Islam VS Christianity

 A LOOK AT ISLAM INTRODUCTION:  You want to know something about the Islam religion, well here it is.

 Definition:  "Islam” – Arabic word for “Submission” (to the will of Allah)

A. It is not uncommon today to hear about this Muslim group or Islamic groups.

B. Much confusion abounds about these people because we are so unfamiliar with them and their ways.

C. We want to look at their religion and how it affects their way of thinking.

They say Islam is the Original religion, with Adam, Moses, and Jesus being Prophets

 “And call to mind when Jesus, son of Mary, said, `O children of Israel, surely, I am ALLAH's Messenger unto you, fulfilling that which is before me of the prophecies of the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad (Mohammad). And when he came to them with clear proofs, they said, this is manifest sorcery’”(Qur’an 61:7)

 “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian but he was ever inclined to God and obedient to HIM, and he was not of those who associate gods with ALLAH”(Qur’an 3:68)

 “Say ye, `We believe in ALLAH and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob and his children and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to all other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them; and to HIM we submit ourselves”

 And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this." (Qur’an 7:172)

All men are born Muslim:

Allah's Apostle said, "Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) but his parents convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magainism, as an animal delivers a perfect baby animal. Do you find it mutilated?" Then Abu Huraira recited the holy verses: "The pure Allah's Islamic nature (true faith of Islam) (i.e. worshipping none but Allah) with which He has created human beings. No change let there be in the religion of Allah (i.e. joining none in worship with Allah). That is the straight religion (Islam) but most of men know, not." (Qur’an 30:30)

 D:  Muslims consider the Kaaba—a small sanctuary near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca— to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslim legend teaches that the ancient religious patriarchs Abraham and Ishmael built the shrine using foundations first laid by Adam. Muslims all over the world orient themselves toward the Kaaba while praying, and every able Muslim is expected to make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba at least once in his or her lifetime. This picture shows pilgrimage ceremonies, which consist of several days of rituals and festivals during the Islamic month of pilgrimages, Dhu al-Hijja 

E. Medina  Muhammad’s City & Base of Operations against non-Muslims from 622-632 AD

 Medina, in western Saudi Arabia, is a sacred city that only Muslims are permitted to enter. The Prophet Muhammad took refuge in Medina after fleeing Mecca in 622 AD, and the city's numerous mosques remain a destination for large numbers of Muslims on their annual pilgrimage. The income derived from visiting pilgrims forms the basis of Medina's economy

 Background of Islam: 

 But God made a promise to Abraham, which was later repeated to his descendants, saying, “I will make you a great nation” (Gen. 12:1,2)

 Abraham was separated from his own country (Gen. 12:1); he and all males of his household were given the special covenant of circumcision (Gen. 17:1-14  ; and his previously barren wife, Sarah, bore him a son (“of promise”) when he was “one hundred years old” (Gen. 21:1-7).

 Later, that son, Isaac, took a wife from among his father’s people (Gen. 24); and Jacob, the “chosen” son of Isaac, took a wife from his mother’s people (Gen. 28:1-4).

 We read, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6).

 The Qur΄an says Ishmael:

Ø     “Raised the Foundations” of God’s House (2:128)

Ø     “Purified” God’s House of Devotion & Prayer (2:126)

Ø     Was One of the Patriarchs (2:137; 3:85; 14:40)

Ø     Was “Exalted with Elisha, Jonah and Lot” (6:87)

Ø     Was a “Messenger & Prophet

 (The Bible says of Ishmael:

“The angel of the LORD also said to [Hagar]: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (Gen. 16:11-12).

Jews were chosen of God:

 Gen 21  Ishmael sent away by Abraham

 Vs 17:  God said to Hagar, fear not for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.  Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in your hand, for I will make of him a great nation.

Gen 37:25  Ishmaelites carried Joseph into Egypt after buying him as a slave

BODY: ISLAM

A. “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is the prophet of Allah” is the great “confession” which faithful Muslims around the world declare daily.

