Islam, A Review Of

A STUDY OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGION

Introduction: On September 11, 2001 nineteen Arabian men, hijacked 4 American planes. Two planes flew into the World Trade Towers killing thousands of lives. One plane crashed into the Pentagon killing more people and one plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. What did these nineteen men have in common? They were Muslims, they believed they were doing the will of their God, Allah. Not much has been said about this religion until recently. We want to take this time to study some of the history, its core beliefs, and compare it to the Bible.

A. BACKGROUND

a. The Arab nations trace their lineage back to Abraham

i. Ishmael the son of Abraham, Genesis 16.10

ii. After the death of Sarah, Abraham married Keturah and had six children, Genesis 25.1

iii. The nation of Israel often battled their neighbors

iv. During the time of Jesus the Jews and Gentiles distrusted and disliked one another

v. This animosity continued after the preaching of the Gospel. Mohammad killed 900 unbelieving “Jews” near Medina in 627 AD.

b. The Arabs claim to be the rightful owners of Canaan as do the Jews.

B. ORIGIN

a. Mohammad

i. Born in Mecca in 570 AD

ii. At the age of 40 he was supposedly visited by the angel Gabriel, 610 AD. For the next twenty three years he received “revelations.”

iii. He became a military leader, was illiterate, and claimed no supernatural powers, i.e. perform miracles.

iv. We are warned to not take supposed prophets at their word but let them prove themselves, Deut. 18.18-22; Mark 16.17ff; Hebrews 2.4

v. 622 AD he and his followers were forced out of Mecca and when to Medina. This became the 1st Muslim community. Superior forces from Mecca attacked Medina a number of times but were always driven back.

vi. Eventually Mohammad and his forces were able to take control of Mecca.

b. After his death, Abu Bekr complied Mohammad’s teachings. The earliest copies were 200 years after this.

i. The Quran, Koran is composed of 114 Surahs, (chapters); and 6236 ayat (verses). It is a little shorter than the New Testament.

ii. By the 15th century it was claimed Mohammad worked miracles, was sinless, and a special prophet of God.

iii. Islam – means submission or peace.

iv. Muslim – one who submits wholeheartedly to God

v. Quran or Koran – the recitation

vi. Mohammad – “God’s Final Prophet,” “The Prophet” or “The Messenger”

1. They claim to recognize the Bible as being from God but Jesus was just a prophet where Mohammad is the final prophet.

c. The Bible is God’s revelation to mankind, 2 Peter 1.3; Revelation 22.18-19

d. Size of the Muslim religion

i. 1.4 billion followers of Mohammad; only 20 percent of Muslims live in Arab countries

ii. Second largest religion in the United Kingdom; the fastest growing group in Europe; currently the 8th largest religion in the United States and projected to become the 2nd largest.

iii. They are the majority religion in 57 countries with Africa having the greatest concentration.

C. Five Basic Tenets

a. There is no God but Allah

i. This Allah is not the same God, Jehovah. “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.

ii. They do not believe Jesus is the Son of God or the Holy Spirit.

iii. "(He is) the Creator of the heavens and the earth: He has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by thismeans does He multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things)." 42:11

b. There are five daily prayers one must recite

i. With such prayers there are body movements

c. The giving of alms for the poor is mandatory. This is based on percentage

d. One must fast during the month of Ramadan.

i. Due to the Islamic calendar being based on twelve months of 28 days their seasons change during the year. The month of Ramadan changes as to the time of the year.

ii. They are to fast from sunrise to dusk.

e. Every person is to travel to Mecca

f. Some add a sixth basic tenet: Jihad (holy war) against the unbelievers

i. When you meet the unbelievers (Christians or Jews) in the battle fields strike off their heads”

ii. “Make war on them (Christians or Jews) until idolatry is no more and Allah’s religion reigns supreme.”

D. Statements of Belief

a. Paradise – a place where men will have dark-eyed maidens who will provide sexual delights forever (chapter 54) “with goblets, and cups out of clean-flowing fountains; no after-ache will they receive there from, nor will they receive any intoxication” (65:18-19)

b. Women – “You may put off any of your wives you please and take to your bed any of those whom you have temporarily set aside…It shall be lawful for you to take more wives or to change your present wives for other women, except where slavegirls are concerned” (The Believers, p. 216 & The Confederate Tribes, p. 299)

c. Predestination – “It is not for any soul to die save by God’s permission, written down for an appointed time” (16.38); “naught shall be fall us, save what God has written down for

us” (9.51).

E. Contrast Between Quran and Old Testament

QURAN OLD TESTAMENT

Son Drowned (11.42-43) Noah All saved (Genesis 7.1-5)

Left his father (6.75; 19.47ff) Abraham Did not leave him (Genesis 11.32; 12.4; Acts 7.4)

Stayed behind Lot’s Wife Did not stay behind (Genesis 19.16)

Potiphar near the door Potiphar’s wife Potiphar not home (Genesis 19.16)

Urged Joseph to forgive Joseph Imprisoned for resisting Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39.20)

Cupbearer tells the interpretation (12.43-49) Pharaoh’s Dream Joseph tells interpretation

(Genesis 41.4-13)

F) The Quran Contradicts The New Testament

Quran New Testament

Father silent 3 days John the Baptist Silent 9 months (Luke 1.19-20; 2.59-64)

Polygamy allowed Marriage One wife/one husband (1 Cor. 7.2)

Paradise Marriage No marriage there (Luke 20.35)

Easy – for many reasons Divorce One reason only (Matthew 19.9)

Exchange wives Divorce Married for life (Romans 7.2)

Kill them Opponents Love your enemies (Matthew 5.44)

G) Contradictions in the Koran

Fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them…Fight those who believe not in God nor the last day (9.5,29)

Let there be no compulsion in religion (2.256)

Any who believes in God whether Jews, Christians or Sabians shall have their reward with the Lord (2.62)

019.033

YUSUFALI: "So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"! 004.157

YUSUFALI: 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 no 019.033

YUSUFALI: "So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!

H) Current Problems Based On The Past

1. 1917 The Balfour Declaration – a national home for the Jewish people

2. May 14, 1947 United Nations proclaimed the establishment of “Israel”

3. Sixteen minutes later President Harry Truman announced the recognition of Israel by the U.S.

4. Wars breaks out between the Arabs and Israel on May 15, 1947.

The central problem is: Israel is not God’s nation; and Islam is not God’s religion.

Conclusion: John 14.6-7; Romans 3.28-29

SERMON INDEX