Why does the life of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, matter today? Fourteen centuries have passed since he was born.
Millions of Muslims have lived and died since then, and many leaders have risen to lead the faithful, including descendents of the Prophet himself.
Surely Islam, like other religions, has changed over 1,400 years.
Here’s why the life of Muhammad matters: Contrary to what many secularists would have us believe, religions are not entirely determined (or distorted) by the faithful over time. The lives and words of the founders remain central, no matter how long ago they lived.
The idea that believers shape religion is derived, instead, from the fashionable 1960s philosophy of deconstructionism, which teaches that written words have no meaning other than that given to them by the reader. Equally important, it follows that if the reader alone finds meaning, there can be no truth (and certainly no religious truth); one person’s meaning is equal to another’s. Ultimately, according to deconstructionism, we all create our own set of “truths,” none better or worse than any other.
It is also important to emphasize that the West, built on Christianity, is worth defending, even if we live in a so-called post-Christian era. Furthermore, through the words of Muhammad and Jesus, we can draw a distinction between the core principles that guide the faithful Muslim and Christian. These principles are important. The followers of Muhammad read his words and imitate his actions, which leads to an expression of faith quite different from Christians. One does not have to look too far to see that life in an Islamic country is different from life in the United States or Britain.
The difference begins with Muhammad. In these days when so many invoke Muhammad’s words and deeds to justify actions of violence and bloodshed, it is important to become familiar with this pivotal figure.
First basic fact: Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Abd al-Muttalib (570–632), the prophet of Islam, was a man of war. He taught his followers to fight for his new religion. He said that their god, Allah, had commanded them to take up arms. And Muhammad, no armchair general, fought in numerous battles. These facts are crucial to anyone who really wants to understand what caused the Crusades centuries ago or, in our own time, what has led to the rise of the global jihad movement.
cc: @Sumeya
Adapted from: The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and The Crusades by Robert Spencer