It is being said that, “more Muslims have come to Christ in the past two decades than at any other time in history.” Reports of massive baptisms and numerous new church starts in almost all Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, are being circulated in missionary circles.
What is Islam?
Islam, which means “submission,” is the second largest and youngest major religion in the world. The founder, Muhammad (570-632 AD), is believed to be God’s final prophet. Islam’s basic tenet is the shahadatan: “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” The followers of the Islamic faith are called Muslims. A person becomes a Muslim by reciting and believing the shahadatan.
Muslims believe that God has used many prophets through the ages to reveal his will to the world. They include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus in their list of prophets. Muhammad is believed to be the last of the prophets. Thus, his revelation, the Qur’an, from God is viewed to be the final immutable message for mankind.
Six basic beliefs of Muslims:
- Belief in God: The one and only God worthy of worship
- Belief in Angels
- Belief in Holy Books sent by God:
The Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (books of Abraham)
The Tawrat sent to Musa (Moses)
The Zabur sent to Daud (David)
The Injil sent to Isa (Jesus)
The Qur’an sent to Muhammad
- Belief in prophets and messengers of God
- Belief in Day of Judgement and life after death
- Belief in fate
Muslim creed:
“I testify that there is no god but God Almighty, Who is One (and only One) and there is no associate with Him; and I testify that Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), is His Messenger.”
“I believe in God; and in His Angels; and in His Scriptures; and in His Messengers; and in The Final Day; and in Fate, that All things are from God, and Resurrection after death be Truth.”
The Qur’an:
Sacred text of Islam
Islam’s sacred book is the Qur’an. This revered text is considered accurate in its original Arabic. Serious study of this book is only done in the Arabic version although it has been translated into English and some other languages. When Muslims refer to the Qur’an, they typically mean the actual words and not the printed book. The Qur’an is believed to reveal the final words of God. Although Muslims respect the Gospels, the Torah and Jewish prophetic books, they consider them as having been distorted or corrupted by their followers. Thus, the Qur’an is considered the flawless correction and final revelation to the world.