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Dear friends,

Current events have led to many discussions of the Religion of Islam. Quite apart from terrorism or war, there are many reasons why Christians should oppose Islam as a religion. This does not mean that we should seek to do physical harm to people simply because they are Moslems. But we do need to understand what they believe and how it differs from God's word. And we need to warn people about the errors of Islam.

Islam

Introduction:

The religion of Islam is often in the news. Moslems have been involved in many world conflicts: the war with Iraq and Sadam Hussein, the conflict between Arabs and Israel, and many terrorist groups.

Islam is a rapidly growing religion. In 1991 Islam claimed nearly one billion adherents in the world, including 2.6 million in North America. [The World Almanac, 1993, p. 718]

Surely Christians should be concerned about such a powerful and influential religious force. The purpose of this study is to examine the beliefs and practices of Islam, comparing these to the Bible.

A Brief Summary of Islam

"Islam" is the proper term for the religion revealed by Mohammed in Arabia in the early 600's. "Islam" means "submission" (to the will of God). Adherents are called Moslems ("one who submits"). Arabians are descendants of Ishmael, so Islam claims to be a renewal of the ancient religion of Abraham traced through Ishmael.

Mohammed was born in Mecca, Arabia, about 570 AD. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by his grandfather and then his uncle. His family was aristocratic and influential. He grew up in times of religious and political confusion and uncertainty. At age 25 he married a wealthy 40-year-old widow named Khadijah.

At age 40 he began claiming to receive dreams and revelations, but was unsure of their source. He quoted these revelations to others who wrote them down. His wife convinced him these were messages from God, as Moslems today believe. But non-Moslems believe he developed such a deep religious fervor, out of concern for the needs of the people, that he began having dreams about religion and attributed them to God.

Rejected at first by the people of Mecca, he fled to Medina where he became a religious and political leader. By a series of violent battles he obtained income and converted people to Islam. Eventually he returned to Mecca and captured it by force.

When he died at age 63-65, a power struggle developed regarding who should succeed him. Several sects resulted, the major two being Sunni Moslems and Shi-ite Moslems. We will mainly consider Sunni Moslems (by far the larger group), though many of the same points would apply to other forms of Islam. Nevertheless, we should remember that there are wide variations among Moslems, just as there are among those claiming to be Christians.

Relationship of Islam to Judaism and The Gospel of Christ

All 3 religions claim to believe in the same God, the God of Abraham, revealed in the Old Testament. The Moslem name "Allah" is just their name for Jehovah.

All began from the work of major individual prophets. Jews' beliefs were revealed by Moses, Christians' by Jesus, and Moslems' by Mohammed. Islam recognizes both Moses and Jesus as prophets (along with other Bible prophets), but it claims that Mohammed is the last and greatest of the prophets.

All are based on written revelations claimed to be infallibly inspired by God. The Jews accept only the Old Testament, Christians accept the New Testament, and Moslems accept the Koran (they also have great respect for Moslem traditions). Just as Christians believe the Old Testament was inspired but was replaced by the New Testament, so Moslems believe the Old and New Testaments were inspired but were both replaced by the Koran.

For these reasons many similarities exist among Judaism, the gospel, and Islam. Yet we will see that essential differences also exist.

Note - In this study we have mainly relied on the following sources about Islam: The Koran (page numbers refer to the printing I own) Encyclopedia Britannica (abbreviated EB), articles on "Islam," "Mohammed," and "Koran." World's Religions (abbr. WR), article by Norman Anderson.

Christian's Response to Islam, (abbr. CRI), William Miller. Also other miscellaneous sources as noted.

Part I: Basic Doctrines

Since Islam claims to accept the Old and New Testaments, if its doctrines are true then they ought to harmonize with the Bible. So let us examine some basic doctrines of Islam and compare them to the Bible.

I. The Doctrine of God

Islam correctly opposes idolatry and teaches that there is only one God. But more is needed, since even the devils believe there is one God (James 2:19).

So consider further:

A. Islam Says Jesus Is Not Divine.

Mohammed taught there is only one Divine Being in God. He denied the Deity of Jesus, saying He was just a man -- a great prophet, but a lesser prophet even than Mohammed. He denied Jesus was the Son of God. (Koran, 4:160-171 - pp60,61; 6:90-100 - pp77,78; 9:130; 19:135 - p168) [WR-100f; CRI-47ff,76]

The Bible says Jesus is Divine.

John 1:14 - Jesus (the Word) was God, was with God in the beginning, and became flesh to dwell among men a man.

