.jpg) For Da’wah purposes to Christians and Jews, this is the perfect follow-up book to Understanding Islam—A Guide for the Judaeo-Christian Reader. The first chapter recounts the author’s own journey from Christianity to Islam. Chapter two rectifies common misconceptions about Islam that are often held by Jews and Christians. The third chapter, consisting of over 50 pages, explores the common ground that is to be found among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Using direct references and quotations from the Bible, the Qur’an, and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the author presents the impressive parallels to be found among the three Abrahamic faiths with regard to both prophetic history and ethical and spiritual instruction. With regard to the parallels to be found in ethical and spiritual instruction, close to 40 different parallels are presented showing the essential similarity between Biblical passages, on the one hand, and Qur’anic verses or sayings of Prophet Muhammad, on the other hand. The fourth chapter, entitled “From Jesus to Muhammad—Early Christianity and Islam,” focuses on the differences to be found among the three Abrahamic Faiths. Topics covered in this chapter include the following: the divine mission and ministry of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him)—universal (Christianity), specific to the children of Israel (Islam), and non-existent (Judaism); the alleged crucifixion of Jesus Christ—reality (Christianity and to a somewhat lesser extent Judaism) vs. illusion (Islam); the nature of Jesus Christ—divinity and humanity (Christianity) vs. humanity (Judaism and Islam); the nature of God—trinity (Christianity) vs. unity (Judaism and Islam); and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him)—non-existent (Judaism and Christianity) vs. reality (Islam). Using Biblical passages, other early Christian literature, and ancient church history, the author demonstrates that for each of the above areas of disagreement among the Abrahamic faiths, there were branches of early Christianity that agreed with the Islamic position and disagreed with the position taken by contemporary Christianity. The fifth chapter explores the role of religious pluralism and interfaith relations among each of the three Abrahamic faiths and, in doing so, corrects and demythologizes much that has been written about Islam in America and Europe. The sixth chapter recounts the history and current status of Islamophobia in the Christian West. The seventh chapter, consisting of almost 60 pages, focuses on and contrasts the role and status of women in Islam compared to that to be found in the Bible. This chapter contains much needed information for anyone who is combating charges that Islam propagates sexism and female subjugation. The eighth and final chapter considers the issue of reconciliation among the three Abrahamic faiths.
The Abrahamic Faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Jerald F. Dirks, Amana Publications, 2004,
284 Pages. $16.00.
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