Understanding Islam. What in the world is going on?

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2 Understanding Islam What in the world is going on?

3 Understanding Islam RESOURCES: Understanding Islam* by Ken The Middle East and the Bible* by Allen Ross The Isis Crisis by Charles Dyer A Biblical Viewpoint on Islam by Kerby Anderson

4 It is a simple truth that while not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims, it is nevertheless also true that the majority of terrorists worldwide are Muslims who wage jihad in pursuit of punishing infidels principally Jews and Christians and establishing Islam globally. Doug Groothius

5 Understanding Islam Demographics Worldwide Billion Muslims (25%) Middle East Million Muslims North Africa Million Muslims Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh Million

6 Understanding Islam Demographics Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. High Birth Rate Militant Evangelism Family Pressure to Not Convert Pluralism in the West vs. Intolerance of Islam

7 Now Sarai, Abram s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her. (Genesis 16:1-2 NIV)

8 Then the angel of the Lord told her, Go back to your mistress and submit to her. The angel added, I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. (Genesis 16:9-10 NIV)

9 The angel of the LORD also said to her: You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. 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. (Genesis 16:11-12 NIV)

10 This is the account of the family line of Abraham s son Ishmael, whom Sarah s slave, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them. (Genesis 25:12-18 NIV)

11 Many Christians today believe that the words of the Lord to Hagar in Genesis 16 and 21 constitute a curse on the sons of Ishmael, traditionally believed to be the Arab people of today. Contrary to much current opinion, the words of the Lord regarding Ishmael and his descendants carry nothing but blessing. Ishmael in Relation to the Promises to Abraham Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1986 Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

12 To summarize, the Arabs claim their origin in five heads: Lud the son of Shem, Aram the son of Shem, Joktan the son of Eber, Ishmael the son of Abraham, and Midian the son of Abraham. Only the sons of Lud and the sons of Aram constitute the indigenous Arabs; the rest are arabicized. The descendants of Ishmael, or the Ishmaelites, belong to the latter group. Not only so, but they form only a fraction of the Arab race genealogically. The Arab people include a much larger group than the Muslim people. Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

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15 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. (Genesis 16:11-12 NIV)

16 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen. (Genesis 16:11-12 ESV)

17 He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers. (Genesis 16:11-12 NASB)

18 He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers. (Genesis 16:11-12 NET)

19 The wild colt was an admired and valued animal. He is described by several characteristics which, when put together, mark uniqueness. Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

20 First, he is strong-willed, choosing his own way, and getting what he desires (Job 39:8; Jer. 2:24; Hos. 8:9). Second, his habitat is the desert, and it is given to him by God; he escapes from none, but rather he is set free (Job 24:5; 39:6,8; Jer. 2:24). Third, he is free moving and has a nomadic life style (Job 38:9; 39:5; Jer. 2:24). Fourth, he scorns civilization (Job 39:7). Francis Anderson, in his commentary on Job 39:5-8, comments that the animal seems to lead a life that is aloof, free, and independent, which makes others jealous. Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

21 In view of the above, the description "his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him" is best seen as describing the nomadic life style of Ishmael's descendants, and not referring to any hatred or conflict with any specific group of people. Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

22 These traits of bedouinism can be positive and a gift from God as it was originally intended. However, religious and political factors centuries later have negatively influenced the spirit of these traits. Imad Shehadah President Jordan Evangelical Seminary

23 A Little Bit of History Jesus (4 B.C A.D.) Muhammad (570 A.D.-632 A.D.) -Mecca - Merchant and Prophet ( ) -Medina - Warlord and Political Leader ( ) -Mecca - Conqueror and Religious Leader ( ) -Expansion Spread of Islam ( ) Crusades ( ) Ottoman Turk Empire ( ) Seige of Vienna (1683 A.D.)

