30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World | www.30-days.net » history http://www.30-days.net What Christians should know about Islamic background, history and culture. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Mohammed, Initial Revelations and Relationships http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/mohammed-revelations-relationships/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/mohammed-revelations-relationships/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:38:01 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1024 mohammed-arabic-30-days-netMohammed is revered by all Muslims as the last and greatest prophet. In Islam, Mohammed is considered the “ideal man.” Mohammed is in no way considered divine, nor is he worshipped, but he is the model for all Muslims concerning how they should conduct themselves. No images of Mohammed are permitted (in order to prevent idolatry). His name actually means “The Praised One.”

Born in AD 570 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Mohammed was a member of the Hashim clan of the powerful Quraysh tribe. During much of Mohammed’s lifetime pagan idol worship abounded in Arabia. An estimated 360 gods and goddesses were adored by the Arabs in Mecca, which was a major centre of idolatry in the region. Muslim historians think that even as a boy Mohammed detested idol worship and lived a morally pure life.

Initial Revelations:

According to Muslims, at the age of 40, in AD 610 that Mohammed supposedly began to receive revelations and instruction that he believed were from the archangel Gabriel (Gibrail in Arabic). These “revelations” form the basis of the Qur’an. Mohammed proclaimed that his revelations were the final and superior message from the One Supreme God, although at the beginning Mohammed even doubted that he was a prophet. He banned the worship of idols and established civil and religious order in Medina and eventually Mecca. Mohammed died of natural causes in AD 632 in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Relations with Jews and Christians:

During his life, Mohammed met many people who were at least nominal Christians. He also learned many religious ideas and customs from Jewish clans that were living in the region of Mecca and Medina. Mohammed’s role as prophet was not accepted by the Jews, leading to serious conflict. Jewish and Christian ideas, practices and history are very present in the Qur’an, although they are often distorted.

Mohammed’s non-Qur’anic declarations, his personal habits and actions serve as a guide for all Muslims. The eyewitness accounts and other stories about his life are called the “hadiths.” The hadiths help Muslims discern what is good and right. Jesus is the ideal human being for Christians.

Prayer Starters:

  • There are millions of Muslims named Mohammed around the world. The name Mohammed is spelled in different ways in various places and cultures: Mohammad, Mohamed, Muhammed, Muhammad, Mahommed, Mehmed, Mehmet, Mahomet, Magomed and even Maxamed. In prayer, cite these names before God.
  • Pray that the Mohammeds of this world would come to know that there is another one who is honoured in heaven and earth and who has a name above all names. May millions of Mohammeds come to faith in the Messiah (See Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:10).
  • Ask the boys in your family to pray today but hold hands together to show you are unified and agree in prayer.
Listen to the Podcast – Basic Islam

Special Section. Pray for the Karanga people of Chad

The Karanga are a people group related to the larger Bantu people. In Chad, they number around 117,000. They speak their own language and live in a small area outside the city of Abeche in South Central Chad. A major source of income for the Karanga is the farming of crops, ranging from groundnuts and sesame to grains and wheat. Much of their planting is based on the amount of rainfall, so drought is always a serious threat to their livelihood. In recent years, the people here have also seen some damage to their crops from grain-eating birds who steal much of their harvest. Little is known about the Karanga. Prayer is needed to see them come to a knowledge of the One True God made manifest in Christ.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/mohammed-revelations-relationships/feed/ 15 Aisha – Mohammed’s Favorite Wife http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/aisha-mohammeds-favorite-wife/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/aisha-mohammeds-favorite-wife/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:52:23 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/muslims/?p=1977 Commonly referred to as Mohammed’s favourite wife, Aisha bint Abu Bakr (the daughter of Abu Bakr) was formally engaged to the Prophet at the age of six. The betrothal was initiated through Aisha’s father after he and his daughter had returned from a brief period of time in Ethiopia where they had gone to escape the persecution which they had been experiencing from the idolaters in Mecca. Mohammed and Aisha were betrothed for several years before the marriage was consummated at age nine (Mohammed was 52 at that time).

Many Muslims are very embarrassed about this marriage with such a young girl (many do not know that it happened). Some have even left Islam when they discovered this fact. Some sources say that after the marriage Aisha would still play with her toys and Mohammed would play with her. Aisha was Mohammed’s only virgin bride. Aisha, herself, was not able to give Mohammed a physical heir and she remained childless all her life. Her name means “she who lives” or “alive”. Her name is also written: A’ishah, Ayesha, A’isha).

