Topic(s): Jesus, World Religions

Bob Prichard

Muslims, who were previously called Moslems, are those who practice the religion of Islam. Although often thought of as only a Middle Eastern religion, this movement, which claims as many as a billion members, is a world—wide religion. Islam is growing rapidly in the United States, partly through conversion, and partly through immigration, with an estimated six million adherents in the United States in the year 2000.

Its major sects are the Shi’ites, concentrated in Iran, and the Sunnis, a majority elsewhere. It began among the Arabians, descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar the handmaid of Sarah. An angel told Hagar that Ishmael would be “a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him” (Genesis 16:12). Muslims trace their faith back to Abraham through Ishmael, saying that it was Ishmael, not Isaac, who Abraham prepared to sacrifice on the rock under the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

The creed of Islam is simple: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” This simple creed is one key to its success in spreading throughout the world. In the past, Islam has often been spread by force, under the concept of the jihad, or holy war, which called for the use of force whenever necessary to spread Islam.

The founder of the movement was Muhammad (570-632) who is said to have received a series of revelations from Allah, which resulted in the Qur’an (or Koran, the holy book of Islam). Muslims consider the Bible to be one of the sacred scriptures. The Qur’an itself contains many references to people in the Bible, but changes many vital details in recounting Bible incidents. The Qur’an does not complete or supersede the Bible. It conflicts with it.

Jesus is mentioned in the Qur’an, and is held in great esteem as a prophet, but not as the Son of God (because Allah can have no son). The virgin birth is recounted and accepted in the Qur’an, but many details of the life of Christ are changed or distorted. It teaches Jesus was not crucified, because Allah substituted another man, not wanting to allow one of his prophets to suffer the shame of the cross. Since the Jesus of the Qur’an is not the Son of God, and did not die on the cross, He could not be the Savior of the world, and there could be no atonement. Thus the practice of Islam, although often of a very high moral character, is outside the teachings of the Bible and saving grace of God for His obedient children. Muslims reject the blood of Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).