DID YOU KNOW v There are more than

DID YOU KNOW? v There are more than a billion Muslims (about 1 out of every 5 people on the planet); the U. N. projects that by 2055 at least half of the global birthrate will be Islamic. v Muslims have targeted the United States with an aggressive missionary program. Saudi Arabia has given millions of dollars to Harvard and the University of Arkansas to fund Islamic study centers. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

DID YOU KNOW? v There already more Muslims than Episcopalians in America; and, within ten years, Islam may be the second largest religion in the United States. v Between 1989 and 1998 the Islamic population in this country grew by 25%; there are now estimated to be between 4 and 7 million Muslims in the U. S. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

Muslims Have Aggressive Missionary Efforts In the U. S. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

DID YOU KNOW? v Muslim chaplains already serve in the armed forces, and there are weekly Muslim prayer meetings on Capitol Hill. v “Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people. . . ” -Hillary Rodham Clinton “First Lady Breaks Ground With Muslims, ” Los Angeles Times, Home Edition, Metro Section, Part B, May 31, 1996, p. 3 © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM Part 2 © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

Contrasting Worldviews Shortly after the end of the Cold War, Samuel Huntington, professor of government at Harvard, predicted that in the future serious competition would lessen between nationstates or political ideologies. Instead, Huntington predicted an era of growing competition between civilizations: i. e. , religion, ethnicity, and cultural values. Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAM & CHRISTIANTY: Contrasting Worldviews • Muhammad put his • Jesus told his disciples to enemies to the sword and “put away the sword” confiscated their (John 18: 11); healed the property and wives; one wound inflicted by commanded his followers (Luke to fight for their faith; 22: 51); allowed his taught that those who enemies to take his life (1 died in battle would enter Peter 2: 21 -24); and paradise; and died a prayed from the cross for natural death after those who were executing consolidating his power him (Luke 23: 34. ) and wealth. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAM & CHRISTIANTY: Contrasting Worldviews • Jesus envisioned a fellowship of believers drawn by the example of his own sacrificial death (John 3: 1416, 12: 31 -32) and subsequent resurrection; Muhammad fashioned a community based on the burning conviction of a manifest destiny and triumphant expansion. • The founder of Christianity was put to death by the authorities; the founder of Islam was the ultimate political authority who put to death thousands of others. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAM & CHRISTIANTY: Contrasting Worldviews • In religion we are shaped by the “story” that forms our faith: that is why, each Sunday, we rehearse and remember the story of the Cross in the Lord’s Supper. • The “story” of Christianity makes an explicit distinction between the political and the spiritual; the “story” of Islam is one of an all-encompassing system of religious, political, and military power. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAM & CHRISTIANTY: Contrasting Worldviews • It is true that Muslims may be “peaceful” when a minority in a strong democratic nation. When they hold the reins of temporal power in an Islamic state, however, it is often a different reality for non -Muslims. • Some scholars believe the greatest persecution in the history of Christianity occurred in the last century, primarily in Islamic countries. In many Muslim cultures the penalty for converting to Christ is death. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Early Muslim Empire Spread Rapidly © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

Muslim Expansion Greatly Reduced the Byzantine Empire © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Crusades Beginning in 1099 and lasting into the thirteenth century, “Christian” armies under orders of the popes and European leaders launched wars that were known as “crusades” to retake Jerusalem and Palestine from the Muslims. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Crusades The “Crusades” were never successful for long, and the Muslim general Saladin became famous by recapturing Jerusalem in 1187. The land of Palestine remained under Islamic control until the establishment of the modern nation of Israel in 1948. The Crusades left an enduring legacy of deep bitterness and a still-vivid sense of grievance among Muslims toward the West. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

In 1998 Osama bin Laden declared that his work was a continuation of the struggle against “infidel” Crusaders of the Middle Ages. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT IS ISLAM? v The word “Islam” means “submission” (to the will of Allah). v The word “Muslim” means “one who submits. ” v It is a mobile, militant, and missionary religion. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

How Does One Become A Muslim? • Simply by saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, ” one converts to Islam and becomes a Muslim. This saying means “There is no true god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God. ” The first part, “There is no true god but God, ” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

How Does One Become A Muslim? To be a Muslim, one should also: n Believe that the Holy Qur’an is the literal word of God, revealed by Him. n Believe that the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) is true and will come, as God promised in the Qur’an. n Accept Islam as his or her religion. n Not worship anything nor anyone except God. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Inscription over this mosque reads: “There is no true God but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God. ” © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM v. Shahadah: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” v. Salah: Turning to Mecca to pray 5 times a day v. Sawm: Fasting during daylight hours through the month of Ramadan v. Zakat: Setting aside 2. 5% of income to benefit the Muslim community v. Hajj: A once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The God of Islam • “Allah Akbar” is sounded at worship time: “God is great. ” • Islam conceives of God as one, as transcendent, and as all-powerful. • “Say that Allah is One, the Eternal God. He begot none, nor was He begotten. None is equal to Him” (Quran 112: 1 -4) © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Mosque • The mosque is a major Muslim institution for religious and social life. Its primary function is as a place of prayer, especially on Fridays, when the community will also hear a sermon. • The Quran will also be chanted in Arabic. • Larger mosques may also contain schools for training religious leaders. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES • Saudi Arabia considers itself to be the caretaker of Mecca, the most holy place in Islam. • It allows no Christian missionaries to enter it and no Christian churches to be built on its soil. • Osama bin Ladin is furious that Saudi Arabia allows “infidel” American military forces to be stationed within its borders. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES • It is the sacred duty of every Muslim to make a hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca once in their lifetime. • A triumphant Muhammad purged the ka’aba of idols. Today pilgrims circle it seven times, reciting prayers and the Quran. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Mosque of Muhammad in Medina—the City of the Prophet © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES The third most holy place in Islam is the “Dome of the Rock” in Jerusalem. v According to Muslim legend, Muhammad was supernaturally transported from Mecca to this spot and then taken up to heaven, where he met Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, whom he led in prayer. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAMIC HOLY PLACES v According to Jewish tradition, this same place marks the location where Abraham attempted to offer his son Isaac in response to God’s command. v And, according to Christian history, it is only a stone’s throw from Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. v You can see why it is one of the most fiercely contested pieces of real estate on earth! The fact that now Jews control Jerusalem is a source of bitter grievance to Muslims. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