Loved and Unloved

There are conflicting views about Aisha’s status among Muslims. Aisha expressed jealousy towards Mohammed’s other wives, especially Khadijah, Mohammed’s first wife who died before Mohammed and Aisha were even betrothed. Sunni Muslims hold her in very high esteem as they consider her to be Mohammed’s favourite wife and one of the foremost women of her time. The Shi’a (Shiite) Muslims on the other hand, regard her in a more negative light. This is largely due to her role during the first Islamic civil war in which Mohammed’s grandson Hussein and his father Ali died. The Shi’a branch of Islam has significant roots in the events surrounding the deaths of Hussein and Ali.

Aisha is one of the foremost Islamic authorities of the early period. She is reputed to be the source of many sacred traditions about Mohammed (Hadith). When Mohammed was approaching death, he spent his last moments in the company of the 18 year old Aisha and died with his head in her lap. She remained unmarried for the rest of her life (Qur’an 33:53). Aisha died in the year AD 678 at the age of 65 during the month of Ramadan.

Prayer Starters:

  • As we have prayed for the living Khadijahs around the world on Day 13 we can also pray for the living Aishas, who take their name from Mohammed’s favourite wife. Worldwide, they certainly number in the hundreds of thousands.
  • Ask God to open doors of opportunity for the living Aishas to hear the traditions and accounts concerning the life of the Messiah and believe in Him.
  • Pray for the Aishas that you may know or that you may have heard about. Ask the Lord to reveal himself to them that they might find life in the resurrected King.

NOTE: It is not helpful to accuse Mohammed for having married such a young girl. Ask Muslim friends what they know about Aisha. Say, “I have heard that Mohammed married Aisha at a very young age, what do you know about this?” Let them elaborate on the subject.

Video: Another strong women faced opposition (9:55)

Living Water: Persecution from The Well on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/aisha-mohammeds-favorite-wife/feed/ 6 The Shi’a Expectation of the End Times http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/shia-end-times/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/shia-end-times/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:57:31 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/muslims/?p=1974 Shi’a (Shi’ite) Muslims are a minority within the Muslim community, making up about 10-15% of all Muslims worldwide. They separated themselves from the mainstream Muslim community soon after Mohammed’s unexpected death in AD 632 because they held a different position concerning who should succeed Mohammed as leader of the Muslims. The majority, which came to be called the “Sunni Muslims,” wanted the successor to be the most capable military leader who was also a member of Mohammed’s tribe, the Quraysh. The minority, later called the “Shi’a Muslims,” wanted the successor to be a close relative of Mohammed. However, at Mohammed’s death there was no son or nephew who could be appointed as Mohammed’s successor since his sons had all died previously and his two grandsons (Hassan and Hussein) were only children at that time.

The Mysterious Disappearance of #12

The first three caliphs (successors) of Mohammed were Sunni caliphs, the fourth one was Ali, Mohammed’s nephew and son-in-law who had been married to Mohammed’s daughter Fatima many years before. Ali was able to maintain his position briefly before he was murdered in AD 661. The Shi’as believe that the rightful rulers of the Muslim community worldwide were actually Ali and his eleven descendants through Mohammed’s grandson Hussein who died as a martyr in Iraq in AD 680. A majority of Shi’as believe that Hussein’s line of succession continued till his descendant Mohammed al-Mahdi, the twelfth “rightly guided Imam,” mysteriously disappeared beginning in AD 874 at the age of five. He was supposedly accessible to certain people till AD 941. After that the Shi’a hope for ruling the Muslim community was totally transferred to the unseen world from which a hidden spiritual guide – called the Hidden Imam (leader) or Mahdi (the one who guides), will eventually return.

The Mahdi and the Anti-Christ

This sinless leader, the Mahdi, will establish an Islamic empire of peace and justice at the end of time. According to most Muslims (including Sunnis), the Mahdi will be aided by Jesus who is also supposed to return to earth when the Mahdi appears. Both the Mahdi and Jesus will be opposed by the Masih ad-Dajjal, an evil, one eyed, anti-Christ figure, who will eventually be slain and the whole world will submit to Islam. Some time after the victory of the Mahdi there will be a general resurrection of the dead followed by the last judgement.

