How many Muslims are there in the world?
There are around 1 billion adherents to Islam in the world, which is roughly 20% of the world’s population. Only Christianity claims more followers.
Who is the founder of Islam?
Muhammad, a merchant born around 570 A.D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
How did Islam get started?
Muhammad was a very religious man, who was raised in an environment where many gods were worshiped. As he traveled he encountered Christians and Jews and respected the way they worshiped only one God. At the age of 40, Muhammad claims to have received a visit from the angel Gabriel, who gave him the words which would later be recorded as the Qur’an. Muhammad then began to preach that Allah was the only god, and that he was Allah’s prophet.
What does the word “Islam” mean?
Though it has connotations of “peace,” Muslims understand it to mean “surrender,” that is, to surrender oneself totally to the dictates and will of Allah and Muhammad. Another way to look at it – surrender to Allah is how Muslims intend to bring “peace” into the world.
How do Muslims practice their religion?
To be a faithful Muslim, one must obey the Five Pillars of Islam:
- Recite: There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
- Pray: Five times a day facing Mecca.
- Give: Charitable giving to the poor.
- Fasting: No food, drink, or sexual intercourse during the daytime hours of the month of Ramadan.
- Pilgrimage: If able, every Muslim should travel to Mecca at least once in his lifetime.
How do Muslims view Jesus Christ?
Muslims believe that Jesus is a very great prophet, second only to Muhammad. They do not believe that Jesus is the divine son of God, nor that he died on a cross. They despise the doctrine of the Trinity.
What is the goal of Islam?
Through the enactment of Sharia Law, Muslims desire to bring the rule of Allah to the entire world.
How is a person counted righteous before Allah?
His good deeds must outweigh his bad deeds. It is a works-based system of self-justification.
Are Muslims terrorists?
The serious ones are. The majority of Muslims adhere to Islam because of tradition, or family allegiance. They do not take the Qur’an seriously when it comes to Jihad (holy war). But those Muslims who believe Islam not to be a mere religion, but total reality, are willing to kill the “infidel” (non-Muslims) in order to establish Islam globally. As we observed on September 11, 2001, many are even willing to become suicide bombers in order to achieve this goal. Recent surveys reveal that perhaps 10% – 20% of Muslims are in this serious category, which translates into more than one hundred million people.
How do we know that Islam is a false religion?
- There is no evidence that Gabriel ever appeared to Muhammad.
- The Qur’an was written by only one person. There are no checks and balances which come through multiple authorship (the type thing we see with the Bible). The bottom line – one person can lie much easier than multiple people.
- Muhammad utilized his religion to achieve incredible wealth. He was an extremely violent and untrustworthy person.
- Islam borrows its concepts from Judaism and Christianity, though it twists both beyond recognition.
- Islam ignores the historical evidence of the trustworthy nature of the Bible and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Important final comment
Islam is the single biggest apologetics issue Christians face today. Not because it is a consistent or viable worldview, but because there are so many Muslims in the world today, and because they wield considerable political power, especially due to the oil reserves in their possession. Considering the violent goals of the religion, and their world take-over mentality, Christians must face Islam head on. How is this done? Through the preaching of the Gospel to Muslims. Amazingly, the Lord is saving many Muslims everyday, showing them the truth that Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God and that Muhammad is a false prophet.
Further reading:
Why Jesus Is Trustworthy But Muhammad Is Not
Great website:
Answering Islam