Colossians 2:9 - In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

John 20:28-29 - Thomas called Jesus "my Lord and my God." Jesus pronounced a blessing on all others who believe the same (cf. vv 30,31).

How can Moslems deny these teachings and yet claim to believe the Bible is true and Jesus was a prophet?

Philippians 2:6-8 ; Hebrews 1:8-9 ; Titus 2:13 ; Isaiah 9:6 ; John 2:58 ; John 5:23

The Bible says Jesus is the Only-Begotten Son of God.

Matthew 16:13-17 -- During His lifetime many people believed what Moslems today believe: that Jesus was a great prophet like other prophets. But Peter confessed that Jesus was not just a man but was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Himself affirmed that Peter's statement had been revealed by God.

John 10:35 - Jesus plainly admitted that He had said, "I am the Son of God."

Matthew 17:5, Matthew 3:17 - Twice God spoke from heaven and claimed Jesus as His beloved Son. Bible writers claimed to be eyewitnesses that these things were true 2 Peter 1:16-18.

Romans 1:4 - The resurrection declared Jesus to be the Son of God.

To believe that Jesus was just a great man and a prophet is to belittle Him and to deny His own statements. To believe some other man was greater than Jesus is to blaspheme Him. If Jesus spoke the truth, then He was more than a prophet.

Moslems must either admit that Jesus was the Divine Son of God, or else they must admit they do not believe that Jesus and the Bible are true.

John 3:16; John 1:14; John 3:18; 1 John 4:9; Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:19-22; 1 Corinthians 15:23-28

The Bible says Jesus has Divine characteristics.

He was eternal - Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6

He was all-knowing - John 16:30; John 21:17

He was all-powerful over created things - Matthew 28:18; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 17:14; Acts 10:36; Romans 10:12; John 3:31; Romans 9:5.

How could these characteristics be possessed by a mere man? Are these things true of Mohammed? If not, then how could he be greater than Jesus?

The Bible says Jesus is the Creator of the universe and the Judge of mankind.

John 1:3 - All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17

John 5:22-23 - The Father has committed all judgment to the Son.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - Jesus will be our judge; we must all appear before Him. Jesus will be Mohammed's judge! How can Mohammed be greater?

Acts 17:31; Matthew 25:31

What mere human prophet could create the universe or judge all mankind? Mohammed makes no such claims. These are the claims of a Divine Being. How can Moslems deny these teachings and yet claim to believe the Bible is true and Jesus was a prophet?

The Bible says Jesus accepted worship.

Jesus taught that no one but God should be worshipped Matthew 4:10. Both men and angels in the New Testament refused to allow people to bow in worship to them Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 22:8-9.

Matthew 28:9 Matthew 28:17; Hebrews 1:6 - However, Jesus' disciples worshipped Him, and angels are commanded by God to worship Him. Revelation 5:12-14; Luke 24:52

Jesus accepted worship such as was forbidden to man. How can Islam believe the Bible and believe Jesus was from God, while denying that He deserved worship? When they claim that Jesus was just a human prophet and that Mohammed was a greater prophet than Jesus, the Scripture says they are unbelievers John 20:30-31 ; John 8:24; Mark 16:16.

Islam is like a man who views a building from a great distance. He can tell there is only one building, but a closer view would reveal that it has three stories. So Islam correctly affirms there is only one God, but the greater revelation of New Testament shows that this one God consists of three separate and distinct individual spirit Beings.

B. Islam Says Men Cannot Conceive What God Is Like because He Has Not Revealed Himself.

Of course we cannot grasp fully the infinite nature of God, but Islam says it is impossible to have even a general concept of God's character [WR-115; CRI-44,74]. But the Bible says:

John 1:18 - Though man has not seen God, Jesus knows Him and has declared Him.

John 14:9-10 - We can know what the Father is like because Jesus and His Father are perfectly united. To know what Jesus is like is to know what the Father is like.

Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is the express image of the substance of His Father. Colossians 1:15; Matthew 11:27

The fuller knowledge of God, which Islam lacks, is found in the revelation given by Jesus Christ. Although Islam teaches there is one God, it still teaches error about God, for it denies the Deity of Jesus and ignores the Bible revelation of God's nature. How can Moslems deny these teachings and yet claim to believe the Bible is true and Jesus was a prophet?

II. The Doctrine of Revelation

Mohammed said the New Testament and Jesus were from God, but his own teachings were better and replaced the New Testament. However, note the claims of the New Testament regarding itself.

