In studying Islam, we are not interested in “bashing” Muslims. Nor are we interested in stoking fear. Nor are we interested in driving them out of the country. We are interested, in the spirit of 2 Timothy 2:24-26, in converting them to Christ. A few weeks ago, I sent out a Daily Droplet discussing the relationship between Muslims and Ishmael.
If you have a friend or family member who is Muslim whom you are trying to convert, read their book! And kindly ask them to read your book. You will then be in a position to challenge the reasonableness of their faith. For example, if you know the Koran never associates the Muslim with Ishmael, you can ask: “Where do you have the authority to believe that, if it is not in the Koran?”
Of course, it is in tradition and the hadith (which we’ll define in the future). But if their beliefs are based on tradition instead of the Koran, then what use is the Koran? And how do you know the tradition is trustworthy? Here is what their tradition teaches…
Ishmael (Ismail) is the progenitor of the Arabs. When Abraham left Hagar (again, a story that is not found in the Koran) in the wilderness, she ran between two hills and exhausted herself. God rewarded her search by bringing forth water from the earth. Pilgrims will reenact that plight on the annual pilgrimage (hajj, which we’ll discuss in the future). The water will also be taken home for relatives.
Local tradition had it that Hagar and Ismail settled in Mecca, that Abraham had visited there and that together Abraham and Ismail had rebuilt the Ka’bah. It seemed to Muhammad that Arabia had not been left out of the divine plan.
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There is a black stone in the Ka’bah in Mecca. The Arabs believe the black stone came from heaven as a divine sign. The Ka’bah is a simple cube-shaped building, covered with black and gold cloth. It was built by Adam, destroyed by pagans, but rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael (2.119-121; citations are from Rodwell’s translation since that’s the translation I’ve read and marked). But by the time of Muhammad, it had been turned into a house of idol worship. The shrine had been dedicated to Hubal, the Nabatean deity and there were 360 idols, arranged around the Ka’bah.
Muslims believe that it was Ishmael, not Isaac, whom God commanded Abraham to sacrifice. Muslims celebrate a festival – Eid al-Adha – to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
Today, when Muslims pray, they face the Ka’bah in Mecca (2:139). Since we “share” a common ancestor in Abraham, it would be helpful to read the NT texts which talk about Abraham. The books which mention him the most are: Luke (15 times), Acts (8), Romans (9), Galatians (9 – a great place to start due to its size), and Hebrews (10).
The word of God needs to be our primary weapon against the Muslims (Eph 6:17).
Paul Holland
