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Shalom, Salam, Peace be with you all. Today, I had a deeply thought-provoking conversation with Sheikh Saeed at the historic Amr ibn al-As Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. He raised a compelling point that I believe is worth sharing—and I invite you to reflect on both his words and my response. God willing, I’ll also share a few fascinating details about this remarkable mosque. I had expressed to Sheikh Saeed one of the reasons I believe Jesus more faithfully taught and lived out the commandments of God than Muhammad. Specifically, I pointed out that Muhammad led military campaigns and, at times, killed in the name of defending or spreading Islam. In contrast, Jesus not only taught against killing—warning that those who live by the sword will die by it—but also lived by that standard. He never killed anyone, even when he had the opportunity or justification to do so. Sheikh Saeed responded with a thoughtful question: “Do you believe that Jesus will return in the last days to execute righteous judgment? And do you believe people will be punished or killed when He does?” I answered yes. He replied, “Then just as Jesus will judge in the last days, Muhammad executed righteous judgment upon those who deserved punishment.” Here was my response, and I ask you to consider it carefully: The reason Jesus did not kill during His first coming—but will execute judgment at His second—is because He had not yet received the full authority and knowledge from God to judge. That authority will be given to Him at His return, when He will judge with perfect righteousness. Muhammad, however, made judgments during his lifetime without possessing all knowledge or divine authority to read hearts and judge infallibly. A telling example comes from a well-known hadith: > When Muhammad migrated to Madinah, he observed farmers artificially pollinating date palms. Unfamiliar with the practice, he asked, “What if you don’t do it?” Out of respect, the farmers stopped. That year, the yield was poor. When they told him why, he replied, “You have better knowledge in worldly affairs.” (Sahih Muslim 2363) This story shows that Muhammad, though revered, did not claim omniscience—even in observable matters. If he lacked knowledge in agriculture, how could he possess the divine insight needed to judge the unseen motives of the heart? If he had such insight, he would have known the farmers were right. My point is this: Muhammad did not possess the full knowledge or authority of God to execute judgment perfectly, and therefore, it was not right for him to kill in the name of religion—whether for its defense or its spread. In contrast, when Jesus returns, He will have both the authority and the divine knowledge to judge rightly. That is why His future judgment will be righteous, while His first coming was marked by restraint and mercy. Sheikh Saeed seemed unfamiliar with this perspective. Caught off guard, he shifted the conversation and pointed to the mosque around us. “Do you see this mosque, Hezekiah?” he said. “This is the Amr ibn al-As Mosque—the first mosque built in Egypt and in all of Africa. Muhammad conquered Egypt, which was under Roman rule and persecuting Christians. Islam saved them from that persecution.” Let’s pause here to clarify the historical record: ✅ Yes, the Amr ibn al-As Mosque is indeed the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa, constructed in 641–642 CE by General Amr ibn al-As after the Muslim conquest of Egypt. However, the claim that Muhammad himself conquered Egypt is not historically accurate. Muhammad passed away in 632 CE. Egypt was conquered nearly a decade later under the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, with Amr ibn al-As leading the campaign. I acknowledged Sheikh Saeed’s point with grace: “Perhaps God allowed the Muslim conquest of Egypt because, in some ways, it was more merciful than the Roman rule that preceded it. If so, I give you that credit, sir. But while Muhammad may have been a capable and even just governor in comparison to others of his time, I still believe Jesus more fully embodied and taught the commandments of God. That is why I remain a Judeo-Christian—not by tradition, but by conviction.” After that, Sheikh Saeed kindly introduced me to his grandchildren. It was a warm moment, and I was grateful for the hospitality and the opportunity to visit such a historic site. 🕌 A Few More Highlights About the Amr ibn al-As Mosque: Oldest mosque in Africa, built in 641 CE in what became the Islamic capital of Fustat. Originally constructed from palm trunks and mud bricks, it has been rebuilt and expanded many times. Once served as a major center of Islamic learning before Al-Azhar Mosque rose to prominence. Though little of the original structure remains, it continues to function as a place of worship and a symbol of Islamic heritage in Egypt.