A. The New Testament Is a Complete Revelation of All God's Will.

John 16:13 - Jesus promised His apostles would receive all truth. Any teaching that a man claims to reveal from God, if it is not in the New Testament, it is not a part of God's truth. [John 14:26]

2 Peter 1:3 - God's power has granted all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus. What is left for Mohammed to provide?

James 1:25 - The gospel is the perfect law of liberty.

The teachings of Islam claim to be superior to the gospel. But how can one improve on that which is perfect and which contains all truth and all things pertaining to life and godliness. [Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 28:18-20]

B. The New Testament Universally Meets the Needs of All Men.

The gospel provides what all men of all ages need in order to have a proper relationship to God.

Mark 16:15 - It is to be preached to everyone in all the world. [Matthew 28:19]

Romans 1:16 - It is God's power to save everyone who believes, Jew on non-Jew.

The gospel of Christ is sufficient to give all men eternal life (John 20:30-31; Acts 2:39; Acts 10:34 ). No man in any future age will need any further revelation than the gospel. What more could Mohammed provide?

C. The New Testament Is God's Final Revelation to Man.

The Old Testament predicted that another testament would replace it (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This promise was fulfilled in the New Testament. However, the New Testament does not, in turn, predict that it will be replaced by the teachings of Mohammed or any other Divine revelation. Instead it teaches that it is itself the final revelation. [Hebrews 13:20; Hebrews 7:11-28; Hebrews 8:6-13; Hebrews 12:18-29]

1 Corinthians 13:8-11

This passage discusses spiritual gifts, which were the means by which prophets received revelation (cf. chap. 12). It says these gifts, including prophecy, would cease when "that which is perfect is come." They would cease because they were "in part" -- incomplete and imperfect.

Note: "That which is perfect" is contrasted to the spiritual gifts, which were "in part." "That which is perfect" refers to something that completes or perfects what was incomplete or imperfect about spiritual gifts.

In what way were the gifts (including prophecy) "in part"? The only Scriptural answer is that, at the time Paul wrote, the gifts had only partially accomplished their purpose. They had been given in order to reveal or deliver the will of God. But that delivery was not yet complete when Paul wrote -the will of God had not all been revealed and recorded.

"That which is perfect," therefore, must be the completion of that which was lacking in the spiritual gifts: it must be the completed revelation of truth. When the process of revelation was complete and all truth had been completely delivered and recorded in writing, then the gifts of prophecy would no longer be needed and so they would cease. But we have already shown that this happened during the lifetime of the original apostles (see above and note the "perfect law of liberty - James 1:25 ).

The gift of prophecy was needed in an age when people did not yet have the complete written word to guide them. When the word was completely recorded by Jesus' apostles and prophets, then prophecy would have completed it purpose and so would cease. By the time Mohammed lived, the gift of prophecy was no longer needed and had long since ceased.

Jude 3

The faith was "once for all delivered to the saints" (NKJV). "Once" is "used of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition" (Thayer). The same Greek word describes Jesus' death in Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:28; 10:10; 7:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:18, which teach that Jesus' death will not be repeated.

Old Testament sacrifices did not completely remove sins, so they had to be repeated. But the death of Jesus was perfect and sufficient to completely remove all sin for all men of all ages; so it happened only "once." There was no repetition.

Likewise, the true faith was delivered only "once." The gift of prophecy was needed as long as God's perfect testament had not been perfectly and completely revealed. But that perfect testament was completely delivered to men in the first century. It does not need to be delivered again, so it never will be delivered again. Therefore, the spiritual gifts by which it was delivered have ceased.

Everything Jesus did was perfect. He not only gave us a perfect sacrifice for sin, He also gave us the perfect New Testament to tell us how to receive forgiveness (Hebrews 1:1-2 ; James 1:25 ). Neither His sacrifice nor the revelation of His will can ever be repeated or improved.

To claim that Mohammed or any other man received later revelations or a better revelation is to deny the perfection of the New Testament.

Galatians 1:8-9

Having completely revealed His will in the first century, God preserved it for all future generations (1 Peter 1:23-25 ; 3 John 2; Matthew 24:35; John 12:48 ). If any man preaches a different gospel, he stands under the curse of God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a perfect and complete revelation, given by God to guide all people until the end of time. So God forbids anyone to teach a different religious doctrine. (Matthew 15:9 , Matthew 13 ; 2 John 9-11 ; Colossians 3:17 ; Revelation 22:18-19 ; 1 Timothy 1:3 ; 2 Timothy 1:13 )

Men have always wanted to change God's will, hoping they could improve it or make it more suitable to themselves. Men who attempt this have often claimed to be prophets from God, but God has always warned us to beware of false prophets and resist them (1 John 4:1 ; Matthew 7:15 ; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ; etc.).

