ISLAM: WHY SHOULD I CARE? ©Rev. Clinton Chisholm, September, 2014

Basics for Memory The Religion: Islam The Followers: Muslims (‘s’ as in ‘sing’ not as in ‘prism’)

The Deity: Allah (Arabic for God) The Holy Book: Qur’ an (The Hadith, traditions of the Prophet are critical for Muslims as well) The Holy Prophet: Muhammad (pbuh= peace be upon him, used when any prophet is mentioned)

The Five Pillars of Islam 1. The Creed (Shahada/Kalimah) “There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” (ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad rasul Allah) 2. Prayer, 5 times per day 3. Fasting during the 9 th Islamic month, Ramadan, honouring the arrival of the Qur’an

4. Almsgiving (Zakat ) = 2.5% of income, after outstanding debts 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj ) at least once for each mature Muslim A Comparison/contrast between Christianity’s Great Commission and Islam’s Great Command, Jihad

THE NATURE OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (Mt ) 1.The Imperative Dimension: ‘Make Disciples’ 2. The All-inclusive Dimension: ‘…of all nations’ Not caring about the lost means you are either SINFULLY UNCONCERNED or SIMPLY UNCONVERTED. Not caring about the lost means you are either SINFULLY UNCONCERNED or SIMPLY UNCONVERTED.

THE NATURE OF ISLAM’S JIHAD 1. The Imperative Dimension: re non-Muslims 1. The Imperative Dimension: re non-Muslims “And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.” (Sura 2.191) “And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.” (Sura 2.191) Though Jihad has a spiritual nuance the physical nuance is more dominant

“Mohammed said: Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith 9.57) “Mohammed said: Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith 9.57) 2. The All-inclusive Dimension: Islamic view of the world Islamic view of the world Dar al Harb Dar al Sulh Dar al Islam (infidels rule) (transitional turf) (Muslims rule) (infidels rule) (transitional turf) (Muslims rule)

“When the Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem, barely four hundred years had passed since that city, along with the rest of the Levant and North Africa, had been wrested by the armies of Islam from their Christian rulers, and their Christian populations forcibly incorporated in a new Muslim empire.” (Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, 1993, pages ) “When the Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem, barely four hundred years had passed since that city, along with the rest of the Levant and North Africa, had been wrested by the armies of Islam from their Christian rulers, and their Christian populations forcibly incorporated in a new Muslim empire.” (Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, 1993, pages )

“I have been ordered by God to fight with people till they bear testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger …” “I have been ordered by God to fight with people till they bear testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger If they do it, their blood and their property are safe from me …” (Muhammad, cited in Behind the Veil, 32)

“Islam must rule the world and until Islam does rule the world we will continue to sacrifice our lives.” “Islam must rule the world and until Islam does rule the world we will continue to sacrifice our lives.” (Al-Badr spokesman Mustaq Aksari, CNN, 9/19/2001) (Al-Badr spokesman Mustaq Aksari, CNN, 9/19/2001)

Failed Suicide Bomber Interview, Youtube

The Cruciality of Jihad for Muslims “For the Muslim who fears that the scales may be weighted toward his eternal damnation, jihad provides the only true eternal security. For the Muslim in fear or without hope, death in jihad is not only a viable option- it may be the only option.” (Ergun & Emir Caner, Unveiling Islam, 2002,195.)