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Understanding Islam
Why the Muslim Faith Is in
Conflict With the Christian Faith
Key Passages
• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes,
for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith to faith; as it is
written, the just shall live by faith.“
{Romans 1:16,17}
Key Passages
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon
from Him who called you in the grace of Christ,
to a different gospel, which is not another; but
there are some who trouble you and want to
pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
to you than what we have preached to you, let
him be accursed. As we have said before, so
now I say again, if anyone preaches any other
gospel to you than what you have received, let
him be accursed.“ {Galatians 1:6-9}
Key Passages
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits, whether they are of God; because
many false prophets have gone out into the
world. By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is of God and every
spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is
the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have
heard was coming, and is now already in the
world.“ {1 John 4:1-3}
Key Passages
“And we have seen and testify that the
Father has sent the Son as Savior of the
world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is
the Son of God, God abides in him, and
he in God.“ {1 John 4:14,15}
Keep these verses in mind during our
study.
Introduction
• Islam (the Muslim faith) has been in the
news since:
– Iran hostage crisis in the late 70s
– Twin Towers attack on September 11, 2001
– Beginning of the present war in Iraq
• Presently, it is the world’s fastest-growing
religion.
– 1.6 billion Muslims (1/4 of the world’s
population)
– More than 10 million live in the US.
Introduction
• Why should Christians learn about
Islam?
– To better understand current conflict
– To better understand the faith of some of our
neighbors, co-workers, or enemies
– To prepare ourselves to teach the gospel
– To understand the contrast with Christian faith
– Do Islam and Christianity have anything in
common?
– Conflicts are…
fundamental/monumental/insurmountable
Basic Terminology
• Islam means “to surrender,” more
specifically, “to surrender to the will or law
of God.”
• Muslim is a “follower of God.”
• Islam is the name of the religion, and Muslim
is the name given to those who follow the
Islam religion.
• Allah is the Arabic language name
for God that Muslims use.
Founder of Islam--Mohammed
• Born in 570 A.D., in Mecca—a city in present-day Saudi
Arabia.
• Muslims believe Abraham and Ishmael rebuilt a temple for
God in the city of Mecca.
• Mohammed claimed that, when he was 40, the angel
Gabriel appeared to him in a vision. Gabriel gave
Mohammed a scroll and told him to read it.
• Mohammed was told he was an apostle ”sent from God.”
• The angel appeared numerous times with revelations,
which Mohammed alleged were written down. The Qur’an
(Koran) is purported to be a compilation of these heavenly
messages.
Founder of Islam--Mohammed
• Rejected and ridiculed in Mecca, in 622 A.D.,
Mohammed traveled to Medina, where he
received a message and began to be viewed
as a spiritual leader.
• Arab tribes pledge allegiance to him.
• Jewish and Arab opposition was crushed.
• Islamic calendar dated 622 A.D., when
acceptance began.
• Before Medina, Mohammed was largely a
religious teacher with a religious message.
Founder of Islam--Mohammed
• In Medina, he became a strong political
leader.
• Mohammed’s message became more and
more social and political.
• Mohammed died in 632 A.D.
• 632—661 A.D.–war and the spread of Islam
• 650 A.D. authorized version of Koran printed
• 680 A.D. civil conflicts
• 1000—1450 A.D.—Crusades
How Muslims View Mohammed and
the Qur’an
• Mohammed’s position in Islamic
beliefs:
- He is believed to be Jesus’ successor.
- Both OT and NT prophesy of his coming—
Jesus Himself spoke of him.
- Accepted Moses, David, and Jesus as
prophets from God.
- Accept Torah, OT law, was from God, but
allege that the Jews corrupted it.
- Believe God delivered the gospel to Jesus,
but the apostles corrupted it.
How Muslims View Mohammed and
the Qur’an
• Mohammed’s position in Islamic
beliefs:
- Mohammed is viewed as the last and
final prophet from God.
- He has delivered a message that won’t
be corrupted or changed.
- He is viewed as a reformer or restorer
of true faith in God.
- That faith is traceable back to Adam.
How Muslims View Mohammed and
the Qur’an
• How Muslims view the Qur’an:
- They allege that false teachers have corrupted both
the Jewish and Christian Scriptures but affirm that
nothing in the Qur’an has ever been changed.
- Qur’an has 114 chapters—supposedly revealed to
Mohammed over 23 years.
- Originally, followers are reported to have memorized
this material. Not until 40 years after Mohammed’s
death was it written down.
- Muslims view the Qur’an as God’s infallible word.
- It is viewed as truly understood only when read in
Arabic.
Islam Contrasted With
Christianity
• Qur’an teaches:
- One person is God; thus, Jesus, the Son of
God, is not Deity.
- Denies that Jesus was crucified or died for
mankind’s sins.
- Denies Jesus was the final revealer of God’s
will. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
- Based on the above, Islam denies that Jesus
was resurrected, that He presently rules and
reigns in heaven, or that He will return in
judgment.
Islam Contrasted With
Christianity
 A person’s beliefs and practices are based on
the authority he accepts:
- Muslims reject the Bible and accept the Qur’an.
- Christians accept the Bible:
 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God.” {Romans 10:17}
 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work.”
{2 Timothy 3:16,17}
Islam Contrasted With
Christianity
• What we have in common:
- Many common principles of morality
- God’s creation of the world
- Final judgment—heaven or hell—based on
our deeds
- Man is NOT born in sin as Calvinists teach
- We have these same things in common with
many other religions
- Does this make our differences small?
Islam Contrasted With
Christianity
• Differences most fundamental and
irreconcilable (ecumenism impossible):
- Christian faith centers on the death of God’s Son for
our sins (John 3:16).
- Our faith is in Jesus as our high priest, our mediator—
we pray through Him.
- Faith in His death as means of justification
(forgiveness) is the very heart of the gospel.
- Believe in Jesus’ resurrection is evidence for our own
(spiritually/physically).
- If we take away what Muslims deny, there’s virtually
nothing left of the Christian faith.
Conclusion
• If Islam is true, the
Bible lies
• Jesus lied
• The apostles lied
• Our faith is vain
• If the Bible is true,
Islam is a false
religion
• Mohammed is a
fake--a false
prophet and
teacher.
There is no middle ground. Faith is based on
the authority we accept.