James Setiawan originally presented this workshop on December 27, 2002 at the WCCCC Winter Conference.

Updated and Expanded Notes (2/2003)

One reason why many people grow interest in Islam is that because of the event on September 11, 2001. Most of the media coverage portrayed Islam as a peaceful religion and only some segments of the follower have radical and violent ideas. This workshop is dealing with the objective evaluation and teaching of the founder, Muhammad, as compared to the teaching of Jesus Christ. The main goal is to equip Christians to be ready witnessing to Muslims. It is estimated that there are approximately 5 million Muslims in United States. It is an irony that while we have an ample opportunity to witness in ‘our own backyard’ and yet because of the stereotype about Muslim people, we are afraid to communicate our faith to them. Many Muslims we encountered in this country are nice and peace-loving people.

Throughout the workshop, the attendees are encouraged to think, analyze, share and also ask questions. The lecture utilized many pictures and diagrams from overhead projector.

The ‘buzzword’ I will use throughout the workshop is WHAT WOULD MUHAMMAD DO? vs WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY OF ISLAM

• History of Muhammad: he was born AD 570 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
• Challenges facing Christianity on 4th & 5th century when Islam was initially introduced:

o Christians struggle for the right doctrine of Trinity & Jesus Christ.
o Christians struggle for development of New Testament Canon - Synod of Carthage AD 397.
o AD 325 first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, created the city of Constantinople, built the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) which later in 1453 was conquered & captured by Islamic Conqueror, Sultan Mehmet, who converted this church into a mosque. The place is now called Turkey.

• Muhammad’s father, Abdullah (Abdul Allah = Servant of Allah) passed away before son’s birth.
• Muhammad’s mother, Amina passed away when Muhammad was only six year old, and he was taken care of by his uncle, Abu Talib.
• Muhammad was 25 year old when he first married to a wealthy Syrian widow Khadija who was much older, 40 year old.
• Arab culture during that time: paganism, believe in 360 pantheon of gods with the chief god: Allah. The Ka’abah in Mecca is called ‘beit Allah’ = The House of Allah.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN MECCA

• AD 610: Muhammad alleged received divine revelation by Angel Gabriel. His first reaction was that voice must be from an evil spirit. He was so afraid that he contemplated suicide. According to Al Tabari: I shall go to some high mountain cliff and cast myself down therefore so that I may kill myself and be at rest. I went off with this mind, but when I was in the midst of the mountains I heard a voice from heaven saying, “O Muhammad, thou art God’s apostle and I am Gabriel. (Al Tabari: Tarikh al-Rusul Wa al-Muluk. Leiden 1881)
• Began his ministry: introduced new faith of Islam (=submission). Belief in one sovereign God (personal name: Allah), resurrection, last judgment and give charity to the poor.
• Muhammad initially tried to win hearts of pagans, Jews and Christians in Mecca. The Qur’an chapter (= sura) during initial Meccan period has favorable writing about Jews & Christians. In Qur’an, the Jews & Christians are called People of The Book; the Bible is called The Book (=alkitab)

 Sura 10:94 If thou wert in doubt as to what we have revealed unto thee then ask those who have been reading The Book from before thee; The truth hath indeed come to thee form thy Lord. So be in no wise of those in doubt.
 Sura 29:46 And dispute ye not with the People of The Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury).

• Muhammad even tried to win hearts of pagans. In Sura 53:19,20 he proclaimed favorites deities al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat initially to have the power of intercession with God. Later, Muhammad retracted this statement and he believed that these words were interpolated by Satan (‘Satanic Verse’). There is controversy among Islamic scholars about these verses.
• According to Islamic tradition, one night Muhammad was taken by Angel Gabriel form Mecca to Jerusalem and he ascended to heaven. The sacred rock where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven is used by Caliph Abdul al-Malik to built the Dome of the Rock Mosque during the late 7th contury. This place is where Jews used to worship in Jerusalem Temple in Old & New Testament periods before Islamic conquest to Jerusalem.
• Unfortunately, Muhammad facing increasing hostility toward him in Mecca and the Meccan leaders plotted to kill him.
• September 24, AD 622, Muhammad & his followers escaped the city and went 200 miles up-northeast to the city of Medina. This event is called THE FLIGHT = HIJRA.

