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Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics
Islam. For some, the word is frightening; for others, mysterious. For all, it is a religious force that cannot be ignored. Now here’s a question-and-answer book on Islam written specifically for Catholics. Inside Islam addresses Islam’s controversial teachings on God, jihad, the role of women, and more.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2003
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October 24, 2018
In a quest to learn more about Islam since it’s constantly in the news, I picked up this book. I especially liked that it’s written for Catholics. Indeed it relates Islamic concepts against Catholic concepts, so that a Catholic can understand the similarities and contrasts. But I think almost any non-Catholic Christian would get much if not all the same out of this book. As I read it, there is way more contrast than similarities. The full title is Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholic, 100 Questions and Answers and it’s written by Daniel Ali, a convert from Islam to Catholicism, and Robert Spencer, a Melkite Greek Catholic and is a well-known though controversial expert on Islam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_... You can read Daniel Ali’s conversion story at The Coming Home Network, here. https://chnetwork.org/story/daniel-al...
The book is organized in the form of questions that a Catholic might have and then follows an extended answer. That makes for casual reading where you can put it down and pick it up at your leisure without missing the general flow. I read the book over the course of several months but you could read the entire book in a day or two.
Not surprising the very first question is, “What is Islam?” Then follows a series of questions that gets into the heart of Islam. “What is the difference between the terms “Muslim” and “Islam?” “What are the basic tenets of Islam?” Here is how the authors answer that question:
As you can see the authors contrast Islamic theology with that of Christian. If I may add to that explanation above, most understanding of nature turns out to be more complicated than the surface. At one time physics was fairly simple, but then we learned of thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum theory, relativity, and now string theory. To requote the authors, “there is no compelling reason why the truth should be simpler than error.”
From the theological questions, the book moves to questions of foundation, especially that of its prophet, Muhammed. “According to Muslim belief, how did Muhammed receive Allah’s revelations?” “Is it true that Muhammed was an army leader or general?” “Did Muhammed write the Koran?” “How is the Koran different from the Bible?” That is worth quoting the answer.
The Hadith is explained in a subsequent question, “Is the Koran the sole rule of faith for the Muslim?”
Other questions pertain to Jihad, Islam’s cultural norms, and Islam’s views of other cultures. So without more quoting, Muhammed is “the perfect” man in Islam, where by all Muslims are supposed to emulate. Now that presents itself many problems. Muhammed was, among other things, a military leader and by the force of his sword mustered the polytheistic Arabic tribes into religious unity. He killed people. He had people killed. He accumulated wealth and women. He had 800 Jews beheaded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasio... There is no parallel between Christ and Muhammed. A shorthand comparison between Christianity and Islam (this is not in this book, I picked it up elsewhere) can be summarized in this way: Christ died to start Christianity; Muhammed killed to start Islam. The difference is critical. Christians are supposed to emulate Christ; Muslims are supposed to emulate Muhammed. So when you see Islamists beheading in Jihad, they are emulating Muhammed.
The book is incredibly fair. It really is not a rag on Islam but presents the religion fairly but in contrast to Christianity. For my conclusion here, I wanted to present two stories the authors of Inside Islam use to contrast the two faiths.
At least the “holy prophet” prayed for her. Next time you hear about of the “most merciful” Muhammed, think about one who brings true mercy, Jesus Christ.
The book is organized in the form of questions that a Catholic might have and then follows an extended answer. That makes for casual reading where you can put it down and pick it up at your leisure without missing the general flow. I read the book over the course of several months but you could read the entire book in a day or two.
Not surprising the very first question is, “What is Islam?” Then follows a series of questions that gets into the heart of Islam. “What is the difference between the terms “Muslim” and “Islam?” “What are the basic tenets of Islam?” Here is how the authors answer that question:
In sharp contrast to the complexities of Christian theology, Islam is a religion of simplicity. It’s primary beliefs are summed up in the Shahada, or Confession of Faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is His prophet.”
