The cross is an affront to Islam. The Qur’an claims that Jesus was not crucified, although in somewhat equivocal language for what is supposed to be the perfect word of an omniscient god:
“And their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but another was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.” (4:157)
And a hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).” (Bukhari 46.37.2476)
This means he will destroy Christianity (break the cross), force the Christians to obey the Islamic food laws (kill the pigs) and end the second-class dhimmi status (abolish the jizya) that Islamic law specifies for Christians, such that they will either have to convert to Islam or be killed.
More on this story. “Greek Orthodox Church Attacked in Syria,” International Christian Concern, December 20, 2024:
12/20/2024 Syria (International Christian Concern) — Unidentified assailants on Wednesday attacked the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama in Western Syria as unrest continues to grip the nation.
Gunmen shot the walls of the church and tried to demolish the building’s cross. The Greek Herald reported local police were searching for the perpetrators.
“The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama confirms that a shooting incident took place. What happened has been immediately followed up by the Hama Police Command, and the perpetrators are being tracked down,” local police said in a statement.
Unconfirmed reports from Greco-Levantines World Wide also claimed that a nearby cemetery was desecrated in the attack, with crosses being “vandalized and removed.”
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) condemned the church violence and alleged that, while the perpetrators are unknown, the Ansar al-Tawhid, “a jihadist group,” is responsible for many attacks on properties and people.
“SNHR strongly condemns [the] attack that targeted Hama’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and its subsidiaries,” the group stated. “We must stress that the targeting of places of worship and religious symbols is a blatant violation of international human rights law … [and] United Nations General Assembly resolution 75/258.”…
somehistory says
The Apostle Paul wrote
“New Living Translation
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”
And Jesus said, “By their fruits, you will recognize them”