POLITICAL POWER FORMATION IN MEDINA

• Muhammad was welcomed and received by Arab clans in Medina.
• Initially, he persuaded Jewish tribes in Medina to accept him as a Prophet. He prescribed to pray toward Jerusalem in conformity with Jewish custom. But after the Jews rejected him as a Prophet, Muhammad changed the direction to pray toward the shrine in Mecca (chief God: Allah). The reason why Jews did not accept him as a Prophet because Muhammad was not from the line of Isaac but from the line of Ishmael. According to the Old Testament, no prophets ever generated from the line of Ishmael.
• Slowly, his tactic changed from persuasion to using force and violence toward his enemy. His attitude toward Christians also changed. Now both Jews and Christians have to pay tax (Jizya) to him as the superior religious leader and political power. His tone changed from tolerance to fighting the Jews and Christians.

 Sura 9:29 Fight those who believe not in God (=Allah) nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle (=Prophet Muhammad), nor acknowledge the Religion Of Truth (=Islam) of The People of The Book (=Jews & Christians), until they pay the Jizya (=tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

• Several wars during Muhammad’s reign of power in Medina.

 AD 624 The Battle of Badr. Merchants form Mecca sent army of 950 people to Medina. The Muslims were outnumbered, but Muhammad still win the war. Sura 8:65 Aposle! Rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and preserving. They vanquish two hundred. If a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding. Muhammad expelled one of the three Jewish tribes from Medina.
 AD 625 The Battle of Uhud. Meccan under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. Three thousand Meccan army against one thousand Muslims. Muhammad’s army was defeated. Muhammad expelled the second Jewish tribes from Medina.
 AD 627 The siege of Medina by Abu Sufyan. Secret negotiation by Muhammad – silent victory. Muhammad ordered his followers to destroy the last Jewish tribes: all men were put to death (eight hundred) and the women & children were sold into slavery as booty. (booty = plunder taken from an enemy in the time of war, goods or property seized by force or piracy)
 AD 630 The Conquest of Mecca. During that time, the Meccan politics & army were weakened and Muhammad was successful in growing his power. He cleansed and destroyed the Ka’abah of its 360 idols, introduced strict monotheism and called the personal name of monotheist God as Allah.
 Muslims around the world now have duty for pilgrimage to Ka’abah in Mecca.

Muhammad died in June 632 at the age of 63.

SPREAD OF ISLAM VS. CHRISTIANITY – WWMD VS. WWJD?

• ISLAM
  • Fighting war: Spreading Islam is symbolized by Sword. Muhammad: Prophet of the Sword. Most of the conversion coming after he had forsaken the peaceful solution and changed to use force and war. The Saudi Arabian flag is the example of this. The inscription reads, "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger."
  
  • JIHAD
  Basic meaning: to struggle, to strive

Four expression of Jihad:
1) Jihad of Tongue: speaking about Islamic faith
2) Jihad of Hand: expressing faith in good works
3) Jihad of Heart: making faith the force for good
4) Jihad of Sword: defending Islamic faith when under attack. Problem: many Muslims believe that they are under ‘attack’ by the Westerners/American because of politics in the Middle East, cultural influences, sinful lifestyles, Christian missionaries etc. While Christians do not endorse American sinful lifestyles, we have freedom of evangelism not with physical sword but with spiritual sword (Scripture, The Word of God). Do not stereotype the modern Muslims in this country that they are still using the physical sword; in contrary, they also engage the Qur’anic teaching, knowledge and political acceptance. They have Muslim Apologists who defend Islamic faith.

• Examples from Qur’an
Sura 2:191 And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; For tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; But fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they first fight you there; But if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.
Sura 2:216 Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not.
Sura 9:5 But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay The Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war

 Expansion by oppression & war: Islam destroyed Egypt, Byzantium, and Northern Africa which the majority was Christians. In AD 732 Muslims were defeated in France by Charles Martel in the battle of Tours.
 Islamic culture flourished: arts, mathematics, and architecture. Islam teaches helping other Muslims as brothers.

