Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Christianity Compared to Islam A side by side comparison of what Islam believes compared to Christianity "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 2 CONTENTS Pages 1. Islam Vs. Christianity The Godhead The Deity of Jesus Christ The Virgin Birth The Salvation of Man Death Burial & Resurrection of Jesus Christ Eternal Judgement The Creation The Will of God Inspiration & Inerrancy Murder, Violence, Revenge The treatment of Woman Morals (Adultery, gambling, drunkenness) Prayer and Fasting 2. Sharing Your Faith 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 15 16 16 19 Ten Helpful hints on how to share your faith with a Muslim 3. Interesting Facts About Islam 21 4. Five Pillars of Islam 21 5. The Creed of Islam Six Articles of the Islamic Faith 22 6. Glossary 22 7. Foot Note References 23 3 Islam and Christianity 1. The Godhead Islam Teaches... †Christianity Teaches... Islam is monotheistic (Koran 3:64). The first phrase in the Declaration of the Faith states: "I bear witness that there is no God but the Almighty God and that Mohammad is a messenger of God."[1] "For God hath said, 'Take not to yourselves two Gods, for He is one God.'" (Sura 16:53; cp. 20:7) "Verily God will not forgive the union of other gods with Himself." (Sura 4:51) Islam rejects the concept of the Trinity. The Koran misrepresents the teaching of Christianity regarding the Godhead, claiming Christians believe in "three Gods" - Father, Mother, and Son. (Sura 5:116, 5:73-75; cp. (Koran 5:114) In the account of creation recorded in the book of Genesis, God speaks plurally of His own Person. (Genesis 1:26, 27; cp. Genesis 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:3, 8) The Christian Scriptures, both New and Old Testaments, teach that the Godhead consists of three persons in one: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:2 "...the Spirit... the Lord... Him" Isaiah 42:1 "My Servant... I... My Spirit... upon Him" Isaiah 48:16 "The Lord God... His Spirit... sent Me" Isaiah 61:1 "Spirit of the Lord God... upon Me ... the Lord" Isaiah 63:9 "He...the Angel of His Presence... His Holy Spirit" Matthew 1:20, 21 "the Lord (the Father)... the Holy Spirit ... Jesus" Matthew 3:16, 17 "Jesus... the Spirit of God... a Voice from heaven (the Father)" Matthew 12:18 "I... My Spirit... on Him" Matthew 22:42, 43 "Christ... the Spirit... Lord (the Father)" Acts 11:16, 17 "the Lord... the Holy Spirit... God... the Lord Jesus Christ" Acts 20:21-23 "God... Jesus... the Holy Spirit" Romans 1:1, 3, 4 "God... His Son, Jesus Christ... the Spirit" Romans 5:5, 6 "God... the Holy Spirit... Christ" Muhammad was not divine but the last of the prophets - the very one predicted in Moses' day[2]: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not give heed to My words which he shall speak in My name, I, Myself, will require it of him." (Deuteronomy Jesus claimed to be God. He accepted worship He forgave sins, He lived a sinless life He possessed all the attributes of God, He raised himself from the dead. He ascended into heaven He is coming Again…This same Jesus 4 18:18, 19) "Mohammad... is the messenger of God and the Khatam [seal, closure, end, or last] of the prophets..." (Koran 33:40) "The Prophet Mohammad said to his cousin Ali: 'Thy position from me compares to the position of Aaron from Moses, but there will be no prophet after me.'"[3] Jesus was not divine, but merely a prophet. 2. The Deity of Jesus Christ Islam Teaches... †Christianity Teaches... Islam considers Jesus a prophet just like Moses, Abraham, and Noah. [4] Mohammad and the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, which Islam claims Jesus said by their interpretation of Matthew 21:42-44 would supersede the Israelite nation. [5] Islam rejects the divinity of Jesus Christ: "The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was no more than Allah's apostle and His Word which He cast to Mary; a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His apostles and do not say: 'Three.' ...Allah is but one God...." (Koran 4:171) "...Then Allah will say: 'Jesus, the son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind: 'Worship me and my mother as gods beside Allah?'" (Koran 5:114) Jesus was more than a prophet. He is God. (Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 4:15) He claimed to be God: John 4:26; 8:23; 10:30; 13:13; 14:7-10 He accepted worship: Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 18:26; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 5:22, 23; John 9:38 He forgave sins: Matthew 9:6 Mark 2:7 "He was God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16), "for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) God was in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:19), Who is "the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person..." (Hebrews 1:3) By the names attributed to him in Scripture "Alpha and Omega," "Immanuel" (meaning, God With Us), "My Lord and my God," "etc. the deity of Jesus Christ is seen. Jesus Christ possessed all the attributes of God: omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, immutability, etc. The Father declared Jesus to be His Son: "Thou art my son. This day have I begotten you." (Hebrews 5:5; cp. Psalms 2:7) Jesus himself claimed to be the Son of God: Luke 22:70; John 10:36; 19:7 The angel declared Jesus the Son of God: "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon God has no sons: "...Allah forbid that He should have a son." (Koran 4:171) "It is not meet for God to have children." (Koran 19.92) "He begets not, nor he is begotten, and there is none like unto him." (Koran 112:3) "No son did Allah beget, nor is there 5 any god along with him. [if so] then behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah! from things they attribute to Him." (Koran 23:91) "And they say, 'The Most Gracious Has betaken a son!' Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are bout to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin: That they attributed a son to the Most Gracious. For it is not consonant with the majesty of the Most Gracious that He should beget a son. Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to the Most Gracious as a servant. He does take an account of them [all], and numbered them exactly, and everyone of them will come to him singly on the day of judgment." (Koran 19:88) "And (they) impute falsely, without knowledge, sons and daughters unto Him...How can He have a child when there is no consort for him...?" (Koran 6:101-103) thee, and... that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) Even demons confessed Jesus the Son of God: "And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God." (Mark 3:11; cp. Luke 4:41; 8:28) Many others professed or addressed Jesus as the Son of God - and were not rebuked for it: "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." (Matthew 14:33) "Nathanael answered... Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." (John 1:49) "She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:27) "Now when the centurion... saw the earthquake ...they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:54; cp. Mark 15:39) "And the high priest answered... tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." (Matthew 26:63) The gospel writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, testified of Jesus' Sonship: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1) "And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (John 1:34) Jesus' Sonship - his relationship with the Father was the subject of preaching in the early church: "... he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." (Acts 9:20) Unbelievers - and Satan himself - challenged Jesus' Sonship: "...save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:40) "if thou be the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:3, 6; cp. Luke 4:3, 9) Confessing Jesus is the Son of God is essential to salvation: 1 John 4:15; cp. Acts 8:37; 1 John 5:5, 10, 12, 13 (See also: John 5:25; 9:35; 11:4; 20:31; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 6 Jesus Christ was a created being. "Jesus is like Adam in the sight of Allah. he created him of dust and then said to him: 'Be,' and he was." (Koran 3:55, 58) Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 4:14; 6:6; 10:29; 1 John 3:8; 5:20; Revelation 2:18) All who profess the Lordship of Jesus Christ are adopted sons of God: John 1:12; 3:18; Phl 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2 Jesus Christ was pre-existent to creation. Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 ("...us...our...our...") Proverbs 8:22-36 Isaiah 48:12, 16 Micah 5:2 John 1:1-3,10; 3:13; 6:62; 8:35, 58; 17:5, 24 Romans 11:36 1 Corinthians 8:6 Ephesians 3:9 Philippians 2:5 Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:2 Revelation 3:14 3. The Virgin Birth: Islam and Christianity both agree that Jesus was born of a virgin. (Koran 19:16-26; Isaiah 7:14) 4. Salvation of Man Islam Teaches... Islam rejects the doctrine of original sin[6]. Mohammad said, "Every human being is born in a state of a pure nature; but through the influence of his parents, he may become nonMoslem." [7] "Whoever goes aright, for his own soul he goes aright; and whoever goes astray, to his own detriment he goes astray. And no bearer of a burden bears another's burden..." (Koran 53:38) "...no soul earns (evil) but against itself. Nor does a bearer of a burden bear the burden of another." (Koran 6:165) "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will se it and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it." (Koran 99:7, 8) Salvation comes only through Allah. Only those who obey Allah and Mohammed his †Christianity Teaches... The Bible teaches man is born into sin. By Adam's sin (Genesis 3), death spread to all mankind: Genesi 5:3 with 1:24, 25; Psalms 51:5; Romans 5:12, 14). None is born without the mark of sin upon his soul; "all have sinned." (2 Chronicles 6:36; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10, 12, 23; 5:12, 14; 11:32; Ephesians 2:3; 1 John 1;10) Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ: "Neither is there salvation in any other 7 prophet can enter into Heaven: "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), Never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost ." (Koran 3:85; cp. 5:10; 25:68) Those who "believe not in Allah and His Messenger, He has prepared, for those who reject Allah, a Blazing Fire!" (Koran 48:13) Islam denies the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus never died: "They denied the truth and uttered a monstrous falsehood against Mary. They declared: 'We have put to death the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary the apostle of Allah.' They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did... They have no knowledge