Recently, I read the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus,
the true story of Nabeel Qureshi’s unexpected journey from Islam to
Christianity. Nabeel grew up in a loving, devout Muslim home. In his book, he describes how he loved Islam,
but as a seeker of knowledge and truth, he began to discover evidence for
Christianity. This discovery would cost him everything.
Throughout the book, Nabeel gives helpful information to the
reader about Islam. By recounting his
learning experiences as a child growing up in Islam to a young man in college,
the non-Muslim reader is able to understand the core beliefs of this ancient
religion.
As a former Ancient World History teacher, I knew and taught
basic “book” facts about Islam. Nabeel’s
story gave me a personal look into the beliefs and practices of Muslims. I
learned some things I found extremely interesting and worth sharing.
1. How a Muslim hears
from God
“Dreams are the only means by which the average Muslim
expects to hear from God.”(p.65) Muslims are taught to pay special attention to
dreams and visions, because Allah may use one to communicate with them
directly.
Although they pray 5 times a day, these are recited prayers,
not prayers from the heart. While a
Christian might expect to hear from God during a time of prayer and Bible
reading, a Muslim does not expect to hear from Allah during these prayer times,
nor do they look to the Quran.
My
observation: This explains why many Muslims who convert to
Christianity share about having dreams and visions of Jesus appearing to them.
2. Popular chapter in
the Quran
The Quran is divided in two ways: one was into 114 chapters,
called “surahs”, and the other was into thirty parts. Breaking it into thirty
parts made it possible for them to read through the whole book during Ramadan,
their holy month.
One of the most popular chapters is number 112, because it’s
“short, melodic, and memorable” and contains what Muhammad “considered so
weighty and consequential that reciting it is like reciting one third of the
whole Quran in one sitting.” The
message? God is not a father, and He has no son. (p. 39)
My
observation: How interesting that
one of the most beautiful and easy to memorize chapters in the Quran directly conflicts
with our most popular verse in the Bible, John 3:16. Coincidence? No way.
3. Odd Beliefs about the
Crucifixion of Jesus
Muslims have different views of what actually happened when
Jesus died on the cross. Most Muslims
believe “the substitution theory,” that Allah put Jesus’ face on someone else,
and that person was crucified in Jesus place.
The most popular view is that Allah put Jesus’ face on Judas’ body for
poetic justice. Muslims must believe Jesus did not die on the cross, because the Quran says, “Jesus was neither
killed nor crucified, but so it appeared.” (p.87)
My
observation: If Jesus didn’t die and rise again then we
Christians are wasting our time. If His
blood didn’t wash away my sins, then I am still a sinner who is unworthy to
stand before a holy God on judgment day.
The cross means everything, and therefore Muslims must deny that it even
happened.
4. Respect for the Quran
The Quran is so revered, Muslims must wash their hands
before touching it. They can only touch
it with their right hand. It must never
be placed on the ground. Children are
taught to read Arabic because Muslims believe the Quran must be read and
memorized in the original language.
My
observation: I was truly
convicted by this information. As
Christians under grace, we can take things for granted. We can even treat the holy as common. Have I taught my children to love the Bible
like Muslims teach their children to love the Quran? Lord help me.
5. Christian truths
Muslims reject
The three biggest hurdles for a Muslim coming to
Christ—believing in Jesus’ death on a cross, believing in the Resurrection, and
believing in the Trinity, that God is three in one. A “three in one” God belief is especially
profane, since their main call to prayer, the Adhan, says, “there is no god but
Allah!”
My
observation: Christians, if you can’t defend all your
beliefs, at least decide to work on these three. The books More than a Carpenter, The
Case for Christ, Mere Christianity, and even this book, SAFJ,
will help you sharpen your apologetic skills.
6. Heaven, Hell &
How You Get There
Both Muslims and Christians believe in a Heaven, Hell, and a
day of judgment. Christians believe in
salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone; Muslims believe in order to get into
Heaven their good works must outweigh their bad deeds. Also, they must follow the five pillars:
reciting shahada (‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger”),
praying 5 times a day, paying alms (giving to the poor), fasting during
Ramadhan, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
7. Cost of Converting to
Christianity
Muslims must give up everything to embrace the cross of
Christ—family, social connections, and perhaps, depending on where they live,
their freedom. Converting to Christ brings tremendous shame on their
families. Also, they are risking it ALL
when they accept Christ, because they’ve been taught their whole lives that the
one unforgivable sin, or “shirk”, is to believe that someone other than Allah
is God.
My observation: What
can I do?
Pray for Muslims around the world to have visions &
dreams of Jesus.
Pray for Christians living in Islamic nations to stay strong
and keep the faith. (ex. Saeed Abedini currently in Iranian prison for his
faith)
Show love to Muslims in my community. (Watch Nabeel Qureshi share on how to witness to a Muslim.)
