Islam

1. Islam I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

2. Islam: Militant Unitarianism • A unique challenge to missions: • Only major post-Christian religion (founded 610 AD) • Borrowed heavily from Judaism and Christianity • Second to Christianity with over 1 billion • Aggressively expanding in Africa, Europe and N. America with oil-money mosque building and immigrations • The most resistant group to evangelization • Only religion to have conquered “Christian” regions militarily • Founded by ‘Prophet’ Muhammad 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

3. Islam: Militant Unitarianism • Muslim means “those who submit” • A militant deistic Unitarianism, which claims to be the original and final religion • Believe the books of the Prophets (Bible) were corrupted and the original message was given again in Qumran (Koran) • Mohammad is considered the last and greatest prophet • Recognize Jesus as a prophet, but deny His deity and saving death • Islam is not just a religion, but a whole way of life: political, social and cultural 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

4. Muhammad, the last prophet • Born about 570 AD in city of Mecca, Arabia, in animistic, idolatrous desert culture • Came in contact with Jews and “Christians” who were equally corrupt • At 40 claimed he received a revelation from an angel in a cave near Mecca • He began to preach a religion of one absolute God (Allah), Creator, Ruler & Judge • Opposition forced him to migrate to Medina in 622 (called Hegira) • Able to gain religious, political and military power, in 8 years returned to conquer Mecca • By 632 he gained both political and religious supremacy over all Arabia 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

5. Islam spreads and splits • Within a 20 years of death Islam conquered Jerusalem, Egypt, Iraq, Persia and Asia Minor • In less than a 100 yrs conquered all of N. Africa, Spain and finally stopped at Tours, France in 732 AD • Muhammad did not have a successor. First two Caliphs were not disputed, but 3rd was murdered. 4th Caliph was Muhammad’s cousin, Ali, who along with his son, Hussain, were killed and Islam split 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

6. Islam spreads and splits • The majority called Sunnites (traditional) (about 90%). • The minority called Shi’a (the party, sect) felt Ali was divinely appointed. The Shi’a are located in Iran and Iraq, with minority groups in other countries • Another sect, Ahmadiyyas, from the Punjab of India/Pakistan are considered heretical by the majority – very evangelistic in making converts in Africa and West – Target Christians 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

7. Islamic Faith: Deistic Unitarian Legalism • God is one, absolute sovereign, whose will is arbitrary and changeable – Allah’s transcendence makes him unknowable • His majesty and power are emphasized, but love is considered a human emotion unworthy of God • Doctrine of absolute predestination becomes very fatalistic: Muslims must submit to an arbitrary Sovereign • Doctrine of the Trinity was abhorrent to Muhammad, probably because he understood Mary to be part of the trinity • Salvation is by human merit, somehow harmonized with predestination and fulfillment of 5 pillars of Muslim practice in an extreme Pharisaic system 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

8. Islamic Faith: Deistic Unitarian Legalism • The prophets God sent to man include Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus (Hazrat Isa), but Muhammad supersedes all the prophets and the Qur’an supersedes the Bible • Muhammad preached a bodily resurrection and judgment based on human merit. Their hope is a sensual paradise; unbelievers and faithless will go to 1 of 7 hells. There is no dualism between flesh and spirit, thus everything is viewed materialistically 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

9. Five Pillars of Islamic Practice • Recitation daily of the creed (Shahada): “Allah is great. There is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the apostle of Allah” • Ritual Prayers (Salaah) in Arabic while bowing toward Mecca. The ‘faithful’ are called to prayer 5 x a day by a Mullah or Imam, etc). On Friday prayers in mosque follow a sermon by leader • Month-long fast (Sawm) during month of Ramadan from food, water, smoking and sex in day • Amsgiving (Zakaat): 2.5% of assets must be given to poor, homeless, debtors and for the spread of Islam – this practice encourages beggars in Muslim lands • Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajji): once in a lifetime must make trip and perform certain rituals there including marching around the Kaaba 7 times. 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

10. The Qur’an and Traditions • Situational factors in Qur’an effectively remove moral demands as far as honesty, sexual purity, etc. • Muslim men may have 4 wives, but can have up to 12. Marriage and divorce is mere repetition 3 times of “I marry you” or “I divorce you”! • Abstain from pork and alcohol, veiling of women and Jihad, “holy war” against infidels • Since Mohammad was illiterate, Qur’an was memorized, and not written until after his death! 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

11. The Qur’an and Traditions • In the story of Abraham, it was Ishmael (father of Arabs), not Isaac, who was offered up! • Jesus was mentioned 93 times, but someone else was crucified in his place, since Allah would not allow His holy prophet to be crucified • Jesus is alive today in heaven and will come to establish Islam on earth! • Many traditions (Hadith) of what Muhammad did or said are many held by different sects. 865 million Muslims in 3,330 people groups

12. Least reached religious blocs Western 100 M Tribal 243 M Buddhist 377 M Chinese 600 M Hindu 841 M Muslim 1,272 M

13. Foreign missionaries working with least reached religious blocs Muslim 7,000 Western 60,000 Hindu 5,000 Tribal 11,200 Chinese 2,000 Buddhist 1,800