BASIC OVERVIEW OF ISLAM

2. An open door:
   • Pendulum is swinging with increasing evidence that Islam's time may have come.
   • Effective approach to Muslims has already been done by Christian missionaries.
   • Apologetical material already exists in abundance, and is being made available.
   • Historical Criticism on both the authority of Muhammad and the Qur'an is available.
   • Disillusionment: Educated Muslims are losing their faith due to reading this material.
   • Muslims worldwide being converted to Christ through supernatural dreams and visions.
   • Access to Muslims is better than ever before: satellite, Internet, literature, radio
   • and (most importantly) through ethnic minorities living and studying in the West.
   • Muslims have come to us; they are living in our country and speak our language!
   • Still one in five of the world's 5 billion population
   • while even today there is only one Protestant missionary for every 500,000 Muslims. It is clear that the harvest fields are ready but the labourers are few (Matt. 9:37-38). There is an urgent need to raise up and train British students and graduates to take on the challenge.
   
   
3. History of Islam:

   1. 570-646 A.D. Islam's birth (Islamic Traditional account vs. Orientalist account)

      [Muhammad the Prophet - Mecca]

      570 A.D.= Muhammad was born to Abdullah and Amina (Quraishi family)

      610 A.D.= received revelations after meditating for 6 months in Hira cave.

      622 A.D.= Hijra-the migration with 200 to Medina, beginning of political power.

      [Muhammad the Statesman - Medina]

      622-630 A.D.= Battles Badr, Uhud, the Ditch, and 700 Jews (3 families) killed.

      630 A.D.= Mecca conquered, bringing control of Arabian peninsula.

      632 A.D.= Death of Muhammad.

      646 A.D.= writing down of Qur'an by Zaid Ibn Thabit, under Uthman's auspice.

      
      

   2. 632-800 A.D. Islam's Conquest (Byzantium/Persian, Umayyad, Abbasid)

      with weakened Byzantium and Persian empires, a vacuum was left which Islam quickly filled, dominating Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula, and as far as India in the west; a major blow to Christian Church.

      661 A.D. SHI'ITES split over Muhammad's successor.

      732 A.D. Charles Martel stops Islam at TOURS, France.

      
      

   3. 750-1300 A.D. Stagnation (Mongols in east and Christians in west: 5th Crusade (1220)

      Abbasid Caliphate: Stagnation and Decline; Mongols in east and Christians in west: 5th Crusade (1220).

      
      

   4. 1300-1500 A.D. Expansion (Ottoman Empire, Moghuls in India)

      Ottoman Empire: Turkey and Mongol converts. Islam predominant in world. Moghuls in India. Push to Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, the Balkan states).

      
      

   5. 1500-1988 A.D. Decline and Resurgence (1923-Ataturk, 1960 independence, oil)

      Decline of Ottoman and Mongol empires, and European expansion.

      1923-Ataturk dismantles Caliphate (end of the Khalifah).

      1960 independence, oil, Khomeini brings about Islamic pride...

   
   
4. The Scriptures -Torah, Zabur, Injil, QUR'AN (from eternal tablet in heaven = Sura 85:22). Qur'an:114 chapters = suras, and 6,666 verses = ayas, superceding all other revelations.
   • Three periods of Qur'anic revelation:
     (Note: chapters are named after the place where they were revealed - Meccan and Medina)

     1st Meccan (610-615):

     WARNINGS and leading ideas. Mostly in poetical style and short (i.e. 96, 74, 81, 83, 87, 111, 112).

     2nd Meccan (616-622):

     longer suras, doctrines with Biblical material. Claims one true religion (i.e. 53,43,38,39,17,23,46,72).

     Medinan (623-632):

     Long suras as well, zeroing in on divine approval of Muhammad's leadership. Historical events noted. Change from preacher to prince, more political and social (i.e. Sura 33:2, 23, 33,3 7 = approval of Zaid)

     600 verses deal with Law in the Qur'an
   • Collation of Qur'an:
     Zayd-ibn-Thabit collected Qur'an from other's memory, parchment, papyrus, stones, palm leaves, shoulder blades, animal's ribs, leather, boards. Final copy (Uthmanic recension) using Hafsa's copy, 4 copies made, and sent to Basra, Baghdad, Damascus, and Medina. All other codices (Ibn Musa, Ibn Masud, Ubayy Ibn Ka'ab) were burned.
   • Authority of the Qur'an:
     It claims to be from God, perfect linguistically, scientifically, historically, and with no human authorship. It is a miracle, as the prophet was illiterate. Problems with Sources, Hafsa, Errors, Abrogations and only for Arabs. (* See paper on "the Qur'an, An Apologetic")
   
   
5. Teachings of Islam: (Islam means submission, Muslim = one who submits)
   Six Muslim Beliefs = Iman (*=See paper on Christian Response to Iman)
   1. Belief in One God Allah: god is unique, all powerful and merciful to Muslims.
   2. Belief in the Prophets: (126,000) including: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad the greatest.
   3. Belief in the Holy Books: (5) Suhuf (scrolls of Ibrahim), Taurut (Moses), Zabur (David), Injil (Jesus), Qur'an (Muhammad); [Also, Sunnah (Hadith), Ijma (unanimous agreement), Qias (analogical reasoning, measured with the above)]
   4. Belief in Angels (and Evil Spirits): Iblis, Jibra'il, Mika'il, Izra'il, Israfil.
   5. Belief in the Day of Judgment: good/bad deeds balanced by "book of destiny" predestined by Allah, puts the book in right hand=saved & will cross razor-sharp bridge, unsaved beaten & falls into Jahenna.
      -Paradise="Garden of delight" with virgins, fruits and springs of water.
      -Hell= (Jahenna) roasted, boiling water, pus, and torments.
   6. Belief in Decrees and Predestination of Allah: Everything, including good and evil is preordained by Allah, thus man resigned to fate (Kismet); and calls for In-sh'allah (thus fanaticism in war, and resigned to defeat and catastrophes)
   
   
6. Practices of Islam "5 Pillars" (Deen)

   Shahada:

   There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

   Salat:

   Prayer five times a day, facing Mecca.

   Zakat:

   Alms of 1/40 or 2.5% (plus Sadaqah = voluntary offerings).

   Sawm:

   fast of Ramadan (9th month) begins and ends with distinguishing between threads.

   Hajj:

   The pilgrimage to the Ka'ba in Mecca once in one's lifetime.

   (Shi'ites would add Jihad = striving in the cause of God)
   


7. The Divisions of Islam

   Sunni (4 Caliphs)

   Shi'a (Ali only)

   Shi'ites (Twelvers) - Iran, India, Iraq; Isma'ilis (Seveners) - India, Syria, East Africa (Aga Khan); Zaydis - Yemen; Druzes - Lebanon

   Sufis and Ahmadiyya
   

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