So we have evidence that God authorized the New Testament to replace the Old Testament, but we have no such evidence that God authorized the teachings of Mohammed to replace the New Testament. Since Mohammed's revelation is different from the gospel, the above passages show that we must resist his message, for the curse of God is on it.

III. The Doctrine of Salvation

A. Islam Denies the Sacrificial Death of Jesus and His Resurrection.

Islam denies that Jesus was crucified, that He died as a sacrifice for sin, and that He arose from the dead. (Koran 4:156 - p60) [CRI-49,77; WR-101; EB, XII-711]

The Bible teaches Jesus did die by crucifixion as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Matthew 20:17-19 - Jesus predicted He would be crucified, then rise again.

Matthew 26:28 - He claimed that He would shed His blood for the remission of man's sins. [20:28]

John 19:31-35 - John claimed to be an eyewitness to Jesus' crucifixion. [ Acts 2:23 ]

Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption and forgiveness are through His blood.

1 Peter 2:24 - He bore our sins in His body on the tree.

Hebrews 2:9 - He tasted of death for every man.

If Islam denies these statements from Jesus and the Bible, how can it yet claim to believe the Bible is from God and Jesus was a true teacher?

[ Mark 8:31 ; Matthew 16:21 ; Revelation 1:5 ; Revelation 5:9 ; 1 Timothy 2:4-6 ; 1 Peter 1:18 ; Isaiah 53:5-9 ; 1 Corinthians 15:3 ; John 1:29 ; Hebrews 9:24-28 ; Hebrews 10:9-13 ; Hebrews 13:20 ; Romans 5:6-11 ; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ]

The Bible teaches that Jesus was raised from the dead, as proved by the testimony of eyewitnesses.

Matthew 20:17-19 - Jesus predicted He would be crucified and then rise again. [ Matthew 16:21 ]

Luke 24:44-46 - Jesus taught that His death and resurrection was a fulfillment of prophecy.

Romans 1:4 - Jesus is declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 - He died for our sins, was buried, and arose as prophesied and as testified by eyewitnesses who saw Him alive.

The resurrection of Jesus is absolutely fundamental to the claims of Jesus and the gospel. The apostles repeatedly affirmed it to be true on the basis of eyewitness testimony. This is proof such as neither Islam nor any other religion can offer.

[ Romans 10:9-10 ; Romans 6:4-13 ; 1 Corinthians 6:14 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-26 ; John 20:24-31 ; Acts 2:23-36 ; Acts 17:30-31 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ; 1 Peter 1:3-4 ; 1 Peter 3:21 ; 2 Corinthians 5:15 ; Ephesians 1:19-20 ; Colossians 2:12-13 ]

The Bible teaches that salvation can be obtained only through Jesus.

John 4:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Acts 4:12 - "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

We can only be saved through Jesus, no other way. Islam denies salvation through Jesus. Therefore, Islam cannot save and Moslems have no way to be saved.

The Old Testament had animal sacrifices. The New Testament has the superior, perfect sacrifice of Jesus. But, Islam has no sacrifice for sin at all.

Without a sacrifice for sin, there can be no remission (Hebrews 9:22 ). It follows that Islam not only is not a superior system, but it cannot save at all.

B. Islam Teaches Salvation by Law-Keeping without Sacrifice.

Islam offers only a vague concept of how man is saved. Evil is balanced against good, and if good outweighs, a person might be saved. Outward obedience is emphasized, not faith, love, or the condition of ones heart. [CRI-81f,84f]

The Bible teaches that all have sinned, and even one sin leads to eternal punishment.

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 2:10 - For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

This is why we need a sacrifice. No matter how much good we have done, it can never outweigh the evil of our sin.

Islam's approach to righteousness is even less effective than that of the Old Testament.

Galatians 3:10 - Under the Old Testament, anyone who disobeyed in any point was under a curse.

Galatians 5:1,4 - The law was a yoke of bondage in which we should not again be entangled. To seek justification by the law is to fall from grace.

The law itself provided justification only for those who lived without ever sinning, and no one did that (except Jesus). This is why God replaced the Old Testament with the New. But Islam, like the Old Testament, is a system of strict law keeping. Islam does not even have the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament.

So Islam claims to be better than the New Testament, when in reality it is worse than the Old Testament! To accept it is to return to a yoke of bondage, having no hope for salvation.

[ Romans 3:20 ; Galatians 2:16 ; Hebrews 8:6-13 ; Hebrews 10:1-18 ; Acts 15:10 ]