LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
World Religion Engagement Paper
Islam
Submitted to Dr. David H. Campbell, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the completion of the course
APOL 525–B01
Pluralism and World Religions
by
Scott R. Reichert
October 14, 2015
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
Theological Islam.......................................................................................................... 2
History....................................................................................................................... 2
Basic Tenets .............................................................................................................. 4
Quran and Other Authority ....................................................................................... 8
Practical Islam ............................................................................................................... 9
Sharing the Gospel with a Muslim Audience: A Walk with Ish................................. 10
Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 11
Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 13
ii
WORLD RELIGION ENGAGMENT PAPER – ISLAM
Introduction
I worked for a company J & J Service. This company was a contract agent to CocaCola fountain, McDonald’s division. I was called a QMC technician. What this entailed was
travelling throughout the country, primarily the Mid-Atlantic area, visiting all the McDonald’s
restaurants. During these visits, I evaluated and adjusted their fountain systems to ensure the
highest quality beverage that is attainable. I was also responsible to report any deficiencies to
local management. With the fountain system providing a substantial share of cash flow in the
restaurants, I was afforded the attention of the owners, usually. Many McDonald’s restaurants
are owned by minorities, with quite a few Muslims in the mix. This gave me a great opportunity
to witness to several of them through my work experience. For this assignment, I am revisiting
an old friend, Ishtaq Malik. Ishtaq, who would always say, “Call me Ish,” became a friend of
mine. He owns several McDonald’s in the Pittsburgh area. Surprisingly we were first introduced
to each other immediately following the terrorist disasters of September 11, 2001.We have had
several discussions about Islam, and Christianity, since then. He is trying very hard to convert
me to Islam, and I him to Christianity. We are still at a stalemate.
This interaction highlights the difficulty in presenting the Gospel to a Muslim. They
are very similar to Christianity in their desire for missions. In the next few paragraphs, I will
highlight the basic history, tenets, and practice of Islam. I will finish with a section specifically
concerning my interactions with Ish and some approaches that have worked better than others
have, particularly after reading Corduan’s ideas.
1
2
Theological Islam
History
When learning of Islam, a Christian may immediately think of two things,
Muhammed, and the Qur’an. This is probably due to our own experience of Jesus (as deity), and
the Bible (the authoritative scripture). However, Islam is not this clear-cut. Paradoxically,
although Islam is focused on the writings and teachings of a single person, Muhammed, it does
not worship or deify him in any way1. Likewise, our belief of the Qur’an being the equivalent of
the Bible is inaccurate. To understand these issues it is necessary to have a short history of Islam.
Although most would credit Muhammed as the founder of Islam, he is not a deity in
Islam. He is God’s last prophet2. Muhammed was born in Mecca in 570 AD. Mecca was a
prosperous city because it lay at the center of several trade routes and was involved in religious
pilgrimages prior to the founding of Islam. Muhammed was an orphan that was raised by his
Uncle. Circa 610 AD Muhammed was meditating in a cave when the angel Gabriel presented
himself. Despite Muhammed’s illiteracy, Gabriel showed Muhammed a book and ordered him to
read it. Muhammed memorized this book (miraculously, and after being beaten into submission
by Gabriel3) and relayed it to others. This is how the Qur’an (examined later) was first conceived
1
Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths. Second Ed. (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press,
2013), 243, Kindle Edition.
2 Farida Khanam, ed. The Quran, Translated by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (New Delhi: Goodword
Books, 2009), 33:40
3 Ma'mar Ibn Rashid, Expeditions: An Early Biography of Muhammad. Edited by Sean W Anthony.
Translated by Sean W Anthony (New York, 2014), 50-54, Proquest Ebrary.
3
albeit there were many further additions.4 Muhammed began preaching on this received message.
It was slow to take hold. Eventually, the new religion started to take hold. This group began
calling themselves Muslims, “those who submit to God,” and their practice as Islam,
“submission to God.” Because of primarily economic motives, this group was persecuted and
eventually forced to flee Mecca for Medina in 622 AD. This flight was called the Hijra and it is
the basis of the Islamic calendar similar to our system based on the birth of Christ.5
In Medina Muhammed was welcomed. He was so respected that he was put in charge
and made a type of sheriff or judge. He was selected to solve disputes between residents. There
was a large Jewish residency already in Medina. Originally, Muhammed had allowed the Jews to
maintain their faith; however, a perceived incursion from a small group ended up leading to the
genocide of the Jewish people in Medina. Muhammed had gone from outcast to despot in a short
time period.6
Muhammed’s followers grew. They accepted not only his theological ideas, but his
political leadership as well. After some time, His army grew large enough and he overtook
Mecca. Mecca had been a center of pilgrimage for the native Arabian religion of polytheistic and
animistic bases. It contained many shrines and idols.7 Muhammed eradicated all of this with the
exception of the Kaaba, and the well Zamzam. The Kaaba, which means cube, was a shrine
originally for the main God of the indigenous Arabian religion, Hubal. Zamzam was a well dug,
4 Maulana Muhammed Ali, "A Manual of Hadith," Sacred Texts, (1944), accessed October 15, 2015,
http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/hadith/had04.htm.