When trying to win converts among Christians, Muslims frequently make use of this simplicity as a key selling point. They compare the length of the Nicene Creed to the brevity of the Shahada and point to the Trinity as a sign that Christianity is not only hopelessly complicated, but illogical—and a sharp contrast to Islam’s noble simplicity…
Of course there is no compelling reason why the truth should be simpler than error. In fact, it is often the other way around, as men unwisely try to tame divine truths by simplifying them. We need to remember that God is radically transcendent and omniscient—that is, He exists eternally distinct from His creation and knows everything as eternally present. He remains, then, an inexhaustible mystery to man, His finite creature. Indeed, He is the Mystery. Thus, it should not be surprising if His revelations to us is full of profound mysteries….
As you can see the authors contrast Islamic theology with that of Christian. If I may add to that explanation above, most understanding of nature turns out to be more complicated than the surface. At one time physics was fairly simple, but then we learned of thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum theory, relativity, and now string theory. To requote the authors, “there is no compelling reason why the truth should be simpler than error.”
From the theological questions, the book moves to questions of foundation, especially that of its prophet, Muhammed. “According to Muslim belief, how did Muhammed receive Allah’s revelations?” “Is it true that Muhammed was an army leader or general?” “Did Muhammed write the Koran?” “How is the Koran different from the Bible?” That is worth quoting the answer.
In content, the closest books to the Koran in the Bible are the five books of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Muslim holy book has the same mix of laws and narratives about God’s dealings with His people. But the Koran is unlike any book of the Bible in that there is only one speaker throughout: Allah (although there are a few exceptions to this that bedevil Muslims to this day).
While the Pentateuch presents a more or less continuous narrative from the creation of the world to the Israelites imminent entry into the Promised Land, the Koran makes no attempt at linear history. Though the Koran is shorter than the New Testament, a surprisingly large amount of what it says is repeated. Nevertheless, the reader often cannot figure out what exactly is being said, or why, without reference to the Hadith. We will examine this later.
The Hadith is explained in a subsequent question, “Is the Koran the sole rule of faith for the Muslim?”
Not precisely. Muhammed’s Tradition, the Hadith, is the second source of Islamic faith. In Muslim theory and practice, the Hadith is virtually equal in importance to the Koran. Indeed, since Allah refers to many matters with which Muhammed is familiar but we are not, the Koran is often unintelligible. Muslims, however, are not free to interpret their sacred book in any way they please, for “whenever Allah and His apostles have decided a matter, it is not for the faithful man or woman to follow a course of their own choice” (Sura 33:36).
Muslims can find Muhammed’s own authoritative explanations of passages of the Koran in a number of voluminous collections of Ahadith (Ahadith is the Arabic plural of Hadith). The Koran also commands every Muslim to follow Muhammed’s example, obeying all that he did, said, commanded, or prohibited (see Sura 33:21).
Other questions pertain to Jihad, Islam’s cultural norms, and Islam’s views of other cultures. So without more quoting, Muhammed is “the perfect” man in Islam, where by all Muslims are supposed to emulate. Now that presents itself many problems. Muhammed was, among other things, a military leader and by the force of his sword mustered the polytheistic Arabic tribes into religious unity. He killed people. He had people killed. He accumulated wealth and women. He had 800 Jews beheaded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasio... There is no parallel between Christ and Muhammed. A shorthand comparison between Christianity and Islam (this is not in this book, I picked it up elsewhere) can be summarized in this way: Christ died to start Christianity; Muhammed killed to start Islam. The difference is critical. Christians are supposed to emulate Christ; Muslims are supposed to emulate Muhammed. So when you see Islamists beheading in Jihad, they are emulating Muhammed.
The book is incredibly fair. It really is not a rag on Islam but presents the religion fairly but in contrast to Christianity. For my conclusion here, I wanted to present two stories the authors of Inside Islam use to contrast the two faiths.
Consider the difference in the following two stories, first from the Gospel of John and the second from Hadith. In the Gospel narrative, we read about the woman committing adultery. Note Jesus’ response:
Then each went to his own house, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning He arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to Him, and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test Him, so that they could have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. But when they continued asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So He was left alone with the woman before Him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more” (Jn 7:53-8:11).
