By Mike Faust
The word Islam comes from an Arabic word, salama, that has a double meaning: “to surrender” and “to be at peace.” A Muslim is a person who surrenders his entire life to the will of Allah.
A sincere, devout Muslim is a person of deep religious conviction and faith, not unlike a devout Christian. Negative stereotypes of Muslims in the Western world are partially because our culture has become so secular that people have a hard time understanding anyone who holds to religious beliefs strongly.
As of 1995, there were approximately 1 billion Muslims in the world. There are about 5 million Muslims in the United States.
How did Islam begin?””Muhammad, an Arabian trader, became familiar with Christianity and Judaism while working as a camel driver. Muhammad was deeply troubled by the status of religion and morality among his people. About ad 610, he claimed that the angel Gabriel revealed to him the name of the one and only true god, Allah. Although Muhammad”s influence was limited at first, through a series of events his following grew until he was acknowledged as “the Prophet of God” by most of the residents of Mecca in ad 630.
What do Muslims believe?””Above everything else, a Muslim believes this: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” This motto, called theshahadah, is used in every aspect of Muslim life. The sacred book of Islam is the Koran (often spelled Qur”an), which is believed to be the record of Allah”s revelations to Muhammad. Muslims believe in Allah”s angels, Allah”s books, and in Allah”s messengers and prophets (Jesus is considered one of Allah”s prophets).
Most Muslims also believe that Allah predestines people to go either to Heaven or Hell. Muslims believe in a paradise after death for those who are worthy, that is, those who have adequately fulfilled Allah”s requirements and are chosen by Allah. They believe that Muslims may spend some time in Hell, but will eventually end up in paradise. Muslims believe all who do not worship Allah, following the five pillars of Islam, will be cast into Hell when they die.
What are the five most important practices is Islam?””Everyone who claims to be a Muslim is expected to follow the five pillars of Islam and therefore to:
1. Daily recite the shahadah.
2. Pray five times every day facing Mecca””at morning, noon, midafternoon, after sunset, and before going to sleep.
3. Give alms. The Muslim is expected to give 2.5 percent of his annual income and to give other alms directly to the poor and for other needs.
4. Fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during his life.
Are there differences among Muslims?””Each national group of Muslims has a distinct culture and traditions. While the five pillars of Islam are common throughout Islam, there are differences among Muslims. Ninety percent of the world”s Muslims are either Sunni or Shiite Muslims, who believe that Allah is eternal and that the Koran is eternal. They believe that Allah is omnipotent. They believe that because man has a free will, Allah rewards and punishes according to man”s behavior.
Of these two groups, the Shiite are by far the minority. Nevertheless, they have captured much media attention because most major terrorist organizations that claim to be Muslim are associated with the Shiite branch of Islam. Shiite Muslims predominate in Iraq and Iran.
Shiite Muslims trace their origin to the death of Muhammad”s son, Ali. To “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet,” they have added the phrase “And Ali (the first imam) is Allah”s confidant.” They also have added a sixth pillar to Islam, namely, jihad or “holy war.” This concept is understood to refer not just to literal warfare, but also to the effort to spread the Koran, and hence Islam, throughout the world.
Are there any similarities between Christianity and Islam?””Like Christians, Muslims have a profound sense of the presence of the deity in their lives. They believe that Allah is totally in control and believe it is their duty to submit completely to his will. Like Christians, Muslims try to live according to clear moral codes of right and wrong and want the same for their children and societies. Muslims support traditional morality in regard to marriage, sexuality, abortion, homosexuality, and the breakdown in the family. In these ways, there are similarities between Christians and Muslims.
Do Christians and Muslims believe in the same God?“”Christians know and believe in the holy Trinity, that is, one God who has revealed himself as being three equal, yet distinct, persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Islam rejects the Trinity and insists on belief in Allah. Muslims believe the doctrine of the Trinity is blasphemous idolatry.
Therefore, it is important to understand that when Muslims use the word “God,” in English, they are referring to Allah, the subject of the Koran, and are most certainly not referring to the holy Trinity. One must be cautious in making this point, simply because among Arabic-speaking Christians, “Allah” is the word used for “God” in Arabic translations of the Bible. Christians and Muslims may use similar words, but don”t mean the same thing when they speak of “God.”
What do Muslims believe about Jesus?””Muslims have great respect for Jesus, believing he is the prophet who announced the coming of Allah”s greatest prophet, Muhammad. Mus-lims even believe that Jesus was sinless, born of a virgin, and did many miracles, but only because he was one of Allah”s prophets.
Christians believe, teach, and confess that Jesus was not just a prophet, but actually the Son of God; true God and true man, sent by the Father to be the world”s redeemer. Muslims do not believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead to win our salvation. Muslims generally respect Christians as “people of the book” and do not view them with the same displeasure they reserve for atheists or agnostics.
How do Islam and Christianity differ over salvation?””Above all other differences, this is the most important. Christians be-lieve salvation is a gift of love from God””a gift earned for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ, who willingly came into this world of sin and death, living perfectly in our place, fulfilling all of God”s demands, giving up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and finally rising from the dead as the complete victor over sin, death, and Satan. Forgiveness of sins is a gift from God and cannot be earned.
Christians know God to be their loving heavenly Father, a concept that is nearly unknown among most Muslims, who do not speak of a personal relationship with Allah, even though they believe in his constant presence and control over their lives.
Muslims believe they can be saved if they follow the five pillars of Islam well enough, and thus earn the favor and blessing of Allah. But they can never be certain or confident of their eternal salvation. Christians who have converted from Islam describe how liberating it is to know and believe in the true God of love and kindness, who gives them forgiveness, life, and salvation as a gift because of what his Son, Jesus Christ, did for them.
How can Christians reach out to Muslims?””Discussions about religion with Muslims should not be one-sided. Christians must be willing to listen respectfully and learn about Islam. Christians should pray that God will touch the hearts of their Muslim friends and neighbors and make them open to the gospel.
In many cases, the best opportunity for outreach comes when Muslims move into our neighborhoods. Rather than trying to engage Muslims in heated debate (which generally is unsuccessful), Christians can reach out through meaningful friendships and relationships with Muslims, demonstrating Christian love, compassion, and forgiveness.
As is usually the case, a Christian”s lifestyle can go a long way toward helping Muslims at least consider the Christian faith. On the other hand, if Muslims witness behaviors that are unloving and reflect a prejudice against them, this can turn them away from Christianity.
When opportunities for discussion about religion arise, Christians need to stick to the most important issues. God is a God of love and mercy, who gives us forgiveness freely, as a gift, because of Jesus, who is the Son of God, not merely a human prophet. Encourage Muslims to read the New Testament. Most Muslims know Jesus only from what little is said about him in the Koran.
What resources are available to help us reach out to Muslims?””A short presentation of Islam is How to Respond to Muslims (Concordia), by Ernest Hahn. A longer treatment of Islam is available in the respectful, sensitive presentation of the Muslim worldview by Roland Miller in his book Muslim Friends: Their Faith and Feeling: An Introduction to Islam (Concordia).
Mike Faust is senior minister with Parkway Christian Church in Sarasota, Florida.
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