Bin-Laden’s Stated Goal “The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies—civilians and military—is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al -Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. “ ("Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, " 23 February 1998) © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WOMEN & ISLAM v Muhammad was given a “special revelation” to have some 13 wives (other Muslim men can have only 4) v His favorite wife was Aisha: she was six when they were engaged, and nine when the marriage was consummated © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WOMEN & ISLAM v The Koran requires women to remain veiled (33: 59) and to remain strictly segregated from male society. v Woman is to be seen “as Satan” when a man is sexually tempted. One of the traditions of Muhammad is that the majority of people going to hell are women. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WOMEN & ISLAM v A man may divorce his wife by repeating “I divorce you” 3 times. v In court, a woman’s testimony is worth only half that of a man and her inheritance rights are lesser. v The United Nations has condemned the Taliban in Afghanistan for their brutal treatment of women. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WOMEN & ISLAM v The Quran teaches: “Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God’s guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them” (Surah 4: 35) © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Do Muslims Believe About Jesus? From an Islamic promotional piece: “Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him). They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind. The Quran confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Quran is entitled ‘Maryam’ (Mary). The Quran describes the birth of Jesus as follows: © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Do Muslims Believe About Jesus? “(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous. ” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me? ” He said, “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is. ”(Quran, 3: 45 -47) © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS? v Isa (Jesus) is mentioned 93 times in the Quran. It describes his virgin birth, calling him the “son of Mary” 23 times. v Jesus is given more honorific titles in the Quran than any other prophet (including Muhammad. ) Those titles include “prophet”, “messiah”, “messenger”, “word”, and “spirit and mercy of God. ” © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT DO MUSLIMS THINK OF JESUS? v. The Quran also mentions the miracles of Jesus, refers to “the gospel” 12 times, and calls Christians the “people of the book. ” v. In addition to the Quran, Muslim traditions associate Jesus with the end of time and the judgment day, and Muslims often pray to Jesus for healing or prosperity. He is considered to one who has power. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT DO MUSLIMS THINK OF JESUS? v. However, there is no other religion like Islam in that from its inception it has promoted a specific, total, and emphatic denial of the major truth claims of Christianity. v. This may partly be because of Muhammad’s misunderstandings of the corrupted Christianity of his day, but it may also be explained by Islam’s desire to demonstrate that it has superseded all other religions as the last and greatest revelation of Allah. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

ISLAM’S ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANITY v That the Bible of the Christians is corrupt, unreliable, and inferior to the Qur’an. v That Christians follow untruthful doctrines: the doctrine of the Trinity is especially considered to be blasphemous and sinful. v That Jesus is not the divine son of God, because God is too exalted to have a son. v That Jesus was not crucified and was not resurrected; that he is not a savior or mediator and did not atone for the sins of mankind. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT DO MUSLIMS THINK OF JESUS? “That they said in boast ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah. ’ But they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them. And those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no certain knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in Power, Wise. ” (Qur’an 4: 157 -158) © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

WHAT DO MUSLIMS THINK OF JESUS? • Some Muslims believe that Jesus hid in a niche in the wall and one of his companions took his place. • Others hold that angels protected Jesus and caused Judas to look like him instead. • Other assert that Simon of Cyrene was switched at the last minute. • Another traditional view is that the Jews attempted to kill Jesus but that God took him up into heaven instead. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Christian Response To Islam • 1. Understand their religion and what they believe about OUR faith. • 2. Understand the differences between worldviews that leads to misunderstandings. • 3. On a personal level, respect and friendship may help to overcome barriers and provide opportunities to share our faith. © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

The Christian Response To Islam • 4. Pray for and support mission efforts to the Muslim world • 5. Pray for and support followers of Jesus who suffer under Islamic regimes • 6. Appreciate the uniqueness of the gospel story! © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Makes Christianity Unique? “God is great, ” the cry of the Moslems, is a truth which needed no supernatural being to teach men. That God is little, that is the truth which Jesus taught men, and we find at once so tender and so perplexing. It is of the nature of love to be infinitely minute, as well as soaring in its imagination, and this nature is shown us by God. -Nevelle Figgis © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Makes Christianity Unique? “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!”—Philippians 2: 6 -9 © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Makes Christianity Unique? “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ” Philippians 2: 9 -11 © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

What Makes Christianity Unique? “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. ” 1 Corinthians 1: 23 -25 © 2001 Dr. Dan Williams Presented as a service of http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com

Presentation by Dr. Dan Williams http: //Your. Church. Can. Grow. com