B. In the world today there are four major religions, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam.

C. Islam is the fastest—growing religion in the world—1,126,325,000 (1997). (1 out of every 5 people in the World are Muslim)

D. Muslim faith is a major driving force in the lives of many of the nations in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

 E. Islam is more than a religion to the people who believe it, Islam is a way of life.

F. History of this religion.

1. The history revolves around one central figure (Muhammad).

2. Born c.a. 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca in Arabia.

3. Mohammed’s father died when he was 2 and his mother when he 8.

4. He then lived with his uncle for the next 16 years.

5. The clan he grew up in had a reputation of being a war-like people, as the Muslims are today.

6. He was trained as a merchant and married his employer when he was 28. (It is said he married for money).

7. When he was 38 years old he retired to a cave and claimed to have started communing with God.

A. In order to understand Islam one must familiarize themselves with the Islam terms and names.

B. Following are some of the key terms in Islam:

1. Islam— is the name of the religion, which came out of the revelations, and teachings of Muhammed. This word is a noun meaning “To submit, surrender or commit oneself.”

2. MUSLIM— (Moslem) is based on the same Arabic root word. It is the name given to one who follows the religion of Islam.

3. ALLAH—is the Islamic name for God, it is hard to translate into English. “The Supreme being, the one and only God.” According to Islam, Allah is the same God that is worshipped by the Jews and Christians. In fact Arabic—speaking Christians also use this word when referring to God.

4. KORAN— refers to the collection of revelations given by Allah to Muhammed. It is Arabic for “the recitation” It contains 114 revelations each making up a chapter. The shortest one appears first the longest last.

Muslims believe in the Law of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, they believe that the Quran superseded all other scripture. They say the Bible we use has been distorted and corrupted almost beyond recognition. ONLY THE KORAN IS INFALLIBLE.

Whenever the Koran and the Bible contradict the Bible is wrong.

There is no “authoritative translation “ for the Koran. They believe you must read it in Arabic.

5. HADITH and SUNNA-Traditions handed down, they deal with political and social structure.

7. CALIPH— (Ka’ lif)—is Arabic for leader and refers to the leader of Islam.

8. JIHAD—Holy war. Believers (in Islam) against others.

Fight against them by means Of it (the Quran) a great fight” (Ch. 25, V,53)

AND “We are returning from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad” (Quote from Mohammed, Commentary of Sura Al-Hajj Verse:78 Published by Dar-ul Kitaab Al-Arabi Beirut, Lubnan)

9. PURDAY—a veil or covering used by Moslem women to ensure them privacy against public observation and to indicate their submission.

10. RAMADAN—The ninth month of the Moslem year, when Mohammed received the Koran from heaven, and now devoted to fasting.

No food or drink may be consumed during daylight hours.

They cannot smoke or have sexual relationships in daytime.

Most eat early in the morning and then at night.

11. MECCA— The hometown of Muhammad, which is now sacred.

12. KAABA (Ka’be)—Shrine at Mecca—contains a black stone given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel.

13. JINNS— Creatures between Angels and men, made of fire. Can be good or bad. “They are intelligent, physically strong, usually imperceptible yet capable of appearing in various forms...the truth about them was known only to Allah.” Muhammad preached to them, can be lost or saved.

14. SHI’ ITE and SUNNITES—different sects of Islam.

15. AL SHYTAN—Satan, Is thought to be the power in man’s soul that is opposed to Allah.

16. HIJIRA— which means “flight” marks the turning point in Islam. Muhammed rejected in his home town. All Islamic calendars mark this date July 16, 622 as their beginning. 1991 would be 1369 A.H. in the year of the Hijira.

