"OUR TIME HAS COME" - Muslim Gathering at U.S. Capitol

William J. Federer

                 With the unprecedented gathering of a few thousand Muslims in Washington, D.C., to bow toward Mecca under the theme "Our Time Has Come," Americans are beginning wonder what is the agenda of the followers of Mohammed.

                 As Muslims pray to be better Muslims, one must ask, WHO WAS THE BEST MUSLIM?

                 Obviously, Mohammed was.

                 Mohammed's life, therefore, provides a blueprint of the agenda of his followers.

                 Mohammed was a religious leader, but he was also a political and military leader.

 RELIGIOUS LEADER

                 From 610 to 622AD, Mohammed was a religious leader in the pagan city of Mecca, making only around 100 converts.

                 In 622AD, the pagans in Mecca felt Mohammed had become confrontational, argumentative and intimidating, so they plotted to kill him.

                 Claiming the victim, Mohammed fled from Mecca to Medina, a city 210 miles to the north.

                 This is called the Flight or Hegira, and is "Year One" in the Muslim calendar.

 POLITICAL LEADER

                 Medina consisted of three Jewish tribes which never got along, plus some disorganized pagans who had no voice in the city's government.

                 The Jews generously allowed Mohammed to immigrate to Medina for protection, but when he explained his faith to them, they rejected it.

                 Mohammed then went among the pagans in Medina to make converts and, effectively, became a community organizer.

                 Mohammed was brilliant politically and noticed that the three Jewish tribes that controlled Medina were divided by generations of bitter rivalries.

                 After gaining a following, Mohammed approached the city leaders as a candidate of change, explaining how he was in a unique position to be objective and fair in their disputes as he was an outsider to Medina's heated politics.

                 The Jewish tribes made a treaty with Mohammed and he became a full-fledged political leader in Medina.

 MILITARY LEADER

                 Shortly thereafter, some of Mohammed's followers back in pagan Mecca had their houses confiscated and were chased out of the city.

                 These Muslims fled to Medina, where Mohammed was a political leader, arriving destitute, as their livelihood and property had been stolen by the Meccans.

                 Mohammed permitted his followers to rob the caravans headed to Mecca in retaliation for the Meccans taking their houses.

                 This is different from Jesus, who taught if someone takes your shirt, give them your coat also.

                 Mohammed had an entire chapter of the Qur'an, Sura 8, revealed to him on how to distribute booty from robbing caravans.

                 In 624AD, the city of Mecca sent 1000 soldiers to protect their caravans, and Mohammed, with just 300 warriors, defeated them at the Battle of Badr.

                 Outnumbered 3 to 1, this amazing victory convinced Mohammed that Allah wanted him to be a military leader.

                 He was an inspiring and unbeatable military leader, fighting in 66 battles and raids in the next 8 years before he died.

                 Mohammed displayed his military genius during the Battle of the Trenches in 627AD, when the Meccans sent a massive force of 10,000 to stop the caravans raids which were crippling their economy.

                 Mohammed's version of roadside bombs was to dig ditches and trenches all around the city of Medina, which rendered the superior cavalry of the Meccans useless.

                 Meccans could not charge their horses across a field full of potholes as it would break their legs, so their entire battle strategy was derailed.

                 As the battle dragged on longer than expected, support for the war back home in Mecca began to diminish. Finally, the Meccans decided to bring their troops home.

                 When the Meccans brought their troops home, Mohammed considered this a great victory that Allah's enemies showed cowardice before his face.

                 Mohammed later used a catapult to attack cities, like al-Taif in 630AD.

                 When he was told the catapult was killing innocent women and children, his response was "They are among them."

                 Fundamental Muslim suicide bombers today view themselves as following his example when they kill innocent women and children to advance Islam.

 RPM – RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, MILITARY

                 Mohammed's life is called the Sunna, which means the Way, or the Example.

                 As Mohammed was not just a religious leader, but also a political and military leader, fundamental followers of Mohammed tend to imitate his example religiously, then politically, then militarily.

                 Islam, therefore, is not just a religion, but also a political/military system.

                 The effort to split the political/military side of Islam away from the religious side is, in effect, an effort to split Mohammed, as he was a leader in all three areas.

                 As faithful Christians want to imitate Jesus, highlighted by the popular acronym WWJD - "What Would Jesus Do," likewise, fundamental Muslims want to imitate the example of Mohammed, as he was the perfect Muslim.

                 The Muslim "Our Time Has Come" prayer meeting at the U.S. Capitol bowing toward Mecca is therefore not just a religious bowing.

                 It is the equivalent of a political/military pledging of allegiance to another Capitol.

                 It is undoubtedly perceived by fundamental Muslims as a form of conquest.

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William J. Federer is the author of the best-selling books, "America's God and Country," and "What Every American Needs to Know About the Qur'an-A History of Islam & the United States."