Introduction Islam is termed as the fastest growing religion as compared to other religions. It believes in one God who is known as Allah becoming a monotheistic region. It was brought to humanity by Muhammad the prophet who was revealed by God these things. Islam developed in a place known today as Middle-East in the 7th century C.E Islam means surrender and or submission, Allah. Quran is the sacred book of Islam for it contains teachings taught by Muhammad after being revealed to him by Allah. Due to Muslims are characterized by praying five times to Allah in a day. Islam does not have any sharp distinction between secular aspects of life. It expanded immediately after the death of Muhammad. It spread through Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa, throughout Asia and also America and Europe. War and violence in Quran The Quran teaches about revenge, war and retaliation for those who have driven them away from their areas of dwelling and worship. Muhammad after getting chased out of Mecca, he gathers his converted army and marches to revenge and take Mecca and bring it under his control. In addition, a bloody battle between the Muslims and the crusaders drive them out of Jerusalem and wait for one hundred years and then they fight back and take Jerusalem. The Muslims are supposed to fight for the sake of their God, and when they become victorious, they should then remember that they should be merciful and kind to others. These expose Islamic pretense on its side and its contradicting scriptures. Nowadays, we see many Islamic groups claiming to be fighting for the cause of their God. For example, the Al Qaeda, the Alshabaab, the Boko Haram, the Islamic State, the Sunnis and also the Shia. These groups have interpreted the Quran in different ways and were pursuing the same missing in whatever way to make people turn to Islam and even by use of force and terror upon humankind. These groups have killed many innocent people in the name of revenge of countries that are anti-Islam and have forced many populations to embrace. Also, these groups are fighting against one another, for example, the Sunnis and the Shia for they have interpreted the Quran differently where the Sunnis are extremists. In addition, the Islamic religion spread through unleashing was and conquered their neighboring populations and converting them to Islam. The Muslims used Islamic Jihad to drive away their white drive colonialists and also placed Islamic governments. In addition, the Islam also made the other people who were Christians in those areas to stop their religion, or they laid down laws to silence and control their so spread.Critical analysis The documentary shows the Islamic religion and its prophet Muhammad and how the Quran has been corrupted by different authors to suit their purpose. The movie presents Islam as a religion started by one person who was looking for religious satisfaction. Muhammad was not satisfied with the pagan gods that they worshiped in the Kaaba by his people of Mecca. Muhammad, while in a cave had an overwhelming extraordinary presence. He felt intense pressure and darkness and in his mind, he heard a voice “recite.” Muhammad's experience shows the connection of the Islamic religion to their deity who is Allah. Muhammad could go into a trance when being given wise words and the message he would pass to the people.
Trance experiences show the religious nature Islam although it has a lot of violence in it, but also a force in their quest to spread their religion. Therefore, Muhammad ceases to become a caravan leader to a prophet. He was even about to kill himself, but his wife saved him by telling him that he had been even sent by God. During this time, the Islamic religion began with Muhammad as the leader and had disciple followers. Muhammad was the right person to bring the message to the people during that time. There were leaders who could protect him from the authorities in Mecca and had the enthusiasm to bring the word of God to his people. He could fight back whenever people fought him. Therefore, Islam allows revenge to those who have provoked them. The actors of this documentary are the Michael Berg, Yehueda Berg, and Jonathan Towers. Its directors are Margaret Kim and Jonathan Towers. The actors presented their facts about Islam and scrutinized them keenly to show their support to their movie title. They bring up arguments and try to bring out their view about the event and also show us facts that support their views. They are respectful of the Islamic religion for they do not produce any physical representation of Muhammad. In addition, they are well aware of the historical events that happened in those times taking all the way from the 7th-century period to the 21st century. The documentary’s tone changes according to the different situations and actions taking place. The tone is enthusiastic and draws one's attention and makes one’s mind turn back from his present situation to that of the movie. The documentary brings us back to the 7th century when Islamic religion under Prophet Muhammad began. The film talks about a young man whose name was Muhammad, who was an orphan by the age of 6 years. He also had an influential uncle who helped him come out of this position as an orphan to become a very successful businessman. He headed a caravan and was at first directing his uncle’s caravan. Later he was employed by a wealthy widow as a caravan leader who they later married. While in marriage, Muhammad was very devastated and kept asking about life and religion for he did not see any help from the idols people were praying and sacrificing to them.
