Handling Adultery...Mohammed vs Jesus

Muslims portray Mohammed as the perfect man. Here is a good comparison of his actions versus Jesus when faced with a similar problem. You decide who's actions were more moral - the perfect man or Jesus.

(For the record I am agnostic and do not endorse or follow any religion)

***********************************

Mohammed and the Adulteress (The woman from Gamid - from the Hadith of Sahih Muslim 4206)

There came to him (the Holy Prophet) a woman from Gamid and said: ‘Allah’s Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me.’ He (the Holy Prophet) turned her away. On the following day she said: ‘Allah’s messenger, why do you turn me away? ... By Allah I have become pregnant.’ He said ‘Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth.’ When she was delivered she came with the child (wrapped) in a rag, and said ‘Here is the child whom I have given birth to.’ He said ‘Go away and suckle him until you wean him.’ When she had weaned him, she came to him (the Holy Prophet) with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. She said ‘Allah’s Apostle, here is he as I have weaned him and he eats food.’ He (the Holy Prophet) entrusted the child to one of the Muslims and then pronounced punishment. And she was put in a ditch up to her chest and he commanded people and they stoned her.

Jesus and the Adulteress (From the Gospel of John, Chapter 8)

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."

********************************

I think I (and I would posit most people regardless of the religion they belong to) would prefer Jesus interpretation and actions in this case to Mohhammeds. Mohammed’s approach is harsh and barbaric, Jesus approach is sublime and merciful. This story sums up neatly the difference between Islam and Christianity. Until we understand the Islamic mindset of utter submission to the will of Allah and his laws we are never going to understand Muslims and will never win the war on terror or whatever the heck we are calling this ongoing clash of two civilizations.