thereof but the pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain, but God took him up to Himself." (Koran 4:154-158) [than Jesus]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Also see: John 8:24; 14:6; 10:1-2, 9; Acts 4:12; Revelation 5:1-9; 1 John 2:22, 23; Isaiah 43:11; Hosea 13:4; 1 Timothy 2:5 Salvation must be earned: By good works: "Every man's actions have we hung around his neck, and on the last day shall be laid before him a wide-open book." (Koran 17:13) By almsgiving[22]: "Lend to God a good loan." (Surah 73:20) "...the Koran regularly enjoins the giving of alms (zakah), as the outward sign of piety and means of salvation... an obligatory contribution... to be exacted from all who, whether voluntarily or under constraint, enter into the brotherhood of Islam; but it is not a tax. Rather is it to be regarded as a loan made to God... Free-will offerings are also a means of expiating offences..."[8] The root meaning of the word Zakat (almsgiving) is "to purify."[23] Surah Salvation comes only by faith, through grace: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9) "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight... being justified freely by his grace... Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:20, 24, 27, 28) "Now to him that worketh is the reward nor reckoned of grace, but of debt.... Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.... Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace..." (Romans 4:4, 6, Jesus died and rose again. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." (Romans 6:9) "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8) "For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." (Hebrews 9:16) Also see: Luke 18:33; 24:20; John 11:13; 12:33; Acts 2:24; 22:20; Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 15:19, 20, 22; Hebrews 2:14; etc. 8 9:103 says: "Take of their wealth an offering to purify them and cleanse them thereby." The only sure way to make it to heaven is for a Muslim to die in a jihad ("holy war"). On divine providence: "...so whoever is willing, he may take a path to his Lord. And you do not will unless God wills..." (Koran 76:29, 30) "Thou causest to err thereby whomever Thou pleasest and guidest whomever Thou pleasest..." (Koran 7:155) 16) Man has free will. "Whosoever will, let him drink freely of the river of life" (Revelation 22:17; cp. John 3:15, 16; etc.) 5. Eternal Judgement Islam Teaches... †Christianity Teaches... On Paradise: Those who kill or are killed by unbelievers will return to the garden of Paradise (Koran 9:111), where they will enjoy many lustful pleasures - sex with virgins, pleasant food and drink, etc.: "They shall recline on jeweled couches face to face, and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine... with fruits of their own choice and flesh of fowls that they relish. And theirs shall be the dark-eyes houris (celestial virgins), chaste as hidden pearls: a guerdon for their deeds." (Koran 56:15) "pure beautiful ones... goodly things, beautiful ones, pure ones confined to the pavilions that man has not touched them before..." (Koran 56:54, 67-71) On Hell: "Those who invoke a god other than Allah not only should meet punishment in this world but the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to them, and they will dwell therein in ignominy." (Koran 25:68) "Non-believers will go to hell and On Heaven: Those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and submitted their lives to his Lordship will enjoy eternal bliss in heaven, where there will be no pain or sorrow, no disease or death. On Hell: Those who reject Jesus Christ will suffer eternal torments in hell. 9 will drink boiling water" (14:17). "...the unbelievers... shall have a great punishment in world hereafter" (Koran 5:34). "We shall say: 'Lay hold of him and bind him. Burn him in the fire of Hell, then fasten him with a chain seventy cubits long. For he did not believe in Allah, the Most High...'" (Koran 69:28) "Would that you knew what the fire of Hell is like! It leaves nothing, it spares no one; it burns the skins of men. It is guarded by nineteen keepers." (Koran 74:19) 6. Creation Islam Teaches... †Christianity Teaches... The Genesis account should not be taken literally, as it contains discrepancies.[9] The earth is billions of years old. Creation took eight days, it says in Surah 41:9, 10, 12. Surah 10:3, however, states creation took six days. The universe was produced by a "big bang" (Koran 21:30), produced by a kind of gas.[10] (Koran 41:11) The Koran states God created every living thing from water.[11 (Koran 21:30; 24:45) A literal interpretation of Scripture indicates the earth is only a few thousand years old. God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 1:1 to 2:2) The Creator did not rest: "We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six days, nor did any sense of weariness touch us." (Koran 50:38) God rested on the seventh day: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:17). "In the beginning, God" (Genesis 1:1) alone existed. God spoke the universe into existence by a word. Genesis 1:20-21, 24 "And God said... and it was so." (Cp. Psalm 148:5) 7. The Will of God Islam Teaches... One of the 5 tenets to which Muslims must adhere is a belief in the 4 inspired books - the Torah (5 books of Moses), Zabur (the psalms), lnjil (the gospel), and Koran. The Christian Scriptures are incomplete without †Christianity Teaches... Adding to God's Word has serious consequences. (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18) 10 the Koran.