When witnessing to Muslims… What to Avoid
God created us in His image. We can reflect the Trinity by our manner of communicating, by our friendship and our shared love. We are not called to fight Islam but to make every effort to make Jesus known!
What should we avoid?
1. Do not attack the person of Mohammed, but do not accept him as a prophet either.
2. Do not criticise the Qur’an (Koran).
3. Avoid politically-sensitive subjects and praising Israel.
4. Do not insist on Jesus as being the Son of God. A Muslim will not understand or accept this affirmation. Later, when he has read the Bible or the gospels, you can give him the necessary explanations.
5. Do not enter into discussions about pork and wine. We, as Christians, are sent to proclaim Jesus.
Specific guidelines
1. Initially focus on areas of agreement.
In your first contacts with Muslims and even later it is useful to be in agreement as much as possible with Muslims about our common beliefs. They believe that there is one God, the God of Abraham. In Arabic the word used for God is “Allah” (Christian Arabs also use this word for God). Muslims believe that God made the world, that He knows all things, that He is all wise and very powerful. Muslims do not believe in the Trinity. They believe in angels and in prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David, Noah and Jesus. They believe in the last judgment. In a general sense we can agree on these points, without forgetting the differences. Muslims often feel rejected by Westerners. Affirming our common beliefs enables them listen to us with greater understanding and openness.
2. Have a simple and clear way of presenting Christ.
For instance, take a passage of the Bible. John 5:24 and Romans 6:23 have been used with good results.
3. Use stories.
It is important to tell the stories about the life of Jesus and other men and women mentioned in the Bible. Muslims often use stories in speaking about their own faith. Most Muslims have never had an opportunity to read the Scriptures (many have never fully read their own book, the Qur’an). Learn to use parables, stories and examples from daily life to share your message. In this way your Muslim friends will also retain your words better. It is important to understand their culture, their way of thinking and their historic and religious background. Learning some of their language could be very useful as well.
4. Literature.
Keep an assortment of Gospels, the “Jesus” film, cassettes, CDs and DVDs available in various languages.
5. Seek them out.
Do not be afraid to visit them in their homes and invite them to your own home. If you invite them for a meal buy your meat in a Muslim butcher shop or serve fish. Do not serve alcoholic beverages to Muslims.
6. Argument.
You have little chance of convincing Muslims by reasoned argument. Western logic does not carry the same weight with Muslims and may not even be understood by them. Love your Muslims friends and avoid getting into discussions which push them to defend Islam.
7. The Qur’an (Koran).
You may read it, but do not necessarily use this as the unique basis of witness. Muslims need to meet the Jesus who is revealed in the Bible. If you reads the Qur’an or visit a mosque it is advisable to pray for God’s protection and understanding (Ephesians 6:10-18).
8. Men witness to men and women to women.
Extended witness across gender lines is discouraged, even by correspondence.
9. Prepare them for their first visit to church.
It is advisable to prepare Muslims for their first visit to a Christian church or gathering. You need to explain to them briefly what will happen and what they should and should not do.
Have you ever came across a Muslim who knows his book, Al-Qur’an? Have you ever came across a Muslim that is well versed in his deen (faith) Do you know that a Muslim is also obligated to make dawa, which is to spread the message of Islam, the religion of all the prophets from the beginning of time, peace and blessing be unto them?
Because if a Christian brother or sister tried to convert me, I’d probably have them converted based on facts that man, many people are unaware of when it comes to the Quran.
What are these facts?
Let me start with the scientific miracles that are in the Qur’an:
1. We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)… 1 (Quran, 23:12-14)
(more info: http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-a.htm)
2. Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs? (Quran, 78:6-7)
And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you… (Quran, 16:15)
(more information http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-b.htm)
3. Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?… (Quran, 21:30)
(more information: http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-c.htm)
4. No! If he does not stop, We will take him by the forelock, a lying, sinful forelock (Quran, 96:15-16)!
So, this area of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating, and initiating good and sinful behavior and is responsible for the telling of lies and the speaking of truth. Thus, it is proper to describe the front of the head as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the Quran has said, “…A lying, sinful forelock (front of the head)!”
More infor: http://www.30-days.net/islam/howto/to-avoid/
This has only been discovered in the last 50 years as proof for this generation of man.
So why did thousands, if not millions of people embrace Islam monotheism as the truth in history before technological advances?
Because the Quran is Divine Speech from Allah, (Allah means God, and Allah is how you say God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, peace be upon him).
Everyone should agree that there should be a distinction between The Creator and Creation, something that is tanglible, something that we as humans know that it is not of this world. If the Quran is speech from the Creator, then it must be impossible to duplicate its prose. And quite frankly it is.
I won’t go on too long here, but only give my favourite example and a link to a very, very beautiful documentary that I encourage you brothers and sisters to watch.
There are several instances in the Qur’an where one will come across PALINDROMES.
What is a palindrome? Here are some examples in english:
KAYAK
RACECAR
Notice something? These words are the read the same forward and back.
Now the miracle of the Quran is that there are several Palindromes, however, they are not just one word, but rather FULL SENTENCES. Please, I’d l ike you to not that Mohammad, peace be upon him, could not read nor write.
The Quran is infinite in its beauty, and is a definite mercy from God, Our Rab’il Alamin (Lord of the Words). Read it. Give it a try. You may be surprised. Thank you to who ever read this. And peace be unto you.
Oh I forgot the Documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Bushwackk#p/c/C319776ECA8194B1/0/s40IA7l6PRA
Enjoy!
Lord of the Worlds **
Note that Mohammed (pbuh) ****
sorry about the typos
Aisha, is that palindrome ربك فكبر ? There is a tashdeed over the first baa but none over the second. So it is not really a palindrome. Please give me another. By the way have you heard of the famous saying of Napolean Bonaparte after he was defeated? “Able was I ere I saw Elba”. Now, Napolean didn’t speak English (if he did it was very bad) but whatever he said in French translated perfectly into an English palindrome. Wouldn’t you say that is a miracle?
Talking of spelling in reverse, have you tried writing الله back to front in Arabic and then reading what you have written? That last alif becomes a hamza when it is at the end of the word and a hamza looks like a kaaf. The word can be pronounced hallaak (هلاّك) and it means “loss”. Another miracle?