bestcurrentnews 2016 Ramadan Prayer

People of the Book

2016 Ramadan GraphicIn Islam, the term “People of the Book” refers to Christians and Jews. Because Islam has a dualistic nature there are verses that speak positively about Christians and Jews, but there are also verses written later that call for Muslims to make war on Christians and Jews. In Islam the verses that Muhammad received later in his revelations abrogate the previous verses, which means the later passages take precedent over the early passages, but they are not negated because the Qur’an is considered the verbatim words of Allah.

The early Qur’an (the portion Muhammad received in Mecca) accepts Christians and Jews, “Those who believe and those who are Christians and Jews and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and Judgment Day shall have their reward with the Lord” (Quran 2:62). But the later Qur’an (the portion received in Medina) states, “Make war on those who have received the Scriptures [Jews and Christians] but do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day. They do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. The Christians and Jews do not follow the religion of truth until they submit and pay the poll tax [jizya] and they are humiliated” (Qur’an 9:29).

When Muhammad began to supposedly receive his “revelations” in Mecca, the revelations came through the angel, Gabriel – an angel from Jewish scriptures. Therefore Muhammad considered himself in the lineage of Jewish prophets.

When Muhammad moved to Medina, the city was half Jewish. Muhammad saw himself as a reformer of Judaism, however Muhammad had most likely picked up bits and pieces of Jewish scriptures on the trade routes in ancient Arabia so the Jews were able to easily point out some of the contradictions in Muhammad’s revelations and their scriptures. The rabbis in Medina, quite correctly, did not accept him as a Jewish prophet. Because the Jews refused to accept Muhammad, he developed a hatred for the Jews and eliminated most of them either by death, enslavement or expulsion.

The Qur’an retells many of the stories of Moses, Noah, Adam and other characters in Jewish scriptures, but they are twisted to show that all people who deny any of the prophets of Islam are ultimately destroyed. Therefore anyone that denied Muhammad, as a prophet of Allah should be destroyed.

Certainly not all Muslims wish to see the Jews and Christians destroyed, but the “People of the Book” can trace the root of the hatred against them to the rejection of Muhammad’s teachings, which were contrary to Jewish and Christian scriptures.

Prayer Point:

Pray that Muslims and non-Muslims will both begin to question a religion whose scriptures encourage hatred and the destruction of people of other religions.

bestcurrentnews Ramadan Prayer

Ramadan 2013 – Day 9 – Dhimmitude

2013 Ramadan PrayerMost westerners are familiar with the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In addition to being found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, versions of the golden rule principle are found in almost every other religion. The golden rule does not discriminate  – you are to treat everyone regardless of their sex, race, religion, etc., they way you want to be treated.

Because of Islam’s dual nature, there cannot be a golden rule in Islam. Islamic Dualism is seen in the early Qur’an versus the late Qur’an, in Islam’s internal treatment of issues like women’s rights, but dualism is most obvious in the treatment of kafirs (non-Muslims).

Muslims are to treat other Muslims quite differently than they treat kafirs. For example a Muslim is not to lie to another Muslim. However lying to a kafir in the form of taqiyya and kitman is allowed if it advances the cause of Islam. Taqiyya is saying something that is not true, and kitman is lying by omission. The Qur’an itself advocates deception against non-believers in Sura 3:54 which says that Allah is the best of schemers.

The most obvious double standard for Muslims versus non-Muslims can be found in the concept of Dhimmitude, a term coined by Bat Ye’or, author of Eurabia. The word comes from the Arabic word, “dhimmis” which means protected. Dhimmis are non-Muslims living in an Islamic state. Originally dhimmis were “people of the book” – defined as Jews and Christians but eventually the term came to encompass all non-Muslims.

As the Muslim empire expanded throughout the world, different people groups with their own religions were overtaken. Muhammad granted them “protection” if they would pay a tax. Non-Muslims conquered by Islam have the choice to convert, die or pay the Jizya (tax). Sura 9:29 commands, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

This tax collected from non-Muslims in Islamic lands was used to continue to fund jihad and the expansion of the Islamic world. Eventually the Pact of Umar set the legal foundation for how Muslims treated dhimmis. The pact most likely drafted around 717 AD forbade new churches or the repair of churches. It forced Christians to give room and board to Muslims passing through for three days. It forbade Christians from public worship and any evangelism. Christians were to give up their seats if a Muslim wished to sit. They could not display crosses and were not to bear arms.

Often in order to escape the dhimmi status, Christians, Jews and others would simply convert to Islam.

Today western nations are blindly adopting policies that subject westerners to dhimmi status without even realizing it. We will look at specific examples in a future article.

Prayer Points:

Nine out of ten Muslims have never been invited to a Christian home. Pray that God will open doors for Christians to begin to reach out to Muslims in their neighborhoods and communities, and pray that those who are able to reach out will be wise and equipped with the knowledge of the true system of Islam.

Pray that Muslims will begin to see the freedom available for all that is only available through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

There is much persecution today for Christians living in Muslim nations. Pray for strength for these Christians that they will not bow their knee to the false system in order to escape persecution.

bestcurrentnews Ramadan Prayer

Ramadan 2013 – Day 8 – Dualism

2013 Ramadan PrayerIslam is dualistic in nature, meaning Muslims believe in ideas that westerners would perceive as opposites. For instance, the passages written in the early days of Islam in Mecca, (the peaceful passages) are contradicted by the later passages written after Muhammad migrated to Medina when they became political and warlike. The Medina passages take precedent over the Mecca ones, but they are not negated because the Qur’an is considered the verbatim words of Allah. A Muslim can believe “you have your religion and I have mine,” but at the same time also believe you must submit to Islam or I can wage jihad against you.”

This dual nature of Islam is carried over in many aspects of Islamic teachings. As an example, we look at Islam’s treatment of women.  In discussing (Day 7) the epidemic of rape perpetrated by immigrant Muslim men in western nations, it was stated that immigrant Muslim males have been raised since birth to think of women as inferior. However Muslims repeatedly tell westerners that the issue of women in Islam is misunderstood and distorted, and that women are equal in Islam.

One passage that is quoted in an attempt to show equality is Sura 4:124. It does indicate the “whoso doeth good works, whether of male or female, and he (or she) is a believer, such will enter paradise.” However Sura 4:34 says, “Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.”

The Hadith states, “The Prophet said, ‘Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half that of a man?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.’”

If a woman does good works such as obeying her husband she is capable (like a man) of going to paradise.

Although this is only a small example, it is possible to go through the Qur’an, the Hadith and the Sira and examine the passages regarding women. In order to understand the truth about women or anything in Islam, westerners must rely on all the texts (Qur’an, Sira and the Hadith) of Islam rather than the words of media experts or even Muslims themselves in order to draw their own conclusions. With modern translations and the ability to study the history of Islam, it is possible for westerners to know the true nature of Islam.

Prayer Points:

The Qur’an is written in classical Arabic. With today’s technology and scholarship there are multiple translations of all three of Islam’s texts available for study. Pray that Muslims themselves will begin to study the texts of Islam to see its true nature.

The vast majority (4 out of 5) of Muslims are not Arabs, and relatively few of the non-Arab Muslims understand Arabic. Yet, for practicing Muslims, Arabic is a language they use on a daily basis in their prayers. The Bible is available in Arabic and also their native language on the Internet.  Ask God to draw them to the Word of God (the Bible) in their own language that they may learn about Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life – and receive salvation.