Muslims generally have a strong belief in a future life consisting of a paradise for believers and eternal punishment for unbelievers but their ideas differ very profoundly from Christian belief. Shi’a Muslims generally have a much more concrete and intensive expectation of the end times to come than the Sunnis.

In Iran

The Shi’as generally believe that the Mahdi is presently living even though hidden and that he is guiding the community of Shi’a believers. The hidden Imam transfers his knowledge to the most famous and learned Shi’a men of today so they can teach the ordinary members of the community. Before the rise of the Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini the Shi’a community held the opinion that righteous leadership could not be established on earth before the return of the Mahdi, the rightly guided one. Khomeini himself claimed to be the representative of the hidden Imam (Mahdi) who had told him to establish this empire of peace and justice on earth by fighting against the enemies of Islam. The Shi’a Muslims were motivated to determine their own destiny instead of just passively waiting for the return of the hidden Imam. Waiting for the returning Imam, was replaced by action, in the form of revolution. Khomeini openly encouraged Shi’a clerics to become involved in the political struggle. He was enabled to do so by his new interpretation of Shi’a tradition. The expectations of a nation under Islam appeared to have been fulfilled in the person of Khomeini. The current Iranian President seems to embrace that idea.

The Shia majority countries are Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan and Bahrain.

Prayer Starters

  • There are possibly 200,000 Shi’a mullahs (religious leaders) in Iran alone and many thousands more in Iraq. They have a significant role in their communities and in society as a whole. They are teaching their people to place their confidence in the future Mahdi and to practice Islam with zeal. Pray for these leaders to come to know the living Messiah, Jesus (Acts 6:7).
  • The Messiah is the ultimate hope for a world of peace and justice. Indeed the Bible promises us that one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the sea (Isaiah 11:9 and Habbakuk 2:4). There will be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Pray that the millions of Shi’a Iranians and Iraqis discover the living and reigning Messiah who is the true hope of the world.
Video: The Second Coming (4:40)

The Second Coming from Mc_Shaun on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/shia-end-times/feed/ 3 Khadijah bint Khuwaylid http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/khadijah-bint-khuwaylid/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/khadijah-bint-khuwaylid/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:40:17 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/muslims/?p=1955 Considered by the prophet Mohammed to be one of four perfect women, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (daughter of Khuwaylid) was Mohammed’s first wife. Widely known to be a very virtuous woman, she earned the title “Al-Tahira” (The Pure One) because of her kindness and generosity. Throughout her life she never believed in, nor worshipped, idols. She was also known to use her vast material resources to help family members who were in need, as well as those who were less fortunate than her. Her resources were indeed vast; in fact they earned her another title “Ameerat-Quraysh” (Princess of the Quraysh tribe). According to some Islamic traditions when all the Quraysh caravans gathered to begin their long journeys to Syria in the winter or Yemen in the summer, the caravan of Khadijah was equal in size to all of the other caravans combined.

1st Impressions

It was actually through these trade caravans that Khadijah first met Mohammed. Having been married twice before, she was quite determined never to marry again. She did not believe that she would find another man who was worthy of her. When she was looking for an agent to send along with her caravans, a family member recommended a distant cousin named Mohammed. He was a young man of 25 years with no experience in this type of business, but Khadijah chose to give him the opportunity. He took her caravan and earned more profits than she had expected. Khadijah was appropriately impressed by his success and decided to initiate a marriage proposal.

Year of Sorrow

While Mohammed was married to Khadijah, he took no other wives out of his love for her. She was equally devoted to him. When he received his first revelations, she played an important role in convincing him that he was becoming a prophet. She even used her wealth to help promote Islam, to the point of being persecuted for her support of her husband. The year of her death so marked Mohammed that it is called the Year of Sorrow.

Khadijah was the mother of Fatima (born in AD 605), who was the mother of Hussein and Hassan through Ali. The dates of Khadijah’s birth and death are not clear but it is probable that she was born in AD 555 and she probably died in AD 619. It is believed by some that her death partly motivated Mohammed to move to Medina.

Prayer Starters

Around the world literally hundreds of thousands, even possibly well over a million Muslim women are named Khadijah. Many of them know very little about the wife of Mohammed or her positive example in many aspects of life.