III. FIVE ARTICLES OF FAITH AND FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH. CHART 3.

A. Five Articles of Faith. These are the main doctrines of faith; all Muslims are expected to believe these tenets.

1. GOD— There is only one true God and his name is Allah. Allah is all—knowing, all-powerful and the sovereign judge.

a. Yet Allah is not a personal God, he is far above man in every way and he is not personally knowable.

b. No sin seemed more unpardonable to Muhammad than associating another being with God on terms of equality.

“And they say, `The Gracious God has taken unto Himself a son.'

“Assuredly, you have indeed uttered a most hideous thing. “The heavens might well-nigh burst thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in pieces.

“Because they ascribe a son to the Gracious God. “It becomes not the Gracious God that HE should take unto Himself a son”(19:89-93)

“O People of the Book!  Exceed not the limits in your religion, and say not of ALLAH anything but the truth. Verily, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of ALLAH, and a fulfillment of HIS word which HE has sent down to Mary, and a mercy from HIM. So believe in ALLAH and HIS Messengers, and say not, `They are three.' Desist, it will be better for you. Verily, ALLAH is the only One God. Holy is HE, far above having a son. To HIM belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And sufficient is ALLAH as a guardian” (Qur¢an 4:172).

•         “Indeed, they are disbelievers who say, `ALLAH, HE is the Messiah, son of Mary,' whereas the Messiah himself said, `O Children of Israel, worship ALLAH Who is my Lord and your Lord.' Surely, whoso associates partners with ALLAH, him has ALLAH forbidden Heaven, and the Fire will be his resort. And the wrongdoers shall have no helpers.

•         “They surely disbelieve who say, `ALLAH is the third of three;' there is no god but the One God. And if they do not desist from what they say, a grievous punishment shall surely befall those of them that disbelieve” (Qur¢an 5:73-74).

•         “And they say, `ALLAH has taken to Himself a son.'  Holy is HE! Nay, everything in the Heavens and the earth belongs to HIM. To HIM are all obedient” (Qur¢an 2:217).

c. Although Allah is said to love, this aspect of him is almost ignored.

 2. ANGELS—This is fundamental to Islamic teaching. Gabriel is the leading angel. Each person has two recording angels, one to record your bad and one to record your good.

3. SCRIPTURE. There are four inspired book —Law of Moses, Psalms of David, Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Koran. Of course the Koran is the most recent and final word, it supercedes all the other works.

4. PROPHETS—In Islam God has spoken through numerous prophets down through history—the six greatest are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad who is the last and greatest of all Allah’s messengers.

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of ALLAH, and the seal (last) of the Prophets and ALLAH has full knowledge of all things” (Qur’an 33:40-41).

5. LAST DAYS.-A time of resurrection and judgment. Those who follow and obey Allah and Muhammad will go to Islamic heaven, called Paradise, a place of pleasure. Those who oppose them will be tormented in hell.

a. The day and hour is a secret to all, but there are 25 signs of its approach.

b. All will be raised, the books kept by the angels will be opened.

c. Some will be admitted to Paradise. There they will recline on soft couches where maidens of Paradise will hand them cups of wine. They can marry as many of these maids as they please. Notice this:

Those who have firm belief in the oneness of Allah and the prophet of Allah, but died without atoning for and repenting of sins they have committed in this world, will be sent to hell for a time, from where after receiving due punishment, they will be liberated by the mercy of Allah and sent to heaven, where they will live for ever.” Catholics believe this too, Pergatory)

6. There is a sixth article of faith which some consider to belong to the five doctrines. KISMET—the doctrine of fate. What we would call rigid predestination. From this concept comes the most common Islamic phrase— “It is Allah’s will.” Or as we would” say what ever will be will be.”

B. THE FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH: Beside the five major beliefs there are also five pillars of faith. These are observances, which are foundational practices or duties.

1.. Creed— “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.” One must say this aloud in public in order to become a Muslim. It is repeated constantly by the faithful.

