A Brief Look at a Non-Christian Religion: ISLAM

Islam is not a cult (i.e., a perversion of Christianity) as such but rather is a major world religion fundamentally different from Christianity. Although its base is thought of as primarily in the Middle East and northern Africa, Islam reaches all around the globe and rivals Christianity for the distinction of having the greatest number of followers. The growth of Islam over the last two decades has been phenomenal. In 1990, estimates of the number of those claiming to be Muslim ranged between 400 and 700 million. Today, it is widely thought that there are 1.2 billion plus adherents to Islam. This expansion has been worldwide. Due in large part to enormous waves of immigration from the Middle East region, Islam has been the fastest growing religion in Western Europe and North America for the past ten to fifteen years.

We are going to examine the basic history of Islam, consider the main tenets of the faith, take a look at the major differences between Islam and Christianity, and finally, share a few pointers concerning how to share the gospel with a Muslim acquaintance or friend. In composing this study I drew from several sources including: Two Old Faiths (Chautauqua Press, 1891) by J. Murray Mitchell and Sir William Muir; The Sacred Writings of the World's Great Religions (The Blakiston Company, 1943) by S.E. Frost, Jr.; Handbook of Today's Religions (Here's Life Publishers, Inc., 1983) by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart; What's the Big Deal About Other Religions? (Harvest House Publishers, 2008) by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs; 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus booklet published by the "10/40 Window Project", 1999 & 2000 editions; Breakpoint with Charles Colson articles dated 10/15/2001 thru 10/19/2001; and several other small miscellaneous articles. Because most of the sources had similar information I did not footnote individual items--there was general consensus on most counts. In no way do I claim to be expert in this subject and welcome comment, criticism and correction from those who may have more firsthand knowledge than I.

Definitions of common terms

Islam- the name of the religion based on the revelations and teachings of Muham- med. In Arabic the word means “submission” or “submission to God.”

Muslim (var. sp. Moslem)- the term for a follower or a practitioner of the religion

of Islam. In Arabic it means “one who submits.”

Allah- the Islamic name for the one God probably derived from the Arabic word for “God” which is Al-Ilah.

Muhammed (var. sp. Mohammed, Muhammad)- the name or title of the man who founded Islam. Believed to be the final and greatest prophet by Mus- lims, the word means “the one who is praised” or “the praised one.”

Qu'ran (var. sp. Koran)- the collection of revelations allegedly given by Allah through the archangel Gabriel to Muhammed. In Arabic the word means “the recitation.”

Surah- the divisions in the Qu’ran similar to chapters. There are 114 surahs in the Qu’ran arranged in order of length, from longest to shortest.

Hadith- another work of Islamic literature. In Arabic the word means “collected traditions” and contains sayings and practices attributed to Muhammed.

It deals with all aspects of life for a Muslim.

Mosque- a building or facility dedicated to Islamic worship and service to Allah.

Caliph (var. sp. Khalifa) - an Arabic term for a leader. It refers to the main leaders of Islam, with special emphasis on those who immediately succeeded Muhammed after his death.

Ayatollah- a spiritual master or a leader in Islam.

Imam- another term for an authority in Islam with emphasis on the person’s mastery of the laws and theology of Islam.

Mulla- a teacher of Islamic laws and doctrines.

Brief History

I. Muhammed

A. Early Life:

1. He was born around A.D. 570 in the city of Mecca located in Arabia.

2. His parents and a grandfather died by the time he was six years old. He was raised by an uncle and later worked as trader on the caravan routes.

3. In early life it is said he may have suffered from fits (perhaps epilepsy). In early adulthood, he was unusally religious and tried to live morally.

In business, he became known as the “trustworthy one.” At age 25, he married a wealthy, 40-year-old widow named Khadijah for whom he had previously managed caravan trade.

4. He eventually became thoroughly dissatisfied with the polytheism which was rampant in Arabia. Perhaps through the influence of Jewish and Christian aquaintances, he became convinced that there was only one true god as opposed to the hundreds of gods and goddesses commonly worshipped by the general populace.

B. His Call:

1. At age 40, he had his first vision. He was given to retiring to a cave in the mountains during the month of Ramadan to fast and pray. He began receiving and recording revelations and instructions from a being he finally came to believe was the archangel Gabriel sent from Allah. These writings eventually became the Qu’ran.

