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Understanding the Unavoidable

Islam of the Qur’an:

InfantArabic Gospel

The Gospel

ofThomas

SecondTargum

ofEsther

The Gospel

ofNicodemu

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The Glory of

the Martyrs

The Romance

of Alexande

r the Great

The Testamen

t of Abraham

Sources Borrowed by Muhammad

The New Testament

The Old Testamen

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INSIDE THE QUR’AN

Christianity Judaism

Arabic Paganism

Zoroastrianism

Qur’an

Islam: Toward a Common Understanding

Dr. David Cook

Muslim Countries

Key Religious Sites In Saudi Arabia

Mecca and Medina

Meccafounded 4th cen. A.D.

Medina (Yathrib)

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Red Sea200 MILES

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Definitions

Arab Spring: This term refers to a group of protests in the Arab worldthat began on Saturday, 18 December 2010. To date, rulers have been forced frompower in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, and civil uprisings have erupted inBahrain and Syria. Major protests have also broken out in other countries such as Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman to list just a few.

Mosque: A place of worship for the followers of Islam.

Dhimmi: This term refers to a non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia law. Linguistically, the word means "one whose responsibility has been taken."

In Islamic lands, two sets of laws exist: one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. The laws designated for Muslims are decisively advantageous over the laws for non-Muslims.

An important question debated by scholars is whether the practice of dhimminitude resides in the distant past or is a problem in our current times. Bat Ye’or has noted that since the idea of dhimminitude is rooted in the Qur’an, it should be of no surprise to see it re-emerge on the current world stage. Various forms of dhimminitude now exist in Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Dhimminitude includes the following:

• The prohibition of arms.

• The prohibition of church bells.

• Restrictions concerning the renovation and restoration of homes, churches, synagogues, and temples.

• Inequality between Muslims and non-Muslims in regards to taxes and penal law.

• Requirement to wear special clothing.

Jihad: The word Jihad stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means "strive.“ Other words derived from this root include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue.” Muslims divide Jihad into two categories:

• greater (inward) jihad: the mastery of the soul, to bring the soul into complete submission to Allah.

• lesser (outward) jihad: the mastery of the world, to bring the entire world into complete submission to Allah.

Muhammad Al-Ghazali (1058-1111), regarded as the greatest of Islamic theologians, insisted that all faithful Muslims should embrace both the greater and the lesser jihads. This is because both forms are taught at length in the Qur’an.

Moderate Muslims emphasize the greater jihad. Fundamentalist Muslims emphasize both the greater and the lesser jihads.

Infidels: Those who have never embraced the Islamic faith.

Apostate: A Muslim who has either (a) left the Islamic faith, (b) now mixes false teachings within the Islamic faith, or (c) lives in flagrant disobedience to the Qur’an and the will of Allah.

Shari’a Law: The moral code and religious law of Islam. Shari’a law has never been officially codified. Therefore various oral versions exist in the world. Common to all is: (a) the subjection of the entire world to Allah, (b) the subjection of women to men, and (c) the subjection of non-Muslims to Muslims.

Imam: Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community.

Caliph: The head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic community.

Ummah: an Islamic community ruled by the Shari’ah.

Caliphate: the political-religious state comprising the Muslim community and the landsand peoples under its dominion in the centuries following the death (A.D. 632) of theProphet Muḥammad. Ruled by a caliph (Arabic khalīfah, “successor”), who held temporaland sometimes a degree of spiritual authority, the empire of the Caliphate grew rapidlythrough conquest during its first two centuries to include most of Southwest Asia, NorthAfrica, and Spain. Dynastic struggles later brought about the Caliphate’s decline, and it ceased to exist with the Mongol destruction of Baghdad in 1258.

Secular/Moderate/Conservative Muslims: Secular Muslims often live in non-Muslim countries and have assimilated in many ways to the culture of that country, but might still consider themselves to be Muslim. Moderate Muslims would normally be definedas practicing Muslims who are opposed to radical or extreme views or measures, especially in politics or religion. Conservative Muslims would adhere strictly to all thelaws and edicts of Islam.

Arab: a person of Middle Eastern descent who speaks the Arabic language: from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, U.A.E., Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, etc. (Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia are five Muslim nations that are not Arabic).

Islam: the religion of those who follow the teachings of Mohammed as found in the Koran.

Muslim: an adherent to the religion of Islam.