Muhammad while in a cave that he usually kept going encountered a very overwhelming presence which was very mystical. He was told in his mind to ‘’recite’’ but he did not know what he was to recite. He then started to teach about Islam concerning one God and had won disciples who could help him. He was in danger when he started preaching because the town he grew up; leaders who worshiped idols headed Mecca. People who came to worship and sacrifice there paid a lot of money to them because of taxes and trade that took place there. The leaders of Mecca chased Muhammad and his disciples, and some were killed after the death his wife and uncle who used to protect him. He went to Medina where he became their leader and then marched back to Mecca with his Muslim army and conquered it. He then destroyed all the idols that were in the temple of Kaaba and changed it to become a place of Islamic worship. The documentary then talks about the people who preserved the teachings of Muhammad and then talks of how the Quran has been corrupted by individuals. The writing of the Quran after 100 years would have led to misinterpretation of Muhammad’s words and also exaggeration about war and violence. The Muslims spread their religion throughout Arabian Peninsula, throughout Asia and even spread to Europe. They captured Jerusalem and built the Al-Aqsa mosque which became their holiest third place for worship for they believed it was where Muhammad ascended to heaven. War then broke between them and the Christians from Europe through the organized crusades by the pope of the day and were driven out. It took them a century to reclaim Jerusalem and then allowed those who surrendered to leave or remain. The documentary also talks of an Egyptian journalist who wrote books that many Muslim extremists use them. His name was Qutab, and terrorist Islamic groups that want to return to the era when real Islam religion ruled are using his ideologies. Therefore, since his writings, there has been much misinterpretation concerning jihad that has despised peace and love in Islam. To a greater extent, the film can present on how Islam has changed from the time of its inception to the present. It talks of the teachings that were taught by Muhammad and no one was writing them down during his time. His disciples kept it in their minds and one hundred years after his death, the Quran was written down within twenty years. It contains contradicting statements and teachings that have led to confusion and its misinterpretation. On the other hand, the movie exaggerates this film by condemning it and comparing it with the Bible that is a very different sacred text. This video presents Islam in this way as a result of the wars and terrorist attacks that have been happening as a result of different approaches and interpretation of Quran.
There are also some scholarly articles that are based on the same issue concerning h secrets of the Quran. In this book, Secrets of the Quran: Revealing the Insights into the Islam’s Holy Book presents the question of Islam as a religion of peace or bloodshed. The book talks of the increased sale of Quran books in the western countries since 2001. The people have been marveled by this book and have wanted to read in order to understand what Quran entails. In every 55 verses in the Quran, there is a verse concerning war, and they are 109 verses in number talking about war. Bush says that Osama and Al-Qaeda have hijacked a great religion. It talks about Osama Bin Laden and his followers being able to recite all the Quran verses in a day and wonder why they not advocating for peace. The author wonders if the moderate Muslims truly support peace or it is just a scapegoat or fear within them. The book also criticizes Mohammed’s inability to perform miracles to prove to the Medina’s literate Jews and their inhabitants that he truly was a prophet. He used to talk about Old Testament stories which were filled with errors. He turned to create a religious army in order to help the Medina’s authorities grow high and to hide his inability to perform miracle that were part and parcel of prophets.
In conclusion, the film exposes the confusion that the Quran causes to its followers making them not to have one stand on their religious issues. Those who wrote the Quran did not write his direct words that he spoke to them because it’s written one hundred years after his death. Many Muslims are not aware of what they believe in due to misinterpretation for each and every person is supposed to read and interpret it for him or herself. Islam is a real and people corrupt it to satisfy and accomplish their selfish deeds. As documented, the movie shows how the Quran is distinct from the Bible and how they serve for religious purposes of their followers.
Bibliography
"DECODING THE PAST: SECRETS OF THE KORAN - Documentary." YouTube. n.d. Accessed November 28, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duEsJof50K0.
Richardson, D. (2003). Secrets of the Koran: Revealing insights into Islam's holy book. Ventura, CA: Gospel Light.