2. His wife and a wealthy merchant became the first converts to his new teachings. Slowly the new movement began to grow, however, he eventually encountered opposition in his hometown, Mecca. He and his followers moved to what became known as Medina, meaning “City of the Prophet.” This event, known as The Hijira (or “Flight”), on July 16, 622 is recognized by Muslims as the beginning point of Islam.

3. A few years later he and his followers returned to Mecca, conquered it and declared it the center of Islam. From that time until his death,

Muhammed took a zealous and militant approach to spreading Islam.

II. After Muhammed

A. His Death:

1. Muhammed died unexpectedly of a fever in A.D. 632. Because of the suddenness of his death, he left no will nor clear instructions regarding successors to his leadership.

2. Due to this there came to be a division of leadership and the formation of various groups within the religion. Immediately after Muhammed’s death, the followers chose Abu Bakr (one of Muhammed’s earliest converts and closest friends) as his successor (the first Caliph or Khalifa). He was recognized as both the religous and political leader of Islam. Being very old he died less than two years after being chosen. The man who had strongly sponsored him, 'Umar ibn al Khattab, then was himself chosen (Islam’s borders were expanded greatly under his guidance). Also recognized as a Caliph was 'Ali, a cousin and son-in- law of Muhammed, being married to Fatima, Muhammed’s daughter. 'Ali and his sons were eventually murdered by a man named Mu’awiya who then claimed the position of Caliph for himself.

3. The way these first Caliphs were chosen became a sticking point and a major factor in the development of the two major factions of Islam.

B. Sects of Islam:

1. The Sunnis

a. Accepted that any “Early Believer” from Muhammed’s tribe could legitimately be chosen as a Caliph or successor to Muhammed to enforce Islamic law and lead in the militant expansion. They have no problem recognizing the legitimacy of all four early Caliphs.

b. Another area of conflict that arose besides leadership concerned the

development of Islamic law and theology. Eventually there arose four recognized, orthodox schools of thought which, though dis- tinctive, agreed on key issues. They all recognized and accepted: 1) That the Qur’an was authoritative; 2) The Sunna (i.e., the expressed practices and beliefs of Muhammed in the Hadith and as noted elsewhere) also had authority; and 3) the four bases of Islamic law (or Shari'a) which are the Qur’an, the Hadith, the Ij’ma’ (i.e., the consensus of the Muslim community), and the Q’yas (use of reason.)

c. All those who belong to one of these four schools of thought with regard to Islamic law and theology are called Sunnis. Because there is some level of acceptance, mutual recognition and compromise the

Sunnis are seen as the more moderate of the two major factions. However, we must recognize that this so-called tolerance is applied more liberally to fellow Sunni Muslims than to outside infidels (e.g., Osama bin Laden is a Sunni) or even to the second faction in Islam. Approximately 85-90 percent of Muslims are of Sunni persuasion.

2. The Shi'a (Shi'ites)

a. After the death of Muhammed, some followers felt that he left a clear successor in his cousin, 'Ali, who was married to Muhammed's daughter, Fatima. Though Sunnis also recognize 'Ali as a legitimate Caliph, the Shi'ites do not recognize other successors. They broke away and became a separate community of Muslims.

b. Typically they are seen as more radical than the Sunnis. They believe it possible for current religous scholars and leaders of the sect to receive divine revelation and add to the Qu'ran. Generally they are more literal and fanantical in the social aspects of Islam.

c. Though obviously a much smaller segment of Islamic society (less than ten percent overall) than the Sunnis, the Shi'ites are still the second largest division. They are located chiefly in the country of Iran where they dominate with an approximate 93 percent majority.

3. Other groups

a. The Sufis are characterized by what conservative Muslims might call a mystical attitude in that they seek a more personal relationship with Allah. This is in response to the natural human need for God.

They are generally rejected by more mainstream adherents of Islam. b. The Ahmdiyans seek to be the scholarly apologists of the Islamic faith. They produce most of the Islamic literature and are visible on American college campuses debating and proselytizing students.

c. Some other names of minor Islamic groups are the Ismaelis, Alawi, Shafi’ites and Hanafi’rites.

