Christian Mission to Muslims

Since September 11, the Muslim communities have been under siege by the media and the entire world. We have seen how the miss conceptions of Muslims have spread all over the media. As a Christian I begin to think that they should be treated as normal people. "When a radical fundamentalist, start a sect with ideas that differ from what the Muslim religion stands for, we begin to stereotype all the Muslims as the same. But when a Christian begins a killing spree a cross the nation, know one stereotypes all the Christians as one."

As a Seventh Day Adventists Christian, I believe that we as a church body, we have to reach this people with compassion and understanding, because not all of them are evil like they are shown to be. I believe that ignorance is the root of hatred, an as Christians, we should be like Jesus, understand them, and cater to their needs.

To be able to understand the Muslim mind we have to learn their background and how their religion was develop. Is hard to learn when you already have preconceived prejudices about Muslims, but that's when we have to pray to God for wisdom, understanding, and an open mind.

Islam originated in the seventh century A.D. During this time, Islamic scholars were very fluent in the areas of physics, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, geography and medicine. Muhammed (570-632 A.D.) was the founder of Islam. He became an orphaned at the age of six, when he became a teenager he decided to join the merchants who traded goods from town to town along the caravan routes. He became a master trader for a businesswoman, then married the woman who was a widow.

Muhammed was a man with a lot of spiritual insight, but he became depressed by the commercial greed and the excess of polytheism around him, he spent most of the time in seclusion and meditation. Muslims believe that while Muhammed was meditating in a cave, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him. The vision came to him first in 610 A.D. and thereafter at intervals over the next 22 years, revealing the word of Allah. Muhammed is believed to have been illiterate, for that reasons he dictated the visions to his companions who wrote them down. Then 30n years later the writings were compiled in the Koran. The Koran is the Muslims most holy book.

Muhammed's insights were rejected by the leaders of Mecca, and after severe persecution he fled to Medina in 622 A.D., 250 miles to the north. This flight of Muhammed is called Hijra and is the starting point for Islamic history. In the town of Medina, Muhammed was well received by the people, and soon he had a large group of followers. In this town he was not only the prophet and the lawgiver; but he also became their political leader and commander of all the military in Medina. These Medina Muslims later return to fight the Meccans, which lost the war. At this time Muhammed started the cleansing of the city by getting rid of all the idols and the false worship. He proclaims the city of Mecca as the center of Islamic worship.

Muhammed based the Islamic faith in Five pillars, the main points of the creed. The first pillar is the testimony of faith (Shahada): "I bear witness there is no god but Allah." The second is a prayer five times a day at specific hours (noon prayers on Fridays being the most important). The third pillar is fasting during Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar). The fourth pillar is (Zakah), alms giving, varying according to income and kind of property. This is the equivalent of tithe. And the fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is the most holy place for a Muslim. To this last pillar some Muslims add (Jihad) which means holy war, and the defense of Islam. This is a part of Muslim beliefs that is taken out of proportion, because in reality moderate Muslims interpret the concept of Jihad as any struggle against under development and injustice.

In addition to the five pillars, Islam has one more article of faith. They include the Doctrines of Allah, Angels, Revealed Book, Prophets, Last Things, and the Doctrine of Predestination. Other significant traits about Islam apart from the pillars are, the allowance of polygamy (up to four wives) is allowed, and consumption of alcohol and pork are not allowed. In Islam the identity of priesthood is none existent, there is no sacrifices, saints or relics to invoke for protection or healing.

If we were to compare Christianity with Islam, we would find out that on the surface both of them seem to worship the same God, Allah. Also there are more similarities, about these two religions, that can be use as a good meeting points. It is very important not overlook the differences in the concepts of the Christian God and the Islamic Allah.

Islam is based on the belief that there is only one all-powerful god, Allah, to whom every living thing should submit. Allah is self-sufficient, and he cannot be affected by the actions of His creatures. Allah is the source of good and evil. Allah is supreme, not limited by laws or principles. In addition, God in Muslim thought is not unknowable. Christians in contrast believe that Christ has made His Father God known. He has been able to reveal Himself to his people, which in turn created man to His own image. This Christian view is totally different from the Islamic concept of Allah. There is another crucial difference between Christians and Muslims. I Muslim thought Allah's power is shown by a way of exaltation, in political and in military supremacy. In Christianity God who is Almighty, sometimes reveals His power through weakness, humility and suffering. The cross is the supreme revelation of God's love for human kind through Jesus Christ. This contrast is so graphic between both religions. Muhammed the Muslim prophet fled from the holy city of Mecca when his life was in danger. Christ in the other hand, savior of the world made His way into the holy city of Jerusalem to die for the human race.

Christianity and Islam are similar in another comparison. Both have holy books, the Christians have the Bible, and Muslims have the Koran. The Koran is believed to be perfect in it is writing, it is considered a perfect revelation from Allah. Is also believed that the Koran is a perfect replica from the one in heaven. Some Muslims think of the book, as so holy and pure, those believe that the book has miraculous qualities. Because of these believes it is impossible even dangerous to criticize the Koran or to be involved in a critical study of the book.

Christians, who want to witness to the Muslim community, should take these views of the Koran very seriously. Therefore, they don't be drawn into a discussion of the books. For the Christian is an unfair comparison, because even though the Bible shows the divine guide to God, the Bible does not claim perfection. The supreme revelation from