Introducing Islam – Week 1

1. Introducing Islam – Week 1 CEC Focus Groups May 2011

2. Week 1 – Introducing Islam Week 2 – Similarities and differences between Christianity & Islam Week 3 – Responding to Political Islam Week 4 – Sharing the gospel with Muslims – obstacles & opportunities Consider the importance of “double listening”. Overview of the four weeks

3. Introducing Islam - The importance of double listening: The task of this focus group is to apply “double listening” to Islam - we need to listen to what Muslims believe and understand their culture. Then we need to listen to Gods word and then use it to speak into their beliefs and practices

4. Introducing Islam - The Origins of Islam: • In what year was Mohammed born? Answer: A.D. 570 • What was Mohammed influenced by: Answer: A combination of the above • Which of the following are examples of this influence in early Islam? • Answer: • Prayer towards Jerusalem (it was only in A.D. 622 that this changed and Muslims began praying to Mecca rather than Jerusalem) • Practice of circumcision • Monotheism • Condemnation of idolatry

5. Key message: Islam was heavily influenced by Christianity and Judaism but evolved to oppose both Christianity and Judaism. There was a transition in early Islamic history reflected in the differences between the MeccanSuras and the MedinanSuras. “Among the factors contributing to the rise of Islam was the failure of institutional Christianity in love, in purity, in fervour and in spirit. Islam therefore developed in an environment of imperfect Christianity… This is the tragedy of the rise of Islam, which claims to displace what it has never really known.” Bishop Kenneth Cragg Introducing Islam - Origins of Islam:

6. Introducing Islam - The nature of Allah: • The name “Allah” is made up from two Arabic words? • “Al” means: Answer: “THE” - unique/only one • “Lah” means • Answer: the eternal one Islam has many similar beliefs about the character of God as Christians however there are two very divergent doctrines about God’s character • “Tanzih” means: • Answer: transcendence of Allah - his distance from humanity • “Mukhalafah” means • Answer: the otherness of Allah - he cannot be compared to man - no possibility of a Theophany or incarnate God

7. : Introducing Islam - The nature of Allah God! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. Sura ii 255 Lo! Alahpardonethnot that partners should be ascribed unto him. He pardoneth all save that to whom He will. Whose who ascribeth partners unto Allah hath wandered far astray. Suraiv 116. Key message: Allah is unique, transcendent and unseeable - consequently Allah is distant and shows mercy to who he wills. Allah is not a God who “cannot” or “must not” unlike the God of the Bible His glory cannot be shared with another " The God of Islam is not the same God of the Christian or Judeo - Christian faith. It's a different God.“ Franklin Graham

8. : Introducing Islam - What are the five pillars of Islam • What is the Shahada? Answer: The Muslim mantra - “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God • What is the Salat: Answer: Ritual prayer, including preparation (washing) and praying five times a day towards Mecca i.e. dawn (fajr), noon (dhuhr), afternoon (asr), sunset (maghrib) nightfall (isha'a). • What is the Zakat: Answer: The giving of 2.5% of one's possessions (surplus wealth) to charity generally to the poor and needy. • What is the Sawm: Answer: To abstain from eating, drinking, having sex and anything against Islamic law . Fastingduring daylight hours during the Islamic holy monthof Ramadan is one example of sawm but is not just confined to that month. • What is the Hadj: Answer:  The annual pilgrimage to Mecca  Saudi Arabia is a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in thier lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so .

9. : Introducing Islam - The five pillars of Islam Key message: Salvation from judgement is Islam is based on fulfilling the five pillars but even then there is ultimately no assurance of salvation O all you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and do good deeds, so that you may be successful.”Sura 22:77 “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.”Sura 4:103 “Truly, those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and perform Salat, and give Zakat, they will have their reward with their Lord, On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”Sura 2:277 “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, that you may attain piety.” Sura 2:183 “And Hajj to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses.”Sura 3:9

10. : Introducing Islam –Divisions within Islam Sunni Muslims (largest) follow or maintain only the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad i.e. the teachings and actions or examples of the prophet Shia Muslims (2nd largest). Shi'ites follow the teachings of the prophet but also hold that Muhammad's descandents, the Imams, have special spiritual and political authority over the community Sufi Muslims focus on the more spiritual aspects of religion(mystical-ascetic) who strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of "intuitive and emotional faculties" as a complement to orthodox Islam.

11. : Introducing Islam - Divisions within Islam Key message: Whist the Qur'an commands that Muslims should not be divided but rather be united under Allah. Failure to maintain this unity has been deemed a sin by God and thus is forbidden. However, since the death of the prophet Muhammad , there have arisen distinctions into schools of thought, traditions and related faiths Five times daily the Moslem muezzin calls out from the Mosque: "There is no god but Allah." The people repeat this and reiterate it far more than a hundred times during the day in their quarrels, feasts, fasts, rejoicings, and common conversation. But in my daily observations — and I have lived among them for more than twenty-five years — I find they have fetishes and superstitious customs which amount to as many gods as the heathen who bow down to wood and stone ] Samuel Zwemer Islam is not consistent so Muslims should be approached as individuals to understand were thet are coming trom