Beliefs and Practices

I. The Five Articles of Faith

A. God:

1. There is only one true god and his name is Allah. God is absolutely unapproachable by man. This is because he is so far above his creation. He has revealed his preeminent will by communicating through a progression of angels and prophets. Muhammed is seen the final and greatest prophet.

2. Allah is seen as a god of judgment and wrath. Though the Qu'ran often refers to Allah's grace and mercy to Muslims (e.g., Surah VI:165) there is little emphasis on such atributes. Allah is perfect and has given the guidance men need through Muhammed to live a life pleasing to him. A key factor here is that Muslims believe that man is born innately good and sinless with the capability to be obedient to Allah. Judgment will consist of essentially weighing good deeds against bad deeds so entry into heaven is a matter of personal effort (the idea of submission.)

3. The Qu’ran states that both “good and evil come from Allah.” This illustrates the capricious nature of Allah. Whatever he chooses is right because it is his will. Thus a Muslim can never be assured of selection to paradise even if all matters of the faith are obeyed because Allah can choose to do otherwise no matter what else he has said. The only sure way to paradise is to die as a martyr in a holy war (jihad).

B. Angels:

1. Angels exist to serve Allah with each one having a different function. Gabriel is the leading angel in Muslim thought. According to Islam, angels are made of light. Each person has two attending angels--one to record your good deeds and the other to record your evil deeds.

2. The devil (Al Shaytan) is either a fallen angel or a djinn. Djinn are creatures somewhere between angels and man who can be either good or evil. Though it may be the idea of djinn originated from the influence of pagan religions in Africa, it plays a prominent role in the lives of most Muslims. Westerners might use the term genie, the legendary powerful being who may grant a wish but would vindictively seek to use your words against you for ill.

C. Scriptures:

1. There are four divinely inspired books according to Islamic teaching. They are: 1) The sayings of Moses and the prophets (called the Torah); the psalms of David (Zabin); the sayings of Jesus (Injil); and the Qu'ran (which is supplemented by the Hadith with regard to socio-political life.)

2. However, Christians need to understand that what the Muslims have of the writings of Moses, David, and the Gospels are not the same as what we have in the Bible. Further, Muslims claim that the first three sources have been lost or corrupted by Jews and Christians. Only the Qu'ran has been preserved free from error. Because of that and because Muslims believe it is the final revelation, the Qu’ran therefore supercedes the other inspired books. It alone has any real authority.

D. Prophets:

1. Islamic theology teaches that Allah has sent many (some say over 100,000 in all) prophets down through the centuries and that there was a great prophet for every age in mankind’s history.

2. The six greatest of these are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammed, who, of course is the last and greatest of them all.

E. The Last Day:

1. This will be a time of resurrection and judgment. Following the fulfillment of 25 signs (though the exact day and hour is hidden), all men will be raised and judged according to what their angels have recorded in the books. Allah will weigh each man’s deeds in the balances.

2. Some will be admitted to the Muslim concept of Heaven which is called Paradise. Here they will recline on soft couches eating and drinking cups of wine served by the maidens of Paradise called Huris. Each man may marry as many of the Huris as he pleases.

3. The majority, however, will be consigned to the torments of Hell. All those who were enemies of Islam will go there, of course. However it is expected that even most believers of Islam will have to enter the fire for at least a while to be purified, though no true Muslim will have to stay forever.

** There is a sixth important teaching which some believe should be added to the Five Articles because of the central role it plays in Muslim life. It is the doctrine of God’s immutable decrees or, in other words, the idea of fate. The term used is kismet. Muslims have a strict view of predestination. All results come from the wishes of Allah. This is reflected in the common Islamic phrase, “It is the will of Allah”, which is used to underscore the uselessness of trying to exert one’s own will on life situations. Some have partially attributed the relative lack of significant progress in science, technology, healthcare, etc. in the Middle East to this fatalistic attitude.

II. The Five Pillars of Faith

The Five Articles of Faith are what Muslims believe. The Five Pillars are what Muslims must do. The only chance to escape the judgment of Allah lies in the unwavering, diligent performance of these works.

A. The Creed (kalima or shahadah)

The statement“There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is the prophet of Allah” forms the foundation of Muslim belief. In order to become a Muslim, one must say this aloud and publicly. It is repeated often by faithful followers of Islam.