• CHRISTIANITY
  
   Remember, our enemy is NOT the unbelievers, Pagans, Buddhists, Hindus or Muslims, and our fighting sword is not physical violence or terror.
   We have also war; but the enemy is not the people, but against ‘the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil’ (Ephesians 6:12)
   Our readiness to fight is to use full armor of God: Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted for the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Scripture). (Ephesians 6:13-18) We are commanded to pray always since the power to convert & convict to Christianity IS NOT from human but from the Holy Spirit.
   Our Lord Jesus Christ gives a paradigm: DO NOT USE PHYSICAL SWORD OR VIOLENCE! In Matthew 26:50-52 Jesus teaches valuable lesson. Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
   Our Lord Jesus Christ’s paradigm: FOR ALL WHO DRAW THE SWORD WILL DIE BY THE SWORD.
   This spiritual sword is sharper than the physical sword. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
   The spreading of Christianity: use Gospel, love, helping others and relationship. Christians built hospitals, charities and send missionaries to help others.
   In history, there were also violence done by Christians under the name of God, but this violence is in direct opposition with the teaching of Jesus Christ. Christians do not have justification to do violence for spreading the religion. In contrary, the radical Islamic terrorists have justification of their actions through Qur’an and hadith (the saying of Muhammad).

MUHAMMAD’S WIVES

• Middle Eastern culture at that time: patriarchal, leader has concubines, king has harem.
• Muhammad was given special revelation to marry 11 wives or concubines. Some believe Muhammad has 13 wives. In Qur’an, Muslims could have only up to four wives with certain responsibilities.
• Muhammad’s favorite wife was Aisha; he was betrothed to her when she was six and consummated the marriage when she was nine.
• One of the wives is Maria who is Christian Coptic Orthodox.
• From the book of Indonesian Islamic Knowledge: Muhammad married to eleven women. Of course he did this not for releasing his sexual drive, since ten of those women were widowed and even old enough. The reason Muhammad married them was to expand Islamic law related to women, for instance law related to the relationship during period/menstruation, delivering baby etc. (Buku Pintar Agama Islam by Syamsul Rijal Hamid page 99 – translated from Indonesian language)
• Muhammad’s view of marriage compared with Christian Scripture.

 In the Biblical culture: concubine, polygamy. This was the culture during that time.
 King Solomon: 1 Kings 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.
 In Christianity: polygamy is morally wrong. God permitted but never commanded!!
 Genesis: Adam & Eve – one man and one woman
 Genesis 16: Abraham – Hagar & Sarah – Ishmael & Isaac
 Deuteronomy 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself (NASB)
 1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
 Monogamous marriage is symbol of true relation between Christ and his bride, the Church. Ephesians 5:31,32 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.

UNDERSTANDING THE DOCTRINE OF ISLAM

ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF GOD

• Allah

o Etymology: In the Arabic Language, the word ‘ilah’ = one who is worshipped. The word “ALLAH” is the personal name of God. La ilaha illa-Allah = there is no ‘ilah’ other than the One Great Being known by the name Allah.
o The word Allah had been used before Islam: Muhammad’s own father name was Abd-Allah = slave of Allah.
o In pre-Islamic literature, Christian or pagan, ilah is used for any god and Al-ilah (contracted to Allah) is the name of the Supreme.
o Among the pagan Arab, Allah is the chief god of their 360 pantheon (gods/idols).
o The temple Ka’abah at Mecca, was called (before Mohammed) Beit-Allah = the house of Allah and not Beit-el-Alihet = the house of idols or gods.
o Allah is now used as the name of God.
o In the Bible of Christian Arab, Indonesian & Egypt: use the word Allah as God.
o In the Bible: Yahweh is the personal name of God, Elohim is God, Adonai is Lord.