[12] In addition to the Koran, Muslims look to the Sunna (sayings of Muhammad), for inspiration. This collection is called the Hadith. [13] On authorship and inspiration: The Koran claims divine authorship and inspiration: "This is indeed a Qur'an most honourable, a Book well-guarded... a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds." (Koran 56:77-80) "This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by anyone other than God." (10:37) The Koran contains no human words[14]: "No prophet except Mohammad has claimed that his book contains the very words of God. Moses... conveyed the heavenly message by his own words... not the very words of God.... Jesus spoke the truth which he received, but he spoke in his own words. The Bible, at best, is considered a dialogue between God and man." [15] On inerrancy: Islam claims the Koran is without contradiction: "Do they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy." (Sura 4:82) However, see Islam denies that any words of the Koran have been altered.[16] However, the Koran contains many textual variants. (It's not in its original form.) See http://www.answeringislam.org/Quran/Text/ The Koran will never perish: "Certainly we have revealed the Reminder (the Koran), and we shall preserve it." (Koran 15:9) "It (the Koran) is an invincible book. Falsehood does not invade it neither from before it nor from behind it, a revelation from a a Mighty, Praised." (Koran 41:41, 42) On authorship and inspiration: The New Testament undeniably declares the inspiration of the Old Testament (the contents of which the Koran denies): Matthew 1:22; 2:15; 3:3; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 22:42; Mark 12:36; Acts 1:16; 4:25; 28:25; 1 Peter 1:10-11; 2 Peter 1:21 On inerrancy: The Bible is without error: Isaiah 34:16; 55:10-11; Psalms 119:96, 128, 160; 138:2; Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; John 10:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25 The Written Word of God, the Bible, is eternal: Psalms 119:89; Isaiah 30:8; 40:8; Jeremiah 36:22-23, 27-28, 32; Matthew5:17-18; 24:35; Luke 21:33; 1 Peter 1:23-25 11 8. Murder, Violence, Revenge On Murder and Violence: Islam both allows and forbids murder and violence, depending on who is the recipient of the act. Allowed: "Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme." (Koran 8:37) The Koran instructs not to make friendship with Jews and Christians (Koran 5:51) but to war against them: "When the Sacred Months are over, kill those who ascribe partners to God wheresoever ye find them; seize them, encompass them, and ambush them; then if they repent and observe prayer and pay the alms, let them go their way (Koran 4:5). "Fight against those who believe not in God nor in the Last Day, who... refuse allegiance to the True Faith from among those who have received the Book, until they humbly pay tribute out of hand." (Koran 9:29) Note: These verses distinguish between warfare against pagans, and against Jews and Christians.[17] "...kill the disbelievers wherever we find them" (Koran 2:191); "fight and slay the Pagans, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem" (Koran 9:5); "murder them and treat them harshly" (Koran 9:123). "Seize ye him, and bind ye him, And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits! This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High. And would not encourage the feeding of the indigent! So no friend hath he here this Day. Nor hath he any food except the corruption from the washing of wounds, Which none do eat but those in sin." (Koran 69:30-37) On Murder: Forbidden: "Thou shalt not kill (murder)." (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) "...murders... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:21) "...no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15) "...murderers... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) "For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters..." (Revelation 22:15) Jesus and Paul both reiterated the Old Testament prohibition against murder: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment." (Matthew 5:21) "...Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill...." (Romans 13:9) Murder is listed right alongside sins like sorcery, fornication, robbery. "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings..." (Galatians 5:21) "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Revelation 9:21) "...murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars..." (Revelation 21:8) On Violence: God destroyed the earth with a flood because of the extent violence had spread: "...the earth was filled with violence... Then God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence... behold, I am about to destroy them...'" (Genesis 6:13). "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love 12 "Strike off the heads of the disbelievers"; and after making a "wide slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives" (Koran 47:4). "Instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers"; "smite above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them" (Koran 8:12; cp. 8:60). "O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern against them. Their abode is Hell - an evil refuge indeed" (Koran 9:73). "slay or crucify or cut the hands and feet of