Both Muhammad and Jesus were at first tolerated then opposed severely by those who desired the status quo. Such will it ever be when new ideas come to a community. In both cases, it was a religious community that was being invaded with these ideas.

With Muhammad, a military invasion followed the original introduction of his religion. Jesus continued to go about doing good for those in need, but the more good He did, the more that evil men hated Him.

Both were accused of being demon-possessed. In Muhammad's case, that accusation came from himself at first. Jesus never had such doubts about His identity. Before He was thrust into the wilderness to be savagely tempted of the Devil, He had heard the Voice of the Father claiming that He, Jesus, was the Son in whom He, the Father, delighted.

Families were divided over both men. Their pull was real but not all-inclusive enough in many cases, to make everyone feel comfortable in leaving all for them. There were those who loved them passionately and others who hated them with the same zeal. The lovers and haters of Muhammad eventually took up arms.

So with the haters of Jesus. But His lovers laid them down. True followers of Jesus through the centuries have been in their Christian experience promoters of the peace the Gospel gives through its own power, not the power of clubs and swords and guns.

Muhammad's idea of "Prophet" was not the Biblical model. He seemed to think that military might made his revelations right. Lings quotes him as giving this pre-war encouragement at one of his many battles:

"It is not for a Prophet, when he hath put on his armor, to take it off until God hath judged between him and his enemies. So look to what I bade you do, and do it, and go forward in the Name of Allah. The victory is yours, if ye be steadfast."

This is the language of the military rulers of men, not the armies of Heaven and God's people, who have a totally different sort of prophet, different armor, different God, and different victory.

Muhammad's greatest men were military heroes. Jesus taught His men that the greatest were to be servants of all, a life which He modeled.