  • Pray for the living Khadijahs that they will discover the Messiah through friends, radio, literature, television and other media.
  • Pray for those among your acquaintances, or who live in your area, that they may discover and apply the traits of a virtuous wife described in Proverbs 31 and come to know the purity which is from the Messiah.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/khadijah-bint-khuwaylid/feed/ 1 How Islam Split – Ali, Hassan and Hussein http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/ali-hassan-hussein/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/ali-hassan-hussein/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:18:23 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1062 Mohammed’s cousin and adopted son


Born in about AD 600 – died January AD 661
Ali was the cousin, adopted son and son-in-law of Mohammed. He married Mohammed’s daughter Fatimah in AD 624. His name means “exalted, noble.” He reigned over the Muslim empire as Caliph from AD 656 to 661. Shi’a (Shiite) Muslims regard Ali as the first true infallible Imam and consider he and his descendants (Hassan and Hussein) as the rightful successors to Mohammed. Disagreement over succession eventually split Islam into the Sunni and Shi’a branches. Ali encountered opposition and civil war during his reign. At about age 60 Ali suffered an assassination attempt while praying in the mosque of Kufa in Iraq – he died soon afterwards. The main mosque of Najaf, Iraq is supposedly his final burial place and has become a major Shi’a shrine dedicated to his memory.

Hassan

Born in March AD 625 died March AD 670
Hassan (Hasan) was the grandson of Mohammed and the son of Ali and Mohammed’s daughter Fatima. His name means “handsome one.” Hassan’s succession to the Caliphate was contested and eventually he conceded in order to avoid bloodshed. He retired to a quiet life in Medina till he died, poisoned by his wife, many years later. He is regarded by all Muslims as a martyr.

Hussein

Born January AD 626 at Medina in Saudi Arabia, died October AD 680 at Karbala in Iraq
Hussein was the second grandson of Mohammed through Fatima. His name means little Hassan, “the little handsome one.” Hussein, son of Ali, is revered as a martyr, having died in a struggle for the Caliphate. The anniversary of his martyrdom is called “Ashura,” which is a day of mourning and religious observance especially for Shi’a Muslims. Hussein’s death was significant because it launched the Shi’a movement which is so prominent today in Iraq and Iran; they believe that Hussein should have been Caliph.

Prayer Requests:

  • There are literally millions of Muslim men around the world who are named Ali, Hassan and Hussein. Pray for them to encounter the living Messiah (Acts 7:56 and 9:1-5).
  • Millions of Iranians and Iraqis commemorate the memory of Hussein’s death each year. Sometimes as many as 7-8 million pilgrims visit Karbala during that time. Many Shi’a men will cut and flail themselves, shedding blood in the memory of Hussein. A popular Shi’a saying tells us, “a single tear shed for Hussein washes away a hundred sins.” Pray that Shi’as of Iraq and Iran could see the value of the blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Definition: The Caliph is the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, the worldwide Islamic community or nation which should ideally be ruled by the religious law, the Shari’ah. The word is derived from the Arabic word which means “successor” or “representative.” The early Caliphs in particular were seen as Mohammed’s successors.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/ali-hassan-hussein/feed/ 13 Fatimah, Mohammed’s Daughter http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/fatimah-mohammeds-daughter/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/fatimah-mohammeds-daughter/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:14:55 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1055 Born in Mecca in AD 605, died in Medina in AD 632.

Fatimah (Fatima) was the name of the favourite daughter of Mohammed. Her name means “she who weans.” She was considered one of four perfect women by Mohammed. The others were Mohammed’s own first wife, Khadijah, the mother of Fatimah; Mary, the mother of Jesus; and Asiya the wife of an ancient Pharaoh.

Fatimah is known as a loving and devoted daughter, mother and wife, as well as a sincere Muslim. At the age of 19 Fatimah married Ali. Their life together was simple, frugal, and not without hardship and deprivation. Because of his piety, apparently Ali was not greatly interested in material wealth. Fatimah’s acts of kindness toward the poor and destitute earned her praise from many. She gave birth to two sons and two daughters. In AD 632 after the death of her father she also passed away, either by an accident or by natural causes.

Fatimah was apparently a good influence, but her name is also associated with an occult object that has fairly negative influence in the Muslim world. This so-called “Hand of Fatimah” is used by Muslims in amulets, charms and jewelry to ward off evil spiritual influences.

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray according to Acts 19:18-20 concerning occult influences.
  • Pray for the millions of Muslim women named Fatimah to find new life in Jesus.

