Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims

People of the Book

When we are trying to reach people with the Gospel we are dealing with one of two groups: people who have no religion or people who have a non-Christian religion. In dealing with people who have no religion, we have to think, but not real hard—they are just like us, save for the grace of God! The only spiritual force in their life is their sinful human nature, the very same nature that we have, which the Holy Spirit helps us overpower and break whenever we lead a godly life. It may take some imagination and more than a little bit of humility, but it is definitely within the reach of each of us to think like a pagan.

But when it comes to people who have their own religion, there are more hurdles to cross. They have their own way of looking at things, a way that has been taught them. Yes, their sinful human nature is in total command, going at full throttle, too, but there is an additional "shell" that must be broken through. An ordinary person wouldn't brush you off with, "You have your Bible, I've got my Koran." But Muslims can and do! In fact, Muslims, like most who belong to other non-Christian religions, are "hard targets" because they believe their holy writings are superior to the Bible.

The world of Islam is a different culture. We will only offend and insult them if we don’t take some time to understand where they’ve been.

I. Background to the Koran

A. Form

The Koran is not like the Christian Bible. It has no "books," but rather, is a book. Its chapters are called suras. Its verses are called ayat. It is written in Arabic poetry (and mighty good poetry it is!--if you can understand Arabic).

The Bible follows a certain order: History, Prophets-Apostles, Revelation. The history books generally follow in chronological order. The Koran is not ordered chronologically. It is ordered by the longest sura being first, the shorter ones following. Generally speaking, the shorter suras were composed while Mohammed was in Mecca, the longer ones later, when he was in Medina.

Unlike the Bible, which has many divinely inspired prophets and apostles writing it over a long period of time (from 1500 BC to 100 AD), the Koran was "written" by one man, Mohammed, from the years 610 to 632 AD. Of the 114 suras, 86 were composed while Mohammed was in Mecca and 28 were composed while he was in Medina. As some books of the Hebrew Bible, which were named by the first word of that book (Bereshith--Genesis), the suras of the Koran are named by a significant phrase within that sura.

Mohammed claimed to be the greatest of the long line of prophets from the true God, Allah. Included in this line were Abraham and the patriarchs, Moses and the prophets, and even the prophet Jesus Christ! The following chart illustrates the Moslem view of the Old and New Testaments.
Religion Books Major Figure Usefulness
Judaism Old Testament Moses Corrupted by Jews
Christianity New Testament Jesus Corrupted by Christians
Islam Koran Mohammed Very words of Allah

B. Method of Transmission

The Bible is very clear about how it came into being.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. Hebrews 1.1-2

In your own words tell how the Bible came into being.

 

The Koran is equally clear.

And it is a Koran that We (Allah) have divided, that thou mayest recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by successive revelation. Sura 17.106

In your own words tell how the Koran came into being.

 

Here is the way the revelations were transmitted to Mohammed, according to Islam. In a series of night visions, the angel Gabriel spoke these words to Mohammed. The words of the Koran have never been changed. Mohammed recited the revelations to his followers who wrote them down.

C. Of the Prophets

Mohammed claimed to be one in a long line of prophets from God.

This raises an interesting point: How do you know when God has sent a prophet and when he hasn't? Already at the beginning of prophecy (agreed upon by the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions), God told his people how to distinguish between a true and a false prophet, because Moses was not going to be the only prophet.

Look up Deuteronomy 18.17-22

How are coming prophets going to be exactly like Moses?

 

What is one sign that the people will know the prophet is from God?

 

How would the people know that a prophet is not from God?

 

Look up Deuteronomy 13.1-3

What added mark of a prophet is mention in these words of Moses?

 

So, let’s review and get the three marks of a prophet:

1. ___________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________

Of the three marks of a prophet, what one is the essential one?

 

Mohammed claimed to be a prophet from God, but he made no predictions and he performed no miracles, except for the existence of the Koran! Repeatedly Mohammed called himself an unlearned, ignorant, illiterate man. Yet how could he have come up with the Koran if it had not been given to him by Allah through the angel Gabriel himself?

D. Sources

If we believe the Muslim account, then the answer is settled. Mohammed received the Koran from Allah, God, himself. If we tend to be a little skeptical that a self-proclaimed prophet is speaking from God when he denies Jesus as the Savior, then we've got other options.

1. Arabic sources

There is more than a little indication that Mohammed copied poetry that renowned poets hung in a public spot in Mecca.

2. Jewish sources

There was a Jewish community in both Mecca and Medina. (Later Mohammed would decapitate 700 Jewish men captured in a battle near Mecca. For the most part they were not well versed in the Scriptures.

3. Christian sources

There were Christians in Arabia. Most of them were also not well versed in the Scriptures, being heretical Christians expelled from the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from the civilized world. Monophysites (who taught Jesus only had one nature, a divine nature) were among these. We have accounts in early heretical Christian writings about Jesus being born under a palm tree and as a child, making toy clay birds come alive (both of which are recorded in the Koran).