Five Pillars of I S L A M

SIYAM

SALAT

SHAHADA

ZAKAT

HAJJ

FASTING

DAILY

PRAYER

CONFESSION

AL

MSGIVING

PILGRI

MAGE

Organizations Considered to be Terrorist Organizations

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

Hamas

Fatah

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Hezbollah (Party of God)

Shariah Law vs. U.S. Constitution(A few examples)

The Law- Islam Constitution

Conversion from Islam

Punished by death Protected under the First Amendment

Theft Punished by amputation

Punished by fine or imprisonment

Adultery Punished by stoning

Punished as a misdemeanor if punished at all

Mohammad was a RPM leader:

•Religious leader

•Political leader

•Military leader

“Fight those who believe not in God and in the last day, and who forbid not what God and His Apostle [Muhammad] have forbidden, and who do not practice the religion of truth from amongt those to whom the Book has been brought, until they pay the tribute by their hands and be as little ones” (Q 9:29)

Fight those: who believe not in Allah and in the last day [the Last Judgment]

who forbid not what Allah and His Apostle [Muhammad] have forbidden, and

who do not practice the religion of truth from amongst those to whom the Book [Bible] has been brought [that is, who embrace a corrupted Bible and believe that Jesus is the son of God]

dhimminitude

Arab Springs: Middle East Countries

Algeria

SudanYemen

Saudi Arabia

EgyptLibya

Jordan

Tunisia

Mauritania

MoroccoKuwait

IraqSyria

Israeli borderLebanon

Oman

BahrainWestern

Sahara

Islam and Modernity

The many voices of Islam

• The process of industrialization, modernization, and globalization has occurred irrespective of the influence of Islam.

• Muslims wrestling with modernity are confronted with issues that do not have historical Islamic solutions.

• The crisis within Islam created through modernization has resulted in a variety of responses.

Context

1. Islamists/Fundamentalists2. Puritans3. Traditionalists4. Ijtihadis5. Secularists6. African American7. Mystic Muslims8. Refugees9. Folk Muslims

Types of Muslims

7% of Muslims Worldwide Seek to develop an Islamic socio-political Muslim society. Reject nationalism, secularism, communism and

Westernization Want “Islamic” values and institutions to counter Western

counterparts. Goal: Islamic state Groups: Muslim Brotherhood (Salafia), Jama’at Islami and

Revolutionary Iran. Oppose: secularists, nationalists, liberals, modernists,

Westernized Muslims and some puritans.

Islamists/Fundamentalists

Want to get back to the time of Muhammed and his beliefs. Concerned with theological matters such as ‘correct belief.’ Get ride of reverence for saints and saint-worship, magic,

certain Sufi practices and any innovation (bid’ah). They are literalists. Groups: Wahhabis. Opposes: Shi’is, Mu’tazilis, Sufis, Muslim ‘orientalists’, innovators and liberal Ijtihadis.

Puritans

Believe there have been no new developments in Islam since 12th century.Follow strictly the pre-modern schools of Islamic law. Uphold solutions arrived at by pre-modern jurists and

theologians. Reject reforms to and criticism of Islamic law.They dominate the traditional seminary system across the

Islamic world. Groups: Most Muslims fit into this categoryOpposes: Anyone who calls for reform (ijtihad),

modernists, neo-modernists, Western-educated Islamic scholars and ‘liberal’ Muslims.

Traditionalists

Favor re-opening of creative interpretation to find a place in the modern world.

Argue for major changes in the methodology of Islamic law and reform.

Islamic law needs substantial change to meet the needs of Muslims today.

Traditional Islamic law is not relevant - new laws are needed for Muslims today.

Groups: Modern, liberal and even ‘secular’ Muslims and some reform-minded traditionalists.

Opposes: Traditionalists, Islamists and some puritans.

Ijtihadists/Modernists

Western educated elite.Islam is a personal belief. They value personal piety. No need for an Islamic state nor implementation of

sha’riah law.Groups: Institution for the Secularization of Islamic

Society.Opposes: anyone calling for an Islamic state, socio-

political order or those seeking to implement a pre-modern Islamic law in society.

Secularists

African American Islam

Two categories:◦ Sunni – get back to religion of African Ancestors◦ Nation of Islam – black nationalist movement which other

Muslims deem “heretical”. Warith Deen Muhammad, former head of Muslim

American Society (MAS) MAS operates Clara Muhammad Schools - 27

elementary, secondary, and high schools throughout the U.S.