Testimony of a women in a difficult situation

Malika’s husband who was involved in criminal activites was killed. Malika remained alone with her four children for some time. Then she met several believers and came to Christ herself. Since her entire family were Muslims, Malika and her children were forced out of their home when her family learned about her choice for Jesus. She lost everything she had. She no longer had a place to live nor a means to earn money. Two of her children were sick, one who was 12 even needed regular heart medicine. Malika kept her faith and her new family helped her work things out.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/fatimah-mohammeds-daughter/feed/ 23 Arabs in the Bible http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/arabs-in-the-bible/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/arabs-in-the-bible/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:07:13 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1017 God really loves Arabs

Muslims are found in literally hundreds of different ethnic groups around the world. Possibly three quarters of the world’s Muslims are not from an Arabic background; however, Mohammed’s Arab lifestyle and cultural background have profoundly influenced Islam. Knowing that Islam has such deep roots in Arabia it would be good for all Christians to understand that God really loves Arabs. The Bible is a major source of Arab genealogies. We know that there are at least three types of Middle-Eastern Arabs: the Joktanites, the Ishmaelites and the Keturahites.

The Descendants of Joktan:

Many Arabs see themselves as descendants of Joktan. The Arabs call him “Kahtan.” One of the very famous tribes descending from Joktan was Sheba whose descendants founded the kingdom of the Sabeans in Yemen. The Arabs call the famous queen of Sheba by the name “Bilquis.” Her visit to Jerusalem during king Solomon’s reign is an example of how God’s people had an influence on Arabia even in Old Testament times. Solomon writes one of the so called “Messianic Psalms” (Psalm 72) partly with Sheba in mind (see verses 10 and 15). Jesus speaks very positively concerning the Queen of Sheba (Matthew. 12:42). It would appear that at least some of the Semitic tribes worshipped the God of Shem even if they did not know him fully.

The Descendants of Ishmael:

God made promises to Abraham concerning Ishmael that he would bless him exceedingly (Genesis 17:18-27). God’s covenant to bless all the nations did not come through Ishmael but rather through Isaac, however, God did not forget Ishmael. His descendants are included in God’s promise to bless all the nations (all ethnic groups around the world) through the seed of Abraham (See Genesis 12:1-3; 18:18; 22:18; 24:4; and 28:14). This promised blessing was eventually fulfilled in Jesus.

It is remarkable that Ishmael’s name is a revelation concerning God’s person and character. His name means “God hears”. God clearly heard the distress of Hagar when she called out for help in the desert (Genesis 16:1-16). It was God who designated the name. The name Ishmael is an everlasting testimony of God’s concern for the weak, the afflicted and those who are unjustly treated.

The descendants of Ishmael seem to have settled predominately in northern Arabia. One of Ishmael’s twelve sons named Nabajoth (Nebaioth) fathered (See below) the tribe which eventually became the head of the Nabatean kingdom. The kingdom’s famous capital, Petra, is in present day Jordan. Muslims believe that Mohammed was descended from Nabajoth.

The Descendants of Abraham through Keturah:

After Sarah’s death Abraham took another wife (or concubine) named Keturah (Genesis 25:1-3). Abraham had six other sons through Keturah after the birth of Isaac (Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah). All of Keturah’s sons eventually became the heads of Arab tribes. Later Moses married Zipporah the daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian, (Exodus 2:16-22). Jethro recognized the true God and even gave Moses good advice which apparently pleased the Lord (Exodus 18). Certainly the Midianites had some revelation of God through their father Abraham. Some members of the tribe also strongly opposed Israel.

The Arabs were involved in gross idolatry for many centuries. In a similar way Jews were also involved in idolatry and God gave them scriptures and prophets to bring them back to repentance. Mohammed (570 – 632 AD) eventually sought to turn the Arabs from their idolatry to worship the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus but he did not have a full revelation of God. His distorted understanding led his people into error and this has resulted in present day Islam.

Hope of Salvation for Arabs

Millions of Arabs around the world already identify themselves with the Messiah. Many are in the ancient churches of the Middle East in Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq. Isaiah the prophet speaks of a time when the glory of the Lord will be manifested among the Arabs (Isaiah 60:1-7).