5
Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, 257
6
Ibid., 260.
7
Ibid., 246.
4
supposedly, by an ancestor of Muhammed. God ordered it to be dug. Although the well existed
prior to the Islamic religion, Muhammed seems to have usurped its holiness.8 Muhammed died in
632 AD. He was the political and religious leader of the majority of the Arabian Peninsula.9
Muhammed’s death became a crux in the religion. There were initially debates to
deify him or not. The latter won out. More importantly, the line of succession, the caliph,
Muhammed’s replacement had to be determined. Muhammed, despite his numerous wives, had
only female children. A battle developed between two people for this position. On the one side
was Muhammed’s son-in-law, and on the other was his father-in-law. The son-in-law, Ali ben
Talib, was the obvious choice. However, he was not well liked; therefore, he commanded the
smaller group. A schism occurred. This is where the Sunni, the majority position, and the Shiite
positions arose. The Shiites had further schisms and other groups were formed. Each group
believes their caliph speaks directly to God.10 Today, Islam is the fastest growing worldwide
religion and is estimated almost to equal Christians in number by the year 2050.11
Basic Tenets
The message of Muhammed focused on three main points: (1) there is only one God,
(2) humans beings are obligated to submit to God’s will, and (3) there will be a judgement day.12
8
Ma'mar Ibn Rashid, Expeditions.
9
Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, 261.
10
Ibid., 262-293.
11
Pew Research Group, "The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050,"
Pew Research Center, April 2, 2015, accessed October 16, 2015, http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religiousprojections-2010-2050/.
12
Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, 251.
5
There is some subjectivity concerning the identity of this one God, Allah, and the JudeoChristian God Yahweh. Firstly, let us point out that Allah is not necessarily a proper noun. This
is very similar in English there is god and there is God. From a historical perspective, this is the
same God of Judaism and Christianity. However, from a theological perspective, they are
mutually exclusive. Muslims absolutely deny any possibility of a sexual God procreating a
human son.13 Muslims have a steeped angelology and demonology. As previous related,
Muhammed received the message calling him to Islam from the archangel Gabriel. The demons,
call jinn, are significantly weaker than the angels are.
One of the most well known aspects of Islam to westerners is their belief in prophets.
Muhammed is referred to as the Great Prophet in most writings, but he is not the only. There are
twenty-five prophets listed in the Qur’an; however, this is not a closed list. Most of these are
biblical characters, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, David, and Jesus.
Interestingly, the prophets left books. Moses left the Law, Jesus the New Testament, as well as
others.14 This of course leaves questions for the Christian audience, and I for Ish. If this is true,
then how can Islam not receive Christ’s message of the New Testament? Regardless, these books
are an Islamic back door into heaven, so to speak. Anyone who follows the tenets of these books
is known as a “person of the book” and as such is permitted salvation. Therefore, there is,
theoretically, a temperance allowed for other religions.
Earlier we mentioned the three basic premises upon which Muhammed built Islam.
The last of this list concerned the existence of a judgement day. There are many similarities to
the Christian idea of the judgement day. This day will include the resurrection of the dead and
13
Ibid., 304.
14
Ibid., 310.
6
the presenting of one’s transgressions. The focus in this judgement day is based on the second
original principle presented, submission to Allah’s will. Did they follow his commands? Allah is
merciful. He probably will forgive the transgression of an otherwise righteous person. However,
there is no reassurance of this. Here the practice of the Allah’s commands is slightly different
from Judaism. Judaism’s focus is keeping the commands to maintain a relationship with God. In
Islam, following these commands is, indeed, a means to salvation.15
These commands are based off the five pillars of Islam that many have heard of. They
are confession, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. The first pillar, confession, is simple.
Confess that there is only one god, God, and that Muhammed is His prophet.16 This leads us to an
interesting aside. Being the voice of God on Earth, what Muhammed says, goes. There was an
incident earlier in Muhammed’s life concerning marriage to a cousin through adoption. As this
marriage was considered incest in the Arab world at the time, Muhammed miraculously (and
conveniently) had a revelation from God. This revelation decreed the infallibility of the prophet,
outlawed adoption, and then retroactively forgave the prophet for the original transgression.17 I
guess it is good to be the king.