• Islam is a strict monotheist.
• Who is Allah? 99 descriptive names. Some names as follows:

o Allah, the Name that is above every name
o Al-Bari, the Maker
o Al-Jalil, the Majestic
o Al-Jabbar, the Mighty One
o Al-Haqq, the Truth
o Al-Hakem, the Judge
o Al-Halim, the Kindly
o Al-Khafid, the Humbler
o Ar-Rachman, the Merciful
o Ar-Rachim, the Compassionate
o Al-Ghafur, the Forgiving
o Al-Quddus, the Most Holy One
o Al-Mutaakhkhir, the Defender
o Al-Mutakabbir, the Proud

• WILL

o Those names are to be understood finally as characteristics of the Allah will rather than His character.
o The Divine Will is absolute. In Christianity: the will of God stems from God’s holy characters, in Islam: the will of Allah is absolute, ultimate beyond reason and revelation. What about character of Allah?
o Islam: Allah is distant, absolute transcendent & can be known through his will
o Christian: God is transcendent & immanent, involved in personal relationship with us (Immanent = Existing or remaining within; inherent: believed in a God immanent in human beings)
o In Christianity: - deeper understanding (not simplistic) will of God, involves divine providence

1. Preservation: keeps human existing & maintaining the properties with which he created us.
2. Concurrence: cooperates with human in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.
3. Government: directs us to fulfill his purposes

Event fully caused by God (primary cause) and fully caused by human (secondary cause). For example, in Genesis the boy Joseph was sold by his brothers, because of their jealousy toward Joseph. After Joseph became the leader in Egypt, his brothers came to buy some food during the drought, unknowingly that this Egyptian leader is actually their own brother. Joseph in Genesis 50:20 said: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” This is God’s providence. Joseph’s brothers intended to harm him, acting sinfully. But God’s will is for the good of Israelites. If they were not able to eat during the drought, they would all die. God’s action is intended for the best of them.

• FATHERHOOD

o For Muslims, the concept of the Fatherhood of God is a blasphemy: cannot assign partner to Allah: unpardonable sin! (shirk)
o Muslim: relationship between master and slave; in Christianity: relationship between father and children.
o Muhammad mistakenly viewed that the word Son of God is real physical, ‘crash’ idea that God has a son. So who is the mother? In Christianity: Son of God & Son of Man is the TITLE for Jesus.
o Qur’an teaches that God does not have son

 Sura 2:116 They say: “God hath begotten a son”. Glory be to Him – Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders worship to Him.
 Sura 6:101 To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He hath no consort?
 Sura 19:35 It is not befitting to the majesty of God that He should beget a son.
o In the Bible, Jesus called Father:
 Mark 14:36 Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will
 Matthew 6:9 Jesus prays: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ….
 This is a very deep & intimate relationship we have with God.

• TRINITY
o Historical background: heretical teaching of Trinity during Muhammad’s time.
o Muhammad mistakenly viewed the Trinity as three gods (Tritheism)
o Sura 4:171 O People of The Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of God ought but the truth. ---- Say not ‘Trinity’: desist. It will be better for you for God is One God.
o The correct view of Trinity: God is one in essence and three in persons. No contradiction.

ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF MAN

• Man was born good, innocent, like white paper which later becomes tainted.
• Islamic concept of sin is shallow. Sin is disobeying Allah’s will.
• Christianity concept of sin is deep. Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in action, attitude and nature.
• Islam: man sins because he/she was ignorant and has weak will. No total depravity, essentially not fallen. No original sin. Man need only mentor to remind God’s will.
• Christianity: man sins because he/she is a sinner. Believe in original sin and depravity. Need redemption.
• In Islam: Adam & Eve sinned, they were expelled from Paradise to earth and they were forgiven by Allah. That is it! Need no redemption, need no justice. As a matter of fact, Adam became the first Prophet. They believe that prophets have no essential sin.
• For Islam: NO BAD NEWS, NO GOOD NEWS. NO NEED GOSPEL. Their view of the doctrines is what it is called ‘minimalism’ It is pitiful that they always have difficult time to understand and think deeply. This condition is similar to the Israelites during the time of prophet Isaiah which was fulfilled by Jesus Christ himself; that the people’s heart become calloused and does not understand that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. Matthews 13:14,15 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ”‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF CHRIST

• Islam teaches that Jesus is a prophet before Muhammad, but Muhammad is the last and the greatest prophet.
• Interestingly, in Qur’an, Jesus is called Messiah, Word from God, Spirit from God, Mercy from God. Unfortunately, their understanding of these words is very minimal.
• Islam: Jesus is not God – Sura 5:75; 5:116; 9:30
• In the Bible, Jesus declares himself as God. In John 8:48-58 Jesus claimed that he knew Abraham. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” Here, the word ‘I AM’ was the translation in Greek ‘ego emi’ which is the same with ‘ego emi’ in Exodus 3:14. No wonder then the people wanted to kill Jesus because he dared to ‘blaspheme’ himself as God.

o Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
o These words later became the tetragrammaton YHWH which is pronounced YAHWEH, the personal name of God.