B. Prayer (salat)

Muslims are required to pray five times a day--upon rising, at noon, at midafternoon, at sunset and upon retiring. The prayers involve recitations from the Qu'ran and other prescribed actions (facing Mecca, bowing, kneeling, prostrate on ground, standing, etc.) detailed in the Hadith. It is a mechanical, ritualistic process rather than communion with God. There is usually a public call to prayer.

C. Almsgiving (zakat)

Muslims are required to give at least one fortieth of their monetary income to the poor. There are other additional requirements or arrangements for wealth in the form of cattle, produce, etc. One can also, of course, give beyond this with freewill offerings. Those receiving alms need feel no sense of indebtedness to the giver because it is his duty and they, through their need, are helping him get to Paradise. Indeed, according to Islam, it is the giver who should feel fortunate he has someone whom he can help.

D. Fasting (saum)

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast and refrain from all other bodily pleasures from sunrise to sunset. The idea is to develop self-control, devotion (obedience) to God and sympathy for the hungry and destitute. Most Muslims eat two meals a day during Ramadan- an early breakfast before sunrise and dinner after sunset.

E. The Pilgrimage (hajj)

At least once during his lifetime, the faithful Muslim should make the journey to the city of Mecca where Muhammed was born and the center of the Islamic faith. Involved in this journey are several rituals and cere- monies mostly revolving around the mosque in Mecca and the holy Black Stone (Ka'aba) displayed there. Older or infirm Muslims who cannot make the journey are allowed to send someone else in their place.

** There is a sixth religous duty which was once seen as a Pillar in the early days of Islam. It is the requirement of Holy War ( jihad). It was once thought by most Muslims that it was their duty to kill anyone who refused to accept Islam. This was seen as a legitimate way of expanding Islamic borders and influence. Most Muslims have toned it down since then. Shi'ites have discussed restoring this standard. Whether it is official or not, several Islam dominated countries under Shari'a (Islamic law) routinely persecute, sell into slavery, or even kill Christians and other non-Muslims. The government does little or nothing about it.

However, it should also be noted that, in Muslim thought, jihad can also refer to the personal struggle to do what is good and right. Some believe that this inner war against temptation, selfishness and evil, which every person faces, is indeed the greater jihad.

Differences Between Islam and Christianity

Because of several factors (e.g., a strong belief in one god, the acceptance of Jesus as a prophet, and a strong presence in and around the Holy Land), some take Islam to be merely a variation of Judaism and/or Christianity. They assume that these religions are similar and share the same basic principles. In essence, the idea is that Islam is just another way of worshipping the same God Christians worship. As we have already seen and will now review in a brief synopsis, nothing could be further from the truth.

I. Beliefs about God

A. Muslims reject the doctrine of the Trinity, which is a keystone of the Christian faith. They accuse Christians of worshipping three gods.

B. Their god, Allah, is unapproachable. He is so transcendant that he uses angels to communicate to mankind. Christians believe God greatly desires us to approach Him in prayer and worship through the mediation of Jesus Christ the Son. Indeed God Himself dwells within believers in Christ in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

C. Allah is seen primarily as vindictive and vengeful rather than loving and merciful. While Christians know the Lord will ultimately judge all men, we believe that He takes no joy in doing so but would rather see men be reconciled to Himself through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

D. Muslims see Allah as the source of both good and evil--by this meaning that he takes an active role in the creation and perpetuation of evil. Allah can do whatever he wishes, even if it contradicts his own rules and standards. By definition, whatever he does is right. Thus, Christians would say Allah is capricious. Christians know that God is the author of good only and is never the source of evil. He allows parts of His creation the opportunity of free will and some of them have chosen to work evil and reject His will. The Lord is always consistent, never changing, never lying and never contradicting Himself.

II. Beliefs about Jesus.

A. Muslims believe Jesus was only a prophet, probably the second greatest after Muhammed. They reject the Christian belief that he was (is) God the Son (second Person of the Holy Trinity). They do believe, however, that He was sinless (though this is not as significant as one might think--see below). In Islamic thought, equating Jesus (or anyone) with Allah is blasphemy.