The next Pillar is prayer. Although prayer can be performed anywhere, men are
encouraged to do so at a mosque. If a mosque is not available, any sanctified area may be used.
The sanctification process can be as simple as laying down a prayer rug. These prayers are said
five times a day, and are ritual in nature. Ceremonial washing is performed beforehand. The
prayers themselves are rote, throughout which they require certain positions to be adopted
15
Ibid., 313.
16
Ibid., 317.
17
Khanam, ed. The Quran, 33:36-38.
7
(facing Mecca). Men and women pray separately. On Fridays, there is formal prayer at the
mosque.
In the month of Ramadan Muhammed received his first revelations from the angel
Gabriel. Because of this, Muslims celebrate by fasting during daylight hours. Islam follows a
lunar calendar.18 Unlike Judaism, that also follows a lunar calendar, Islam does not adjust itself to
coincide with the rest of society’s solar calendar. Therefore, Islamic months and holy times
actually cycle through more quickly than other religions that are based on or correct for the solar
calendar.19
Almsgiving is the fourth pillar of Islam. This requirement is a voluntary donation to
the poor. “Attend to your prayers, give the zakat [prescribed alms] and bow down with those
who bow down.”20 Unlike the Bible’s tithe, the Qur’an does not prescribe a specific means of
doing so.
The final pillar is pilgrimage. Muslims are required to visit Mecca, if at all possible,
at least once in their lives. However, contrary to popular belief, Mecca is not the only holy city
of pilgrimage. Medina and Jerusalem are considered holy places also. There are also other sects
of Islam that have dedicated their own holy cities including, Karballa, Iraq, and Qum, Iran. The
pilgrimage is not just a vacation. There is a detailed, seven component process that the pilgrim
must perform.
Aside from and in addition to these five pillars, there are other requirements
concerning modesty of dress and dietary restrictions. The dietary restrictions are not as neatly
18
Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, 317-336.
19
Ibid., 254.
20
Khanam, ed. The Quran 2:43.
8
delineated as the Jewish kosher laws. However, the avoidance of pork and pork by-products are
to be avoided. The dress is not specified within the Qur’an but only designated as modest. The
stereotype of the Muslim female walking around completely shielded in cloth with only her eyes
showing, is not true of all Muslims. The Qur’an only specifies that women should keep their
shawls over their “adornments” and not move their legs to expose their lower “adornments”. It
also provides for a long list of exceptions to this, mostly close relatives (I am assuming so they
can relax at home). 21 There are some principalities, such as Iran, that have included the
stereotypical garb in there law (sharia).22
Quran and Other Authority
The Qur’an is the highest form of authority in Islam. It in itself simply means, book.
It was presented to Muhammed by the angel Gabriel. It is a collection of Muhammed’s
utterances recorded by other people. Muhammed himself was illiterate. The chronicle of the
Qur’an is unique, and paradoxical. Firstly, it was given to an illiterate man to be read by the
angel Gabriel. However, this is not the only paradox. As we previously mentioned, the Qur’an
allows for the other books, like Psalms, Torah, and the New Testament. Within the Qur’an, there
are many biblical references. However, these stories have been adapted to support the Muslim
faith. Which arises a contradiction. How can one attest to Jesus’ the prophets book but not abide
in its truth? The answer is that the scriptures left by Jesus had been tampered with and badly
21
Ibid., 24:31.
22
Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, 344.
9
distorted by human hands.23 Muslims avoid this dilemma with their holy book with an interesting
system. In the early seventh century, the third caliph, Uthman, collected all evidences of the
Qur’an. This included the current Qur’an as well as any writings that were included with or
about it. He re-edited the Qur’an and destroyed all other material. Since this time, the Qur’an has
remained nearly unchanged. Additionally, there is one other stipulation as to the Qur’an’s
authority. It is only authoritative in its original Arabic.
The next level of authority comes from the hadiths. The hadiths are the second level.
They are recordings of informal utterances from the prophet Muhammed. Additionally, they are
recordings of his actions. As Christians often say WWJD, the hadiths are recorded evidences of
what Muhammed would do.
This finally leads one to the discussion of sharia. Sharia is Islamic law that is based
on the Qur’an. It is a melding of written law, and practical law. It is based on different schools of
thought that have different perspectives.24
Practical Islam
Practical Islam is very much like what has been discussed in the previous section.