• Muslims believes that Jesus was born from virgin Mary, raising people from the dead, did miracles.
• Islam: Jesus did not die on the cross: sura 4:157 That they said (in boast) ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God’ – But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, …
• Apparently, Muhammad was probably influenced by heretical Christian teachings at that time in the belief that Jesus was a mere human and not divine.

• In Islam: prophet of God cannot die like the one written in the Christian Bible: die on the cross!! This moral refusal, comes not from the will of God but from human’s idea. Let’s compared to the Apostle Peter when he rebuked Jesus who predicted that he would someday be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:22 Peter took him (Jesus) aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” In verse 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
• The correct view of Jesus: 100% God and 100% Man, neither dividing the person nor confounding the natures.


ISLAM CONCEPT OF SALVATION

• In Islam: Salvation is of good work
• The Five Pillars (or Duties) of Islam

1. The Duty to recite the Shahadah: to bear witness by reciting the creed:
 ASYHADU AN-LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH = I witness there is no god other than Allah.
 WA ASYHADU ANNA MUHAMMADAR RASULULLAH = I witness that Mohammed is His messenger.
2. The Duty to Pray (Salat) five times a day: Once a week on Friday, to meet in the Mosque to pray.
3. The Duty to Fast. Fasting in the ninth lunar month of Ramadhan.
4. The Duty to give Alms (Zakat) = Mandatory charity to the poor & needy.
5. The Duty to Make the Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. At least one in his/her lifetime, provided they are physically and financially able.

• In Islam: MAN IS NOT THE OBJECT OF SALVATION, BUT IS THE SUBJECT OF SALVATION.
• Sura 23:101-103 The when the trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another! Then those whose balance (Of good deeds) is heavy, they will attain salvation. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide. Islam is religion of human works.
• The concept of God is shallow, concept of man is shallow, sin is not radical --- no need salvation, no need atonement, no need redemption. Salvation is of human’s good works.
• Heaven in Islam is a place for physical pleasure.
Houri (Arab Huriyah), in Islam, one of the beautiful maidens who dwell in paradise and reward true believers with the sensual pleasure of their companionship after death. The houris are perennially young and pure, although they have the power to conceive and bear children at the will of the faithful. Muslim theologians of modern times, offended by the unabashedly sensual picture of paradise that the concept of the houris affords, have endeavored to place an allegorical interpretation upon them. (Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)


ISLAM CONCEPT OF QUR’AN

• Qur’an

1. Muhammad did not write down his revelation but gave them orally. Muhammad was illiterate.
2. According to the Islamic tradition: angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an verbatim to Muhammad within 23 years & he would recite.
3. 1 year after Muhammad’s death, the second caliph (male leader, successor of Muhammad) Umar, ordered the collection of fragments.
4. During third caliph, Uthman, there were several versions of Qur’an. He ordered to burn the other copies. Until now is the Uthmanic version remains intact.
5. Qur’an is slightly shorter than New Testament
6. Consists of 114 chapters: 86 were revealed during the Meccan period, 28 at Medina
7. Suras are not placed in any chronological or logical order.

• Hadith = saying of Muhammad

1. Hadith is not a revelation as Qur’an but hadith is complementary to the Qur’an.
2. Hadith is to clarify and explain in more practical form.
3. Hadith consists of Islamic way of life, rule & regulation, law etc.
4. Hadith by Al Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Du’ad (were written about 100-200 years after Muhammad’s death

• 2 Doctrines in Islam in relation to he Bible:
1. Doctrine of takhrif – the corruption of Judeo Christian Scriptures. They believe that what we have in the Bible is not the original writing but corrupted writing.
2. Doctrine of progressive revelation, it abrogates (nullify) all the books which preceded it.

