about Urban Impact

• History of Islam

Around A.D. 610, one man's mystical experience in the Arabian Desert forever changed the world. In a cave outside Mecca, in what is now Saudi Arabia, a trader named Muhammad is said to have had a visit from the angel Gabriel. Islam teaches that the angel told him he was to become a prophet and revealed the first few words of what would become the holy book of Islam, the Quran.

Muslims believe Muhammad was a descendant of Ishmael, Abraham's first son
by his wife's maid, Hagar--forever linking Islam with Judaism and Christianity as one of the three, great monotheistic faiths.

Muhammad's historical impact has been immense. His teachings, and the Islamic faith, have directly influenced social, political and religious institutions for 14 centuries.

Over those centuries, Islam spread out of Arabia, sweeping in three great arcs--one across North Africa and eventually into Spain, another north through the Middle East across Europe to the gates of Vienna, and the third east across Asia to the Pacific.

Islam's theology of peace and submission to Allah produced civilizations of stunning beauty. But most of this expansion was the result of war and conquest, carried on swift horses by fierce warriors with the edge of the sword.

Islamic religious texts contain verses that supported this conquest and have a militancy that, to this day, extremists use to justify conquest, violence and acts of unspeakable terror--all in the name of Allah.

Today, Islam--little understood by most non-Muslims--is the faith of 1billion people across the globe and the fastest growing religion in the world.

• Witnessing to Muslims

First, be a friend. Muslim cultures place a high value on friendships and time spent visiting with friends. Many Muslims have not had the opportunity to develop a close friendship with a Christian.

Pray for your Muslim friends. Only as God works in their lives will they be open to following Christ.

Invite them to your home. Muslims place a high value on hospitality. You would not leave a Muslim home without being offered something to drink, no matter how short the visit. Do the same with your Muslim friends. Ask beforehand about any dietary restrictions. Assume that your Muslim visitors will not eat pork nor use alcoholic beverages.

Be sensitive to Muslim moral values. In Muslim cultures, friendship between a man and woman who are not related is rare. Your witness will be more effective with Muslim friends of your gender. Also, modest dress and behavior will go a long way in helping your new friend see that the behaviors they see in American media, which they often consider shocking and immoral, are not typical of authentic Christians.

Learn the basics of their beliefs. We'll recommend several resources that can help with that.

Listen and seek to understand. Ask about their homeland, their customs and their religion and listen with the same openness that you want from them. Remember that Muslims, as Christians, may vary in their individual beliefs and faithfulness to Muslim practices. Ask your new friend what his or her religion means personally.

Welcome open and honest discussion of your different religions. Many Muslims enjoy discussing their beliefs and how they differ from other religions. But remember that tearing down Islam is not your goal. Instead, share the basic doctrines of your Christian faith, especially Jesus' role in assuring your salvation and enabling you to establish a
personal relationship with God. Also, dwell on the awesome love and mercy of God---these concepts are totally unknown to the Muslim.

• The Five Pillars of Islam

1-Confession of faith:
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.

2-Ritual prayer:
Observed five times a day; directed toward Mecca.

3-Almsgiving:
The Zakat or purification tax (approximately 2.5 percent of one's wealth) for the poor.

4-Fasting:
Observed during the holy month of Ramadan.

5-Pilgrimage:
Every Muslim, if able, is expected to make at least one pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca during his or her lifetime.

In the next few weeks we will be posting more tips for witnessing to Muslims and links to more detailed info.