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Extracts from “A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Islam” by Patrick Sookhdeo, Director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity; and “Cross and Crescent” by Colin Chapman Preface: Although Islam and Christianity have certain points of doctrine in common, there is an enormous difference between them, not only in beliefs about salvation and Christ, but also in many other areas affecting daily life, attitudes and worldviews. Within Islam there are many variations, just as within Christianity. The attitude of a Christian seeking to share the Gospel must not be one of antagonism, conflict or hatred. We must approach our Muslim friends peaceably and humbly, with the attitude and mind of Christ, the servant king (Phil 2:5-8). Our approach should be characterized by accuracy in everything. We must not mis-represent Islam or accuse Muslims of beliefs and practices, which are not theirs. Furthermore we must remember always that Muslims are people, ordinary human beings like ourselves, with the joys, sorrows, fears and anxieties that we ourselves experience. We must be filled with compassion, compelled by His love yet we must not alter, bend or dilute His teachings in anyway. It is important to recognize that Islam is not just a theology but a real spiritual power, one of those powers about which Paul writes in Eph 6:12. Christian will need to be spiritually prepared for this encounter. ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. The Origins of Islam The word Islam is derived from the verb SLM to resign, surrender, submit oneself, and iSLaM means the act of submission and of resignation of oneself. A muSLiM – one who has submitted. Muhammad Born in the wealthy merchant town of Mecca. Mecca was famous for its shrine, the Kaba. This cube-like building was the center of a cult of sacred stones including the ‘Black Stone’, said to have come from heaven, which is built ito the eastern corner of the Kaba. The Kaba was a center of annual pilgrimage for tribes throughout Arabia. From the Jews, the Arabs gained a superficial knowledge of the Old Testament stories and Jewish folklore, which is seen in the pages of the Quran. The Christians that Muhammad encountered was brought chiefly by Christians who had fled the Byzantine Empire, victims of the intricate Christological controversies of those days, who had been condemned as heretics. Muhammad’s very imperfect understanding of Christian doctrine was probably due to the nature of these informants. The earliest accounts of Muhammad’s life were written at least 150 years after his death. All are Muslim sources and there is no external (ie. Non-Muslim) supporting evidence. Many non-Muslims have thought Muhammad to be a deliberate imposter, but perhaps he was at first a genuine seeker after divine truth, who was dissatisfied with the Christian witness of his time as well as the idolatrous state of his own people in Arabia. Muhammad married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, when he was twenty-five – she was fifteen years his senior. The marriage produced 7 children. Khadijah died 25 years later after which Muhammad married a further 12 wives, thereby sanctioning polygamy. At the age of 40, he became very concerned about the irreligion of his fellow countrymen and began to retire frequently for meditation to a cave. During these periods of meditation he seemed at times to be in a kind of trance; whilst in this condition, he claimed he heard the voice of Allah or of an Archangel Gabriel, who gave him messages to preach to mankind. His first followers were chiefly members of his own family – wife Khadijah, nephew Ali-lbn-Abu talib, adopted son Zaid. The people of Mecca initially rejected his teachings and under hostility, Muhammad fed to Medina who welcomed a strong leader to unite them. Jews and Christians were at this time sympathetic to Muhammad’s teachings with its emphasis on the unity of God and accompanying condemnation of idolatry. The move from Mecca to medina took place in 622 AD. This flight or hijrah was the turning point in Muhammad’s career, and was chosen to mark the beginning of the Muslim era and calendar. At first Muhammad recognized the validity of the Jewish and Christian faiths. Jerusalem was chosen as the direction, which a Muslim should face when praying, and he adopted several Jewish practices. However, Jewish tribes failed to recognize him as a true prophet or to practise the customs of Islam. Troubled by this, Muhammad began to assert the absolute character of the revelation that had been given to him, and claimed that it was a renewal of the religion that Abraham had professed. In this way he gave up any attempt to reconcile Islam with Judaism – the Muslims were now commanded to face the Kaba at Mecca when praying, not Jerusalem as previously. During Muhammad’s time in Medina, his doctrine took shape. Not only was the direction of prayer changed, but also other area of teaching was modified. At Medina he began teaching that the Quran was the final and superior revelation. The daily times of prayer with the preliminary washings now became obligatory.
Approximate Word count = 3341
Approximate Pages = 13.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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