2. Prayer—Prayer as ritual is central to a devout Muslim.

The Practice of prayer five times a day (upon rising, at noon, in midafternoon, after sunset, and before retiring). The worshipper must recite the prescribed prayer in Arabic while facing Mecca. The Hadith has turned these prayers into a mechanical procedure of standing, kneeling, hands and face on the ground and so forth.

3. Almsgiving—Muhammad, himself an Orphan had a strong desire to help the needy. The alms giving were originally voluntary, but all Muslims are legally required to give 1/40 of their income. There are other rules and regulations for produce cattle, etc.

4. Fasting— During the month of Ramada.

5. The Pilgrimage— The pilgrimage is expected of all Muslims at least once in their lifetime. If you are old or sick you may send someone in your place. It involves a set of ceremonies and rituals, many of which center around the Ka’be shrine.

6. JIHAD (Holy war used to be a condition of faith and early Muslims believed it was their sacred duty to murder anyone who would not embrace the one true faith. Contemporary Islam is much more moderate, although some Shia’ites talk of restoring Jihad as one of the essentials of Islamic faith. If a young man dies in a Jihad he is ushered straight to heaven and given 7 virgin wives.

C. OTHER IMPORTANT PARTS OF THEIR PRACTICE.

1 . Sin and salvation— the Muslim operates under a legalistic system and must earn his salvation.

2.. Marriage is required of every Muslim.

a. Men can have 4 wives; yet can cohabit with as many concubines as they choose.

b. Marriage is important but the sanctity of the union is not held high. You may divorce as often as you like. 

Ø     May Marry Up To 4 Wives (Quran 4:4)

Ø     May Marry Additional Slave Girls (4:128)

Ø     Mohammed Had 9 Wives

Ø     A Thrice Divorced Woman May Only Be Taken Back If She Has Married Someone    Else and Been Divorced From Him (2:31)

Contrary to scripture in so many ways

Morals:

Ø     Games of Chance – Prohibited (2:220)

Ø     Eating of Pork & Blood; Consumption of Alcohol – Prohibited (2:174; 2:220)

Ø     Lying & Adultery (as specially defined in the Quran) – Prohibited (4:20-26)

Ø     Killing (of fellow believers) is Prohibited (4:30)

Ø     Stealing is Prohibited (5:39) Cut off hands and feet

c. Veiling of women, circumcision, and abstention from alcohol, gambling and certain foods also practiced.

Are they really Against us?

“O ye who believe !  take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends of each other. And whoso among you takes them for friends is indeed one of them. Verily ALLAH guides not the unjust people” (5:52)

•         “Let those then fight in the cause of ALLAH who would sell the present life for the Hereafter. And whoso fights in the cause of ALLAH, be he slain or be he victorious, WE shall soon give him a great reward.”

•         “And why should you not fight in the cause of ALLAH and for the rescue of the weak men, women and children - who say, `Our Lord, take us out of this town whose people are oppressors, and give us a friend from Thyself and give us from Thyself a helper.' “

•          “Those who believe fight in the cause of ALLAH, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of the Evil One. Fight ye therefore, against the friends of Satan; surely Satan's strategy is weak.” (Qur¢an 4:75-77)

“Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you be in strongly built towers. And if some good befalls them, they say, `This is from ALLAH;' and if evil befalls them, they say, `This is from thee.' Say, `All is from ALLAH.' What has happened to these people that they would not try to understand anything?” (Qur¢an 4:78-79)

 •         “Fight, therefore, in the way of ALLAH - thou art not made responsible except for thyself - and urge on the believers to fight. It may be that ALLAH will restrain the might of those that disbelieve; And ALLAH is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment.”

•          “O ye who believe!  Fight such of the disbelievers as are near to you and let them find hardness in you; and know that ALLAH is with the righteous.”

•          “Verily, ALLAH loves those who fight in HIS cause arrayed in solid ranks, as though they were a strong structure cemented with molten lead ” (Qur¢an 4:85; 9:123; 61:5)

 •         “And fight in the way of ALLAH against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, ALLAH loves not the   transgressors.

