40 Questions About Islam

40 Questions

by Matthew Bennett, Matthew Aaron Bennett

A much anticipated new addition to the very popular and practical book series that answers real questions on key topics in contemporary Christianity Islam is one of the most significant forces shaping the world today, but most Christians are confused about its key beliefs and practices. Many wonder about the apparent similarities and obvious differences between Christianity and Islam, and want to reach out to Muslim friends or neighbors with the gospel but don’t know where to begin. Having spent several years living in North Africa and the Middle East, missions professor Matthew Bennett guides readers through Islam’s key tenants and provides answers to critical questions, such Helpful summaries at the end of each chapter encapsulate important information, followed by discussion questions useful for personal or small-group study. Whether you want to understand Islam better or reach Muslims for Christ, 40 Questions on Islam is an indispensable primer and reference book.

Genres: Islam

304 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2020

Reviews

[Maddie Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Wow wow wow. A long read, but so incredibly worth it. This book does an excellent job of giving an overview of the Islamic faith and diving into a wide range of its implications on society and daily life. I feel like I learned so much about Islam through reading this book, and at the same time became even more aware of how much more I have to learn. I want to remain a life-long learner of this topic!

I love how the author reminded the reader again and again that the best way to learn about Islam is to have Muslim friends, ask intentional questions, and to just listen. I hope I always have a posture of love and respect toward those who hold to different worldviews than I do.

I cannot recommend this book more highly to others, and will definitely reread it again and again over the course of my life!

[Phil Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read This One

If you have not read any books on Islam, read this one first. I have been teaching Islam in Africa since 2013. I have had Muslim friends on four continents. This is the book that I would give a Christian brother or sister who wants to know, love, and share the gospel with our Muslim friends.

[Carina Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars // read March 2025

This book is required reading for a class I'm taking that the author teaches. While the material itself is practical and informative, covering a breadth of topics related to Islam, what especially stood out to me is the author's tone of love and respect towards Muslims.

[Peter Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thankful to Kregel Academic for sending me a copy of 40 Questions about Islam to review. There are a growing number of Muslims in my community and I wanted to better understand their religion. To that end, I did buy a Koran, but I haven’t read it yet. This book gives me a good background for when I do get around to it.

Michael Aaron Bennet, the author of the text, explains that Islam is not a monolithic religion – which surprised me. I had heard of Sunnis (which make up 85% of Muslims world-wide) and Shiites, but I didn’t realize that there are many smaller “denominations” of Islam – it is like Protestantism in that way (13).

The reason for the different branches of Islam is due to a controversy over what line of decent on follows from Mohammed. Since the Sunni branch is the largest, Bennet focuses primarily on the Sunnis.

The first part of the book – questions 1 through 6 (19-61) look at the traditional history of how Islam came to be.

Then Barret looks at the sources of authority for Islam (questions 7-12, pp. 65-104), the theology of Islam (questions 13-18, pp. 107-147), and the practice of Islam (questions 19-24, pp. 151-192).

In the fifth part. He compares the history and teaching of the Bible with what the Koran teaches about the same characters (questions 25-30, pp. 195-232).

Part six looks at the critical scholarship concerning the Koran (questions 31-34, pp. 235-258), and Bennet begins with a disclaim asking his readers not to use this section to bash Muslims about their religion – it will not be helpful in any way. This section is written to help the Christian – in particular – understand where there are issues that they may find useful in lovingly discussing with Muslim friends.

The final section looks at the difference between the teaching of the Koran and the Christian Gospel (questions 35-40, pp. 261-295). One of the issues that he looks at is if Muslims and Christians worship the same God – there has been debate about whether the monotheistic religions all worship the same God or not.

The book ends with a glossary of select terms, a select bibliography, and an index (297-303).

This book is a tremendous resource for anyone who wants to understand the basics of Islam – especially for Christians – as that is the perspective the book is written from. It is a book I will hang on to and look to as I talk to my Muslim friends and neighbors. Islam is currently the world’s fastest growing religion. It would do us well to have an understanding of it. Especially if we are to love our neighbors and introduce them to the Christian Gospel.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, Kregel.com, and Goodreads.com.]

[Kenson Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Islam is for many of us an unknown and unexplored subject. Among those who are largely unaware of this religion, there is a huge number of Christians, who have formed an idea of ​​Islam, through the news, movies or television series. This caricature of Islam is not only detrimental to interacting with people who profess this religion but it also places us at a serious disadvantage for apologetic interaction.

Faced with the continuous increase of faithful to Islam, it is necessary that Christians equip ourselves with knowledge and clear arguments about this religion. In that sense, "40 Questions about Islam" written by Matthew Aaron Bennett, is a book that will help to understand Islam and generate a broader and more solid criterion on what this religion affirms.

The book is composed of seven parts, in which the reader will be able to understand the historical origins of Islam, the theological statements, the religious structure of Islam, as well as its practices. It is important to mention that, parts five and seven, offer us a contrast between the Christian faith and Islam, so that the reader can understand what is the position of Islam with respect to the Bible or prominent characters within the Christian faith. Questions 38-40 guide us on how to use all the content previously addressed (questions 1-37) in an apologetic or evangelistic sense.

This volume of the series "40 questions", will be useful for apologists, as well as for all Christians who want to know more about Islam and how to present their faith to those who affirm this faith.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author demonstrates a deep knowledge of both the Biblical and Quranic texts.

[Ryan Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have enjoyed this 40 Questions series and this volume is excellent! Bennett does a respectable job unpacking the basic tenants, practices, and culture of Islam and those who adhere to it. He also draws clear and necessary distinctions between the Bible and the saving message of the gospel, as opposed to the false and empty belief system of Islam. He gives the reader practical handles to faithfully engage in relationship, pray for, and share with Muslim friends. This book helps give understanding and confidence to engage on a deeper level with those followers of Islam.

[Mohamed Ahmed]

Want to read

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and concise introduction to Islamic theology and practice, with a Biblical approach rich in compassion and personal experience. Definitely worth the read!

[Lordoftaipo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cousin sister asked her bookworm brother who tagged along this New Year holiday whether it was fun reading a recitation of facts. I guess so. But I hasten to point out the coincidence of both being a book void of narratives, this and the Qur’an.

The author is about any John Doe you run into outside your local parish. Yes, he is Christian. What set me upon a work produced by a scholar in the lacklustre theology was pure chance; what made me stay, however, was his audacity to weigh in between the lines. I could not finish one chapter (there are forty in total) without questioning the eligibility of writing a popular book about a religion the author stood in relations not just distant, but opposite.

To everyone’s surprise, Dr. Bennet turned out to be a fair judge. Apart from his more than charitable take and helpful concealing of the atrocious sides of things, he offered a comparison between Islam and his selected belief. Not to avail himself of the convenient criticisms on the religion of peace would count as a powerful invitation to shrug off our biases. So I did—to give it a go, both the religion and my ignorance.

The outcome was nothing but fruitful, branching out on different levels: first of which, as with other religions, Islam is one religion but varied practices. We should not let the few hijack our perception of the many. Nor should we let our opinions, however warranted, hijack the way we treat people of other backgrounds. That is the bare minimum.

[Jacob Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful book. Truthfully, it could probably be something more like 20 questions about Islam. But it was a kind explanation of some basic Islamic thought from a Christian perspective.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of Islamic beliefs, practices, and culture. Appreciated the author's personal touch based off of his time in Muslim-majority countries.