihad includes the blowing up of school buses filled with children; the bombing of public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes; the killing of clergymen of other faiths; the murder of authors who speak out against Islam; the kidnapping and rape of women; the enslavement of non-Muslims; the assassination of political and religious figures; bombing apartment houses; gang rape; the looting of homes, businesses, cities and nations; the burning down of neighborhoods and cities; the use of chemical and biological warfare against civilian populations; putting people in jail for criticizing Islam; and torturing them and mutilating their bodies, etc. (Between Christ and Mohammed: The Irreconcilable Differences of Christianity and Islam, 122-123)
 
That being said, suppose one encounters a Muslim who says that Islam is a religion of peace and that Islam does not teach and practice Jihad?  One of two things is certain: He is either ignorant of what Islam teaches or is trying to deceive you.  Either way, he is an "apostate" from Islam because he has rejected the Qur'an and the Hadith.  One needs to remember that during the days of Mohammed, Islam was spread by the scimitar.  Is it now being spread by the dual threats of terrorism and tyranny?
 
 
Dennis A. Wright, DMin is Founder and President of Understanding The Times Ministries.  An accomplished writer and educator, Wright has spoken in churches and conferences all over America on spiritual counterfeits and Christian Worldview topics.  He can be emailed at [email protected] and his new website can be found at www.UnderstandingTheTimes.org.