•         “And slay these transgressors wherever you meet them and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for persecution is worst than slaying. And fight them not in and near the Sacred Mosque until they fight you therein. But if they fight you, then fight them. Such is the requital for the disbelievers.

•          But if they desist, then surely, ALLAH is Most Forgiving, Merciful.

•          And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is professed only for ALLAH. But if they desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the wrongdoers” (Qur¢an 2:191-194).

“O ye people of the Book!  Believe in what WE have now sent down, fulfilling that which is with you, before WE destroy some of your leaders and turn them on their backs or curse them as WE cursed the people of the Sabbath. And the decree of ALLAH is bound to be fulfilled.

People of the Book – JEWS and CHRISTIANS

•         “Hast thou not heard of the chiefs of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to a Prophet of theirs, `Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the way of ALLAH ?'  He said, `It is not likely that you will not fight, if fighting is prescribed for you ?'  They said, `What reason have we that we should not fight in the way of ALLAH when we have been driven forth from our homes and our sons ?'  But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned back except a small number of them. And ALLAH knows the transgressors well” (Qur¢an 2:245-247).

 Goal of Islam:

•         “Surely the true religion with ALLAH is Islam…”

•         “And whoso seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he shall be among the losers”

•         “And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is professed only for ALLAH…”

•         “O Prophet, urge the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty who are steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred; And if there be a hundred of you, they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people do not understand” (Qur¢an 3:20, 86; 2:194; 8:66).

 The Qur¢an Teaches That:

Ø     One is an “Unbeliever” who Confesses Jesus as God

Ø     One is an “Unbeliever” who Confesses Jesus as God’s Son

Ø     One is “Forbidden Heaven” who Confesses Jesus as God

Ø     One Deserves “Fire” & “Grievous Punishment” who Confesses Jesus as God

 “Fight those from among the people of the Book, who believe not in ALLAH, nor in the Last Day, nor hold as unlawful what ALLAH and HIS Messenger have declared to be unlawful, nor follow the true religion, until they pay the tax considering it a favour and acknowledge their subjection.

•         “And the Jews say, `Ezra is the son of ALLAH,' and the Christians say, `the Messiah is the son of ALLAH;' that is what they say with their mouths. They only imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before them. ALLAH's curse be on them!  How they are turned away.”

•         “If you will not go forth to fight in the cause of ALLAH, HE will punish you with a painful punishment, and will chose in your stead a people other than you, and you shall do HIM no harm at all. And ALLAH has full power over all things” (Qur¢an 9:29,30,39).

 §        “Lying” About the Crucifixion of Christ

 And for their saying, `We did slay the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of ALLAH;' whereas they slew him not, nor did they bring about his death upon the cross, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified; and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it; they have no certain knowledge thereof, but only pursue a conjecture; and they did not arrive at a certainty concerning it.” (Qur¢an 4:158

§        Exalting Ezra Above Mohammed

§        Rejecting Mohammed as a Prophet

§        Charging Interest on Money (Qur¢an 4:162)

§        Denying that Jesus was a Created Being (Col. 1:15-17; John 1:1-2) [The Qur¢an says Jesus was created like Adam was (Qur¢an 3:60)]

§        Belief in the Deity and Divine Sonship of Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-12)

§        Rejecting Mohammed as the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:18-19 [Islam claims “Mohammed” to be the fulfillment, but see Acts 3:22-23,26]

§        Rejecting the Qur¢an as God’s Last Revelation to Man (see Gal. 1:8-9; Jud. 3; 1 Cor. 2:10-16) 

CONCLUSION:

A. Islam is one of the driving forces among world religions today.

B. Its growth is closely tied to nationalism.

C. Of course growth does not mean truth.

D. Muhammad, the founder, has based his teaching on inaccurate and untrue interpretations of the Bible