By Keith E. Swartley with an Introduction by Jeff Lewis
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by Keith E. Swartley with an Introduction by Jeff Lewis 10 West Dry Creek Circle • Littleton, CO 80120 USA www.calebproject.org • www.calebprojecteurope.org 877.522.8718–toll free • 303.459.5400 [email protected] ISBN: 1-932329-42-0 GOD’S HEART FOR MUSLIMS © 2006 by Caleb Project. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, expect in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. All biblical quotations (unless otherwise noted) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of the International Bible Society. The source material for pages 11, 12, 18, 23, 28, 32, 36, 40, 45, 50, 51, and 52 was adapted from Keith E. Swartley, Ed., Encountering the World of Islam (Waynesboro, Ga.: Authentic Media, 2005). Used by permission. The maps on pages 4, 18, 23, 28, 32, 36, 40, 45, and 52 were adapted from Keith E. Swartley, Ed., Encounter- ing the World of Islam (Waynesboro, Ga.: Authentic Media, 2005). Used by permission. Cover design: John Battenfield Interior design: Amy Battenfield Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 We live in a world ripped apart by Satan’s global scheme to destroy the lives of both Muslims and Christians. He will stop at nothing to deceive us, manipulate us, and paralyze us with fear – anything to keep our eyes off Jesus, his purposes, his love, and his provision of hope. As we are daily battered by the bad news of global calamity, war, and death, hope can seem distant, utopian, unrealistic. It is easy to defensively raise barriers which unintentionally shut off the joy of living in Christ and stop the flow of his love pouring out towards people who need the good news he has given us. We shrink our reality to the myopic vision of our present, temporal, and personal need. The purpose of this study is to unshackle hearts and attach them again to hope; hope for Muslims to be changed by the unmistakable work of Christ in their lives. And hope for us as well: hope which releases us to be alive with uncontainable joy for today, for the future, for expending ourselves in counter-cultural defiance of Satan’s agenda of destruction; and joy as we erect communities which declare that all the wealth and power of heaven is available today – not someday but today, through submission to Christ rather than Islam. I pray that the Holy Spirit will liberate your heart as you explore his heart for Muslims, research truth in his Word, and refine your purpose in his plan to rescue humanity from Satan – his plan to embrace Muslims with the love of Christ. Keith E. Swartley [email protected] 3 Major Muslim Blocs 4 TutorialMuslim Beliefs Islam* simply means submission to God, and a Muslim is one who submits his will to God by practicing Islam. Islam was given to Muhammad, who is revered by Muslims as God’s last and greatest prophet. Muhammad was born A.D. 570 in Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia. His father died before he was born, his mother died when he was only six, and his grandfather died when he was eight. After this, Muhammad was brought up by his poor yet highly respected uncle, Abu Talib. Idol worship abounded among the nomadic Arab tribes. Mecca was a major center of idolatry in the region. Muslim historians record that even as a boy Muhammad detested idol worship and lived a morally pure life. Think about Muhammad’s child- hood experiences and how these may have shaped him. Muhammad became known as “Al-Amin,” the trustworthy one, for his honesty and his ability to negotiate disputes amid a feudal society. He was employed by Khadija, a wealthy widow fifteen years his senior, to manage her caravan trade. When Muham- mad was twenty-five years old, Khadija proposed marriage. Muhammad and Khadija were married for twenty-five years and had six children, although all except the youngest daughter (Fatima) died very young. After such a difficult childhood, the now married and wealthy Muhammad was often depressed and wandered alone in the desert. During one of these retreats, in a cave on the slopes of Mount Hira, several kilometers from Mecca, Muhammad began to receive revelation and instruction from a supernatural being. At first, Muhammad was afraid of these revelations and doubted that he was a prophet. Others encouraged him, however, and these revelations eventually became the Qur’an. In addition to the Qur’an, Muslims rely on traditions called hadiths about the life, teachings, and practices of Muhammad. These traditions influence the daily life of most Muslims in varying degrees. After his supernatural experiences began in A.D. 610, Muhammad began to preach in Mecca against the idolatry of the Arab tribes and the mistreatment of widows, orphans, and the poor by those who were rich, including his own tribe. For his outspokenness, he and many of his early followers were disowned, persecuted, and exiled. Several were even martyred. Eventually, Muhammad fled with his followers to become the political and religious leader of Medina, a city 270 miles north of Mecca. Here Islamic prayers were begun, the first mosque was erected, and an annual pilgrim- age to Mecca was instituted. Muhammad saw this flight from suffering as God’s deliverance and the beginning of success in creating a perfect Muslim society. Muhammad proclaimed that the Qur’an was the final and superior revelation from the One Supreme God. He banned the worship of idols and taught that a Muslim’s life must be wholly committed to Allah, with ritual washing before the five daily times of prayer facing Mecca. Friday became the appointed day for corporate worship at the * For italicized words, see Glossary of Islamic Terms, pp. 59-60. 5 mosque. Muhammad died in A.D. 632 in Medina, Saudi Arabia, several years after returning to conquer Mecca. Muslims believe in God. The Arabic word for God is Allah. Allah is described as unique, all powerful, gracious, and merciful to all Muslims. The Islamic faith is lived out through fivepillars that must be followed if one hopes for salvation. The Five Pillars are: 1. Reciting the Muslim creed (Shahada) – “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” 2. Prayer (salat) – At five set times each day. 3. Almsgiving (zakat) – Both obligatory and voluntary giving to the poor. 4. Fasting (saum) – Especially during the “holy” month of Ramadan. 5. Pilgrimage (hajj) – At least once in a lifetime to Mecca. Although a Muslim may observe all of these practices, Islam still does not guarantee salvation. There is no atonement for sin in Islam, and Muslims generally believe that they should perform religious acts so that their good works will outweigh their bad deeds on the Day of Judgment. Even then, Muslims believe that Allah’s judgment is based on his sovereign will. Muslims lack assurance of forgiveness. While Muhammad is Islam’s last and greatest prophet, the Qur’an also speaks often of Jesus, who is also known as Isa. The Qur’an refers to Jesus as Kalimat Allah, which means “the Word of God.” Muslims believe that Jesus was born by a miracle of God through the virgin Mary. However, Muslims do not believe in Christ’s death on the cross, his resurrection, or his deity. Although Jesus is the second highest prophet in Islam, the Isa of the Qur’an is only one prophet among God’s many prophets. While Muslims respect Christians and Jews as believers in God, Muslims were mistreated by western Crusaders and later western imperialists who called themselves Christians. Today many Muslims do not understand how Christians who claim to follow Christ can permit their countries to export pornography or continue to economically dominate the poor. Belief in angels and evil spirits plays a prominent role in the lives of most Muslims. Islam generally teaches that “all good and evil comes from Allah,” so fatalism is at the heart of the Muslim faith and experience. Honor and shame are also important values within the Muslim community. 6 IntroductionBefore You Get Started by Jeff Lewis A few things should be kept in mind so as to derive the most benefit from this study. Only a little commentary has been added to each lesson on purpose, to prompt you into full reliance upon the Teacher whose purpose it is to “guide you into all truth.” 1. The Holy Spirit will teach and lead you in the truth. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13a). “But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.