The following episode is from the Hadith. Note how Mohammed’s actions are in sharp contrast with those of Jesus:
There came to him [the Holy Prophet] a woman from Ghamid and said: Allah’s Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me. He [the Holy Prophet] turned her away. On the following she said: Allah’s Messenger, Why do you turn me away?...By Allah, I have become pregnant. He said: Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth to [the child]. When she was delivered she came with the child [wrapped] in a rag and said: Here is the child whom I have given birth to. He said: Go away and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she came to him [the Holy Prophet] with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. She said: Allah’s Apostle, here is he as I have weaned him and he eats food. He [the Holy Prophet] entrusted the child to one of the Muslims and then pronounced punishment. And she was put in a ditch up to her chest and he commanded people and they stoned her. Khalid b Wahlid came forward with a stone which he flung at her head and there spurted blood on the face of Khalid and so he abused her. Allah’s Prophet heard his [Khalid’s] curse that he had hurled upon her. Thereupon he [the Holy Prophet] said: Khalid, be gentle. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, she has made such a repentance that even if a wrongful tax-collector were to repent, he would have been forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, he prayed over her and she was buried. (Muslim, Vol 3, Book 17, No. 4206).
At least the “holy prophet” prayed for her. Next time you hear about of the “most merciful” Muhammed, think about one who brings true mercy, Jesus Christ.
August 6, 2017
I've been wanting to learn more about Islam, so when I heard about this book--which answers 100 of the bigger questions from a Catholic perspective (spoiler alert, I'm Catholic :P) I thought this would be the perfect place to start.
And it really was. The book was informative, put everything in perspective with my Catholic faith (showing differences and similarities between the two religions) and was very respectful of the Muslim people throughout. I would highly recommend this book to the Catholic (or Christian) who is serious about his or her faith, and about learning about one of the fastest growing religious groups in the world.
And it really was. The book was informative, put everything in perspective with my Catholic faith (showing differences and similarities between the two religions) and was very respectful of the Muslim people throughout. I would highly recommend this book to the Catholic (or Christian) who is serious about his or her faith, and about learning about one of the fastest growing religious groups in the world.
Want to read
February 4, 2011Since I know relatively little about Islam but do feel uncomfortable about a mosque/school being erected very near my home,I picked up this book at a recent retreat given by the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, AL. My retreat leader, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, recommended this book as a good guide for Catholics (he wrote the foreward).
It has a question/answer format that I like so far and the authors seem very knowledgeable...Mr Ali is a convert to Catholicism from Islam!
It has a question/answer format that I like so far and the authors seem very knowledgeable...Mr Ali is a convert to Catholicism from Islam!
May 18, 2024
A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER OVERVIEW OF ISLAMIC BELIEFS
Robert Bruce Spencer (born 1962) is an American author and one of the key figures of the ‘counter-jihad’ movement. His website, ‘Jihad Watch,’ reports on purported ‘Islamic extremism.’ He is also a Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and has written several politically conservative books. (He is no longer a Catholic, and is reportedly working on a critical book about papal infallibility.) Daniel Ali is a convert from Islam to Catholicism.
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “In recent years, Islam has grown rapidly in Europe… and in North America as well… The days when a Catholic would be as likely to meet a Muslim as he or she would a bushman of Africa are long gone… the coming years will find many Catholics in the United States encountering followers of Islam in their neighborhoods, schools, and supermarkets. Catholics need an understanding of this mysterious faiths so that they will be better prepared … to counter its challenges to Christianity… [This boo] utilizes a question-and-answer format … In most of the answers, the authors have provided the reader with an explanation of Catholic teaching on the topic at hand… My co-author Daniel Ali is a Catholic convert from Islam. Raised in Iraq, Daniel was moved at a young age to the … good moral lives of several Christians … When he weas seven, one Christian neighbor gave him a cross… which he cherished for the next eight years of his life… Daniel began an intense study of his Islamic faith… In time, his study led him … to the realization that the God of the Universe does indeed desire an intimate relationship with man… In 1998, Daniel was received into the Catholic Church…” (Pg. 17-18)
They explain, “Muslims clam that Muhammad was illiterate in order to affirm what they consider to be the miraculous character of the Koran… However, this claim of Muhammad’s illiteracy has no actual Koranic support at all. Islamic commentators on the Koran and the Hadith base their claims on the Arabic word ‘ome’… In fact, in classical Arabic, [this word] never referred to illiterates or to illiteracy. It refers to non-Jewish people… ‘Omeyeen’ is an adjectival form the of the Arabic nouns for Gentiles, and not all Gentiles were illiterate during the time of Muhammad.” (Pg. 49-50)