We also find encouragement to believe God for the salvation of a multitude of Arabs from the story of Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost some of those who were filled with the Spirit spoke of the mighty deeds of God in Arabic (see Acts 2:11). The praises of God were proclaimed in Arabic before they were ever proclaimed in English, French, German or Spanish! Arabs can also be blessed with Abraham through Christ. Pray along these lines today and ask for revelation of the love God has for the Arab peoples.

Recommended reading: “Understanding the Arab World” by Louis Bahjat Hamada

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/arabs-in-the-bible/feed/ 14 Abdullah and Amina http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/abdullah-amina/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/abdullah-amina/#comments Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:01:08 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1012 Mohammed’s parents

Kaaba in Mecca

Relatively little is known of the lives of Mohammed’s parents. The father of Mohammed, Abdullah, lived from AD 545-570. His full name was Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib. Allah is the word for “God” in Arabic. Abd Allah means “servant or slave of God.” Abdullah died six months before Mohammed was born. It is not known when Amina, the mother of Mohammed, was born. Her name means “trustworthy or faithful.” It is said that Amina took Mohammed to visit his maternal uncles of the an-Najjar tribe in Medina. On her way back to Mecca she died when Mohammed was just six years old, leaving him an orphan. Mohammed went to live with his grandfather and then with an uncle.

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray for the millions of living Abdullahs and Aminas around the world, that they would discover the the Messiah.
  • Pray that the Abdullahs could discover real freedom as servants of God’s anointed King, Jesus.
  • Pray for each woman named Amina, that she might discover that Jesus is the most trustworthy one.
  • As you pray with your family today, remember to pray for and bless the whole family.

Mohammed’s Family Tree

mohammed_family_tree500Click to enlarge
Notes: Muslims generally believe that Mohammed is a descendant of Abraham and Ishmael. His grandfather was the guardian of the Kaaba in Mecca (photos above). Mohammed had more than ten wives and concubines after Khadijah’s death (without any other natural offspring). Three other “daughters” lived in Khadijah’s household with Mohammed. Apparently they were from a previous marriage of Khadijah or possibly they were her sister’s children. It is impossible to be certain.

Testimony from Indonesia

Jesus in the workplace: Ahmed

Jesus promised, “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Mt 18:20). Many Muslim seekers and believers in Jesus are indeed experiencing His presence as they gather in homes in His name. We learned recently from our friend and worker “Jasmine” that Jesus is present also in the workplace, in fields and farmers’ markets! “Ahmad” is a believer in Jesus who was baptised a few months ago (in the cement water holding tub of a cramped bathroom!). Sometimes he works on construction projects or in the fields when the land owner needs an extra hired hand. In recent months, Ahmad has had free time to visit rice fields near his home. There amidst the rice sheaves he has befriended two day-workers, inviting them to share personal stories and to pray with him. He reads aloud to them from photocopied texts of Scripture and offers explanation. Early in his acquaintance with these two men, Ahmad explained why he prays in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Now the three meet in Jesus’ name regularly. Jesus is with Ahmad as he visits those fields, for Jesus himself promised His disciples, “I am with you always.”

Editor’s note:

In our prayer materials there are a number of testimonies from new believers who have suffered rejection and even significant persecution from their families and government authorities. Like people everywhere, Muslims are generally hospitable and decent people. They do not particularly like violence or being harsh. Muslims can be motivated by a sincere desire to turn their loved ones back to what they perceive as being the right path: Islam. In order to do this they will often bring significant pressures to bear on people who have left or who are seeking to leave the Islamic religion, even threatening them with death. In publishing these stories we are not wanting to criticise or judge the heart motives of Muslims. We simply want to tell how God has worked in the lives of many. May God help us all to walk in His ways.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/abdullah-amina/feed/ 7 Islam in our World Today http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/islam-today/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/islam-today/#comments Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:09:09 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/islam-today/ | 20th and 21st Century Islam :: “Since 1945 the number of mosques in England grew from 1 to well over 1000. Over 300 of these mosques are in former churches.”

The Oil Boom

The second half of the twentieth century brought a new identity and strength to the Islamic world. Oil became the engine of the economic growth of many of these newly independent Islamic states. The oil embargo of 1973 caused tremendous concern in the West; it brought the realization of the great strength and political power of the Islamic states.