B. Muslims do not believe that Jesus was actually crucified. The two main schools of thought are: 1) Judas was somehow substituted for Jesus beforehand without anyone knowing and died in His place; or 2) Jesus was indeed hung on the cross but God rescued Him and took Him bodily to heaven without dying. Christians believe, of course, that Jesus was crucified, literally died, was buried and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures and the testimony of many witnesses.

III. Beliefs about the Bible

A. Muslims believe that parts of the Bible are inspired but most or all has been corrupted by Christians and Jews.

B. They believe that the Qu'ran is the latest and final revelation from Allah and therefore it supercedes the Bible. They reject the Christian belief that the Bible is the only source of authority for the knowledge of God and for faith and practice in relating to the worship of Him.

IV. Beliefs about Sin and Salvation.

A. Muslims believe that sin is only a lack of obedience to the will of Allah. They believe people are bornwith the capability to obey Allah which is contrary to the Christian doctrine of depravity (i.e., that all human beings are born with a sinful nature because of the fall of Adam and Eve). Thus to Muslims people are sinful by action (what they do) rather than by nature (what they are).

B. Salvation for most Muslims is only possible (though not assured due to capriciousness of Allah) through an unwavering adherence to the Articles of Faith and the diligent performance of the Pillars of Faith. It is a legalistic, mechanical system. They reject the Christian doctrine of grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone as the only means of being reconciled to God for ultimate salvation.

** In these key areas Islam belief is foreign to Christian doctrine. Muslims reject the Trinity, the deity, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the innate depravity of man, salvation by grace through faith in Christ and the Bible as God’s completed revelation of truth. When people say that Islam and Christianity really worship the same God and are similar in their beliefs they speak in either ignorance or deceit. It is a different religion altogether.

Approaching a Muslim Friend

1. Most importantly, pray for him. Some specific issues to pray about are:

a) For your friend to receive a full revelation of God’s character.

b) Against the fears and superstitions that may influence him.

c) That he will come to understand that God desires to know him as a child, not just a servant or a slave.

d) For him to experience true conviction of sin as something which breaks God’s heart and thus come to desire forgiveness.

e) That the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in his heart.

2. Be to him a true, loving friend. Because of the oppressive nature of the laws he may have left behind in his native land, he isn’t used to being loved. Ashton Stewart, director of Persian Ministries for World Witness says, “What many Christians don’t realize is that just being a normal Christian is a radical witness to most Muslims.” Inviting him over for a meal or merely expressing interest in him will be eye opening.

3. As the friendship deepens you then need to expose him to the realities of our faith. Examples might include: praying in his presence, inviting him to a Bible study, giving him a New Testament in his own language. This will also mean being prepared to explain basic Christian beliefs. Emphasize the love of God and the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ.

4. Understand what it may cost your Muslim friend to make a decision for Christ. Not that you shouldn’t encourage him to do so, but know that you may need to be prepared to help as he struggles with potential loss of family, friends, job and culture. These losses will typically be the result of being rejected and ostracized by those close to him who are still practicing Islam.

5. Regarding the current issue of Islamic terrorism, understand that your Muslim friend will probably have a perspective that Christians are just as guilty of hatred and bloodshed as Muslims. It will not be productive to downplay the error and atrocities of the medieval Crusades or deny that the people of the Middle East have suffered over the centuries at the hands of more technolog- ically advanced nations. If possible, it would probably be better to avoid this topic altogether. However, if it must be addressed, stress that though some- times Christians (because they are imperfect humans) make terrible mistakes and are the cause of other people suffering and may even do it in the name of Jesus Christ, yet nowhere are Christians commanded in the New Testament to exercise power or use force to spread the Gospel. That coercive sort of attitude is foreign to the New Testament. Therefore those who attempt to do so are acting without the sanction of the Lord and, I believe, will answer for it some day. On the other hand, if your Muslim friend is honest and knowledgeable, he cannot say the same thing about the attitude of the Qu'ran regarding the use of force and power to coerce people into Islam (jihad). That may perhaps give him something to think about if he is a sincere, peace loving individual.

My hope is that this brief look at the religion of Islam has provided some small amount of necessary information and perhaps even a little motivation for we who follow the Lord Jesus to be able to reach out with the Gospel to those trapped in a false worldview.