Mohammed 570-632

Bedouin camel driver

Experienced a cave vision

610 converted family

622 “Hegira”-flight from Mecca to Medina

630-Return and Conquest of Arabia

The Qur’an (Koran)

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam, 114 chapters (Surahs) of Gabriel's revelations to Muhammad.

Muslims consider the Qur’an inerrant and infallible.

To Muslims, it corrects the errors and corruptions inserted by Jews and Christians over the centuries.

It is Allah’s final word!

The Holy Mosque in Mecca

The Kaaba Stone in Mecca

KEY TERMS OF ISLAM

• Islam means “submission” [to Allah]

• Muslim means “one who submits” [to

Allah]

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THE HISTORY OF ISLAM

1) Muhammad’s visions in 610 and 620 confirm him as Allah’s prophet

2) Muhammad is persecuted and flees to Medina

3) Muhammad’s army conquers Mecca in 632 and then all of Arabia

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THE HISTORY OF ISLAM

4) After Muhammad’s death:

– Islam spreads rapidly

– The Qur’an is compiled over several years

– Islam splits between the Sunnis and the Shiites

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THE SPREAD OF ISLAM

• The Umayyads

• The Abbasids

• The Seljuk Turks

• The Ottoman Turks

• Modern Islam

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THE GOD OF ISLAM

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HEBREWS 1:1-3—THE FINAL WORD 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by [through] his Son, whom he appointed the [1] heir of all things [He inherits all creation], [2] through whom also he created the world [full deity, preexistence, power, authority, Col. 1:16]. 3 He is the [3]radiance of the glory of God [the glorious light of God, Isa. 60:1, Rev. 21:23] and the [4]exact imprint of his nature [identical essence as the Father, John 14:9], and he [5]upholds the universe by the word of his power [the sustainer of the world He created, Col. 1:17]. After [6]making purification for sins [His cross is a substitutionary sacrifice], he [7]sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high [He completed His work and now is at a positon of authority and power],

CHRIST, THE SUPERIOR REVELATION, VV. 1-2

Jesus Christ

• “In these last days”

• God the Son

• One Son

• A Unified, Final and

Complete Message

The Prophets

• “Long ago”

• Men called by God

• Many prophets

• A fragmentary and

incomplete message

(“many times and in

many ways”)

ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW

•Allah is absolute unity, not a trinity

•He created heaven and earth

•He is sovereign, omniscient,

omnipotent, just, merciful

•He is known through the prophets

and holy books

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God

ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW

• The world is filled with good and

bad spirits (“jinn”)

• Angels are messengers, warriors,

guardians

• Evil jinn are feared, especially Satan

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Angels and Evil Spirits

ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW

•Law given to Moses

•Psalms given to David

•Gospels given to Jesus

•Qur’an given to Muhammad

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The Holy Books

ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW

• Three greatest prophets are Moses, Jesus,

and Muhammad, but Allah sent thousands

of prophets throughout history

• Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet

• Muhammad stressed morality and

community

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The Prophets

ISLAM AS A WORLDVIEW

• Allah will weigh deeds on a scale

• Muhammad intercedes for Muslims

• There is no assurance of mercy

• Those who die in the battle for Allah

earn highest level of heaven

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The Day of Judgment

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

•The Witness

•The Ritual Prayers

•The Paying of Alms

•The Fast of Ramadan

•The Pilgrimage to Mecca

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BUILDING BRIDGES TO ISLAM

Bridge #1: Show courtesy, respect, and

honor to Muslims

Bridge #2: Remember that Muslims

believe in God

Bridge #3: Muslims fear Allah and want

to merit his favor

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BUILDING BRIDGES TO ISLAM

Bridge #4: Most Muslims have a sense

of sin but no assurance of pardon

Bridge #5: Muslims know some

biblical truth that can be built upon

Bridge #6: Use biblical texts to show

the deity and divine sonship of Jesus

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