Introduction: 

For many Americans, the religion of Islam was little considered until September 11, 2001 when the Twin Towers were attacked by Muslims – adherents of Islam.  Since then, the United States, as well as other countries, has been involved in a war of terrorism.  But before that, there was the war in Iraq with the forces of Saddam Hussein back in the early 90’s.  For me personally, I started learning about Islam when I began teaching engineering at Arkansas State University in 1991.  I discovered that several of my students were Muslims from different countries in the Middle East.  So during the next five years, I learned much about the Islamic religion.

As we begin this series of lessons on Islam, I will try and be as fair as possible by primarily referring to and quoting from the Quran – Islam’s holy book.  This will help us better understand Islam as well as help our efforts in evangelizing. 

Body: 

I.   Islam’s Growth 

• It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people worldwide are Muslim.  That is between ¼ and 1/5 of the world’s population.  While many live in Arab countries, large numbers also live in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and several African nations.  Ten million or more Muslims live in the United States.  It is one of, or the fastest growing religions in the world.

 II.   Islamic Terms 

• Allah – Arabic name for God
• Mosque – the building where Islamic worship is conducted              Minaret – a tower from which Muslims are called to pray
• Quran – the holy book of Islam
• Surah – one of the 114 chapters or sections of the Quran
• Hadith – the traditions that report the words and actions of Muhammad’s life.
• Ramadan – the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset

III.   The Quran 

The validity of any religion stands or falls upon the inspiration of its sources of authority.  This is true of Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism, and Christianity . . . 

The credibility of Mormonism rests upon primarily The Book of Mormon, Hinduism upon the Vedas, and Christianity upon the Bible, and Islam upon the Quran.  If these do not display the characteristics of divine inspiration, then they are merely the works of men and that’s all. 

According to Muslim belief, the sanctity of the Quran lies in the Muslim consideration of the text as the official word of God and of Muhammad as the appointed mouthpiece of God.  He is said to have received the surahs from the archangel Gabriel.  Muhammad began to receive these revelations when he was around forty years old (~6/0 A.D.) and continued to receive them for the next twenty years.  None of these were personally written down by him as he was apparently illiterate.  They were not comprehensively recorded until about 768 A.D. 

Muslims believe that the Quran is the only authentic and complete book of God. 

Closing: 

It is vital we understand what Islam really is.  We don’t want to be like Absalom’s followers in II Samuel 15:11.  We also need to know why we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.                                          (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 1:1-3) 

Bobby Stafford

May 27, 2012