the unbelievers, that they be expelled from the land with disgrace..." (Koran 5:34). "for them (the unbelievers) garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be poured over their heads boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and skin shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods" (Koran 22:19-22) Forbidden: "And slay not the soul which God has forbidden except for the just cause..." (Koran 17:33) "...If anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or to spread mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed the whole of mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole of mankind" (Surah Al-Maaida 5:32) "Fight for the sake of Allah those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. Allah does not love the aggressors." (Koran 2:190) "…when it is said to them; 'Make not mischief on the Earth', they say; 'We are only peace makers'. Indeed they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive it not" (Surah AlBaqarah 2:11-12) The Prophet Mohamad said to his army before going to a fight "Depart in the name of Allah, and by his help. And kill not any old man nor young your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven..." (Matthew 5:43, 45) Oppression of the innocent is condemned throughout Scripture: 13 boy nor child, nor woman, But be good doers for Allah loves those who do good. (Hadeeth) Allah himself is really the one slaying them: "It is not us who slay them but Allah, in order that He might test the Believers by a gracious trial from Himself." (Koran 8:17; cp. Surah AlBaqarah 2:190) Allah "will punish them by our hands..." (Koran 9:14). Jihad is mandatory. "Unless we go forth, (for Jihad) He will punish us with a grievous penalty, and put others in our place" (Koran 9:38-39). "And what is the matter with you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah and for those weak, ill treated and oppressed among men, women and children whose only cry is; 'Our Lord, rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors..." (Surah AnNisa 4:75) "Believers, when you encounter the armies of the infidels do not turn your backs to them in flight. If anyone on that day turns his back to them, except it be for tactical reasons, or to join another band he shall incur the wrath of Allah and Hell shall be his home: an evil fate." (Koran 8:12-17) "The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and make reconciliation his reward is due from Allah: For (Allah) loves not those who do wrong." (Koran 42:40) It is acceptable to break treaties and obligations with pagans and make war on them whenever strong enough to do so (Koran 9:3). "You have heard it said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38, 39)" Treachery and lying are forbidden. (Matthew 5:33-37) Better to suffer wrong than not to keep one's word. (Proverbs) 14 9. The Treatment of Woman Islam Teaches... Men have authority over women. (Koran 2:228) In the home: "Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the others, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them." (Koran 4:34) "Mothers shall suckle their children two years completely, for such as desire to fulfill the suckling....But if the couple desire by mutual consent and consultation to wean, then it is no fault in them." (Koran 2:233) Women who disobey their husband will go to hell. (Koran 66:10). "Thou mayest decline for the present whom thou wilt of them, and thou mayest take to thy bed her whom thou wilt, and whomsoever thou shalt long for of those thou shalt have before neglected; and this shall not be a crime in thee. Thus will it be easier to give them the desire of their eyes... and to satisfy them with what thou shalt accord to each of them." (Koran 33:51) In society: Women do not have equal right to their inheritance (Koran 4:11-12) Women receive half of the male share for an equivalent degree of kinship.[24] Women who disobey should be beaten: "Good women are obedient.... As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them." (Koran 4:34) †Christianity Teaches... Spiritually, there is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) In the home, Scripture outlines the divinely established order. Husbands are responsible to maintain proper order and government in the family. (1 Timothy 3:4, 5, 12; Titus 1:6) The husband's primary obligation is to love his wife: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her... So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church..." (Ephesians 5:28, 29; cp. Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7) Wives are exhorted to respect and obey their husband: "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." (Colossians 3:18; cp. 