• Islam: Qur’an is the final word from God, supercedes the previous revelations. Muhammad is the final prophet from God. Muhammad supercedes the previous prophets.

• Bible – unique. It can be tested and verified.

1. Statistical Probability
 66 books, written over a span of 1,500 years, at least 40 different authors: philosophers, kings, prophets, Jesus’ disciples, tax collector, physician etc
2. Predictive Prophecy
3. Verifiability: History
4. Archeological Discovery

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISLAM & CHRISTIANITY

ISLAM VS CHRISTIANITY

Islam: simple, simplistic, shallow
Christianity: simple but not simplistic - deep, awesome & mystery

Islam: elevate human’s efforts to reach Allah
Christianity: elevate God’s effort to reach human

Islam: human’s works will decide if he/she hopefully could go to heaven
Christianity: God’s work makes sure he/she goes to heaven – assurance of salvation

Islam: anthropocentric - human’s perspective
Christianity: theocentric - God’s perspective

Islam: Allah is distant, transcendent & can be known through his will
Christianity: God is transcendent & immanent, can be known through personal relationship
(Immanent = Existing or remaining within; inherent: believed in a God immanent in human beings)

Islam
• Religion to emphasize human efforts & pride through submission to Allah
• Can not lose face & argument in the public square
Christianity
• Personal relationship with the true God, Yahweh the Creator
• Defender of TRUTH
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Enticement: scheme from the devil – pride. (Genesis 2:4,5; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-18) We ‘submit’ to ‘elevate’ ourselves (wrong idea about God)

Conviction: from God / Holy Spirit – to surrender (= to give up a possession, claim, or right). This is the real submission to God.

WITNESSING TO MUSLIM

Don’t stereotype Muslims as one supports the idea of violence and terrorism, for many of them have genuine hearts for peace and understanding. But any religious ideas have consequences. Jesus teaches you can see the good fruit from good tree. “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:17)


Cambodian Muslim Children

• DON’TS (Recommended by Abdul Saleeb, a former Muslim who converted into Christianity – taken from Christian Research Journal Vol.24/No.4/2002)
o Don’t argue with Muslims. Their culture does not permit them to lose face or lose an argument!
o Don’t be confrontational or provoked to anger.
o Don’t use a marked Quran or marked Bible. This is a sign of desecration to them. Muslims never hold their Quran below their waist. They try to hold it high and place it in the highest position on the shelf.
o Don’t speak to them in groups. Peer pressure is a negative factor.

• DOS
o Make genuine friendship with Muslims.
o Share the genuine love of God, the real relationship with God.
o Understand his/her belief and point of view.
o Introduce Jesus.
o Share and tell the prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament.
o Share and tell the miracles Jesus did in the New Testament.
o Share and tell the Sermon On The Mount.
o Share and tell the parable of Jesus.
o Pray for your Muslim friends: let the Holy Spirit changes heart.
o For more advanced witness: assurance of salvation.
o For more involvement in ministry: study aids.

STUDY AIDS

1. Most of the important information above is obtained from the book: Answering Islam – The Crescent in the Light of The Cross by Norman L. Geisler & Abdul Saleeb, Baker Book House. I highly recommend this book for further study.
2. What You Need To Know About Islam & Muslims by George W. Braswell Jr., Broadman & Holman Publishers.
3. Islam At The Crossroads (Understandings Its Beliefs, History, and Conflicts) by Paul Marshall, Roberta Green and Lela Gilbert, Baker Book House.
4. Articles in the Christian Research Journal Vol 24, No 3 & 4, 2002 about Understanding and Reaching Muslims. Written by Norman L. Geisler & Abdul Saleeb.
5. If you want to further study for mission field, buy CD Rom The World Of Islam, Resources for Understanding, published by Global Mapping International. This resource contains the most complete books, pictures, maps etc. Buy from web site: www.gmi.org
6. Apologetics web site ‘Answering Islam’ will engage in scholarly arguments and dialogs. Site: http://answering-islam.org


(JS 12/2002)
 

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