Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

1/27/2002

Islam Beliefs and Practices:

• Shahada (Declaration of faith): Reciting the statement of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet."
• Salat (Prayer): Performing five daily prayers facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
• Zakat (Charity): Giving alms (one-fourth of one's income).
• Sawm (Fasting): Abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
• Hajj (Pilgrimage): Making a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime.
• Jihad (Struggle): Engaging in personal and/or community struggle to defend or spread Islam.

Comparison of Islam and Christianity:

• Prophethood: Muslims believe Muhammad is God's final prophet (fulfilling Deuteronomy 18, according to their interpretation), while Christians believe Jesus is the final prophet.
• Holy Books: Muslims consider the Quran to be God's final and infallible word, while Christians believe the Bible is God's word, though they acknowledge different interpretations.
• Nature of God: Muslims believe in one God, Allah, while Christians believe in the Trinity (one God in three persons).
• Human Nature: Muslims believe humans are born with a good nature, while Christians believe humans are born with a sinful nature.
• Salvation: Muslims believe salvation is achieved through complete surrender to Allah and good deeds, while Christians believe salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Jesus Christ: Muslims view Jesus as a prophet, but not as God incarnate or the Son of God, a belief considered the greatest sin (shirk) in Islam.
• The Cross: Muslims deny that Jesus was crucified, believing he was taken up to heaven.
• The Bible: Muslims believe the existing Bible has been corrupted, while Christians believe it is God's inspired word.

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