They observe, “Islamic apologists point to the almost complete lack of textual variants … of the Koran as evidence that Allah is, indeed, preserving this book… However, this situation is artificial. Muhammad never gathered together all his revelations… After his death… several Muslim communities had their own copies of the Koran… But the Caliph Uthman… found himself presiding over a fractious community whose squabbles were fueled by Koranic variants. Consequently, he ordered a single canonical copy of the Koran made and all others destroyed. Most scholars believe that Uthman’s act was the chief agent of the miraculous integrity of the Koranic text.” (Pg. 53)
They note, because the Koran says that ‘it appeared’ to those present that Jesus was crucified … some Muslims accept the Bible accounts at face value, but they insist that the Gospel writers and their sources were in error about the identity of the man on the Cross. Some say that it was actually Judas, made to look like Jesus by Allah. Others repeat the traditional Muslin assertion that the biblical accounts have been corrupted… this charge flies in the face of a great deal of evidence. There are no non-Islamic sources to support the idea that Jesus was not crucified…” (Pg. 59)
They point out, “The Koran even affirms the Virgin Birth of Jesus… Muslim theologians, however, do not explore the implications of Mary’s sinlessness or the Virgin Birth. They do not want to pursue a line of thought that might lead to the affirmation that Jesus was divine… If Jesus could be shown to be divine, then the entire foundation of Islam… crumbles under the weight of such a truth. Why should God need to reveal Himself and his truth to Muhammad when he had already come in the person of the God-Man, Jesus?” (Pg. 61-62)
They explain that Islam does not have a teaching authority similar to the Pope and Bishops: “but there are several notable sources that are considered authoritative in Islam… These authoritative sources include: a. A ‘consensus… of Islamic scholars’… b. The method of ‘reasoning by analogy’… c. the Sharia, the classic Islamic legal system… All of these sources of authority are based firmly on the Koran, but the individual Muslim is still faced with the problem of the lack of a final, authoritative human interpreter of the Koran’s teachings.” (Pg. 62-63)
They suggest, “Many Muslims … purport to find such contradictions in the Bible. Some of these ‘contradictions’ are simple misunderstandings of the genres and writing styles of the Scriptures… In dialogue with Muslims, though, it is never profitable to get into a ‘Scripture-error match.’ Many of these perceived errors are based on assumptions and presuppositions. In any case, Catholics should guard against the temptation to equate the Bible and the Koran, however favorable the comparison may be to the Bible.” (Pg. 74)
In response to the question of whether the Catholic Catechism teaches that Muslims worship the one true God to a greater or lesser degree, they reply: “Not precisely… [Catechism 841 gives] a carefully worded statement that warrants close examination… This statement is not saying that Muslims actually believe in Abraham’s faith, but only that they PROFESS to hold the faith of Abraham… this statement does not say that Muslims adore the SAME merciful God, but only that, like us, ‘they adore the ONE merciful God.’ … the Catechism simply does not address the question of whether Allah, as worshipped in Islam, is truly the same God revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It should be noted, however, that Pope John Paul II, commenting on this same Catechism citation, indicated in his May 5, 1999 general audience that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God.” (Pg. 84-85)
Of the question about why many Muslims seem to hate the United States, they respond, “There are several reasons for this. Muslims point to conflicts around the world where American forces, in attempting to resolve particular humanitarian or security issues, have seemed to oppose Muslims… the vast majority of the American soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia are non-Muslim. Their mere presence is offensive to many Muslims. Others decry what they view as the immorality of Western secular societies and resent the West’s technological superiority and cultural influence. If Islam is the final, perfect revelation, then many Muslims believe that Islamic society should also be preeminent in all facets of life. When Muslims see how far they are from this ideal, their resentment only grows.” (Pg. 124)
They state, “It is interesting to note that Muhammad seems to have actually improved the status of women compared to the polytheistic culture of this time. In the pre-Islamic Arabia, female infants were often buried alive, a practice that the Koran would come to strongly condemn. The ancient Arabs considered women as having no rights to inheritance; they were considered property… While these teachings of the Koran may have been revolutionary in seventh-century Arabia and may have corrected the most inhumane practices toward women and children, Islam has not progressed much further in its treatment of women.” (Pg. 133-134)
This book will interest Catholics seeking CRITICAL views of Islam.