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8, 9; Ephesians 5:22-24, 33; 1 Timothy 2:11, 12; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 5, 6) A woman who knows her husband loves her having her best interests in mind - has no problem submitting to him. 15 10. Morals Islam Teaches... On Morals †Christianity Teaches... Adultery and fornication are forbidden. (Genesis 20:9; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; 23:17, 18; Leviticus 18:20; 2 Samuel 13:12; Matthew 5:27; 14:34; 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:15; 10:8; James 2:11) Sexual immorality is exceedingly "evil" and "wicked." (Genesis 39:9; Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; 1 Samuel 2:22-23; 1 Corinthians 5:13) It greatly displeases God (Hosea 4:1-2, 11) and provokes Him to anger (Numbers 25:1, 3; Ezekiel 16:26; Colossians 3:5-6). God hates it. (Proverbs 22:14) "For this 16 is a heinous crime" (Job 31:1, 9-12), "villainy" (Jeremiah 29:22-23) and filthiness (Revelation 17:4). "They know not the light" but "are in the terrors of the shadow of death" (Job 24:15-17). It is "the way of hell;" "the dead are there" (Proverbs 7:27; 9:13-18). The words of anyone who defends such "unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:3, 11-12) are "contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:9-10). Gambling and drunkenness are prohibited: "O you who believe, intoxicants and games of chance... are only an uncleanness, the devil's work; so shun it, that you may succeed. The devil desires only to create enmity and hatred among you by means of intoxicants and games of chance, and to prevent you from the remembrance of God and from prayer. So will you obey this prohibition?" (Koran 5:90, 91) Gambling and drunkenness are forbidden: 11. Prayer & Fasting Islam Teaches... †Christianity Teaches... Muslims must recite prayers in praise of Allah five times daily while facing Mecca, the city where Allah revealed the Koran to Muhammad. Prayer must be performed at prescribed hours and in a definite pattern of word and posture. "Whichever way you depart, face toward the Holy Mosque: and wherever you are, face toward it, so that men will have no cause to reproach you, except the evil-doers among them." (Koran 2:150) "Believers, do not approach your prayers when you are drunk, but wait till you can grasp the meaning of your words..." (Koran 2:4:43) Every Muslim - at least "he who can find a way thither" (Surah 3:97) - must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his/her life: "Fulfill the pilgrimage and the visitation unto God." (Surah 2:196-197) Christianity presents prayer, fasting and worship as arising totally without compulsion or obligation, but wholly from the heart. See the following links: 17 Fasting is required of every Muslim for one month per year. This fast is complete abstinence, during daylight hours, from all food, drink, tobacco and sexual intercourse. [17] Abdul Hamid Farid writes that "The Messenger of God used to teach the Muslims, when they set out toward graves, to say, "Peace be to you, O ye of the believers and Muslims dwelling in these abodes! ...We beg of God safety for us and for you ...May God forgive us and you!..."[20] "(Once) the Prophet of God passed by (certain graves of Al-Madinah. Turning his face toward them, he said, "Peace be to you, O ye dwellers of these tombs! May God forgive us and you! Ye are our forerunners and we are at your heels."[20] Farid also writes: "Ayeshah said that whenever it was her night with the Messenger of God, she noticed that he would set out, in the last watch of the night, toward Baqi and (there) he would say: "Peace be to you, O ye of the party of believers dwelling in these abodes! That which was promised unto you for the morrow hath reached you. Ye were given respite. And behold, if God will, we shall met you. O God! Forgive Thou these inmates of Baqi-al-Gharqad [the burial ground at Al-Madinah]."[21] Fasting is to be done in a manner of humility and secrecy. Matthew 6:16-18 "Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret..." Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray... The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are... I fast twice in the week, I give tithes... And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to this house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Contacting or praying to the dead ("necromancy") is forbidden by God in the Christian Scriptures (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11). God calls it an "abomination." Also see: 1 Samuel 28:3-20; 2 Chronicles 10:13, 14; Isaiah 8:19-22. The punishment for contacting the dead is very severe. 18 Sharing Your Christian Faith with Muslims TEN HELPFUL HINTS FOR BEING PRACTICAL WITH THE GOSPEL 1. Always use the word of God Muslims respect the sacred books: the Law of Moses, Psalms, the Gospel, and Quran. Let the Word of God speak for itself. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke are the best portions to start with. 2. Be constantly in prayer It is the Holy Spirit who wins men to Christ. Seek His guidance and power as you present the Word. 3. Be a genuine friend 19 superficial relations are not enough. If you really care, demonstrate your concern by inviting you Islamic friends into your home. Share your time and help them with family issues. Let them get to know you and see you are a loving, caring, God worshipping individual 4. Ask thought-provoking questions Ask questions like "Do you have the assurance that God will accept you? What does the Quran teach about forgiveness? May I show you what the Bible teaches?" These types of questions show that you have an interest in the important issues of life. 5. Listen carefully When you ask a question, courtesy requires that you listen to the answer no matter how long it takes. (Sometimes it will take a long time) But you will be surprised at how much you will learn and your patience in listening will gain you much respect. 