Download A Study of World Religions: Islam Richard G. Howe I. The Religion of

A Study of World Religions: Islam
Richard G. Howe
I. The Religion of Islam
II. The Life and Times of Muhammad
III. Muhammad's Experience
IV. The Caliphate and the Shi'a
V. Authority in Islam
VI. The Mystical Tradition: Sufism
VII.
Essential Beliefs
VIII.
The Five Pillars
IX. Some Doctrinal Contrasts Between Islam and Christianity
Is Muhammad a Prophet of God?1
I. Introduction
A. Muhammad claimed to be a prophet.
B. Muhammad is the last of God's prophets.
II. Arguments for Muhammad being a Prophet
A. The Bible Predictions of the coming of Muhammad
B. Muhammad's Call - Muhammad was visited by an angel and had numerous visions.
C. The Miracle of the Qu'ran
D. Muhammad's Miracles
E. Muhammad's Life
III. Evaluating the Arguments for Muhammad being a Prophet
A. The Bible Predictions of the coming of Muhammad
B. Muhammad's Call
C. The Miracle of the Qu'ran
D. Muhammad's Miracles
E. Muhammad's Life
Islam and Violence2
I. Preliminary Remarks
II. The Testimony of the Qu'ran
Sura 2:190-193 "Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight
against you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not
love the aggressors. Kill them wherever you find them.
Drive them out of the places from which they drove you.
Idolatry is worse than carnage. … Fight against them until
idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme."
Sura 2:216 "Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you
dislike it. But you may hat a thing although it is good for
you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. Allah
knows, but you do not. … Idolatry is worse than carnage."
Sura 2:244 "Fight for the cause of Allah, and bear in mind that
He bears all and knows all."
Sura 4:74-76 "Let those who would exchange the life of this
world for the hereafter, fight for the cause of Allah;
whether they die or conquer, We shall richly reward
them." … The true believers fight for the cause of Allah,
but the infidels fight for idols. Firth then against the
friends of Satan. Satan's cunning is weak indeed."
Sura 4:89 "Therefore fight for the cause of Allah. You are
accountable for none but yourself. Rouse the faithful:
perchance Allah will defeat the unbelievers."
Sura 4:95 "The believers who stay home – apart from those
that suffer from a grave impediment – are not equal to
those who fight for the cause of Allah with their goods
and their persons. Allah has given those that fight with
their goods and their persons a higher rank than those who
stay at home. He has promised all a good reward; but far
richer is the recompense of those who fight for Him: rank
of His own bestowal, forgiveness, and mercy."
Sura 5:36 "Believers, have fear of Allah and seek the right
path to Him. Fight valiantly for His cause, so that you
may triumph."
Sura 5:57 "Believers, do not seek the friendship of the infidels
and those who were given the Book before you, who have
made of your religion a jest and a pastime."
Sura 8:12-17 "Allah revealed His will to the angels, saying: 'I
shall be with you. give courage to the believers. I shall
cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their
heads, maim them in every limb!' Thus We punished
them because they defied Allah and His apostle. He that
defies Allah and His apostle shall be sternly punished.
We said to them: 'Feel Our Scourge. Hellfire awaits the
unbelievers.'"
Sura 8:59-60 "Let the unbelievers not think that thwy will
escape Us. They have not the power to do so. Muster
against them all the men and cavalry at your disposal, so
that you may strike terror into the enemies of Allah and
the faithful, and others besides them. All that you give
for the cause of Allah shall be repaid you."
Sura 8:65 "Allah has now lightened your burden, for He
knows that you are weak. If there are a hundred steadfast
men among you, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if
there are a thousand, they shall, by Allah's will, defeat
two thousand. Allah is with those that are steadfast."
Sura 9:5 "When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters
wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and
lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and
take to prayer and pay the alms-tax, let them go their way.
Allah is forgiving and merciful."
Sura 9:29 "Fight against such of those to whom the Scriptures
were given as believe neither in Allah nor the Last Day,
who do not forbid what Allah and His apostle have
forbidden, and do not embrace the true faith, until they
pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued."
Sura 47:4-7 "When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield
strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low,
bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom
or take ransom from the, until War shall lay down her
armour. Thus shall you do. Had Allah willed, He could
Himself have punished them; but He has ordained it thus
that He might test you, the one by the other. As for those
who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will not allow
their works to perish. He will vouchsafe them guidance
and ennoble their state; He will admit them to the
Paradise He has make known to them."
Sura 61:4 "Allah loves those who fight for His cause in ranks
as firm as a might edifice."
III. The Testimony of the Life of Muhammad
IV. The Testimony of the Hadiths
1
This material comes from Norman L. Geisler and Abdul Saleeb, Answering Islam: The Crescent in the Light of the Cross
(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993): 146-177.
2
This material is inspired by the lecture "The Islamic Threat" by a former Muslim (available from Impact at
http://www.impactapologetics.com) and the two part lecture "Jesus: The Qur'an vs. the Bible" by William Lane Craig (available from
Stand to Reason Ministries at http://www.str.org).