4. Another source

This is the most fascinating (and damning). In his early years in Mecca, Mohammed sought the safety of his followers by entering into a compromise with the polytheistic rulers of Mecca. He acknowledged three other gods besides Allah.

Have ye thought upon Al-Lat, and Al-Uzza and Manat, the third, the other? Sura 53.19,20

From what you know about Islam, what's the big problem with that?

 

He later said he had been misled by Satan! And that part of the Koran was abrogated.

Never sent We a messenger or a Prophet before thee but when He recited the message Satan proposed in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise; that He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for those in whose heart is a disease, and whose hearts are hardened. Sura 22.52, 53

II. The Miracle of the Koran

A. From Allah as It Is

Sunni Muslims (the majority Muslims), believe that the words recited to Mohammed and related by him were in their current form at the time of Mohammed's death. This form, even in the ordering of the suras, was divinely inspired. The earthly Koran is a copy of the heavenly Koran.

As such, it should not have any variations.

Under the third caliph, Uthman, the Koran took its final shape. The Koran had been compiled by the companions of Mohammed. By Uthman's time they were starting to die out. Uthman had their compilations put together. All other versions of the Koran were burned.

Be a detective--why would somebody like Uthman have all other copies of the Koran burned when he claimed to have the unchanged and unchangeable version of the Koran which Mohammed received from Allah?

 

Bits and pieces of variant texts of the Koran do exist. One sura variant has 200 ayat, whereas the same sura in the official Koran has 73. A sizeable minority of Muslims (Shiites) claim that over 25% of the Koran was removed by Uthman for political reasons.

If the Koran has been changed in order and verses, what does that do to the Sunni (majority) Muslim's basis for belief in the Koran?

B. Agreeing with Previous Revelation

What does the Koran say about previous revelation (to Moses and Jesus)?

An unto thee, Mohammed, have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it. Sura 5.48

 

The Koran should agree with the Old and New Testament. Does it? Check which detail in shared stories between the Bible and Koran occurs in the Bible and point out the differences with the Koran's version:

Differences

Abraham sacrifices Isaac

Abraham sacrifices Ishmael

Jesus born under a palm tree

Jesus born in a manger

Jesus taken down from the cross only appearing to be dead

Jesus dead by crucifixion

Mary, the mother of Jesus, the sister of Moses and Aaron

Mary, the mother of Jesus, the daughter of Heli

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, can't speak for 9 months

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, can't speak for 4 days

Haman plots the Jews' destruction in Babylon

Haman plots the destruction of the Jews in Egypt

Tower of Babel built in Egypt by Haman during Moses' time

Tower of Babel is built in Babylon shortly after Flood

Does the Koran agree with the Bible?

 

Remember the third mark of a prophet? What must we say about Mohammed?

 

C. Agreeing with Itself

At the very least one would expect the Koran to be in agreement with itself. But already we have seen two examples of the doctrine of "abrogation" which the Koran claims for itself. Can you remember those two instances, one in this lesson already and the other in last week's lesson?

 

Check which of these passages you think is the correct one in the Koran which tells us how long it took God to create the world?

Lo! Your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days.

Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who created the earth in two days?

He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in four days.

They are all in the Koran! Sura 10:4 and Sura 41:9-12!

How many wives could a Muslim have? (Choose)

1 2 3 4

How many wives did Mohammed have? (Guess)

 

And the reason?

A privilege for thee, Mohammed, only, and not for the rest of believers. Sura 33:50

 

The doctrine of Abrogation means that later sayings of the Koran can overrule earlier sayings.

Such of Our revelations as We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, we bring in place one better or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that Allah is able to do all things? Sura 2:106

What's the beauty of that?

 

What's that say about Allah's revelation?

 

D. Tahrif

As the Koran can overrule itself, the Koran overrules the Bible. This is not to say that Allah gave an impure revelation. The original revelation Allah gave to Moses and Jesus was correct, but Jews and Christians corrupted the message.

One of the things that Muslims are very vehement against is the crucifixion of Christ. Let's take a look at that one doctrine of the Bible. What motives would Christians have to falsely teach that Jesus Christ died on the cross--who would they be winning over?

 

 

 

Take a look at the effect of Paul's preaching of the cross.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1.18

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 1.22-23

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Galatians 6.12-13

Why would Christians lie about Jesus' crucifixion if it only made their evangelizing work harder?

 

 

And, before we go, the other doctrine the Muslims react violently against is Jesus as the Son of God.

Why was Jesus crucified?

 

Look up Matthew 26.57-68

 

 

Why would Jesus have been crucified if he hadn't said he was the Son of God?

What are the three marks of a prophet again?

1. ___________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________

 

What ones does Mohammed meet?

 

Is Mohammed a prophet of God?

 

Which book should Muslims listen to?

 

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