Some minor differences would attest to some folk religion practices. However, the majority of
Muslims try to keep to the commands of Allah. One of the major diversions mentioned by
Corduan is the overabundance of animism. This can be somewhat attributed to the general lack
23
Ibid., 307.
24
Ibid., 298.
10
of technologically advanced cultures in Islam.25 Two other areas that have some folk roots are
with the hajj (pilgrimage), and the zakat (almsgiving). Concerning the pilgrimage, it has become
common practice to send someone in your stead, if you are unable to complete this. As far as the
zakat, a complex system has been developed that accounts for all of your assets and debits and
then calculates an amount based on your net worth that one must contribute.26
Sharing the Gospel with a Muslim Audience: A Walk with Ish
Over the past five years or so I have interacted with Ish and attempted to share the
Gospel with him. Islam is an especially difficult religion to evangelize. My walk with Ish has
demonstrated that. Our initial encounter so many years ago was primarily concerning the events
of the September terrorist attacks. Ish was mostly giving me a lesson on the theology of Islam
and how it is a peaceful religion. I would affirm that although Qur’an provides for jihad over
what some may consider less than respectful motives (like the perception of violating a contract),
most adherents are peace-loving people.
Ish’s apologetic centered on two points primarily, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the
internal contradictions of the Bible. Because of Ish, I have brushed up on my theology of the
Holy Trinity. A Christian must be able to defend this against polytheism. Despite my assertions,
however, Ish is not convinced, although he does have a greater understanding of it.
The Christian must also be able to support the Bible when approached from this
perspective. When reviewing older manuscripts and codices, God’s preservation of the Holy
Bible is miraculously accurate. The one piece of information I learned from this course that was
25
Ibid., 306.
26
Ibid., 337.
11
helpful in my continuing discussion is the data concerning Uthman’s destruction of all previous
evidence of Qur’an contradiction. It would be easy to make similar claims if all evidence prior to
the seventh century concerning the Bible’s authenticity were burned.
However, these apologetics aside, the greatest polemic I have made against Islam and
for Christianity, is its evidential nature. The greatest shortcoming of Islam is not in the Qur’an or
in minutia. It is in the overarching problem that it is all based one the preaching of one person,
Muhammed, who did not even live by his own revelations. In fact, when he decided he wanted to
marry what would have been an incestual relation, he received a new revelation permitting it.
Additionally he far exceeded his own limit of four wives.
Contrarily, Christianity is based on a millennia old dogma of Judaism that was
fulfilled through Christ. The life and preaching of Christ was well attested by myriad people. The
writings of Paul and James are well documented, and attested as valid by many hard-core
sceptics. This apologetic has been fleshed out wonderfully by Gary Habermas in his book, The
Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic premise is that Jesus was a man that claimed
to be God; he was crucified; he was resurrected on the third day.27 This is good evidence that he
was God. There are many additional evidences in this argument. Over time, these can be fleshed
out.
Conclusion
Islam is an internally rational system. As such, it can be very difficult to witness
against it. However, Christianity is also an internally rational system. The first step in witnessing
to a Muslim is by understanding their perspectives. With this understanding, one can begin to
27
Gary Habermas and Michael R Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Grand
Rapids: Kregel, 2004), 37.
12
point out the weakness in relying on a single person to determine one’s worldview. It is through
this method, coupled with a strong understanding of the Trinity, and Biblical inerrancy that I
began to have some headway. I certainly have not convinced Ish. However, he is an intelligent
man, and does see the reasoning and the danger.
In my introduction, I mentioned that I have been trying to convert Ish to Christianity
but we find ourselves at loggerheads. This was said somewhat tongue in cheek. I (we) do not do
the converting. We can only plant the seeds, perhaps clear some obstacles, and facilitate
conversion. The working of the Holy Spirit, and He alone can affect a true conversion.
13
Bibliography
Ali, Maulana Muhammed. "A Manual of Hadith." Sacred Texts. 1944. http://www.sacredtexts.com/isl/hadith/had04.htm (accessed October 15, 2015).
Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths. Second Ed. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press,
2013.
Habermas, Gary, and Michael R Licona. The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Grand
Rapids: Kregel, 2004.
Khanam, Farida, ed. The Quran. Translated by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. New Delhi:
Goodword Books, 2009.
Malik, Ishatq, interview by Scott R. Reichert. (September 30, 2015).
Pew Research Group. "The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 20102050." Pew Research Center. April 2, 2015.
http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/ (accessed
October 16, 2015).
Rashid, Ma'mar Ibn. Expeditions: An Early Biography of Muhammad. Edited by Sean W
Anthony. Translated by Sean W Anthony. New York, 2014.