Robert Bruce Spencer (born 1962) is an American author and one of the key figures of the ‘counter-jihad’ movement. His website, ‘Jihad Watch,’ reports on purported ‘Islamic extremism.’ He is also a Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and has written several politically conservative books. (He is no longer a Catholic, and is reportedly working on a critical book about papal infallibility.) Daniel Ali is a convert from Islam to Catholicism.
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “In recent years, Islam has grown rapidly in Europe… and in North America as well… The days when a Catholic would be as likely to meet a Muslim as he or she would a bushman of Africa are long gone… the coming years will find many Catholics in the United States encountering followers of Islam in their neighborhoods, schools, and supermarkets. Catholics need an understanding of this mysterious faiths so that they will be better prepared … to counter its challenges to Christianity… [This boo] utilizes a question-and-answer format … In most of the answers, the authors have provided the reader with an explanation of Catholic teaching on the topic at hand… My co-author Daniel Ali is a Catholic convert from Islam. Raised in Iraq, Daniel was moved at a young age to the … good moral lives of several Christians … When he weas seven, one Christian neighbor gave him a cross… which he cherished for the next eight years of his life… Daniel began an intense study of his Islamic faith… In time, his study led him … to the realization that the God of the Universe does indeed desire an intimate relationship with man… In 1998, Daniel was received into the Catholic Church…” (Pg. 17-18)
They explain, “Muslims clam that Muhammad was illiterate in order to affirm what they consider to be the miraculous character of the Koran… However, this claim of Muhammad’s illiteracy has no actual Koranic support at all. Islamic commentators on the Koran and the Hadith base their claims on the Arabic word ‘ome’… In fact, in classical Arabic, [this word] never referred to illiterates or to illiteracy. It refers to non-Jewish people… ‘Omeyeen’ is an adjectival form the of the Arabic nouns for Gentiles, and not all Gentiles were illiterate during the time of Muhammad.” (Pg. 49-50)
They observe, “Islamic apologists point to the almost complete lack of textual variants … of the Koran as evidence that Allah is, indeed, preserving this book… However, this situation is artificial. Muhammad never gathered together all his revelations… After his death… several Muslim communities had their own copies of the Koran… But the Caliph Uthman… found himself presiding over a fractious community whose squabbles were fueled by Koranic variants. Consequently, he ordered a single canonical copy of the Koran made and all others destroyed. Most scholars believe that Uthman’s act was the chief agent of the miraculous integrity of the Koranic text.” (Pg. 53)
They note, because the Koran says that ‘it appeared’ to those present that Jesus was crucified … some Muslims accept the Bible accounts at face value, but they insist that the Gospel writers and their sources were in error about the identity of the man on the Cross. Some say that it was actually Judas, made to look like Jesus by Allah. Others repeat the traditional Muslin assertion that the biblical accounts have been corrupted… this charge flies in the face of a great deal of evidence. There are no non-Islamic sources to support the idea that Jesus was not crucified…” (Pg. 59)
They point out, “The Koran even affirms the Virgin Birth of Jesus… Muslim theologians, however, do not explore the implications of Mary’s sinlessness or the Virgin Birth. They do not want to pursue a line of thought that might lead to the affirmation that Jesus was divine… If Jesus could be shown to be divine, then the entire foundation of Islam… crumbles under the weight of such a truth. Why should God need to reveal Himself and his truth to Muhammad when he had already come in the person of the God-Man, Jesus?” (Pg. 61-62)
They explain that Islam does not have a teaching authority similar to the Pope and Bishops: “but there are several notable sources that are considered authoritative in Islam… These authoritative sources include: a. A ‘consensus… of Islamic scholars’… b. The method of ‘reasoning by analogy’… c. the Sharia, the classic Islamic legal system… All of these sources of authority are based firmly on the Koran, but the individual Muslim is still faced with the problem of the lack of a final, authoritative human interpreter of the Koran’s teachings.” (Pg. 62-63)
They suggest, “Many Muslims … purport to find such contradictions in the Bible. Some of these ‘contradictions’ are simple misunderstandings of the genres and writing styles of the Scriptures… In dialogue with Muslims, though, it is never profitable to get into a ‘Scripture-error match.’ Many of these perceived errors are based on assumptions and presuppositions. In any case, Catholics should guard against the temptation to equate the Bible and the Koran, however favorable the comparison may be to the Bible.” (Pg. 74)
