David Wood

David Wood in his natural habitat

David Wood is an American Christian polemicist and apologist, known for his critiques of Islam and debates with Muslim scholars. He co-founded the Acts 17 Apologetics ministry with Nabeel Qureshi and has a significant presence on social media platforms, particularly YouTube, where he posts videos addressing theological and ideological differences between Christianity and Islam.

In the earlier part of his career, he was often seen together with Hassamo Shamoun. Since 2022, they have stopped associating with each other and are no longer on talking terms.

Wood's approach is controversial, with many labelling him as an Islamophobe due to his direct and often provocative style. He frequently uses Islamic texts and historical sources to argue his points, though his interpretations are contested by many who believe they lack proper context and nuance.

Personal and Professional Life

David Wood's life has been marked by dramatic highs and lows. In a chilling episode from his past, Wood brutally attacked his stepfather with a hammer, which led to his institutionalization and a subsequent diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Wood openly admits to being diagnosed as a psychopath, offering a glimpse into his tumultuous psyche and raising questions about his role as a moral and theological guide.

The Dearborn Affair

David Wood’s reputation in Christian-Muslim dialogue is marred by incidents like his participation at the Arab Festival in Dearborn, Michigan. He and his colleagues from Acts 17 Apologetics were arrested for allegedly breaching the peace, with their behaviour reported as provocative and aimed at inciting reaction rather than fostering understanding. This incident exemplifies Wood’s confrontational approach, often criticized for lacking nuance and sensitivity.

Financial Controversies

Further complicating David Wood’s narrative is the loss of one of his children. Wood rode on that issue and solicited funds for funeral expenses, amassing $214,702, which has led many to question the sincerity of his motives and the authenticity of his moral posturing.

Criticism of Islam

Professionally, David Wood’s persistent focus on Islam often veers away from constructive criticism and borders on an unhealthy obsession. He is known for misrepresenting scriptural verses and decontextualizing historical events to tarnish Islam’s image, which indicates an approach rooted in intellectual dishonesty rather than genuine scholarship. Despite his evolving platform, Wood’s polemics remain familiar, with critiques that show a similar trend from 2005 to 2023. His recurring claims against the Prophet Muhammad are often met with rebuttals that have long been available.

Early Critiques

From the beginning of Orientalism, Christian missionaries have assumed that Islam is "headless" enough to be attacked and scrutinized with a ferocity that borders on fanaticism. One such example is David Wood, whose notable characteristics are his extreme belligerence and what can only be described as fanatical intolerance toward a faith different from his own.

In one of his articles, Wood states:

> "Muhammad’s empire of faith has managed to thrive in the modern world for one simple reason: Muslims have kept Muhammad's dark past a secret. Indeed, they have gone beyond keeping it a secret; they have somehow convinced themselves (and many others) that Muhammad was an outstanding moral example, perhaps even the greatest moral example of all time. Perpetuating this fraud has been, in my opinion, the most stupendous deception in world history."

It is claimed that incidents “exposed” in Wood’s piece were recorded in recent contemporary biographies of the Prophet Muhammad. Wood should consider reading the late Martin Lings' "Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources," M. H. Haykal's "The Life of Muhammad," and Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri's "The Sealed Nectar" to see whether these eminent writers have concealed any aspect of the Prophet’s life. One historian noted that the Prophet’s life was "born in the full light of history."

Yet, David Wood persists in his critiques, stating:

> "The difficulty here is that, no matter how loudly a Muslim shouts these objections, they have no power to overcome the historical fact that Muhammad was a robber and a murderer."

In response, one might say for the Judeo-Christian faith:

> "The difficulty here is that, no matter how loudly a Jew/Christian shouts these objections, they have no power to overcome the historical fact that Moses was a robber and a murderer."

David Wood has not proven anything beyond asserting that, in his view, the Prophet (P) engaged in "robbing and murdering".