6. Present your beliefs openly State what you believe, clearly and without apology, showing Scripture passages that support those teachings. By doing this you place the responsibility for doctrine on the Word of God. 7. Reason, But do not argue You through argument may win the point you make but you will certainly lose a hearing. There are some points on which you can argue forever without achieving a thing, except closing a mind against you. 8. Never Speak derogatory about Muhammad or the Quran This is as offensive to them as speaking disrespectfully about Christ or the Bible would be to you. Refer to Mohammad and the Quran respectfully. 9. Respect their customs and sensitivities You will offend a Muslim by putting your Bible or their Quran (Holy Book) on the floor. Do not place objects on top of your Bible or treat the Bible disrespectful in any way. Often times Muslims will be greatly offended if they see you write in or underline a scripture. It is always a good idea to use a Bible that is not marked in when sharing your faith with a Muslim. Always be careful in appearing too free with the opposite sex. It is always best for a man to talk with the man and a woman to talk with woman. Do not refuse hospitality. If for example you are invited to a Muslims home and they offer you tea it would be considered an insult or at the very least rude not to accept. Never making jokes about sacred topics such as fasting, prayer, or God. Muslims are watching very carefully. When they are considering acepting a truth from the Bible they had never before embraced they will observe to see if "Christians" in fact live out daily the truth they say they believe. More Muslims have been halted from trusting Jesus Christ as their savior because of the careless way Christians live. 10. Persevere Muslims have a lot of rethinking to do when they are confronted with the gospel. But rest assured that the Word of God will do its work, in His good time. 20 The World of Islam Most of the World’s 1.2 billion Muslims are found in the Middle East, in Northern Africa, and in Asia. Young people from Islamic countries now form the largest group of international students in North America. The First Mosque in America The first mosque in the United States was built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shortly after the turn of the century. Also in Cedar Rapids is the first exclusively Muslim burial ground in the U.S.A. Canada’s first mosque, Al Rashid, was constructed in Edmonton, Alberta in 1938. Looking At Some Facts About Islam 1. One out of every five people in the world today embrace Islam 2. Out of the five major block groups in the world (tribal, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, and Buddhist) Islam is by far the least penetrated with the Gospel of Jesus Christ 3. Islam is the only non-Christian religion that has a world-wide missionary zeal 4. Islam is the only religion that is younger than Christianity 21 5. Less than 2% of all evangelist missionaries are reaching out to followers of Islam 6. Islam has a tract record of killing and persecuting Christians and Jews The Five Pillars of Islam Creed: The five basic beliefs and practices of a true Muslim from the Quran, chapter (or sura) 4 verse 136: "…And whoever disbelieves in God and his angels and his books and his messengers and the last day, he indeed strays far away." Prayer: The remembrance of Allah’s sovereignty on earth must be preformed five times each day. On Fridays, early afternoon prayer should be in congregation, let by the local chief Muslim. Alms Giving: Each Muslim should give one fortieth, or two and a half percent of his annual income in cash or in kind. Fasting: Every day during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar year, the fast begins at dayn and ends at dusk. Those engage in heavy labor are excused from fasting, as are children, the sick, and pregant and nursing women. Night is a time of eating, drinking, socializing and praying. Pilgrimage: Any able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must, once in his life, travel to Mecca, Soudi Arabia. The Creed of Islam Six Articles of Faith to which a Muslim subscribes Belief in God There are basically seven things a Muslim believes concerning God 1. God is eternal, that He had no beginning nor end. 2. God is Omniscience (all knowing) 3. They believe in God's Omnipotence, His power. There is nothing that Allah can not do 4. God has a will. He can do whatever He desires. Good and evil exist by His will. Muslims believe that if a person is pious it is because Allah wills it to be so. Christians believe God foreknows the future of every man but leaves the decision-making to the individual. That every person is a free moral agent. Christians do not believe God will violate the will of man to choose good or evil. 5. Muslims believe God hears everything 6. God sees everything "He can even see a black cat on a black stone at midnight" 22 7. God speaks to mankind Belief in Angels Muslims believe that God originated angels from the light, that he made man from the clay, and Satan from the fire. While Muslims give great stature to angels, they believe angels are inferior to human prophets of Allah. Gabriel is the angel of revelation; Michael is the patron of the Israelites; Israfil is the angel that will sound the final trumpet; Azra'il is the angel of death; and Malik who is the angel in charge of hell. Christians believe that Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. Muslim give that place to angels. They believe each person has two angels watching and recording everything they do- godd and evil. Belief in the Prophets Muslims believe