24 A Little Bit of History WW I ( ) - Establishment of Arab States WW II ( ) - Establishment of Israel Six Day War (1967) - Expansion of Israel Afghanistan - (1970s) - Mujahideen (OBL) Afghanistan - (1990s) - Taliban (Muhammad Omar) Gulf War - (1990s-2001) - al Qaeda (OBL) Iraq War - (2000s) - al Qaeda in Iraq (al-zaqawi) Syria/World - (2010s) - ISIS (al-baghdai)

25 A Little Bit of Prophecy Ezekiel Rosh Russia Magog Central Asia Meshech & Tubal Turkey Persia Iran Cush (Ethiopia) Sudan Put Libya Gomer Turkey Beth-togarmah Turkey

26 Understanding Islam Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the holy book known as the Qur an. Muslims believe the book was sent by God through the angel Gabriel to the [illiterate] prophet Muhammad. Additional teachings are also recorded in the Hadith. Kerby Anderson

27 Understanding Islam A faithful Muslim must both believe and act according to the revelation given in the Qur an. He or she is to do this as an act of submission to the will of Allah. After all, the word Islam means submission, and the word Muslim describes one who submits. Kerby Anderson

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29 Understanding Islam Democratic Islam - Turkey Autocratic Islam - Middle East Theocratic Islam - Iran Charles Dyer

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31 Understanding Islam Muhammad s Successor Leadership Criteria Sunni Abu-Bakr (father-in-law) Most Qualified (Consensus) Shiite Ali ibn Abi Talib (cousin - son-in-law) Bloodline Authority Wise but Fallible Infallible Proponents Al-Queda, ISIS Ayatollah Khomeini Local Leaders Imams Mujihadids and Ayatollahs Followers in the Middle east 80% 20% Countries Middle East Asia and Indonesia Iran, Yemen, and Southern Iraq

32 Understanding Islam Sufis - A Muslim who has a mystical approach to Islam. They believe God can be experienced personally. Kurds - A vast and varied ethnic group broadly dispersed and culturally and religiously hard to categorize. Wahhabism - A revival movement in Islam led by Ibn Abd al-wahhab ( ) in Saudi Arabia calling for purity. Al-Qaeda - A political movement in Islam begun by Sayyid Qutb ( ) calling for jihad and global domination.

33 Understanding Islam the more common interpretation, and that of the overwhelming majority of classical jurists and commentators, presents jihad as armed struggle for Islam against infidels and apostates. Bernard Lewis Professor of Near Eastern Studies Princeton University

34 Understanding Islam Six Articles of Faith There is no God but Allah Belief in angels and jinn Belief in holy books (104) (Moses, Psalms, Ingil/Gospels, Qur an) Belief in God s prophets - (Mohammed is the greatest) Belief in predestination Belief in final judgment Kerby Anderson

35 Understanding Islam Scriptures of Islam Qur an (recitation) - The Qur an is perfect (in Arabic) and is the final revelation from God. Hadith (report) - the collection of traditions regarding the life and sayings of the prophet Muhammad and how he responded to others. Along with the Qur an, the Hadith is the second source for Shari a law. Holy Books (over 104) - writings of many prophets before Muhammad. Bible (Moses, Psalms) - corrupted revelation from God. Injil (gospel) - corrupted revelation from the prophet Jesus.

36 Understanding Islam Five Pillars of Islam Shahadah (Creed) - There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is the prophet of Allah. Salat (Prayer) - Praying five times a day in Arabic facing Mecca. Zakat (Almsgiving) - 2.5% of income given to the poor or for evangelism. Sawn (Fasting) - Fasting in daylight hours during Ramadan. Hajj (Pilgrimage) - Every able-bodied male must travel to Mecca once in his lifetime.

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39 Understanding Islam Barriers to the Gospel Islam is both a religious and cultural identity. Cultural and family pressure to be faithful. The Qur an is seen as a final, correcting revelation from God. God is absolutely transcendent and not involved or gracious. Islam appeals to a human desire to do it on our own. There is great fear of the West, progress, corruption, and infidels. Dialogue is at odds with the majority interpretation of jihad.

40 Understanding Islam Opportunities for the Gospel Islam Monotheism: God is One. Christianity Trinity: God is three in One. Jesus was a prophet. Jesus is God. Jesus did not die on the cross. Jesus did die on the cross. The Bible is corrupted. The Bible is the Word of God. Humans are good by nature. Humans are sinful by nature. Salvation is by works. Salvation is by grace.

41 Understanding Islam Opportunities for the Gospel Operation Christmas Child Prayer for visions and dreams (esp. during Ramadan) The Bible and especially the Gospels are holy books. Read it. Jesus is in the Qur an and He knows the way to heaven (3:43-55). The Torah and Gospels are to be obeyed (Sura 5:65-66). Emphasize the grace of God. John 3:16 is critical. Pray. Pray. Pray.

42 Confidence allows you to be curious without feeling threatened. A lack of confidence will lead to combativeness or cowardice.

43 God loves Muslims and Jesus died for Muslims; Jesus is the only hope for Muslims and world peace.

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