In response to the question of whether the Catholic Catechism teaches that Muslims worship the one true God to a greater or lesser degree, they reply: “Not precisely… [Catechism 841 gives] a carefully worded statement that warrants close examination… This statement is not saying that Muslims actually believe in Abraham’s faith, but only that they PROFESS to hold the faith of Abraham… this statement does not say that Muslims adore the SAME merciful God, but only that, like us, ‘they adore the ONE merciful God.’ … the Catechism simply does not address the question of whether Allah, as worshipped in Islam, is truly the same God revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It should be noted, however, that Pope John Paul II, commenting on this same Catechism citation, indicated in his May 5, 1999 general audience that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God.” (Pg. 84-85)
Of the question about why many Muslims seem to hate the United States, they respond, “There are several reasons for this. Muslims point to conflicts around the world where American forces, in attempting to resolve particular humanitarian or security issues, have seemed to oppose Muslims… the vast majority of the American soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia are non-Muslim. Their mere presence is offensive to many Muslims. Others decry what they view as the immorality of Western secular societies and resent the West’s technological superiority and cultural influence. If Islam is the final, perfect revelation, then many Muslims believe that Islamic society should also be preeminent in all facets of life. When Muslims see how far they are from this ideal, their resentment only grows.” (Pg. 124)
They state, “It is interesting to note that Muhammad seems to have actually improved the status of women compared to the polytheistic culture of this time. In the pre-Islamic Arabia, female infants were often buried alive, a practice that the Koran would come to strongly condemn. The ancient Arabs considered women as having no rights to inheritance; they were considered property… While these teachings of the Koran may have been revolutionary in seventh-century Arabia and may have corrected the most inhumane practices toward women and children, Islam has not progressed much further in its treatment of women.” (Pg. 133-134)
This book will interest Catholics seeking CRITICAL views of Islam.
August 10, 2015
This book is apologetic and definitely written for an intended audience, so it is obviously biased by nature. As a practicing Catholic though, I found it helpful, informative, and very easy to follow. I had an interest in learning more about Islam, and this book has only helped fuel that interest. I think it will serve as a platform for me to dive deeper into Muslim literature, as is the authors' intent judging by the long list of footnotes and primary sources given for further reading in the back.
January 7, 2016
This excellent book gives a clear summary of Islam at its roots and compares some Muslim beliefs with Catholic beliefs... It treats Islam with respect but doesn't shy away from the troubling conttradictions found in the Koran and Muhammad's oral traditions. Written by one author who is a Christian brought up in the Middle East, and one author who is a convert from Islam. It will give one a good base for understanding where Muslims are coming from and where Islam fits in with Christian beliefs.
March 4, 2018
This is a very interesting book written by a former Muslim who converted to Catholicism and by a co-author who has written previous books on Islam. One of the things I like about the book is the list of 100 questions in the book. Those questions comprise almost all of the book. Here are some examples of them:
What is Islam? (question 1)
What is the Koran? (question 7)
What does the Koran teach about Jesus? (question 33)
Why don't Muslims believe that Jesus died on the cross? (question 38)
I have heard that Muslims have a high regard for Mary. Why is this? (question 40)
Does Islam have a teaching authority similar to the Pope and Bishops? (question 41)
Are there historical mistakes in the Koran? (question 49)
The information in this book is well documented with 110 footnotes shown in the back of the book. This book has an index and will be welcomed by anyone who wants to know the differences between Islam and Catholicism.
What is Islam? (question 1)
What is the Koran? (question 7)
What does the Koran teach about Jesus? (question 33)
Why don't Muslims believe that Jesus died on the cross? (question 38)
I have heard that Muslims have a high regard for Mary. Why is this? (question 40)
Does Islam have a teaching authority similar to the Pope and Bishops? (question 41)
Are there historical mistakes in the Koran? (question 49)
The information in this book is well documented with 110 footnotes shown in the back of the book. This book has an index and will be welcomed by anyone who wants to know the differences between Islam and Catholicism.