Muhammad to be the final and greatest prophet of God. Other highly esteemed prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Prophets are divided into two classes in Islam. The first class is Navi, which means any one inspired by God. The second class is Rasul, which are the ones a special message has been entrusted. Muslim put Jesus in the prophet only category- not the son of God. Only nine prophets were "possessors of the power". They were Noah, Abraham, David, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. Belief in the Holy Books The Quran is the holiest book of Islam, considered God’s final revelation to man, superseding all previous revelations. It is believed to have been written in heaven in Arabic and passed on orally to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. It contains 114 chapters (suras). Muslims also recognize the Law of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel of Jesus, but usually consider them abrogated or corrupted. According to Muslims there are 104 sacred books that God has given to mankind. 100 were lost. The four left are the books of Moses, The Psalms of David, The Gospels of Christ, and the Koran which they say was given to Mohammad by Allah. It is important for Christians to understand that Muslims believe we have altered the books of the Bible. They believe the Quarn corrects the mistakes of the Bible thus justifying the errors throughout the Koran. The believe IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE Holy men such as Abraham, David and Moses to have sinned. To say David committed adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah, or that Abraham lied about his wife being his sister or Moses became angry a hit the rock two times is blasphemy. Belief in the Day of Resurrection and Judgement A terrible day on which each person’s good and bad deeds are balanced, to determine eternity in heaven or hell. God reserves the absolute right to send individuals to whichever He pleases. The intercessor for all mankind on that terrible day will be Mohammad. Not Jesus according to Islam. Prior to the day of judgement the angel Israfil will blast the trumpet three times. At the first blast all of creation will be struck with terror. At the second blast all of creation will die. 23 Then according to Islam a period of forty years will pass and the third blast will sound. At the third blast all will be raised for the final judgement. All meaning mankind and animals alike. Belief in the Predestination to Do Good and Evil According to Islam, God decrees everything to happen. Man has no choice in the matter. Christianity teaches that man is responsible for his own actions Glossary Words you should understand Quranic symbols are considered sacred in themselves, sometimes a student will drink the water with which he cleans his writing pallet, to obtain the spiritual benefit of the words. Allah: the Supreme Being (God) Hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca Islam: the religious faith of Muslims, literally, "submission" (to God) Ka ‘bah: the cube-like shrine in the courtyard of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, toward which Muslims face in daily prayer. Mecca: a city in Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Muhammad, Islam’s founder. Mosque: an Islamic place of worship, literally "place of prostration" (in prayer) Muslim: One who submits to god Quran (or Koran): the sacred text of Islam. It is considered by Muslims to be the complete and final revelation of God. It is divided into 114 Chapters. Each chapter is called a surah, which means "High degree" There are 6,247 verses in the Quran (spelled also with a K). To the Muslim the Quran is more important than any other previous revelation including the Bible. Foot Notes 1 Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri, Inquiries About Islam (Beirut, 1965), p. 51 Ibid., p. 140 3 Ibid., p. 126 4 Ibid., p. 159 5 Ibid., p. 145. Matthew 21:42-44 states: "...the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Chirri writes: "This is a reference to the covenant which was made between God and Isaac, at the time of Abraham, of which Ishmael was excluded. From the Old Testament: 'As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly: he shall be the father of twelve princes and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.' 1:17:20-21. Ishmael and his children, according to this statement, have been excluded, at the time of Abraham, from the covenant, and for this, Jesus called them the stone which was rejected by the builders. Now Jesus was informing the Israelites that the same stone which was rejected will become the head of the corner. Mohammad and the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, and these are the nation which Jesus expected to supersede the Israelite nation." 6 Ibid., p. 71 2 24 7 Ibid., p. 23 H.A.R. Gibb, Mohammedanism, p. 56 9 Chirri, p. 40 10 Ibid., p. 38, 39 11 Ibid., p. 39 12 Life Educational Reprint, The World of Islam, 1982, p. 3 13 Rom Landau, Islam and the Arabs (The MacMillan Company, 1959, New York), p. 26 14 Chirri, p. 107 15 Ibid., p. 142 16 Ibid., p. 113 17 Gibb, p. 56 18 Ibid., p. 26 19 Kenneth Cragg, The House of Islam, p. 52 20 Abdul Hamid Farid, Prayers of Muhammad, p. 152 21 Ibid, p. 153 22 Cragg, p. 45 "Almsgiving... is understood as a means to repentance and divine forgiveness, as a way of practical reconciliation..." 23 Ibid. 24 Ibid., p. 52 8