In the last several years and today, Islam has reached new heights in its ideology and its global expansion. Millions of Muslims have emigrated to the West. Mosques are being built as rapidly as possible in Europe, formerly a place Islam had very little success. Some fifty million people annually are being drawn to Islam and in fact, after Christianity, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

The Resurgence of Conservative Islamic Values

The majority of these states were supported by Western governments. Oil was traded for military equipment and Western technology. The Western influence upon these secular, pro-Western governments paved the ways for the resurgence of conservative Islamic values. To the conservatives, the Western lifestyle was a threat to the Islamic community and its law.

The Revival of Islam

In many of these states, increasing inflation, unemployment, governmental corruption, and the lack of political freedom and human rights set the stage for the revival of Islam. The radical and militant Islamic movement was being revived also. Contributing factors to its rise included the Islamic revolution of 1979 in Iran led by Khomeini, the Palestinian situation; the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union and the rise of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Twenty-First-Century Explosion

In the last several years, Islam has reached new heights in its ideology and its global expansion. Millions of Muslims have emigrated to the West. Mosques are being built as rapidly as possible in Europe, formerly a place Islam had very little success. Some fifty million people annually are being drawn to Islam and in fact, after Christianity, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

Sources and Thanks

This Short History of Islam was compiled from the following sources: Matthew S. Gordon, “Islam” (New York: Facts on Files, 1991); Malise Ruthven, “Islam in the World” (New York: Oxford University Press, 1984); JM Roberts, “History of the World” (Helicon Publishing Ltd, 1993) and Reza Safa, “Inside Islam” (Charisma House, 1996). Many thanks to all.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/islam-today/feed/ 7 About Islam and The Prophet Muhammad http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/prophet/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/history/prophet/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:45:58 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/prophet/ The word ‘Islam’ simply means submission to god, and a Muslim is one who follows the laws of Islam. The revelation of Islam was given to Muhammad, who is revered by Muslims as the greatest prophet. ‘Muhammad’ is not just a name but a title which means ‘The Praised One’.

The Life of the Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad (Mohammed or Mahomet) was born around AD570 in Mecca, a city of Arabia. Mecca was already a shrine city where the Ka’aba (Cube) was located known as the “house of Allah”. (Allah is the Arabic word for god.) Ka’aba was full of the images of other gods and goddesses which Muhammad later banned.

Muhammad’s father died before he was born and he was a member of the Hashim clan of the powerful Quraysh tribe. Muhammad’s mother, Amina, died when he was only 6. Muhammad went to live with his grandfather, who was the guardian of the Ka’aba. Sadly, 2 years later his grandfather also died and from the age of 8, Muhammad was brought up by his uncle, Abu Talib, who was a merchant along the great camel trade routes.

Prophet Muhammad in his Teenage Years

As a youth, Muhammad grew up during a time of economic unrest and discontent concerning the vast difference between the very rich and the very poor. Pagan worship abounded in Arabia, as there were an estimated 360 gods and goddesses to appease, with over 124,000 prophets known at the time. Muslim historians record that even as a boy Muhammad detested idol worship and lived a morally pure life.

Muhammad’s Adult Life

Muhammad was employed by Khadija, a wealthy widow, to manage her caravan trade. He became known as ‘Al-Amin’, the trustworthy one, and was a prominent member of the trade guild of Mecca.

At the age of 25 he married Khadija and their marriage produced 6 children, although all of them died, except for the youngest daughter – Fatima. Muhammad and Khadija were married for 25 years. Later, after Khadija died, Muhammad endorsed polygamy and married several wives.

At the age of 40, he became very concerned about the state of his fellow countrymen and spent much of his time in meditation on religious matters. During his life, Muhammad had met many Christians priests and Jews. He often sought counsel from a particular ‘Jacobite’ monk who taught Muhammad many aspects of Jewish religious customs.

Ramadan

During the Arabic month of Ramadan, Muhammad often retreated to a cave on the slopes of Mount Hira, 5 kilometers or 3 miles from Mecca. It was during one of these times that Muhammad began to receive revelation and instruction that he believed were from the archangel Gabriel. These revelations form the basis of the Qur’an (Koran). In addition to the Qur’an is the book of ‘Hadiths’. The Hadith is the teaching of Muhammad and is an important part of the life of a Muslim.

The Qur’an (Koran)

Muhammad proclaimed that the (soon to be) 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 5 daily times of prayer facing Mecca. Friday became the appointed day for corporate worship at the mosque.

Muhammad’s Death

Muhammad died in AD632 in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

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