Have you ever thought why Muslims take a month out of each year to practice ritual fasting? I have, and I would love to share this reality with you so you can have some points to speak to your Muslim friends about and so that you can also pray for them. Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Since it follows the lunar cycle, its exact dates change annually based on the [...]
In Islamic apologetics one inevitably comes across Muslims who, in their interaction with Jews and with Christians in particular, argue that the Bible mentions and prophesied the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This argument usually comes as a surprise to Christians and Jews, and those who are familiar with their Scriptures who will often reply that they have never seen any such references to Muhammad. Many prominent Muslim apologists have written and argued for the biblical support [...]
Definition of Islamic Theism Islam is the second largest religion in the World, just after Christianity, with around 1.9 billion people in the world today who identify as Muslims. Muslims count themselves as the followers of one God only or strict monotheists. The Islamic God is called Allah, and Muslims are called to live all of their lives in absolute submission to him. Muslims have six major beliefs: Belief in one God (Allah) Belief in [...]
A Short History The events of September 11 are significant in world history. It wasn't just a random date picked by the Muslim terrorists who attacked the United States in 2001, using four American aircraft to crash one into the Pentagon, another into a field in Pennsylvania, and two more into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. It also commemorates the day in 1683 when the Muslim troops of the Ottoman Empire [...]
1. The Development of the Isma Doctrine. Throughout the Muslim world today it is generally believed that all of the prophets enjoyed an isma, a protection against sin, and that they were accordingly sinless. It is one of the anomalies of Islam that this Doctrine has been established and maintained against the plain teaching of the Qur'an and Hadith to the contrary. The orthodox belief is that the prophets do not commit sin, and are sinless (ma'sum), [...]
Jesus says in John 14:15; “If you love me, keep my commands.” Do Muslims believe in the commands of Jesus? Here are some commands: "Believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1). Can Muslims say they believe in God and Jesus with the same affection and adherence? Do Muslims: “believe IN the One He sent" (John 5:38) Is Jesus the object of faith? Jesus says "...everyone who lives and believes in me will never [...]
(10 minute-read) Pre-Islamic Arabia or the Jahiliyyah (before 610 AD). The Socio-Economic Context Contrary to belief, pre-Islamic Arabia and the early desert Bedouins were not isolated from the rest of the world, being stoop in ignorance. Still, they had contact with ancient and contemporary civilizations, including Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and Persia. Even before Islam's rise, Mecca owed its existence to both trade and pilgrimage, writes M.J. Kister. Bernard Lewis, in his excellent book "The Arabs [...]
(5-Minute read). Traditionally, the word Hadīth’ (Arabic: حديث ʾhādīṯ or plural ahādīth أحاديث) [1] means ‘communication’ or ‘narrative’ and in an Islamic setting, it would pertain to the stories about the life of Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Shaik Kadir in his helpful book, ‘Islam Explained’, writes; “Apart from the Qur’an, there is another book that Muslims rely on for guidance — the Hadith, which contains the words and deeds of the Prophet. The Islamic [...]
(15-Minute read). Keith Small wrote that any religion professing to be the sole foundation of truth should never shy away from any form of scrutiny. He wrote; “Many people of all faiths and no faith have come to realize that religious tradition cannot be followed blindly. If a religion is to commend itself in this age, it must be open to the hardest and best questions put to it. We no longer live in [...]
The person of Jesus Christ has a very central role in both Christianity and in Islam. Houlden (2005:404) writes that in Islam Jesus is a servant (‘abd) of God, a prophet (nabi), a sign (aya), an example (mathal), a witness (shahid), and a mercy (rahma) to all humanity. Jesus is eminent (wajih) and even brought near to God (min al-muqarrabin) and seen as one of the upright (min al-salihin) and he is blessed (Mubarak). The [...]
