Acts 17:16-18• Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit

was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

The Religionof Christ

VS

The Religionof Islam

What is Islam?• Islam’s Symbol:

The Crescent Moon

Depicts The Moon In A State Of Increase - representing the growth of Islamic faith from small to great.

The Symbol Is Rooted In Paganism – sign of fertility, growth, prosperity and the magical means of attaining such.

What is Islam?

• Became a Social, Political System

• Was Spread By Force of Arms

• Eventually Formed into Ottoman Empire

• Composed of Shiites and Sunnites

• World’s Fastest Growing Religion

• Composes 1/5th of World’s Population

“Number of U.S. Muslims to Double”

USA Today, January 2011• The current U.S. Muslim population is 2.6 million

(1% of nation) but by 2030 the U.S. Muslim population is projected to be 6.2 million (almost 2% of nation).

• Currently, 64.5% of U.S. Muslims were born abroad, but by 2030 only 55% of U.S. Muslims will come from abroad.

• Currently, 1 out of 6 people on earth are Muslim, but by 2030, 1 out of 4 on earth will be Muslim.

“Number of U.S. Muslims to Double”

USA Today, January 2011

• The Pew Research Center said that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States, as well as the world.

– Immigration Patterns

– Higher Birth Rates

The Five Pillars of Islam

• The shahada (profession of faith) is the sincere recitation of the twofold creed: 'There is no god but God' and 'Mohammed is the Messenger of God'.

• The salat (formal prayer) must be performed at five points in the day while facing towards the holy city of Mecca.

The Five Pillars of Islam

• Alms-giving through the payment of zakat ('purification') is the duty of sharing one's wealth out of gratitude for God's favor, according to the uses laid down in the Koran.

• There is a duty to fast (saum) during the month of Ramadan.

• The Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is to be performed if at all possible at least once during one's lifetime.

The “Prophet” Muhammad

• Ubu’l Kassim (A.D. 570-632) born in Arabia. • He claimed visions of an angel (Gabriel) as the

basis of his new name Muhammad (“highly praised”), and as the medium of new revelations given to him orally.

• His sayings were collected after his death and written as the Qur’an or Koran (reading).

• Muhammad called his new religion “Islam” (“to submit” i.e., to the will of Allah) & followers Muslim (“one who submits”).

MECCA: Birthplace of Muhammad

MEDINAMuhammad’s City & Base of Operations against non-Muslims from 622-632 AD. 2nd Holiest City in Islam. Muhammad’s tomb is in the Mosque of the Prophet.

Medina, in western Saudi Arabia, is a sacred city that only Muslims are permitted to enter. The Prophet Muhammad took refuge in Medina after fleeing Mecca in 622 AD, and the city's numerous mosques remain a destination for large numbers of Muslims on their annual pilgrimage. The income derived from visiting pilgrims forms the basis of Medina's economy.

•Dome of the Rock in the City of Jerusalem

•A Masterpiece of Muslim Architecture

•Began to be built in 685 A.D. & finished in 691 A.D.

•The building encloses a huge rock located at its center, from which, according to tradition, the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven at the end of his Night Journey.

The Religionof Christ

VS

The Religionof Muhammad

Religion of Christ versus Religion of Muhammad

• Founded by Christ– Matt. 16:18– Acts 2 (33 A.D.)

• Only Foundation– I Cor. 3:11

• No other Name– Acts 4:12

• Founded by Muhammad– Born in Mecca in West

Central Arabia in A.D. 570, 5 centuries after “all truth” had been revealed (2 Peter 1:3).

Religion of Christ versus Religion of Muhammad

• Founded by One whose birth was foretold in the OT– Genesis 3:15

– Isaiah 7:14

– Micah 5:2

• Founded by one whose birth was NOT foretold in the OT or NT.

SURAH 7:157 (Qur’an)

• Refers to: “…an unlettered prophet… mentioned in…the Law & the Gospel.”

• Muslims claim that John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper…” refers to their prophet Muhammad.

• Refers to the Holy Spirit (cf. vs. 17, 26)

Religion of Christ versus Religion of Muhammad

• Follows the NT, of which Jesus is the Mediator.– Hebrews 9:15-17

• NT = Last Message– Hebrews 1:1-2– Hebrews 2:1-4– Jude 3

• Follows the Qur’an, concerning which they mistakenly say Allah is the Author.

• “the book composed of sacred writings accepted by Muslims as revelations made to Muhammad by Allah through the angel Gabriel” (Webster).

Religion of Christ versus Religion of Muhammad

• Respects Jesus Christ as the “Messiah” of Old Testament Prophecy

– Psalm 2:2; 132:17– John 1:41; 4:25-26– Acts 2:29-32, 36

• Denies that Jesus is the Messiah of Old Testament prophecy.

• Claim four prophets: Adam, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, with the last the greatest.

Islam…Versus the Bible

• Qur’an contradicts itself in regard to its teaching on the creation of man.

– Surah 96:1 – “from clots of blood”– Surah 6:2 – “from clay”– Surah 25:54 – “from water”

• The Bible, on the other hand, is quite consistent on the creation of man.– Genesis 1:26; 2:7; 3:19; Acts 17:25-26

Islam…Versus the Bible

Islam Recognizes Medina, Mecca, and the Kaaba Stone as Spiritually Significant PLACES

Jesus, in the NT, Recognized NO PARTICULAR PLACE as being Spiritually Special (20) “Our fathers worshiped on this

mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." (21) “Jesus declared, ‘Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem’” (John 4:20-21). NIV

Islam…Versus the Bible

• Qur’an contradicts the Bible account of Jesus birth (Luke 2:4-7). Concerning Mary at childbirth, we read…

– “And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree; She cried (in her anguish): ‘Ah! Would that I had died before thee! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!” (Surah 19:23).

Islam…Versus the Bible

• Though Muslims “pay respect” to Jesus as a prophet, Surah 19:29 plainly denies that Jesus was begotten of God (John 1:14, 18).

• Also, Surah 4:157 denies that Jesus Christ was crucified, a position which denies the primary reason for Christ coming to earth!

– Matt. 20:28; John 12:27

CONCLUSION• Muslims believe in heaven and hell, but

they do not understand or believe that the ONLY “way” to heaven is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”– John 14:6