January 2, 2018
The authors of this book organize its content into 100 questions, and then answer the questions, as much as possible, from either the Suras of the Koran or the dictates of the prophet's Hadith. The answers are very readable, but the evidence is very scholarly. Multiple sources, or Sura, are brought to bear when relevant.
October 9, 2018
A very informational book, giving insight into the content of the Koran and how it applies for Muslims and what it means for Catholics. I highly recommend that you read so you can have your own understanding of the Muslim religion and specifically, the tenets of their faith and how it plays out in their culture today.
June 1, 2023
I recognize that I’m still quite ignorant regarding the teachings of Islam (I am a practicing Catholic), but I am less ignorant now and am thankful that I was able to read this. The Koranic translations made by the authors were, at times, quite different from what I was able to find translated online.
July 26, 2017
Very good factual q and a. Easy read
June 22, 2018
Interesting
Good information but bias in its transmission. I bought this because I thought Pacwa was more involved, sadly he was not.
Good information but bias in its transmission. I bought this because I thought Pacwa was more involved, sadly he was not.
July 30, 2018
Very informative.
April 20, 2022
The format covers and explains all the questions a non Muslim has about Islam.
April 30, 2009
I think that this Islam is an important subject of study and conversation, particularly for those seeking a balanced perspective on the religion and the culture it engenders. I think this book brings much good information to the discussion. However, I also think there are many flaws to this book. I don't think the way they approached the Q&A format worked. Some questions were far too obvious to develop, and others were far too broad. There also didn't seem to be too much thought as to how the questions were arranged. While much of the book was fair and balanced, there was a stridency to some of the writing which distracted from focusing on the point which was being made. I think the subject would be much better served by a prose work detailing the origins and beliefs of Islam, the encounter and comparison/contrast with Christianity.
September 17, 2014
As the title notes, this book has an intended audience. This book is apologetic in nature, and as such primarily compares and contrasts Catholic doctrines with Islamic ones. However, that is not to say this book is unusable by non-Catholics. This book is a good, basic introduction to Islam. It covers:
The Confession of Faith (shahada)
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Six Articles of Islamic Faith
History of Islam
Differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims
Jizya tax on dhimmis
and many other topics. Pulls no punches whatsoever. Probably not the work to refer to before meeting a new Muslim friend, but very informative. Useful as a quick reference guide. Not a deep or sympathetic investigation of the spiritual practice or theology of Islam.
The Confession of Faith (shahada)
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Six Articles of Islamic Faith
History of Islam
Differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims
Jizya tax on dhimmis
and many other topics. Pulls no punches whatsoever. Probably not the work to refer to before meeting a new Muslim friend, but very informative. Useful as a quick reference guide. Not a deep or sympathetic investigation of the spiritual practice or theology of Islam.
March 13, 2011
Interesting book, especially because one of the authors converted from Islam to Catholicisim. Book is in a Q & A format and pretty straightforward. The book helped clear up some questions I had pertaining to Islam. I would recommened this book for anyone who wants to learn a little bit about a few differences between the 2 religions. One would have to find other sources for a more in depth understanding.
April 26, 2012
Good analysis of Islam, but might have been just a bit hard on the Islamic religion. Did provide some good points to ponder and did look at comparisons of Christianity and Islam. Would recommend reading it (and will have to revisit it after some more study).
May 29, 2014
Nice Q & A format for a basic grasp on Islam in relation to Christian theology. Not "academic" by any means. Inconsistent in that it seemed like it was written (at times) to make people scared of Islam rather than to provide a balanced assessment, and at other times it seemed the opposite.
November 3, 2016
A Very Biased Book
For a full review, go to Goodreads. This is a hateful book toward anyone who's not Roman Catholic- potshots are taken at Protestants and Eastern Religions as well as Islam. The criticism of Islam is based and one-sided.
For a full review, go to Goodreads. This is a hateful book toward anyone who's not Roman Catholic- potshots are taken at Protestants and Eastern Religions as well as Islam. The criticism of Islam is based and one-sided.
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December 7, 2010297 Ali
November 1, 2013
Good format and informative. It makes me want to study more about Islam and its differences from Catholicism..
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September 25, 2011Helps you understand their beliefs as they are.
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