Imam Siraj Wahhaj is a prominent spokesman for Sunni African Muslims

Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam

Mystic Muslims/Sufis

Focus on inner spiritual life in response to modernityThey are in love with GodPoetry and song are used to express their loveSome seek mystical union with the divineGroups: International Association of Sufism, Rumi Forum,

Fethullah Gulen

Understanding Refugees Refugees are

disenfranchised, displaced people – nothing is normal

Circumstances – abused, neglected, disappointed, hopeless

Trust – Broken trust in government, news agencies, ideologies, and religion

Folk/Popular Muslims

Over 80% of Muslims Many are poor and uneducated Use charms and amulets for protection Use Qur’an as book of magic They say the world is inhabited by jinn Support found in

• Qur’an• Hadith• Superstition

1. A global crisis has increased the stress level within the world-wide Muslim community

2. Some of the literature is distinctly anti-Western and apologetic in nature.

3. Many Muslims are victims of Islamic agendas.

4. Because of the crisis in Islam, some Muslims are open to talking

Evaluation

1. We need to be the loving body of Christ.2. We need to receive those who are victims of

Islamic violence.3. We need to pray for our Muslim neighbors.4. We need to resist reducing Islam and

Muslims to an ideology we can attack.5. We need to share Christ with those who are

willing to listen.

Christian Response

Historical review of “Abraham in the Qur’an, in the Bible, and in Archeology &

Hisotry”

Dr. Rafat Amari

Abraham original home• Abraham was born during the third Ur Dynasty, which began around 2212 B.C.

Ur in this period occupied all Mesopotamia and north Syria.

Ur kingdom was terminated by the Elamites around 2004 B.C.

•The Quran made Abraham to struggle against a king identified in the Hadiths as Nimrod.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Meso2mil-English.JPG

Genesis agrees with historical Frame at the time of Abraham

• Genesis 14 mentioned the alliance of four kings. In a period where alliances were common.

• The titles of the four kings: a. Amraphel king of Shinar b. Arioch king of Ellasar

c. Chedorlaomer king of Elamd. Tidal king of [ Goiim

• Elam became an important player in the region after Ur fell

• The state cities in alliances with chiefs of tribes or groups

The Quran claim Abraham became a worshiper of God through meditating on the stars, moon, and sun

So when the night over-shadowed him, he saw a star; said he: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: I do not love the setting ones. Then when he saw the moon rising, he said: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: If my Lord had not guided me I should certainly be of the erring people. Then when he saw the sun rising, he said: Is this my Lord? Is this the greatest? So when it set, he said: O my people! surely I am clear of what you set up (with Allah). Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists. (6:76-79)

The Bible alludes to the knowledge of God in Abraham family

• And he said, “Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?” (Genesis 24:31)

• No signs of paganism in the life of Rebecca

The Quranic narration about Abraham’s family (Surah 21:51-70

That Abraham was in struggle with his father. His father was worshiper of idols. Once Abraham destroyed all the idols except the greatest among them. When they saw that the idols were destroyed they asked and knew that Abraham did so. Abraham said that the greatest among the idols destroyed the rest of them. The people then threw Abraham into fire. But Allah said “"O Fire! be thou cool, and (a means of) safety for Abraham!"

The Quranic narration is taken from Midrash Rabba

the Bible did not mention struggles between Abraham and his father Terah

• 31 Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.

• Abraham took care of his father until he died in Haran

The travel of Abraham to Haran then to the Land of Canaan

• There were travels with itineraries between Ur, Haran, Asia Minor, North Syria, and the land of Canaan. With stations of rest.

• In the Mari tables, there is written a contract of rental of a Wagon , but it stated as condition not to take the Wagon to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Orient.png

The Quran claim about Ishmael living in Mecca and Abraham building the Kaaba, and establishing Hajj to Mecca

• Ishmael lived all his life in the wilderness of Paran.

• The Ishmaelites lived in Sinai until the 10th century B.C

• Mecca was built in the 4th century A.D

• Western Arabia was unknown to the Mesopotamians and Egyptians

• The land route between Yemen and The Fertile Crescent began after the 10th century B.C.

• The Hajj was a pagan Arabian ritual

Zyed bin Amru bin Nufeil, the first to connect Abraham with Mecca, and its pagan rituals

• Zyed stablished the group of Ahnaf at Mecca

• Mohammed was a disciple of Zyed

• Zyed was part of Hallah, an immoral sect that encompassed the Kaaba naked

• Zyed was immoral man marrying his step mother

The Quran is without purpose. Although Mohammed summarized Genesis 22, did not understand the prophetical

experience of Abraham that pointed to Jesus sacrifice.

• And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones. So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim! You have indeed shown the truth of the vision; surely thus do We reward the doers of good: Most surely this is a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (surah As-Saaffat 37: 102-107

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Understanding the Unavoidable

Islam of the Qur’an: