ISLAM

1. Many of us grew up with the belief that America is a Christian nation.

2. This is no longer true.

3. During the past several days we have repeatedly heard some non-Christian words.

4. Islam, Muslim, Koran, Allah, Jihad.

5. When the first American census was conducted in 1790 almost 4 million people were counted.

6. Very few of these 4 million people were Asian.

7. About 100 years later (1880) there were about 100,000 Asians living in the United States.

8. Thirty years ago (1970) the number of Asians jumped to over one million.

9. People who are immigrants often bring their religion with them.

10. This has been true for many of the people who have come to America.

11. Those from Asia have brought Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam into this country.

12. In South Bend there is the “Islamic Society of Indiana.”

13. The presence of non-Christian religious groups continues to grow.

14. In 1987 a Buddhist chaplain was named to the Armed forces.

15. Many of the various religious “isims” are rapidly growing and gaining acceptance.

16. Because of the current focus on Islam I want to present some information about this faith.

17. Perhaps the best way to introduce Islam is to give some history about it.

A. In 610 AD a man named Muhammad allegedly received the Qur’an.

B. The Qur’an is supposedly the Word of God “revealed in clear Arabic speech.”

C. It is alleged that the angel Gabriel gave the Qur’an to Muhammad when he was 40 years old.

D. The revelations supposedly continued for 23 years in “fragments and at intervals.”

E. Supposedly the revelation stopped 81-82 days before Muhammad died.

F. It is said that the Qur’an is so structured that “the minutest change throws the text out of sync.”

G. In 622 A.D. Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina.

H. 622 A.D. is considered to be the official start of the Islamic faith; it is about 1400 years old.

I. The word Islam means peace and submission to God.

J. In 650 A.D. there were arguments over who was the proper heir to Muhammad’s leadership.

K. From 715-1500 A.D. Islam rapidly spread throughout the Middle East.

L. It advanced into North Africa, Spain, India, Central Asia, and Constantinople.

18. This religion believes in Allah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, and Muhammad.

19. Islam says that there are angels and these angels act as God’s agents.

20. The Islamic faith principally relies upon the book known as Qur’an.

21. Muslims say that the original scriptures are also authoritative but our translations are corrupt.

22. It is alleged that Jews and Christians corrupted the scriptures.

23. For this reason the Bible cannot be trusted.

24. In the Qur’an there are 28 different prophets; most of these prophets are characters from the Bible.

25. Muhammad is considered to be the most important prophet and God’s last messenger.

26. Islam teaches that there will be a day of judgment.

27. This faith also argues that predestination is true.

28. Islam says that God determines what will happen and He makes things happen.

29. All Muslims strictly adhere to five basic principles.

A. They repeatedly affirm that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet.

B. They pray five times a day (dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night).

C. They fast. During Ramadan they do not eat from dawn to sunset.

D. This period also includes abstinence from smoking and intimacy.

E. This is a time to refrain from bad thoughts, actions, and utterances.

F. The third principle of Islam requires members of this faith to share their wealth with the needy.

G. In fact, they assert that the needy “have a right to claim a portion of their wealth.”

H. The last big tenant of this faith is a pilgrimage to Mecca.

i). This is to be made at least once during a Muslim’s lifetime if people can afford it.

I. During this time people suspend all their worldly activities.

J. Muslims surrender their pride and their ego during this time.

K. This trip is a time when people spend “the supreme hours of their lives.”

30. If you speak with a Muslim you will find that they believe in a strict moral code.

31. They teach against drinking wine, eating pork, gambling, wearing gold, silk, etc.

32. Muslims also stress evangelism. They expect their people to spread their faith worldwide.

33. IN A BOOK WRITTEN BY MUSULIMS (Introducing Muhammad) THE FOLLOWING ASSERTIONS ARE MADE.

A. Muhammad did not start a new religion.

B. Those of the Islamic faith say he preached the message that Bible prophets preached.

C. He taught what Jesus, Moses, Noah, and Adam taught.

D. This claim, in my judgment, is interesting and a bit curious for two reasons.

E. Islam says that the Bible has been corrupted.

F. If this is true how do we know what the other prophets preached?

G. If the Bible is inaccurate how do we know that people like Moses were really of God?

H. The Islamic faith both condemns and accepts the message of the Bible.

I. If we look at the Qur’an we find that it has seven major themes.

J. These are: God, human beings, society, nature, reason, prophet hood, and revelation.

K. Some 750 verses in this book (1/8^th) of this document exalt the virtues of reason.

L. I do not find, in any version of the Bible, writers using 1/8^th of their letters to praise reason (logic).

M. In scripture the bulk of the information relates to a problem called sin.

N. From beginning to end the Bible talks about man’s separation from and reconciliation to God.

O. The Qur’an and the Bible do not present the same message.

P. There are translations of the Bible. There are also translations of the Qur’an.

Q. However, Islam says that translations of the Qur’an are not good enough.

R. Islam says that the Quran must be read in the original text if people want the real truth.

S. In other words, a translation of the Qur’an will not do. It is inadequate.

T. We cannot fully understand this marvelous volume by using a translation.

U. This charge borders on or perhaps is blasphemy.

V. The literary works of men can be accurately and successfully translated into other languages.

W. Imagine saying that a book written by God cannot be accurately translated into another language.

X. To fully appreciate a book from God we must know the original language.

Y. This assertion implies that God is weak, incapable, and He is inferior to human authors.

Z. Men can successfully translate their works but the Qur’an cannot be adequately translated.

AA. Islam makes some other interesting claims that Christians stand ready to answer.

BB. Those in the Islamic community have said this Qur’an is:

CC. “the most read, recited, memorized, debated, analyzed, and venerated book in the annals of history.”

DD. The Muslim community believes the Qur’an has outdone the Bible.

34. The fascinating claims about this book do not end here.

A. It is said the literary style in this book is so fantastic it had to be done by God (10:37; 17:88).

B. Muhammad was supposedly “unlettered” and therefore unable to produce such a book (7:157).

C. The Qur’an allegedly contains prophecies that demonstrate it is from God.

D. It also affirms (4:82) that there is a “lack of discrepancies” (i.e. no contradictions).

E. It is even affirmed that this volume contains scientific foreknowledge and is scientifically accurate.

F. Adherents of this religion further believe this book is from God because it has changed lives.

G. Many books have changed lives. Organizations like AA have changed lives.

H. This “proof” is not exactly proof that something is from God.

I. What about the “scientific foreknowledge?”

J. Here is an example of the science found in the Qur’an.

i). Male sperm, according to this volume, changes into “a clot of congealed blood.”

ii). This becomes bone which is later clothed with flesh.”

iii). It’s been a little while since I have seen a textbook on biology.

iv). I think I remember something about an egg being involved in the process.

v). An egg is a key component.

vi). Yet, there is no mention of an egg in the Qur’an.

vii). The description of conception in this book is not scientific.

35. The prophecies in this volume are vague political speculations.

36. They are not even remotely close to the prophecy found in the Bible.

37. One authority (McClintock and Strong) has described the book as “exceedingly incoherent.”

38. I know that many people have said that Islam is a peaceable religion.

39. From our President on down people have said the Qur’an does not support violence.

40. I wish I could say that our leaders have made accurate statements. They have not.

41. There are passages in the Qur’an that speak of and authorize violence.

42. Instead of taking my word for this listen to Sura 5:36.

43. How would you interpret this passage. READ

“The punishment of those
Who wage war against God
And His Apostle [Mohammed], and strive
with might and main
For mischief through the land
Is: execution [cutting off of the head], or crucifixion,
Or the cutting off of hands
And feet from opposite sides [i.e., right hand, left foot],
Or exile from the land:
That is their disgrace
In this world, and
A heavy punishment is theirs
In the Hereafter” (Sura 5.36).

1. If people oppose Islam this passage says that they deserve to die.

2. Punishment by execution or another method is right.

3. Look at some of the places where Christians have tried to convert Muslims.

4. Christians who oppose Islam are sentenced to death and killed.

5. In many places this passage is not followed.

6. in many of the places where Islam is practiced yhese tortures have been abolished.

7. Yet, it cannot be denied that the Qur’an teaches that those who oppose Islam are to be killed.

8. I recognize that most who believe in and practice Islam are good neighbors and decent people.

9. There are Muslim doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, firefighters, and policemen.

10. It saddens me to see that some Muslims in our country are being attacked. That’s wrong.

11. Last Saturday someone thought a gas station owner was an Arab or a Muslim.

12. This man was shot and killed.

13. Another incident on this same day involved a 46-year-old Muslim grocer in Dallas, TX.

14. He was also shot to death.

15. At least 2 Arab countries are recalling thousands of students because they fear harassment.

16. We cannot lump all Muslims together.

17. Many who practice this faith are good people.

A. However, there are sections in the Qur’an that teach and authorize violence.

B. This fact is downplayed and denied but it is true.

C. People may not practice these passages but this material is in their book.

D. We cannot keep silent about that fact.

E. I recently spoke with some men who agree that the Qur’an teaches violence.

F. One of the men agreed and added, “The Bible teaches the same thing.”

G. This is untrue.

H. The Hebrews were not told to kill those who didn’t believe in Jehovah.

I. God’s people were never instructed to kill those who didn’t follow the Mosaic Law.

J. Those who were killed were people who practiced atrocities like child sacrifice.

K. In the New Testament Christians are never command to hurt or kill unbelievers.

L. The Qur’an and the Bible present two very different messages.

18. Some have rightly said that Christians and Muslims must come together. We can work together.

19. There can be some form of religious unity. These statements are also untrue.

20. Civil and national unity are possible and right. Religious unity is impossible.

21. Islam does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God and the Saviour of men.

22. Islam says that Jesus is inferior to Muhammad.

23. Islam says that Muhammad is God’s last spokesman; the Bible says the last one is Jesus.

24. Any religion that does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God and the saviour of men is false.

25. I am saying without reservation that Islam is a false religion. It is another gospel, Gal. 1:8-9.

26. Those who follow this system of religion, according to Gal. 1, are anathema.

27. Someone says, “How do I deal with someone who believes in this faith?”

28. If you learn nothing else from this lesson remember this.

29. Do not start off by saying that Muhammad was a false prophet.

30. The key to showing Muslims the truth is to show that the Bible is reliable.

31. Establish that the scriptures are dependable and they have not been corrupted.

32. Once this has been done we can prove that Jesus is who the Bible says He is.

33. When we can prove who Jesus is, Muhammad disappears.

34. We can teach those in the Islamic faith the truth. We need to do that.

35. Islam encourages people to follow the crescent.

36. Christianity points people to the cross.

37. Are we following the one who went to the cross?